Much of designing jewellery is about making connections. So I couldn’t help observing the way my mother’s own hands were making connections with each other:
I will want to bring these observations into my studio, somehow. I can’t help but be influenced by what I see (see n'est pas élégante et amusante ? old blog post).
After all this talk about my mom, I also want to briefly mention my dad, seeing that I stayed in the house which he designed for us, but did not live to see finished. My mother put up his business sign inside the foyer, adding these words: ” In the years 1982-1983 our admirable father planned this house. He was able to celebrate the Richtfest (‘topping out ceremony’? anybody know a better translation??) on 03.November’83. With god’s help, we moved in on 10.September’84.”
And while we are on the topic of family: my dear brother Peter scooped me up one day (not an easy feat, seeing that he actually lives hundreds of kilometers away, in Switzerland!), and took me on a whirlwind tour to visit my aunt and uncle, who still live in the house where my mom grew up (I have shown my children the bomb cellar in the basement, where she’d have to hide and wait as a child during air raids). You’d never know that this is almost downtown Munich!
Then on to my little sister’s, who was on call as an OR nurse. She showed me her work, and it was so great to actually see what she does! I was really impressed.
There is beauty to be found everywhere:
That was a really great visit. And the next day, my brother Uli came to visit with his wife, three children, and mother-in-law. We did a really fun thing: we took a bike tour all over our tiny hometown to all the places of our childhood, so that we could pass this family knowledge onto his children.
After the bike tour, we stopped at the old-age-home and took ‘Oma’ out for a walk to a café for “Kaffee und Kuchen”! She was alert throughout the whole visit, which was remarkable. The day was felt to be very valuable by all.
Finally, I had a visit with my brother Thomas and his wonderful wife. She made us a soup from freshly picked broad-leaf wild garlic, which we followed up with fresh white asparagus, in season at the moment. Mmmmh, yum!
So good to see everyone!
And as difficult it is to leave, I know that Peter remains steadfast by our mother’s side as often as he can. Thus, it is not surprising that he is the only one that she really still connects with, look: