booksbysheilal

Wendy, when did you discover your creativity? “When I was a small child, my creativity burst out with dance lessons, choir, and drawing pictures in my writing assignments. Girl Scouts challenged me, so I stuck with it throughout high school, eventually receiving the ‘God and Country Award.’ Finally, though, I was happy being a stay-at-home-mom.” Raising kids requires lots of creativity. True … I did lead the kids’ 4-H group. I also worked parttime as a nurse after getting my RN license. While you were still a stay-at-home mom? “Yes … but it was only after my kids left home that I really followed my artistic dreams. With my husband’s encouragement (he passed away after 49 wonderful years) I got a ‘three-pronged’ BA degree—in metal, fiber, and wood. So, what are your artistic mediums? “Let’s see … fused glass, macrame, picture quilting, watercolors, ceramics, wood … oh, and fiber.” Here Wendy shows us a few of her Bright Ideas—in watercolor, ceramics, wood, and picture quilting. See why I say she’s a whirlwind? 

One fine day I walked into the Golden Swann jewelry store on Lincoln Way, just to feast my eyes on sparkling rubies, diamonds, and gold. Lucky for me, I was the first customer of the day, because owner Margareta Swann had time to tell me how Golden Swann Jewelers was established. Here’s her story: In 1969, newlyweds Margareta Swann and her husband arrived in Virginia City, Nevada, straight from Germany. When Margareta’s beloved mother (still in Germany) said: “Please find me some turquoise,”  the Swanns were eager to please her. They went to Carson City to visit a renowned turquoise minor, Ted Johnson. Through Ted, they met the local jewelry artists—nearby Apache Indians!  With Ted’s talent for “chopping” turquoise, the Native Americans’ artistry in combining turquoise and silver into breathtaking jewelry, and the Swann’s gift for marketing jewelry with honesty and goodwill, Golden Swann Jewelers was established. Drop in, feast your eyes on the sparkling jewels, enjoy Margareta’s warm welcome—and tell her Sheila sent you. 

Robin Orack, an American, and Brionnee Miller, a South African, became friends through a series of serendipitous events. Robin was in Jerusalem, on one of her sojourns working for Bridges of Peace, an organization dedicated to building relationships between Christians and Jews in Israel and around the world. Brionnee found her way from her home in South Africa to Bridges of Peace through events that could comprise a novel—a spiritual awakening; a decision to retire and see the world; winning a trip to Turkey in a contest; then following a church outreach to Panama, Holland, and finally, Jerusalem, serving at Bridges of Peace with Robin! Brionnee stopped off to visit Robin on her way to L.A. to receive a degree in Bible Theologyy. Robin welcomed Brionnee with a tour of our area, and I got into the act by featuring Brionnee on Bright Ideas! Yes, indeed. It is a wonderful, mysterious, and loving world!

I met Greta at a craft show. She was sitting behind her wares: huge paper sunflowers, crocheted shawls, chocolate dipped apricots—more creative endeavors than I have words to list! I knew I had to feature her on Bright Ideas—so we quickly became friends.  Greta, red hair and all, is a registered Chickasaw-Choctaw Native American. Her family’s name is odd but true: “Maytubby.” In her younger days, she attended tribal council meetings, danced around huge bonfires at pow-wows, and was as much at home riding her horse bareback as she was working in her long career for Bank of America. Her beautiful red hair? Well, there are redheads in her family (German is mixed with Chickasaw.) Her daughters are redheads, as is a grandchild. Greta is perfect for Bright Ideas. She lets her little light shine—proud of where she came from and decorating her world with her imagination. As you can see from this picture, we really hit it off!

Meet my three writer-friends, all born and raised in Germany. I introduced them to you previously, but seeing them together at a Gold Country Writers meeting made me want to introduce them again. First, remember Dorothy Kress? In her book, The Risk, Forbidden Love Behind the Iron Curtain, we are amazed by her courage, inner strength—and writing talent. I’m so proud to have her friendship. Pretty Elke Mckee, seen here smiling in the middle, wrote His Story is My Story, combining diary entries written by her father in a slave labor camp, with her experiences growing up in Nazi Germany. After coming to America, she became a teacher, an artist, an author, and, of course, my friend! Finally, meet Heike Kutchikov. Having read her soon-to-be published memoir, I know her heart and truly love her. She, too, grew up in Germany, dancing her way through Hollywood. I’ll let you know when her book is finished. See what I mean? I didn’t have to leave Auburn to make international friendships!

     Last summer, cheerful ladybugs painted on small stones in bright red and black, appeared here and there, in front of our Rock Creek mobile homes. “Who’s doing it?” we asked each other. No one knew—but we all appreciated the delightfully thoughtful gesture. Eventually, our mysterious ladybug artist confessed. Holding up a ladybug rock, Heather Waite said, “I did it … I’m so glad you approve!”     Heather has always been creative, good-hearted, and lovely. In her younger days she was a model, even running for Miss California. Then, indulging her intellect, she earned a degree and became a psychotherapist and writer, publishing an inspirational book for women and a well-researched book on California. Stay tuned—her memoir is completed and ready for publication. Oh, I almost forgot … Heather is also an adventurer, having toured Europe and Japan, solo. Speaking for myself and my neighbors: “Thank you, Heather! Even now, in the midst of the storms, your (waterproof) ladybugs are reminding us: Spring is just around the corner!” 

Sometimes I feel like I might be nagging the busy women I pursue for Bright Ideas. Take my new friend, Wendy Black, for example. She was ever so apologetic when she had to beg off meeting with me right away, because, having moved to Rock Creek recently, she was busy “getting back to her commitments.” I took one look at her To-Do list and I knew I had my post. Here’s Wendy’s month: Placer County docent; Colfax Elementary School art docent; State Theatre volunteer; Spiritual Book Club; exercise at Senior Center; supervising home repairs; landscape maintenance in her new yard; personal art projects. Oh, yes—she also say she wants to finish her genealogy, “before I die.” Did you notice how Wendy’s name matches her personality? Perhaps her parents perceived she was a whirlwind at the get-go. Don’t worry, I will catch her for an interview next year.  In fact, there’s a good chance you’ll read several posts on Wendy in 2026! 

It seems our lives run along certain themes. For example, the images seen on Bright Ideas is just a variation of how I used my Brownie to snap photos of my Girl Scout friends back in the day. The same may be said of Katrina Benny. Her “many-years-career” was in the printing business. Later, she fell in love with scrapbooking. “I especially loved to scrapbook precious memories of my children, and then my grandbabies.” Now, as a demonstrator with Stampin’ Up! Katrina holds paper-crafting classes in her home and, by request, in the homes of others. “It’s great to see a whole roomful of women enjoying their creativity and having fun at the same time,” she says. If you would like to hostess a Stampin’ Up! event in your home or attend one in her home, just email Katrina at katstamping@gmail.com. Katrina’s glowing smile says it all: She’s on a paper-art mission! 

Anne Da Vigo visited Gold Country Writers to tell us how she writes her prize-winning thrillers. I looked around the room at the relaxed, attentive audience and realized there was something special about Anne—besides her gift for writing. I wish I could captivate an audience like this, I thought. She has so much charisma. I wanted to learn from her—and I wanted to experience the calming yet stimulating effect of her presence again.  So, here she is on Bright Ideas. “It’s true,” Anne admitted, “promoting a book requires a whole different skill than writing. I do go over what I’m going to say the night before; but once there, I just enjoy the people. People ask such interesting questions—they get me thinking. I guess you could say when I bond with my friends—new and old—I easily get as much as I give.” Hey! That’s just how I feel about writing Bright Ideas. Maybe I also have charisma. Maybe, in your own way, you have charisma, too!

Every fall, three paper-crafting artist/instructors invite their followers to attend “Handmade Holidays,” and join with  other women in completing nine holiday paper-art projects. When I visited the Handmade Holidays party, I heard the friendly chatter of women focused on their one-of-a-kind, paper-art projects. They were obviously having the unique fun of creativity—when you’re so in the moment that you completley lose track of time. The paper-art instructors seen here, Susan Johnson, Janice Rosenthal-Rock, and Katrina Benny, are more than instructors—they are mentors, dedicated to encouraging women who may not think of themselves as artists to “just try,” then giving them clear-cut ways to unleash their creativity. Responding to my question: “What do you enjoy most about this crafting day?” One woman slipped me a note: This is a total escape from everyday life and all that is happening in the world … and I’ll enjoy looking at my creations! If you would like to join the fun now and next fall, just email Susan Johnson at ssnjohnson@comcast.net.