Wee Culture

She’d never do this herself, so I’m doing it. Part of the “culture” of this blog’s title is off-the-hill stuff. Leslie, retired from a long career in healthcare, spends most of her non outdoor time in her studio making jewelry and scented soy candles. She sells her jewelry on her Etsy site “Taisie Design,” but the candles (as well as some of her jewelry pieces) are only available in a few local stores (Kaye York’s gallery in Cambridge, The House That Art Built in Ontario, Oregon, and Barn Owl Books in McCall).

I admit I’m biased, but I’m a big fan of her precious metal clay jewelry, even though I don’t wear any of it. Each piece is a one-off, handmade piece of art relating to the outdoors and the landscape we spend our best time in, including Hells Canyon. She’s a perfectionist, and won’t list anything on her site if she wouldn’t buy it herself, so many pieces never make it.

Leslie is more inspired in life by her time chukar hunting than I am. I just write about it occasionally. She makes art that brings the sensuality of the terrain, the intensity of the bond with precious dogs, and the profoundly rare simplicity of losing oneself in an experience all together in wee dear things that capture a little of all of that in ways that obviously resonate with others. It’s a culture thing.

Take a look.