Skipping Lilies

I’m the sole-operator of this micro-business, built largely on collecting & preserving small bits of biomass - showcasing the oft-overlooked beauty in the micro realms of the natural world.    

I spend part of my year working for a travel company on small ships - as a naturalist & educator.  It allows me to explore remote parts of the planet, working alongside experts in various fields - sharing a love & enthusiasm of culture & wildlife. 

The ocean is my natural habitat - it’s one of the only places I feel truly safe.  Last year I turned 45 & got my Divemaster certification, one of the more physically challenging things I have done in many years.  My final practical involved 8 hours in murky 35 degree water, with snow falling throughout the day & wonderful volunteers pouring hot water into my wetsuit, to keep my fingers functioning so that I could do things like tie knots underwater & rescue “lost divers” lying motionless on the bottom of the lake - dragging them to shore while performing mock CPR.  It was one of the happiest days of my life.  I finished & applied to be part of an all-women’s expedition to the Arctic, to swim with orcas.  The women I met onboard became a family & the future has more to say about that.

So this is a little bit about the person behind the business.  I love to travel & explore new places. I love beautiful wild things both above & below water.  I love my family dearly & you will often see photos of my dad.  While my mom & I tend to shy from the camera, he is happy to be my muse.  While not retired, he often calls on days off to ask if there is anything he can do to help.  When I tell him I’m ok & he knows I am not, he shows up anyway - with coffee & pastries from my favorite local shop, and polishes jewelry for 8 hours straight.  I’m an incredibly lucky girl.

It all Started When two siblings decided they wanted to start a business.

Back in 2004, Siblings Kristin & Eric Wornson decided to go into business, and the rest is a winding, still evolving, imperfect history.

SKIPPING LILIES STARTED AS A BROTHER/SISTER TEAM, RESULTING FROM SIMPLE INSPIRATION:  A CONVERGENCE OF EARLY STAINED-GLASS PROJECTS (MONITORED BY AN ENERGETIC NORWEGIAN GRANDFATHER), A PRIMAL FONDNESS FOR ARTISTIC PURSUITS AND NOSTALGIC JEWELRY, A BIOLOGY DEGREE (KRISTIN) THAT LED HER TO WORK IN SUCH PLACES AS ANTARCTICA & THE AMAZON RAINFOREST, & AN ENGINEERING DEGREE (ERIC) TO FINESSE IT TOGETHER. 

ARTIST STATEMENT:

I HAVE A LOVE OF WILD THINGS AND WILD PLACES, AND A DESIRE TO EXHIBIT THE BEAUTY THAT EXISTS THERE.  I MAKE JEWELRY USING PLANT MATERIAL I’VE COLLECTED AS MY PRIMARY DESIGN ELEMENT, AND GLASS AS THE OTHER COMPONENT.  EXPLORING JEWELRY AS 2-DIMENSIONAL, I FIND LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR DESIGN USING NOTHING BUT THE PLANTS I HAVE SCAVENGED.  I SEE PENDANTS AS TINY CANVASES – WITHIN WHICH I REPRESENT SPECTACULARLY INTRICATE LIVING THINGS - IN SIMPLE, BUT ELEGANT DESIGN.  THE DESIGNS PLAY OFF THE COLOR AND TEXTURE OF GLASS – MAINTAINING THE SUBTLE AND QUIET BEAUTY OF THE PLANTS AND FLOWERS I SHOWCASE.  MUCH OF WHAT I COLLECT IS HEADED FOR THE MOWER – TINY FLOWERS AND WEEDS THAT FOR MOST OF THEIR LIVES GO COMPLETELY UNNOTICED.  THESE SAME TRODDEN PLANTS TAKE ON A LIFE OF STAGGERING BEAUTY WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE EXAMINED.  I HOPE THEY ENCOURAGE A CLOSER LOOK.

ERIC SET OFF IN 2012, TO PURSUE A FAMILY & CAREER IN ENGINEERING & KRISTIN TOOK THE HELM.  

SKIPPING LILIES OPERATES OUT OF A TINY STUDIO, THAT FOR A SMALL PORTION OF THE DAY BECOMES MY APARTMENT.