A highlight of 2026 was participating in the Idaho Cowgirl Congress group exhibit at Sun Valley Museum of Art in Ketchum, Idaho in June. The invite to the gathering and exhibit came at time when I was recovering from my 2025 horse wreck which coincided with the birth of my second baby. I was feeling very disconnected from my studio and my sense of self. The invite seemed like a little wink from God.
Somehow, I pulled myself together and made two pieces for the exhibit -- a graduated benchbead necklace with an ornate clasp set with a pair of enormous ivory mabe pearls, and a big old triple pearl ring. You can see images of the benchbead necklace here but the ring sold before I managed to get it photographed.
The group exhibit was bursting with high calibre work made by some gritty and talented women who are members of Idaho's cowgirl art guilds (which are unofficially official) -- rawhide braiding, leather working, silversmithing and fine art.
The opening night turnout was exceptional, the gallery space nearly burst it was so crammed with folks -- I had to step outside if I wanted to get a breath of air. All contributors felt celebrated and honored in the very best way. The exhibit showcased handcrafted chaps, saddles, braided rawhide halters and cowboy reins, wool saddle pads, paintings, drawings, engraved silver, fabricated silver jewelry, and blacksmithing.
During the four day exhibit contributes came together for workshops, panels and meals. It was a great time of learning and sharing and nice to rub shoulders with women who live parallel lives to my own in Idaho's rural communities. I'm not a cowgirl. We don't ranch. We're lowly farmers. But I was grateful to be a part of this Cowgirl Congress and look forward to the next which will take place in four years.
Dream big.
Live free.
Ride hard.
Be a legend.