Most of the year Israel is a country of sunshine and blue skies. But when it storms, it STORMS. I enjoy the winter weather tremendously – when the winds lash into the waters and the ocean becomes a whole foamy mess. The bigger the better. The quiet after a storm I love even more. Because then the search begins.  

 

I can hardly wait for the rains to stop to head out and walk along the beaches for hours, gazing at the sand, looking for the treasures of the ocean: Shells, drift wood, pebbles with various patterns and of course the colorful shards of beach glass that are the essence of most of my designs. The search is almost meditative, guided by the elements alone.  

 

There were times during the Corona pandemic when the beaches here in Israel were blocked. Nobody was allowed to go near, not to swim, not to surf, not to walk and not to look for treasures. It was hard. Even though I am lucky to have work, a healthy family and friends, I felt confined, limited, sad. But as the winter 2020 neared, the coastline was opened again, and I am privileged that I live just a few minutes walk away.