Member Interview

My kitty, Buster

Hi there! Who are you?

Hi, I’m Peggy McNatt from the BeadAerie.

Chinese turquoise dangles

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m originally from Michigan, but when I was 20 years old, I packed all my ‘worldly possessions’ in my little green VW beetle and headed west toward California, specifically Santa Barbara. However, fate had a hand in that: I settled in Santa Maria, instead, where my cousin lived - and where I would meet my future husband.

For the past 20 years, we’ve lived in Woodbridge, about 35 miles south of Sacramento. We have a grown daughter and son (Katy and Jamie), who both live in the Bay Area.

The name of my shop was a collaboration by my family. We brainstormed ideas one night, and I Googled them all; BeadAerie was available, and well, that was it! I liked the ‘aerie’ part because working on jewelry takes me to a higher place, so to speak - my own eagle’s nest.

How did you learn about Etsy Project Embrace?

I learned about EPE the same way that many others have: through the treasuries. There was this really funny and engaging woman named Laura… and all of a sudden, people were expressing concern and wishing her well. I did a little research and discovered that she’d been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Well, I knew something about that! I’d been diagnosed with the same in 2003, and had had a recurrence just a year and a half later.

Laura received a convo from me that day telling her that I’d been there, done that, and got the wig. We’ve corresponded ever since and I treasure her friendship! Being involved in Etsy Project Embrace has enabled me to give back for the kindnesses which were shown me when I was going through treatment. I‘m also involved with our local Relay for Life, and a program called STS (Survivors Teaching Students), where we travel to Stanford each year and talk to the med students during their gynecology rotation. That diagnosis changes the whole direction of your life!

What is your favorite item in your shop at the moment?

There are several items that are my favorites, but I’d have to say the Owyhee jasper necklace, the water tones lampwork bracelet, and the Kazuri, copper, and silver necklace are the top three.

Owyhee jasper necklace

Kazuri, copper, and silver necklace

What is your favorite possession, and why do you cherish it?

Here’s a photo of some of my favorite possessions, and it looks like a wild mish-mash of things! 

Clockwise from the top left: a platter with butterflies and wildflowers from my maternal grandmother (there’s still a piece of tape with her name on the back to identify it at church functions), a drawing of a giraffe by my son (who’s an amazing artist, BTW), my mother’s bride doll, a champagne glass from my paternal grandmother (who died before I was born and whose name I inherited… yes Laura, that would be ‘Margaret’!), and finally a beautiful little ceramic vase that my daughter made when she was in high school.

What do you collect?

I don’t really collect anything. I’m not one for a lot of chotchkies around the house, but maybe I’ve relaxed that a bit as I’ve gotten older.

Where would you like to be and what do you hope to be doing ten years from now?

Like Ginny Huber and all survivors, I mainly hope to be *here* ten years from now! I would hope to have seen more of the world, and to have expanded upon my skills in creating jewelry.

My freeform ceramic sculpture of Max from Where the Wild Things Are