Friday, July 30, 2010

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

17 comments:

  1. I have always admired Peggy's work, and her beautiful personality that shines through it and her treasuries. It is such an enlightenment to find out she is a cancer survivor--I hadn't known that or any detail about her, really, only that I love her work and my Owyhee Jasper bracelet! Thank you, Peggy and Mollie for this wonderful view into your world!

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  2. Oh Peggy! So nice to see you here!!! Love reading more about you and of course you know I totally LOVE your work as well!! Here's to being "here" 10 years from now! You are looking beautiful!

    Thank you Mollie for this lovely interview!
    xoxo Cait
    PS. Buster is adorable!

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  3. Lovely interview and I have always admired your work. Your freeform Max is wonderful!

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  4. Wonderful interview! I adore your work Peggy. It is eye candy extraordinaire!

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  5. It's PEGGY!!

    You see? This is one of the reasons why I have such admiration and deep affection for this team. Hands down, TeamEPE has the most fascinating, colorful, talented and generous Etsians on the face of the globe. I have always loved Peggy's work. Her earthy yet elegant aesthetic sends my heart a-flitter. I can sit and pine away at her listings for hours at a time (and my husband will attest to this fact).

    Beyond her art, Peggy is as charming and as beautiful as they come. Go ahead...I challenge you to scroll up to look again at that picture of her with her cat Buster. You can't look away, can you! She is the master of magnetic attraction. Another high quality interview, Mollie. Thank you for all of these!

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  6. Wonderful to see Peggy here!! You and your work are indeed gorgeous..and here's to "being here" and to keeping on creating and connecting! I do love these photos and especially that portrait with Buster! Thanks, Mollie, for another fine interview!

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  7. Wonderful interview! I love reading about the artist behind his/her work and Peggy story is amazing!

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  8. Another wonderful interview, Mollie...
    So great to get to know my TEAMEPE friends better. Peggy has always been a favorite of mine, and I've used her lovely jewelry in tons of my treasuries.
    Love ya, Peggy!!!

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  9. Peggy,
    Your's is a wonderful story! I really love that you talk to med students. My husband teaches at a med school. It is so important for them to understand what patients experience and feel. Your work is gorgeous! Thanks for another gem, Mollie!

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  10. Mollie, thanks once again for conducting these interviews.. you're awesome, ya know!

    And to all my EPE friends who've posted such sweet comments, I wish I could {{hug}} each of you!

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  11. Oh Miss Margaret ....you couldn't POSSIBLY be cuter... or nicer for that matter. You made me cry, too. I So appreciate your support and friendship, more than you can know.
    and i hope that we will still be writing to each other 10 years from now :D ... or heck, maybe getting together !! love you. laura

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  12. peggy-- such a thrill to see your beautiful self and lovely family all together-- your story is compelling and wonderful. like laura and ginny and so many others on the team-- you are truly inspiring!!
    much love to you-- and great job as always mollie!!

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  13. Beautiful jewelry, beautiful Peggy, beautiful family and beautiful cat!

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  14. Peggy- you are BEAUTIFUL!
    what a wonderful interview, thank you.

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  15. So nice to "formally" meet Peggy. I've been a long time admirer of her jewelry and superb etsy shop. Thank you Peggy for sharing! Yet another inspiring interview!

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  16. Peggy!!! I am so thrilled to read an interview with you!! You're all gorgeous! XO

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  17. wow! what an amazing interview with a truly beautiful woman....that's you Peggy! and you're family, and your favorite things, and your jewelry....all incredible, as is that FUNtastic sculpture of MAX....!! did you create that....? i'm impressed and wondering why you are not playing in the clay anymore...or are you...?
    ;)
    another awesome interview mollie....
    xoxo

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