A Spark in the Dark: The Story of the Good Luck Bunny

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This little bunny was made just for Mackenzie—our “Mack.”

Years ago, my daughter and I shared a simple, unforgettable moment on the way to a horse show for her 13th birthday. A bunny on the roadside, we both said, “bunny, bunny, bunny.” It made us laugh, and from that day on, every bunny became our sign of good luck.

So of course… Mack needed her own.

While I was glazing this piece, I had music playing—upbeat, joyful, and completely lifting my spirit. It was Bad Bunny (even though I don’t understand a word, the energy says it all). Somewhere in the process, I accidentally broke the flower stem. My first reaction?

“Oh no… bad bunny.”

And then I laughed. I shared the moment with my daughter, and instantly she said, “OMG… like the Dr. Seuss story—the very bad bunny!” And here’s the twist—the bunny in that story is named PJ… my initials.

Somehow, all these little threads wove themselves right into this piece. The heart it holds is etched with “BGE”—what we hope Mack will someday call me: Best Grandma Ever.

The Quiet Healing of Clay

What started as clay became a story of connection, memories, music, laughter, and a whole lot of love. And now… a little good luck bunny for Mack.

This piece marks the beginning of my first porcelain collection—born from a time in my life when both my body and spirit were pushed to their limits. In one of my darkest seasons, a spark of light found me: the announcement of my granddaughter. Around that same time, my husband of 41 years—my steady rock, my partner in everything—gently encouraged me to try clay hand building. That simple suggestion changed everything.

I’ve lived a life of independence—athletics, hard work, always moving, always doing. But 2025 humbled me in ways I never expected, stripping away much of that independence. Faced with few options, I picked up clay.

And I found something new.

Creating became my healing space—my “happy place.” Each piece carries a bit of that journey: resilience, love, humor, and hope. This little figure represents that spark—the reminder that even in the hardest moments, something beautiful can take shape.

My hope is that these creations bring a smile, and maybe even a sense of encouragement, to embrace life as it is… limitations and all.

“In the studio, I don’t follow a blueprint. I follow the clay to see where it leads. My work is a celebration of the ‘unknown’—a belief that our deepest limitations can become the very doorways to possibilities we never dreamed of.”