I’ve been struggling to find the right words. How do you sum up a lifetime of love, strength, and lessons from the person who shaped so much of who you are? My mom was the first person to teach me how to DIY, the first to show me that independence isn’t just about knowing how to do things—it’s about having the confidence to try.

I still remember the first real “fix-it” project I did on my own. I was a Girl Scout working toward my Ms. Fix-It badge, and my mom gave me the task of changing the door handle on our front door. That thing was rough. The key barely fit, and you had to jiggle it just right to get inside. But Mom didn’t just take over and do it for me. She guided me—encouraging me to find the right tools, teaching me how to hold them properly, and reminding me to be patient when things didn’t go smoothly. I can still feel the pride I had when I turned the key and the door opened effortlessly.

That was just one moment in a lifetime of watching her fix things. A broken furnace in the dead of winter. An overheated car on the side of the road. Spackling drywall (which, in true DIY fashion, she applied way too thick—sanding it down took forever!). She wasn’t perfect, but she never let that stop her. She figured things out, tackled problems head-on, and kept going. And now, looking back, I realize my independent spirit came from watching hers.

Losing her has been hard. Some days, it feels like I’m standing in the middle of a half-finished project, unsure how to move forward. But I know what she would say: Find the right tools. Hold them steady. Be patient with yourself.

So that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m picking up the pieces, taking each step forward, and leaning into the creativity and resilience she helped instill in me. North Country Rustics has always been about more than just handmade pieces—it’s about the love of creating, the satisfaction of making something with your own hands, and the stories that go into every piece. And in that way, she’s still with me, in every project, every lesson, and every moment I choose to keep going.

To those who have lost someone who shaped them, who encouraged them, who made them—know that you’re not alone. We carry them with us in the things they taught us, in the ways they showed us to be strong, and in the love that never really goes away.

Here’s to the next project, the next challenge, and the next moment of quiet pride when something just works. Thanks, Mom ~ I love you always and forever.

❤️ Celicia
~ Chasing Misadventures in Arts, Crafts, & a Rustic Life