Who will tend the fire?
A reflection on leaving behind the old dream of work and scarcity, and imagining a community where the only question is “Who will tend the fire?” — a place of abundance, care, and shared stewardship.
April 16, 2025
The cabin isn’t finished, the grounds are a work in progress, and we still have plenty to do. But if we wait until everything is ready, we might never open the doors!
Stop by and hang out… buy a gift, or don’t! This is as much about chatting with the community about my plans as it is about generating a little extra money to help the dream come true.
My friend Kendra McKimmy will be joining me, and we’ll both have things for sale, including pottery, jewelry, and some homestead wares.
Check out our fun and engaging mini-camp workshops for your kids.
Stones & Clay started several years ago, when I was working between my friend Julianna’s studio and my basement. It doesn’t take long when you’re learning a new craft to accumulate enough finished pieces that you start wondering what you’re going to do with them all! So Julianna and I began hosting a few open houses, selling some of our work to make room for making more.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that this new hobby was something I wanted to carry with me for a long time. After Dad passed, I decided I’d love to make his cabin the new home for Stones & Clay.
Dad built the cabin in the early 2000s with the help of some friends. Once he decided it was finished enough to move into, well… that was pretty much the end of the finishing! It needed a lot of work when we started, and it still does. But in a way, I love that he left so much unfinished. It’s given me the opportunity to put my own mark on a place they built with their own hands.
I’ve always been artistic. I’ve always enjoyed more than my share of creative ideas. I’ve always had a garden. But for most of my adult life, I’ve done those things alone or with my family—tucked between work and obligations, never quite in community and never as a high priority. Lately, I’ve been feeling thirsty for more connection, more balance, more meaning in how I live day to day.
I’m still working as a software engineer, but I’m starting to shift—intentionally—toward a more crafted lifestyle. One that reflects my values. One where community and balance are no longer afterthoughts, but priorities. This project is part of that shift. A way to bring others into the work of making, growing, and learning—together.
I’m not all the way there yet. But this is me, moving forward, planting seeds and crafting my dream life. In this community…
Much love!
~Tonia
I’ve spent this past year getting the cabin and grounds cleaned up, making pottery, experimenting with natural materials, and learning what grows best here. Some things have worked out beautifully, others… not so much! But I’ve learned something from all of it, and I’m having a wonderful time figuring things out as I go.
And I certainly haven’t done any of this alone. I couldn’t have gotten this far without the help of so many friends and family members who’ve given their time, lent a hand, shared what they know, or simply encouraged me to keep going. I’m struck by how much of this dream has been shaped by people I’ve known throughout my life: my parents and grandparents, my siblings, fellow artists, rockhounds, and even the occasional virtual stranger who took the time to share a little knowledge or encouragement. All of those people have helped bring me here, whether they realize it or not.
What I really want now is to pass some of that along. I’m slowly turning the cabin into a working studio where people can come together, learn something new, share what they know, get their hands dirty, and enjoy the simple pleasure of making things.
I have big dreams for this little place. Stay tuned… there’s so much more to come!
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
A reflection on leaving behind the old dream of work and scarcity, and imagining a community where the only question is “Who will tend the fire?” — a place of abundance, care, and shared stewardship.
A glass castle I never built, a three-foot windmill we barely finished, and the people who remind me: begin anyway. Nothing dims your light faster than fear.
Putting the “clay” in Stones and Clay! We are busy building out our retail space both in the studio and online.
Join us for the open house to pick up some Christmas gifts or check back here through the holidays to shop online.
The artists at Stones & Clay work in a variety of mediums. Our creations feature charming combinations of copper, clay, silver, and hand cut stones set in silver. Our jewelry can be casual and it can also serve as the piece you always reach for to compliment your look. Explore our collection for something that fits your style.
