Emily
@emilygracegoodrich
Weekend silversmith, photographer, writer, and illustrator on lək̓ʷəŋən land in Victoria, BC. Fan of bread, books, birds, bryophytes, bicycles, dogs, small things, and every craft ever. (she/her) www.emilygracegoodrich.com
I’ve been quiet here as of late, maybe it’s overwhelm. Layered into the horrors of Iran and the unhinged behaviour down south, I am shocked and saddened by what’s going on in Sudan, and frustrated (but not surprised) by the election chaos in Uganda. And also, and also… (1/2)
Them: Do you have any exciting plans for the holidays? Me: Absolutely! ☕️🎧
I just finished the first draft of my book. It only took twelve years! Here it is in size 9 font, ready for a long date with a red pen. Come say hello on Substack if you’d like to follow my journey from draft to (hopefully) published book. substack.com/@emilygraceg...
One of my favourite days of the month is my dog’s nail trim day. It’s a perfect excuse to grab a latte from the café across the street from the pet shop, then take a leisurely stroll through nearby Beacon Hill Park. This has turned my least favourite errand into a gem of a day.
There’s an older gentleman who spends five minutes giving my dog scratches every time we pass him in the park. A couple of times a week for years. I just walked past him and waved, sans dog, and he gave me a look of complete confusion. He has no idea who I am.
Chasing waterfalls this morning. Englishman River Falls and Little Qualicum Falls on Vancouver Island.
I’m having fun looking at these #starterpacknoai drawings and collages. I just have time for a quick doodle but here’s mine.
Haha. I did this over the summer on a camping trip with my sister. *Texts photo to husband: “There are bears on the beach!” *Drives into provincial park with zero reception for 24 hours.
If a campground manager ever says “Are you just here one night? If so, site C just became available and it’s only $10 more.” - take site C. It could be this. Feeling nostalgic for the warmer times when things felt more hopeful. Bere Point Campsite, Malcolm Island, BC
I was a beader before I learned metalsmithing, and I have to say that one of the coolest parts of picking up this new skill is being able to make my own components. I use to be confined to the whims of the craft stores, but now I can make posts and other bits in any shape I want.
Summer road trip throwback while we wait for the frost to melt. These are from Little Huson Cave regional park on northern Vancouver Island. These limestone and rock arches and caves are a bit of a trek, but absolutely worthwhile. Blog link in bio.
Driftwood plant friends for my fern wall. There’s also a philodendron in there but there are no rules. This project involved a trip to the beach, a trip to my favourite plant shop, and the creation of a giant mess. Generally good stuff.
Here’s a random illustration of my dog, Neville. He’s getting old, struggling a little with stairs and taking constant naps. I just love him. He gave meaningful rhythm to my days during the most isolated parts of the pandemic. He still does. Anyway, dogs are the best. Tell me about yours!
Due to a shipping snag, I’m out of silver and haven’t been doing the making I thought I would do this January. So here are some mushrooms on a tree in our local park.
Arrived early to an appointment yesterday so I went for a walk near the docks and got to spend a few minutes watching this seal swim around the marina.
This orange jelly fungus in my neighbourhood gets more interesting the worse the weather gets. The moss gets greener too. Looking small is how I’ve learned to enjoy this season of bare trees and grey skies.
I’m excited for the few days of rest and reflection coming my way at the end of this year. One goal is to finish up the last of the blog posts about the Vancouver Island roadtrip my sister and I did this summer. Here’s the first one. emilygraceetc.com/2024/09/15/v...
I don’t use a traditional logo on any of my branding. Instead I use variations of my story in flowers. Poppies for my childhood in California. Matooke for the transformative near-decade I spent in Uganda. Salal for BC. Lilacs for my mom. And cattails and Queen Anne’s lace for my grandmothers.
Did you know it snows in the Grand Canyon? You probably didn’t, and that’s the reason why the local gift shops do most of their business selling sweatshirts to tourists. But it does, and it’s pretty spectacular. These are from 2019.
It can be discouraging when a piece you love doesn’t sell quickly. But this holiday market season, I sold this necklace and two others like it that have been with me for years. A reminder not to give up and discount your work - maybe it just wasn’t the right time yet. #silversmith #craftmarkets
Aforementioned lichen growing in a coastal forest, and context. This is Portland Island in particular, in BC’s Gulf Islands. Sometimes I get busy going to work and ordering pizza and forget that I live in one of the most magical corners of the planet.