A Taste of Art in Key West

I had the opportunity recently to be the featured artist in Key West for a weekly event at the Simonton Court Inn.  It was such a beautiful evening, the temperature was what I call neutral, warm but not hot and it was breezy.  This historic inn is stunning with it's large swimming pool and outdoor bar surrounded by lush tropical gardens.  The inn was full and since it is a well known local event there was a wonderful crowd.  The show was from 5PM-7PM and everyone was in a relaxed mood and eager to visit and shop. 

I met visitors from Novia Scotia, the outer banks of North Carolina, and many from Key West including the former mayor and his wife on their way to a benefit.  Two local men spent some time choosing necklaces for each of their sisters, (one of which was there) and that was also relaxed and fun!  To prepare for the show along with designing lots of new jewelry I spent an afternoon walking Duval Street inviting shop and gallery owners to stop by.  I seem to never have enough time to just wander around and there are always new shops, galleries or restaurants to check out. 

Key West is a very different place during the day then at night time.  I love both but appreciate the striking difference of a daytime stroll in the sunshine in and out of shops and a delicious seaside lunch or a grilled sandwich on Duval and the more carnival type evening atmosphere of live music of a different type in every place you pass by.  I always seem to leave Key West looking forward to my next time!

An Afternoon of Music & Art in Key West

This is my first year to be involved with SoDu Gallery's "From a Woman's Hand" 3rd Annual show in Key West, Florida. I am honored to be chosen to join the 50 + women artists of the Keys in this celebration of art. As I am writing this I received a message that my necklace has sold...before the show even opened, but the gallery would ship it after the show. I'm so excited!


On Saturday, when I stopped by the gallery to deliver my handmade necklace entry "Blue Bamboo" I was thrilled to be greeted by Frank Decker, a painter whose work I have admired for years. The show runs May 8-23 with an opening reception on May 8th with live music, chocolate and champagne. Proceeds of the show benefit Womankind, a woman's health center in Key West.


We then headed over to Mile Marker 0 and Ocean Key Resort for the 15th Annual Key West Songwriters Fest. We have attended this event for nine years and many times with family and its always a festive way to experience the colorful flavor of Key West and enjoy some great entertainment. Ocean Key Resort on Sunset Pier is one of my favorite restaurants in Key West and an excellent songwriter venue. It's ocean view is beautiful and while sipping a cold beverage along with conch fritters and fresh ceviche you can watch it's varied boat traffic going by and an incredible sunset. It is located near Mallory Square a renowned sunset destination with unique vendors and unusual entertainment. Some of my favorite songwriters at festivals over the years have Brett James, Billy Dean, Craig Wiseman, Chuck Cannon, Scotty Emerick and Randy Houser to name a few.


Our next stop was to Simonton Court Historic Inn and the "A Taste of Art" art show where I will be the featured artist on May 15th with my Island Style Beach & Summer Jewelry. It is a charming poolside setting with an outdoor bar and gorgeous tropical foliage. That night it was 85 degrees and we were wilting in the humidity but enjoying the live classical guitar music and a chilled glass of wine while admiring the striking artwork of one of my glass idols, Mary O'Shae and a few other artists.


Life is good in the Fla Keys! Wishing you a delightful art experience!

Springtime in Florida

This month some dear friends asked if I would care for their potted bonsai plant in their yard when we returned to Florida.  It would be for three weeks while they drove to Delaware and back on business.  “Of course,” I said knowing that they had done the same for us as well as care for our dog over a weekend in the past. 

Every day or two I would walk across the quiet street over to their yard and generously water their cherished bonsai plant as well as the tomato plant filled with delicious ripe tomatoes, gorgeous flowering orchids, striking bromeliads, flowering vines and herb garden with water from a rain barrel in their back yard.

April was a dry month, I think it rained only once and it was very windy a lot of the time which dried out the soil, and required watering more frequently.

I found each day I looked forward to and would spend a little longer in their yard tending to the various plants and flowering bushes, removing dead leaves, trimming, picking up fallen branches, even raking the yellow flower blossoms that had fallen on the gravel yard from the neighbors tree.

Before long I realized that what began as a favor to our neighbor friends became something I truly enjoyed and looked forward to.  After a winter of snow and white I relished the opportunity to enjoy springtime in Florida enjoying the bright greens, vivid pinks and yellows greeting me each day.  The day before they arrived back, with the rain barrel empty, I carted over water by the jug full and soaked in this experience realizing its value and blessing in my life as I watched several birds who appeared to be building a nest in the palm tree in the yard.

Wishing you a Springtime filled with new insight and gratitude!

The Best of Both Worlds

Hello! Welcome to Nancy Yuskaitis Jewelry.  Whenever I mention to someone that I live on an island part of the year and in a western ski town the rest of the year, they always remark that I have the best of both worlds.  I agree!  Life is more interesting that way, but I haven't always had that contrast in my environment.

For most of my life I have lived in the tropics of South Florida and enjoyed all that lifestyle has to offer including warm weather, boating, swimming, beach-combing and wearing flip flops everyday.  My vacations were always to another beautiful beach town, such as Hope Town in the Abacos, in the Bahamas where I started collecting sea glass in shades of cobalt blue and sage green...or in Brighton, England where the beach is covered in adobe colored pebbles..or in Tossa de Mar in Costa Brava, Spain with its brown coarse sand cushioning your nap...or in Switzerland where the sunbathers are undressed and the fried fish is delicious...or in Anna Maria Island, FL for the 4th of July fireworks...or Long Island, NY with it's grassy beaches.

The sea has always been a part of my life from my earliest memories and childhood photos.  I've enjoyed countless hours riding in boats of all types including ski boats...sport-fishing boats...deck boats...sailboats...commercial fishing boats...yachts and cabin cruisers.  While looking out at the sea I would daydream about designing tropical inspired clothing...accessories...interiors and home decor and later would use my inspiration to design one of a kind gifts or interior designs.

During the last several years my inspiration has expanded by the opportunity to live in a sweet little mountain town in Colorado.  Although summertime is my favorite time to be outside and enjoy the natural beauty, wintertime has it's special appeal and is still novel to me.  Especially, two years ago when we received 42 feet of snow.