Beauty from the Ashes

By Maria Flores & Raul Barraza

As most of you know we lost our home to the Thomas Fire Dragon a few years ago. A few days after the fire we went back and sifted thru the ashes. My wife who enjoyed making jewelry found these beads among the rubble, most melted in her hands or cracked, but the few that had survived were still warm, and as you can see a lot have burnt marks and cracks, the chemical composition was altered due to the high heat and discolored most of them.

She’s kept them in a taped box in her closet for the last few years, and to keep busy during these trying times she pulled the box out and between her tears made these beautiful works of art that you see.