It wasn’t until she quit her day job, got quiet and still, and asked the Universe to bring more purpose and meaning to her jewelry that artist Margaret Goodson Graham really began to make what she was meant to make: Centering Pendants. Her new line of work is incredibly inspiring. Drawing from her experiences with yoga and meditation, her journey in art began at a young age: appreciating artwork by M.C. Escher, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Ansel Adams on the walls of her childhood home; looking forward to hand painted and hand carved ornaments from her Grandma at every Christmas; and watching her older sister draw. She received a B.A. in Art from UNC Asheville in 2002, concentration in ceramics, taught herself to make jewelry in 2006 and took a metalsmithing class in 2009. She made Gritgoods Jewelry for 10 years, selling online, in galleries and at many festivals in the Southeast.

The idea for Centering Pendants came to me in the Fall of 2016 after repeatedly asking the Universe for more purpose and meaning to my jewelry. I physically created the first pendant in January of 2017, and I still wear it weekly. Centering Pendants are a work of art and a functional tool: A functional tool because they serve as a mindfulness aid. When you touch your pendant, your fingers slide to the middle and meet in the center, creating a well-known hand mudra (gesture) in the yoga/meditation world. Connecting the tips of the fingers can calm and center you, lift dull energy, and brighten your mood. When your fingers find each other in the center of the pendant, you also find your center (your Self). If you find yourself frustrated and too busy to meditate or do yoga, this pendant will help remind you to take just a few deep breaths to feel mindful and calm. It only takes Seconds to Center. You can connect with Margaret at https://mgoodsongrahamstudios.com.