NEW Handpainted & Kiln-Fired Pendants!!!

WELCOME!!! I hope YOU are blessed with family, friends, and good health-thankyou GOD!!! Thankyou for visiting my site, & considering purchasing one of my Designs. NEWLY LISTED items coming in the next few days are RECOVERY AA & NA, PEACE SIGNS in Stained Glass & Ceramic...these are One-Of-A-Kind & I commissioned 2 Artists here in the USA to make them!!!   HERE'S MY STORY...

Born in Birmingham, Alabama 1964, with twin brothers who would soon follow in 1966, I was introduced to "CREATIVITY & ART", by BOTH my mother and grandmother...this would continue to be a MAJOR influence in my life. Later I soon found myself both frustrated & "bored" with BASIC ART CLASSES at my school, Mountain Brook High School --- teachers noticed,& with the help of one in particular,Mrs Machen, I auditioned & was accepted to Alabama School Of Fine Arts (ASFA). After graduating in 1984, I attended Ringling School Of Art & Design in Sarasota, Fl. Now, in regards to the "TITLE" of my "About Me" page-did you notice? Doesn't it sound familiar, any "friends of Bill W." out there?" Just WHO is Bill W. you might ask? He is one of the major influences & founders of Alcoholics Anonymous,first published in 1939. One of the first "steps" in the 12 Step program is, "We admitted we were POWERLESS over drugs & alcohol, & our lives have become UNMANAGEABLE". This "recovering" Debutante, BRIDGES MERIWETHER HAMILTON, had been working on a Drinking Career since the tender age of 5 or 6 yrs old!!! SOBRIETY for me TODAY, means "GIVING AWAY what I've been GIVEN so FREELY"; it is my hope what I am about to share might help someone who may be struggling with the sometimes DEADLY DISEASE of both Alcoholism, and Addiction...

Modeling my FIRST attempt at HEMP(see necklace)!!!

Growing up in a very SOCIAL atmosphere, it was INEVITABLE that one day I would have a taste of alcohol- I still remember it, a "screwdriver"; one sip was NEVER enough. My father was a professional Water Skier(still is today!), so after ski tournaments came Awards Banquets with a continuous flow of alcohol. My mother enjoyed the Country Club atmosphere, & being hostess to MANY parties at our home; again, "King Alcohol", at my reach. My parents would soon divorce (I was 7/8 yrs old-my brothers 5/6) ; I began competing in Waterskiing, mainly just to be CLOSE to my dad. The interest in Art was how I related to my mom; MY GOAL was to get my parents back TOGETHER, but nothing worked. One day my mother told us she had been diagnosed with MS(Multiple Sclerosis), for which there was,&, still is, NO CURE. It would take her life in less than 2 yrs- I still remember the day my dad & my teacher came & got me out of 10th grade class at ASFA, to tell me she had died-I was having ANOTHER "hangover", & had been out all night long on a drinking "binge". ALCOHOLISM also contributed to REPEATING 2 yr's in High School, DISTANCING myself from family & friends, NEVER graduating from college,self hatred, an ABUSIVE marriage to a "crank" addict, almost DEPLETING my family's inheritance, GEOGRAPHICAL RE-locations, and one day sitting in a closet with a GUN in my hand wanting to take the EASY WAY OUT! It would be my own loving FATHER & STEPMOTHER( Now Deceased) to help me, and since that almost fateful day on Dec. 27th,1992, I have been SOBER ever since-but for the Grace of God!!!  In 1999, my Higher Power was revealed to me as Jesus Christ-I often comment that it was GOD who brought me to AA, & AA who brought me back to GOD! I've learned the difference between Religion & Spirituality... Religion is for "those" who DO NOT want to go to hell- SPIRITUALITY is for "those" who've BEEN there & BACK!!! Today I am a Christian belonging to a church, I still attend AA meetings, and have found NEW WAYS to get "HIGH" in LIFE! My HOBBIES currently include Art, Motorcycling, Rollerblading, Bicycling, & Reading. I don't have a TV (by choice!), in fact, just got my first computer within a yr. ago!!! THANKYOU for allowing me to share with you; my GOAL is to soon have a website that will not only offer my Artwork, but will be an INFORMATIVE site that allows people with SIMILAR INTERESTS to COMMUNICATE. Since Recovery in 1992, my Career has been centered in Art, Addictions Counseling, & working in retail for Harley Davidson. Still a 'hippie' at heart, who doesn't wear makeup and prefers Cowgirl Boots & Flip-Flops to heels MOST days, I drive an older jacked-up P/U truck with 37's on 20 inch rims, and have 2 CATS named Miss Priss & O.P.-who you'll see modeling jewelry from time to time! My other cat, Lil Bit, just passed away Oct. 14th, he was 11. Thanks to Ehrlich Animal Hospital who did EVERYTHING to try & save him...

Be Blessed, Sincerely, Bridges <"//><