The Art of Handwork

Message From The Director

On a recent work visit to Hickory Knob State Resort Park, I was chatting with Jan Judy, Reservation Specialist, about her new great-grandchild and the blanket she had crocheted for the momentous occasion. Of course, she shared photos of the baby, who was beyond adorable, but the photos of the blanket were what I can only describe as magnificent works of art. As she was explaining the details, she was also relaying the comfort, the centering, and the peace that comes from doing such activities. That day, Jan introduced me to a new word: “handwork.” By simple definition, handwork is any work or activity done directly with the hands rather than by a machine.

I left that visit thinking about the stresses that come with any job, even one set in the beauty of our state parks, and about the many talented people who work alongside us. Their skills and interests are as varied as their responsibilities, but whether handwork fuels a passion, preserves a tradition, or simply calms the mind, its greatest value may not be in what is created, but in what it creates within us.

I hope you enjoy learning about a few of our talented Park Rangers and seeing their handwork!

Rachel Jensen's beehive.

Finding Patience in Beekeeping

Rachel Jensen, Park Interpreter

“Handwork teaches you to slow down and pay attention. With beekeeping, you learn pretty quickly that you can have a plan, but the bees may have a different one! Working with your hands connects you to the process. You learn by doing, by making mistakes, and by paying attention to the small things. To me, that is what makes handwork meaningful. It is not just about making or fixing something, but about learning how to care for it.”

Creating for Others

Kristi Floyd, Park Manager

“Handwork is a way for me to reconnect with myself, find peace and create. It's a way for me to come back to myself and honor the parts of myself that need to slow down. Most of the things I create end up being given away to other people in my life, which makes handwork rewarding as well.”

Handwork by Kristi Floyd.

E.J. Jones demonstrates the precision and creativity involved in fly tying.

Danny Thompson working on park equipment

Danny Thompson puts his hands-on problem-solving skills to work maintaining park equipment.

Fly Tying and Hands-On Problem-Solving

E.J. Jones, Park Manager, and Danny Thompson, Assistant Ranger

“Fly tying is a form of handwork that develops patience, precision, creativity, problem-solving, and attention to detail. These same skills are valuable in park management projects, where staff may work together on signage, repairs to equipment, and an assortment of hands-on tasks. Fly tying manifests knowledge sharing, relationships, and problem solving to a specific task...in this case a particular body of water or a piece of equipment. Danny Thompson, Assistant Ranger, utilizes this type of handiwork and problem solving to repair a mower, RTV or various other park-specific pieces of equipment. No difference in combining feathers and fur to imitate a specific forage on a body of water.”

The Value of Building by Hand

Laura Kirk, Park Interpreter

“I think exercising our minds by building items by hand is just as important as exercising our bodies.”

Handwork by Laura Kirk.

Leatherworking by Mark Stanford.

Leatherworking in a Pinch

Mark Stanford, Park Interpreter

“Earlier this year in August while doing the final preparations for the reopening of our Visitor Center with all new interactive exhibits, we discovered at the last minute that the rifleman pouches sent for our children's uniform try-on exhibit arrived as kits instead of fully completed. Because of this I had to pull out of my back pocket one of my handwork skills, leatherworking. Using this skill, I spent the day before our reopening hand stitching the multiple leather pieces, straps and buckles together to create our rifleman pouches to make sure we had them for kids to try on the next day.”

Helping Plants Thrive

Rachel Snuggs, Chief of Resource Management

“There is no better dopamine hit than creating an environment in your home that allows a plant that has no business growing in your house thrive. I love learning about plant physiology and the science of altering a plant's environmental factors to maximize the traits (blooms, variegation, leaf size, etc.) I want to highlight in my collection!”

Rachel Snuggs' plant collection.

Artwork by Candra Workman.

Finding Joy in Art and Nature

Candra Workman, Off-Park Ranger

“My paintings and the jewelry I create are important to me because it reminds me to find joy in the little things that others miss. From a shore bird running along the beach to the tiniest tooth hidden in a shell bed, they remind me to take a step back and view the whole picture and not just what is directly in front of me.”

Since that conversation with Jan at Hickory Knob, I've found myself noticing handwork everywhere in our parks. I've seen visitors at campsites making jewelry, whittling wood, knitting beside a campfire. Park picnic tables becoming workbenches, classrooms, and gathering places where skills and traditions are shared across generations.

Handwork may produce a blanket, a carving, a bracelet, or any number of beautiful creations, but as Jan reminded me, the true value often lies in the process itself. It offers a chance to slow down, focus, create, and find a sense of peace in a busy world. If you are a park lover, I hope this article inspires you to bring your own handwork to a park or perhaps let nature spark an idea for a new project at home. The finished piece may be something to treasure, but the moments spent creating it can be just as meaningful.

JER

Octber 2026