The Saga Of My Busted Hand: An Unwanted Shop Break
Okay, so this blog’s a little different from my usual posts. Today, I’m getting personal—like, “faceplant at the zoo and break a finger” kind of personal. Yep, that actually happened.
Back in early November, I had a bit of an ungraceful moment at the Toronto Zoo (I wish I had a cooler story, but nope—just a good old-fashioned fall). I ended up breaking my pinky finger on my left hand just below the knuckle.
After a trip to the ER, where they tried to realign it, I was put in a half-cast for five weeks.
Fun fact I learned the hard way: your pinky and ring finger share ligaments and tendons. So when one goes down, the other’s tagging along for the ride. That meant my injury didn’t just mess with one finger, but two.
Now, for most people, a busted pinky might not be a huge deal. Sure, it’s annoying, but you can still type, cook, or even drive one-handed. But for a jeweller? Not so much. My work requires two hands. I need them both to set stones, solder, size rings, hold tools, set up for shows—you name it. So breaking a finger wasn’t just inconvenient—it brought my busiest season (hello, Christmas rush!) to a screeching halt.
Even basic tasks like setting up a table at a market became tricky. I couldn’t hold earrings or stones properly because my hand wouldn’t close around them. And while I’m lucky I didn’t need surgery, my finger is still a little crooked. It doesn’t stop me from working completely, but it’s a strange feeling when your hand won’t sit flat anymore.
Honestly? I would’ve rather broken my leg. At least then my hands would still work!
Right now, I’ve got about 65% mobility back. Progress is slow, but it’s happening!
I go to physio twice a week and have to push past my comfort zone to regain full use of my hand. It’s not ideal, and I still can’t do things like wax carving for more than an hour or smelting ingots without discomfort—but I’m adapting.
Example of Viking Hand without treatment: Image source - Wikipedia
So why am I sharing this? Because it’s wild how something as “small” as breaking a pinky can flip your whole life upside down. It forced me to slow down, reassess how I work, and ask for help. It’s also been a huge reminder to take better care of myself.
Most of all, I want to say a big, heartfelt thank-you to my family and friends who stepped in when I needed a hand (ha!). Whether it was setting up for shows, helping with orders, or just checking in—you made a huge difference. I’m so grateful for all the support during this unexpected detour.
Here’s to healing, learning, and staying upright the next time I visit the zoo!
Thanks for reading,
