Christine Burns, native Californian, was born November 23, 1968 in Hayward California.
Christine grew up surrounded by a family of fun-loving artists and musicians who, significantly influenced the development of her own artistic skills. Learning how to create her own batiks at age 5 tutored by her mother, she also inherited a talent for creative writing, a lovely singing voice and a natural propensity for drama, all of which she explored and enjoyed during her school years.
Expressing herself in the arts brought a great deal of joy during those formative years as well as providing an effective coping method when met with great challenges at this early age. Christine lost her father suddenly, at age 12 when he was only 35. The loss of her beloved dad was exacerbated by bullying in her middle school years. Art and music brought a measure of relief, hope and support, bringing her through this difficult time. In her high school years she emerged with her esteem in tact, ready to get on with her life.
In the last year of high school Christine met a young woman who taught her to make beautiful beaded earrings. She took to the craft quickly, finding her niche and the two women became fast friends. In the late 80’s she met her future husband, also a talented jeweler. They joined forces and created their own little business selling their creations in shops in the SF. Bay Area as well as participating in some arts and crafts fairs.
Her business endeavors were interrupted by the arrival of their son Nathan and Christine decided to focus on being a mom along with taking on a full time job. The beadwork was to be put away for awhile. Several events including divorce and a number of house moves sent Christine and Nathan east, eventually landing in Florida. It was there in early 2009 she narrowly survived an emergency surgery to repair an aortic dissection. In spite of the low odds (5%) survival, Christine came through this ordeal, healing with full capacity. As if this wasn’t enough to deal with, four years later landed her back in the hospital for an aortic replacement. Six weeks later she was back on her long recuperative journey.
Then on January 2, 2015, Christine, tragically lost her only child, only son, Nathan, who was 10 days shy of his 24th birthday, from an aortic arch in his neck. Such a loss, unfathomable, coming back from it would be slow and tenuous, if at all possible.
Though Christine and her husband had divorced, the loss of their son brought them closer together to deal with this tragedy, as friends and allies. Family also played a big part in helping them through this difficult period.
In early 2016, no stranger to loss, Christine lost her beloved grandmother who she’d always been close. Compounded by losing two family dogs was the final blow that year, the passing of a wonderful man who had stepped into the role of her dad whom she had lost so many years before. Saying good bye to Ed Haussler, Christine’s step dad, was no easy task. He’d been a a great friend and loving support to her.
Often times the events that challenge our lives can bring about great blessings. Such was the case amidst so much heartache. Clicking her ruby shoes three times, Christine made her way back home to Half Moon Bay and in October of 2018, came to live with her mother, Diane Burns-Haussler. The arrangement seems to have been magically choreographed. It works!
To her surprise and amazement Christine’s talents for bead working surfaced once more and she found new inspiration for her wonderful creations. Not only did she not lose her touch but her skill would seem to have been silently developing over the years.
During the Covid-19 pandemic which has forced so many to shelter-inplace, creating beautiful beadwork has provided great fulfillment and satisfaction bringing back the great joy of expressing Christines’ talents. A new beginning with new promise.