The world is full of talented people. While the talents of some have to be coaxed from within, nurtured and coddled, others have an innate flair for certain abilities, making the extraordinary seem simple. Sandra Albarda is one of those rare naturally gifted people.

You wanna  know what midlife looks like?

Sandra Albarda 

Meet Sandra – a 51 year old Dutchwoman living in Amersfoort, Netherlands with her husband, their two children and two cats. Sandra takes a rather blasé approach to aging and makes no bones about it. She has never entertained the thought of dying her hair, and, from her standpoint, she’s the age that she is and that’s all there is to it!

Sandra is a blessed woman who gets to do what she loves for a living: create art. However, she wasn’t always in this enviable position. Having always had a creative streak, for the most part her talents took a back seat to working in a café and restaurant for the last 17 years. This past March she left the café to focus more on her craft. And oh what a craft it is.

Sandra spends much of her time at Glasstudio De Witte Raaf where she creates beautiful stained glass windows and, on occasion, teaches courses. With an art academy teaching degree to her credit, it seemed only natural that the studio owner would ask her to teach courses there.

While still working at the café, Sandra received an apprenticeship at the Witte Raaf. It was during this apprenticeship in the Glass-Eye program (a design program to learn the craft of stained glass) that she designed her first window for the café. It soon became clear that Sandra had a knack for it.

Opportunity knocked again when, as part of the 175th anniversary of railway in Holland, the Amersfoort Railway Station commissioned a window for the station. Sandra designed the concept for a second window as part of her apprenticeship. The design was so impressive that it was soon in the running for the Station’s window.

Her design went on to win the coveted commission and in September 2014, Sandra, along with a lot of helpers from the glass studio, began work on the window, which was completed three months later. The colorful creation was unveiled at the Station on December 19th, which happened to be her 17th wedding anniversary.

Sandra’s window on display at the Amersfoort Railway Station

Sandra has a wonderful philosophy on the subject of working-to-live or living-to-work. Simply put, she says, “I live to live.” Because her husband Jaap is the breadwinner, Sandra’s work is her passion. She loves working with her hands and expressing her creativity, but she still believes it’s important to have her own income.

“When I want to buy something crazy, I can do that without always thinking ‘But we have to pay for this or buy that.’”

Outside of ‘work,’ Sandra keeps the creativity flowing by making lamps in her garage workshop. It began years ago with a cylinder of glass that she affixed smaller pieces of glass to using glue. Eventually, the glue yellowed and the project turned out to be less than beautiful.

If at first you don’t succeed….

Sandra has since refined her methods using the tiffany technique, which she admits can feel outdated, but she wanted to try something different. She began by recycling leftover pieces of glass, cutting them into geometric shapes and sanding the edges. Using the tiffany method, she attaches copper foil around each piece of glass. Once all of the pieces are done, she assembles the lamp bowl, shaping as she goes so that each one is a free-form creation. The finished table lamp, which can take several days to a week to make, is a solid, heavy constructed work of art. Once she’s made enough lamps to label a ‘collection,’ she plans to sell her creations.

Her work is her hobby and vice versa. However, Sandra also loves working in the garden and using her hands, whether that means making art pieces, repairing things, laying floors, or building a wardrobe.

Sandra on Midlife

Like many women, Sandra found the change of life challenging. In the midst of fluctuating hormones, she broke her arm, which set her on a tumultuous path of questioning herself and her worth.

“I couldn’t do anything. I was bored and feeling useless. I tried to keep myself busy but it was hard. With the changing hormones, I was depressed for a while. I was emotional, having hot spells and feeling tired and empty. I asked myself, ‘What did I accomplish in my life?’ and ‘Can I be proud of anything?’ It seemed to be one thing after another. I tried alternative medicine for a while but now I’m over it. I said to myself, ‘IT ENDS!’”

The healing process was slow and Sandra was limited in what she could do…but she could still use her fingers. When a friend had an upcoming birthday, she wanted to make something special for her. Sandra put her fingers to work by making small wax, plaster and composite resin yoga figurines. This is the measure of Sandra’s resilience.

Sandra on Children

Sandra and Jaap had their children later in life and she’s not looking forward to being an empty nester anytime soon. She still relishes having her daughter Klaske, 15, and son Hidde, 12, in the house for many more years to come. Even so, she realizes how fast the time is passing.

“They’re so big now and in puberty. Let’s see what that will bring us in the upcoming years. But they are great and wonderful kids and I love them very much. I like having them in the house. I don’t like cooking for one or two people. If it’s just two of us, I’ll warm something up, but I’ll cook a meal when the whole family is together.”

Sandra on the Future

As Sandra moves further into midlife, the path she takes is continually moving with her art as the guide.

“I’m starting up my business and I have so many ideas in my head, but they all take a long time to make. I’m experimenting with mixed techniques using old crafts.”

When asked if she was happy with the woman that she has become in midlife, her answer was simple yet poignant.

“Yes. I am who I am.”

For those women who may be tussling with midlife, Sandra has a few words of encouragement.

“You are who you have become so you don’t need competition all the time. I don’t care if I go somewhere looking dusty; I do as I please. I don’t think, ‘What are people going to think of me?’ When I was younger, I felt the need to make myself presentable when going out. As you get older, you don’t have to pretend as much. If you’re confident with yourself, you don’t care what other people think.”

Sandra has one final piece of advice that takes its cue from a song in the movie, Monty Python’s Life of Brian.

“Always look on the bright side of life.” That about sums it up.

NOTE: While Sandra doesn’t yet have a website, she can be found on Facebook. Midlife-A-Go-Go will update you when her website, where you can purchase her creations, is up and running.

_____________________

Artist. Creator. Innovator. Resilient. Phenomenal woman. Wife. Mother. Daughter. Friend.

There are some woman in life who you feel you should know. Sandra is one such woman. She balances the balls that life throws at her with finesse and works them into something marvelous.

When it comes to Sandra Albarda, this is what midlife looks like.

__________________________

If you believe you or someone you know should be featured in “This is What Midlife Looks Like,” please don’t hesitate to contact me and let me know.