Gloria Matlock, who will turn 90 in June, makes a difference in her community by making jewelry.

“I never wanted to sell the things I made,” Matlock said. “It is enough for me to have the enjoyment of seeing those I’ve given the necklaces and bracelets to wearing them. It keeps me busy and I’ve enjoyed this activity very much.”

After fracturing her back in 2010, Matlock moved to the Emeritus senior living community in Kirkland and needed an activity to keep her busy that she could do comfortably. That is when it all began.

“So I started working with the beads,” Matlock said. “My daughter would take me to all the lovely bead places and has encouraged me a lot. She laughs at me because she said, ‘The more you bead, the less you bother.’ In other words, I’m no bother to anybody because I’m busy doing things.”

Matlock started giving her creations to staff members and new residents, as well as long-time residents, of the retirement community. Her jewelry became a conversation starter and a way to make friends.

“I saw a necklace that she had on one day and we got to talking and the next day, she had made me a necklace,” said Shirley Lambo, friend and dining companion of Matlock. “So I was really happy.”

Community Relations Director Kimberly Spencer said Matlock brings sparkle and beauty to the community atmosphere.

“I think Gloria is the first one in my years of working in assisted living that actually makes jewelry,” Spencer said. “She’s blessed with good eyesight, good hand-eye coordination and creativity. And she loves color.”

One aide, who dresses the residents and loves what Matlock does, comes in almost weekly with a necklace or bracelet request. She asks for a specific color to give to someone.

“It tickles me so much that she’s that interested,” Matlock said. “And then she makes them come up and thank me.”

Some of the residents at Emeritus have four or five of her necklaces and wear them on a regular basis. One woman in particular, whom Matlock has become good friends with, has really taken a liking to Matlock’s creations.

“I hardly ever see (her) without one of my necklaces around her neck, and if she sees me she’ll reach up like this because she wants me to notice that she’s wearing one,” said Matlock, gesturing toward her neck.

Another rewarding experience for Matlock has been giving a handful of her jewelry to the ombudsman who often visits the community. Among other duties, the state ombudsman works with seniors in difficult times. She took Matlock’s necklaces and bracelets to give to people in a shelter.

“I have received some of the most charming letters,” Matlock said. “Some of them from two or three boys whose mother’s got beads and the boys drew pictures … to thank me for giving their mother beads. Now that means a lot to me.”

In general, making jewelry is a recent activity for Matlock, but she is far from being an amateur craftswoman. Matlock learned to sew from her mother when she was about 12 years old and through the years has mastered an assortment of skills.

“I didn’t have to go out and work after I had my first child, except at home,” Matlock said. “I did a lot of sewing and made most of my clothes my whole life.”

Matlock said her love of beads started very early in her childhood and she will continue to buy them to further the passion, especially purple, her most requested color.

Erica Thompson is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.