Making gifts puts a smile on Ruth Woodson’s face.
Ruth Woodson gives many of her creations to family and friends, as well as to staff and other residents at Panora Specialty Care.
By Rich Wicks | Panora Times, February 2026
Ruth Woodson likes to create things as a way to express her creativity. She also likes to be kind to those around her. Fortunately, she has found a hobby that lets her merge the two. Living at Panora Specialty Care, Woodson has given many of her creations to family and friends, as well as to staff and other residents.
“I make jewelry. I spend a lot of time at it. It’s a wonderful place, but I don’t think I’d be half as happy if I didn’t have something to do,” Woodson said. “I made the nurses bracelets and earrings, and I’m making a lady something to dangle off the mirror in her car.”
Woodson has various tools for the jewelry she creates.
Woodson is originally from Charleston, South Carolina. Her husband, Richard, passed in 2021, and Ruth now lives in Panora to be close to her two sons, Larry and Richard, Jr.
Woodson has a large supply of small colored glass beads that she strings into various types of jewelry. Because of the small pieces, she uses a large magnifier to see what she is doing.
“My eyes are awful. I’ve been treated for retinopathy, and I was getting a shot in my eyes every month, but it really helped. And I think it will be OK when I get my glasses. I have to wear reading glasses now to read anything,” she said.
Woodson had made some similar items years ago but returned to the hobby again in the last year or so.
“Before I came here, I hadn’t done it for a couple of years, but I had done it for about a year before that,” Woodson said. “Most of the time, I make bracelets and earrings because I like to match them. I haven’t done any necklaces lately. But, when my granddaughters were in high school, I made their necklaces for their prom dresses. They were pretty, too.”
Woodson gets many of her design ideas from watching YouTube videos.
“I keep myself busy here, and so does Kati, our activity director,” she said. “I have dialysis on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but I work on my jewelry almost every day.”
Woodson gives her creations as Christmas and birthday gifts, and sometimes just as gifts for no particular reason. She has been asked about teaching others how to make such items and is very willing to do so.
“As a matter of fact, I was maybe going to give some lessons, simple lessons, if people want to make things like this,” she said. “I also decorate cakes and was thinking about giving some lessons on that. I used to decorate cakes when I worked at Kroger’s and Piggly Wiggly.”
Although recipients have been very appreciative of Woodson’s jewelry gifts, she does not do it for profit.
“So far, I haven’t had a chance to sell anything. People ask me to make something for them, and I’m an easy touch,” Woodson said. “And I can’t think of anything better to do than to give them a gift.”