dsmWeekly - July 9, 2025

Abby Delaney, senior vice president of marketing and communications at Bankers Trust, shared her unique hobby with the Business Record for the paper’s annual Photo Issue.

Tell us a little about your hobby.
Each spring I enjoy creating Ukrainian Easter eggs, known as pysanky. This 2,000-year-old artform involves hand-decorating eggs using a batik method of writing designs on the egg with beeswax and progressively dying the egg from lightest colors to darkest. Once the design has been completed, the egg is emptied, the wax is removed with a candle and the egg can be sealed with a protective coating, allowing it to be kept long term. They’re traditionally displayed around the home or given as gifts, both of which I love to do.

When did this hobby start for you?
My mother is 100% Ukrainian, and this tradition has been part of our family for generations. I think I was 8 or 9 when I made my first egg and would make them sporadically over the years if my mom was working on hers. In 2016 I got back into making eggs each spring and have loved connecting with my heritage in this way, challenging myself with new designs and helping my kids try it out too. My 4-year-old made his first egg this year, which was so special for me.

What’s something this hobby provides you that applies to your job?

More than anything, this hobby reminds me to stay flexible. I almost always start with a vision in mind for the design or colors I’ll use. But a misdrawn line, wonky dye or suggestion from an observer may lead me down a new path. Some of my favorite eggs are the ones where those changes mid-process led to a better result than I originally planned.

The same can be true for projects, solutions or strategies at work. Your first idea may be good, but often when you take time to build on it — whether through collaboration, finding data or soliciting feedback — the better it becomes.

Tell us a tip or fun fact about your hobby.
Pysanky can be made from eggs of all sizes, from tiny hummingbird eggs to large ostrich eggs, and different symbols used in egg designs have traditionally been associated with certain meanings. For example, a deer symbolizes wealth or prosperity, a tree symbolizes growth and flowers symbolize wisdom.

Like dsm magazine, the Business Record is published by Business Publications Corporation Inc.

Jazz heats up an evening at Hoyt Sherman Place. (Photo: Hoyt Sherman Place)

BEST BET

Summer swings with Jazz in July

Push "play" and "repeat": Free public jazz concerts are set for each of the remaining Tuesdays in July. Grab a blanket and lawn chairs to enjoy Jazz in July on the lawn at Hoyt Sherman Place, where you can enjoy musical talent from around town and the Midwest. You can also buy drinks and a bite to eat on-site.

July 15: For "Education Night," help yourself to Popsicles, historical reading materials and a musical scavenger hunt. The Community Jazz Center's Youth Combo opens for the Christian Ertl Quartet, whose namesake saxophonist grew up in Waukee and now lives in Philadelphia.

July 22: Listen to the Seth Rezek Quartet and Shorter Stories, a group that celebrates the music of composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Most of the ensemble teaches music at the University of Northern Iowa.

July 29: This year's final night features The Trumpethood and Motown Jazz, which includes Community Jazz Center Hall of Famers Nancy and Jim Bierma, who performed in some of the first Jazz in July concerts in the 1980s.

The Week Ahead

“Waitress,” opening 7:30 p.m. Friday, Des Moines Playhouse. A waitress at a diner feels stuck in place until she spots a way out through a pie-baking contest. All she needs is a cup of courage and a pinch of friendship to change her life for the better. The production continues, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, through July 27.

Star Party, 9-11 p.m. Friday, Drake Municipal Observatory. If the skies are clear, gaze at the stars and Mercury with a few pointers from volunteer experts and staff from the Science Center of Iowa.

“Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” 1 p.m. Saturday, Varsity Cinema. See the Des Moines Metro Opera's special screening of the contemporary opera, adapted from the novel about an English boarding school in the 1930s.

Northside Market, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Highland Park. The Northside Market returns to Sixth Avenue between Euclid and Douglas in the Highland Park Historic Business District. With more than 100 local artisans and food vendors, the neighborhood festival celebrates creativity and community.

“The Comedy of Errors,” opening 7:30 p.m. July 16, Salisbury House & Gardens. This year’s Shakespeare on the Lawn series present the Bard’s shortest and possibly funniest play, with a pair of long-lost identical twins whose reunion causes all sorts of silly chaos. It repeats at 7:30 p.m. through July 20.

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, 8 p.m. July 16, Hoyt Sherman Place. This concert reimagines catchy modern pop hits in older genres, including ragtime, swing and soul. And the beat goes on.

Attenzione! The Italian-American Cultural Center of Iowa will break ground on a major redevelopment project at 1 p.m. Thursday to transform the historic Butler Mansion campus into a vibrant cultural hub. Plans include a museum, cooking classroom, café and wine bar, bocce courts, event space and more, all honoring the contributions of Iowa’s Italian-American community. Gov. Kim Reynolds, Des Moines Mayor Connie Boesen and other leaders will speak at the groundbreaking ceremony, which will conclude with Italian-inspired ice cream and site tours.

Move for mental health: Never Settle Day is taking over Water Works Park Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The morning of movement is focused on building community and mental wellness through fitness, hosted by Mikal Settle, a personal trainer and owner of Blaise Training Never Settle athleticwear. Events include a 5K, yoga, an HIIT workout and a dance session. Tickets to each class are available online. All fitness levels are welcome, and participants receive a gift bag and a Never Settle T-shirt. You can learn more about Settle in this dsm story.

By Kerri Sorrell

As a seasoned outdoor enthusiast and longtime camper, I know firsthand the difference a good pair of boots can make. And a good tent. And a great backpack. But when I first started camping, I had no idea what kind of gear I needed or, more importantly, what kind of gear was worth investing in. Sometimes, it really does pay to splurge, especially when we’re talking about surviving in the woods.

After years of leading camping trips across the Midwest, I’ve learned there are a few pieces of gear you don’t want to skimp on. But with so many gear options and outdoor brands available, it can be hard to know where and how to spend your hard-earned cash.

If you’re hitting the trail and setting up camp this summer, here are the things I’d prioritize for a safe, comfortable and fun camping experience — no matter what nature throws your way.

Start with your feet
After hiking and backpacking thousands of miles, I’ve learned a universal outdoorsy truth: Your happiness starts and ends with your feet. A solid, well-fitting pair of hiking boots is the best way to ensure your comfort and safety on trails. There are lots of options, from full-ankle-coverage boots to zero-drop shoes and lightweight trail runners, but the right choice is personal. No matter what you choose, I recommend finding a pair of boots or shoes that are waterproof, with a thick sole plate to protect your feet and enough space up front for your toes. I love my Hoka One One Kaha 3s, which offer the perfect balance of cushy support and a lightweight feel. Danner also makes high-quality leather boots that last for years. Find both brands locally at Active Endeavors or REI.

If trail runners are more your speed, Altra makes good footwear with roomy toe boxes for wide-footed folks, and Salomon shoes are made to last years and many miles of trails. Visit Fleet Feet in the East Village to try some on.

Good merino wool socks will keep your feet comfortable, relatively stink-free and dry from sweat and rain. (I exclusively wear Darn Tough socks because of their quality and lifetime guarantee.)

Dress for extremes
On any normal camping trip, I wouldn’t get too caught up in having expensive outdoor clothing. While some situations call for specific, technical clothes, for the most part, just wear what makes you comfortable, whether that’s old T-shirts on the trail or sweats around the campfire. Where clothing really matters, though, is in extreme weather. A solid raincoat with a big hood and tight wrist adjusters should be in every camper’s bag to protect against rain and wind. (Rain pants are a good idea, too.) A nice puffy down jacket will keep you warm in even super cold temperatures without adding too much bulk or restricting your movement.

Some of these items can run you hundreds of dollars if you buy them new, but they also can be found secondhand if you do a little searching. Stoked, an outdoorsy shop in the East Village, just opened a section for used gear and clothing where you can find high-quality secondhand items at amazing prices.

Kerri Sorrell co-owns Wander Women Midwest, a Des Moines-based company that leads multiday guided outdoor adventures around the Midwest and beyond. Wander Women also hosts single-day adventures around the metro, including hikes, classes and skill-building workshops.