An artist finding an expressive medium is like a musician finding his instrument. For one local couple, finding their medium, they like to say, came naturally.

Angelique Bakalyar grew up on a dairy farm in Maryland. David Hayles, her husband and professional sculptor and architect, says he grew up all over the world. From England to the United States to everywhere in between, Hayles says he traveled throughout his entire childhood. Bakalyar says while she was growing up, her mother made her clothes and living simply was introduced early on.

Years down the road, Bakalyar got a job with Hayles and Howe – an ornamental plasterwork and scagloila company based in both Bristol and Baltimore – half owned by Hayles. The two were paired as roommates on a job and later became involved.

After the couple got together, Hayles suffered a small heart attack while on a trip. Hayles fell into a coma after hitting his head on a cobblestone along a path in New Orleans. Bakalyar, still in Indiana, says she would inquire about David’s recovery and prognosis daily. “I was already very depressed and hurt by what had happened, and people kept asking me the same things ... After a while it hurt more to talk about it all the time,” said Bakalyar .

In time, Bakalyar started devoting her time to sewing what she called, her “happy hat,” a hat that meant when she was wearing it she could no longer be asked about David’s injuries. People respected her decision and in time making hats was therapeutic for her as well as a good way to pass time.

In time, Hayles woke up and luckily did not suffer any long-term disabilities. Now after 11 years of dating and three years as husband and wife, the artistic duo says life is an adventure every day and building and creating new things keeps it interesting.