Well, O.K. So who am I?

To begin with, I have been somewhat of an artist all my life, though it took me at least 35 years to admit it. Having come from a creative family, I have been involved in some type of creative endeavor since I was a small child.

From sitting by my grandmother's side at age 8, watching her hands fly as she taught me how to knit, to studying jazz piano at age 16, to painting a still life watercolor of cow bones in college, to basket weaving, pottery, drawing, calligraphy, jewelry making, voice lessons, guitar lessons...... the list could go on...... Clearly, I have tried my hand at many things. I was interested in all, but truly drawn to a few.


I went on to receive a Fine Arts degree in music and art, and then spent the next 20 years in the public school system attempting to inspire and expand the minds of children. Though I would not trade my experience as an educator, it left little room or energy to expand and inspire my own creative spirit. About halfway through my teaching career, I took a position teaching art at the junior high level. It was then that my artistic soul once again came to life and since then, I have not been able to deny it.


It was on a trip to my first bead show to buy some beads for stringing that I met the "second" love of my life (of course, you-know-who is the first!) There I saw some very unusual beads; beads like I had never seen before! Upon asking, I learned that these people MADE THEIR OWN BEADS!! and I knew, then and there, that I would learn.


It wasn't until about 2 years later that I had my first introduction to the art of glass bead making, and ...........It was truly LOVE at first sight. That was 10 years ago, and to this day, I continue to be inspired and mesmerized by this age old art form. The process is very Zen-like and serene, and it brings such great satisfaction to my soul as I participate in the transformation of the glass from a solid form to a molten state and back again, only to behold, at the outcome, a tiny treasure that will live on beyond my lifetime.


As for my everyday life...................?

I live in the most wonderful little house, with the majestic beauty of the Puget Sound as my front yard. I have a most wonderful family, which includes my wonderful husband Michael, 3 wonderful stepchildren, my wonderful little dog, Cosmo, a large extended family and lots of wonderful friends. In other words, there are many people in my life to love! My studio space is in a wonderful old building in a funky part of town that houses all kinds of artists from all walks of life. It truly is a WONDERFUL life and I thank my lucky stars EVERY DAY!


....And now for my fancy-dancy artist's philosophy: I create because it makes me happy and because it makes other people happy. Now, what could be more simple or beautiful than that?