My mother is a painter and photographer, and my dad was a woodworker. I grew up watching and learning all different types of art. Many of my younger years were spent in my parents' craft store. My mom would teach me to draw and paint in-between customers. Early on I developed a love for jewelry and began making necklaces and earrings when I was just in grade school. Over the years I have practiced
jewelry making, photography, painting, woodworking, blacksmithing, engraving, upcycle crafting, and even lampworking. Starting in 2017 I added blacksmithing to my skill set. I am learning welding now too. I have desired to learn welding since watching Twister and admiring all the yard art made by Aunt Meg. I believe that an artist's space should be messy and my different projects often overlap into other areas. I also believe in using the things around you. When you don't have a lot of money, it forces you to be creative with what you have. It also keeps things from ending up in a landfill. That's why I love the idea of upcycling items. I will never pass up a good garage sale or flea market. You just never know what you might find that could be used to make something beautiful. When I lost my daughter in 2016 it opened a whole new world of art to me, and I now make many memorial pieces. It is healing for me, and I love getting to share that with others who are hurting.
