About

I grew up in a house filled with art painted by my Mother while she was pregnant with me. Perhaps due to that early initiation, I have always had an imaginative streak, but I could never quite get my visions to work out in reality the way they did in my mind.

In efforts to find an outlet for this creative itch, I tried several different arts and craft styles: writing, water color painting, knitting, basket weaving, drawing, cross stitch & embroidery, cartooning, quilting, writing (again), stained glass, stenciling, mosaics, and more. I would start and stop, and start and stop, but none of these really struck that deep-down "this is for me" chord until I tried jewelry making.

My first beading class in 2007 was instructional, but not very inspired. It did, however, prove to me that yes, I could in fact make something people would wear. After class, I purchased a few magazines for inspiration and to research sources. In the back was a small black and white ad for a chainmaille bracelet tutorial kit. Having always been a sucker for a gorgeous silver chain, I decided to give it a shot. I credit that decision and that ad for getting me where I am today.

Chainmaille provides the structure that my analytical side strives to impose on everything, while letting my artistic streak “sneak in” and make something beautiful. It also appeals to my inner historian, who gets to make art out of a technique that began as a tool of war.

My interest in chainmaille led to wire wrapping, initially just to make my own clasps and ear wires. Wire wrapping led to fused loop-in-loop chains – yet another historical method of making jewelry. And this led to metalsmithing, because once you start creating with metal and fire it’s hard to stop.

All of these techniques, and a few others I’ve picked up along the way, combine in my work. And while this is my artistic outlet, I always keep in mind that ultimately jewelry is about beauty and wearability, as viewed by the buyer.