2014 Show Calendar (will be updated as shows are added):
October 11 - Oakhurst Fall Festival
October 18-19 - Fall Festival on Ponce
November 1 -Ribbons and Holly Handcrafted Market
November 12-16 - Whimsical Wares Holiday Market

And if you are in the Atlanta area, I am also selling at The Beehhive in the Edgewood Shopping District.

I'm thrilled that you are initially interested in my story, so I'll keep it short so you'll keep reading.

I'm very lucky to have come from a family that enjoys making things and working with their hands. Early memories were of my mother sewing our holiday dresses or my Dad working in the garden. We were always encouraged to make things and we did: cord lanyards, decorated hairpins, birthday cakes, enameled jewelry, anything we could get our hands on particularly during summer camp. As I got older I taught myself crochet, knitting, cross stitch, oil and water color painting, card making - anything that used a lot of texture and above all color! Naturally beading was a perfect pastime and I bought hundreds (thousands really) of every shape, color and size.

Beading lead me to become interested in how to make my own findings (the things that hold your necklace closed or the piece that goes through your ear for earrings). Findings are made of metal and I was drawn to the idea of hammering, torching, cutting and generally making something that seemed so unyielding become something beautiful. Metalsmithing uses so many techniques and tools that I am always learning something new- for example-sawing, stone setting, mokume gane, repousse, enameling.

As I learn, I am eager to put new skills to use and make something of my own. I love to recreate memories and have tried to replicate the eye popping brilliance of the forests and waterfalls in Oregon, the gorgeous deep turquoise blue water of the Bahama Island Turtle Cay or even the brightly shining green glass and silver metal against the blue Atlanta skyline. But its not always color that sparks an idea - a shadow pattern on the ground, the way the sidewalk is textured or a bridge is suspended in the air, all of these make me stop and think "what would that look like if....." and I'm dreaming of some piece of jewelry to make. I'm not always successful with a project but from these come side streets to other ideas that often are much more satisfying and attractive than my original idea.

My son was a rock hound as a young boy and we collected many mineral specimens. That lead me to an interest and education in gemstones of all varieties. I use gemstones, resins, enamel and possibly colored pencils one day, to add color and dimension to my pieces.

Luckily, many people share the same love for unique, edgy, colorful, authentic jewelry, but the simply don't have the time or inclination to make it themselves. I'm thrilled to make it for them and I've so enjoyed this aspect of my life that it has gone from hobby to full time obsession. It's not work if you love what you do everyday