"It is still somewhat strange to me to think that it
is possible to get paid for doing something I so enjoy. I was fortunate
to come from an arts & crafts oriented family (we even have two
bona fide painters somewhere in the gene pool) and so learned to sew,
knit and generally have fun with fabric, fibers and beads as a child.
My first job besides baby-sitting was running my own Barbie®
couture shop, complete with display racks built by my dad. But alas,
these things were considered hobbies to be practiced by the eccentric,
so I spent 30+ years in the pharmaceutical industry, and aside from the
occasional gift or church bazaar donation, I didn't pursue them
seriously. During a 15 month period of commuting from Chicago to St.
Louis every week, I discovered the fashion design program at Washington
University. Of course, fate (or management) being what it is, I was
transferred back home two weeks into my studies, but in December of
2000 I proudly added a BFA from the International Academy of Design
& Technology to my resumé.
Although I will admit to a guilty fascination with vintage rhinestone
jewelry, I prefer simple pieces that let the colors and textures of the
materials speak for themselves. My favorite styles currently are the
knotted cord necklace and the multi-strand lariat, which are great ways
to showcase special beads and experiment with color blends. I am
hopelessly addicted to fiber in all its forms, and have begun
experimenting with fabric design--which probably means I will never
again see the surface of my dining room table!"
