Born in Seattle, Washington. Parent of two teenagers.
BA/Psychology, Northwestern University, 1980. Minors: Art History, Literature.
MBA/Marketing, George Washington University, 1983.
I have always loved art. Despite my academic education, I grew up drawing and painting and always returned to art. Having an MBA has helped me to bridge the worlds between studio and showroom; to be comfortable marketing my art and working with others to sell it; and to help cultivate art as the livelihood that allows me to work at home while raising my children.
I started out creating mixed media functional wood sculptures, which I still make. Over time, I grew to incorporate found objects and began using wire to attach things together. I also took classes in traditional basketry, because someday I knew that I wanted to create baskets out of "alternative materials." During a workshop on wire, a light bulb went on in my head to combine traditional basket-making and wire techniques. That was about ten years ago, and I've been evolving my wire basketry since. I often incorporate found objects in my basketry, especially beads, which are harvested from vintage necklaces and jewelry.
I live on an island in the middle of Puget Sound, just outside Seattle, with my studio in my home. I feel very fortunate to live the life I do.