"The first time I thought of myself as an artist is when "real" artists thought I should show my jewelry in a gallery. I take great pleasure in creating unique pieces of jewelry with a variety of beads for the texture, shape, and color from the casual to the formal.

"Some of my favorite pieces include earthy, organic beads combined with Hill Tribe Silver from Thailand. I am proud of the commissioned bridal necklaces and earrings I've made, as well as the re-styled and up-dated old necklaces of crystals and pearls that had been sitting around in dresser drawers.

"It's fun to see these precious heirlooms come out of the dark, transformed into stylish jewelry and handed down to family members who would actually wear them."

Growing up as the "odd" middle child, she was always the one in the family who did things differently and less conservatively than her older sister and younger brother. Therefore, when it comes to designing her jewelry, she likes to go for the unusual and suprising combinations. She's told quite frequently that people like her creations because they're unique and they don't see them everywhere.

She started beading jewelry when she saw a piece she loved and though "I can do that!" and she did. From there it turned into a "hobby gone wild." making more than she could wear at any time. She started selling to friends and was soon juried into the Art on Mountain Gallery, formerly the Benson Gallery, as well as shops in Denver, Estes Park, and Longmont.

She has that "down-to-earth" mid-western attitude having grown up in Michigan and Indiana. She's a graduate of Indiana University with a B.S. degree in Dental Health Education. She's been a working Dental Hygenist for many years and has lived in Fort Collins since 1981.

Her son and daughter are raised and she lives with her companion of 7 years, and ruler of her roost: her Shih Tsu, Sadie.