In 2003, not long after discovering handmade art glass beads, I entered the world of lampworking and never looked back. I took a beginners class at a local bead store, and was completely hooked with the first light of the torch. I love everything about it….the creative outlet, the artistic fulfillment, the chemistry…everything!
About the same time, our daughter decided it was time to leave the nest, and unknowingly donated her room for my studio. My husband was a bit skeptical when I told him that I wanted to plumb natural gas into the room, and purchase oxygen and a torch! Three weeks later the transformation took place. I spent the next few months setting up the studio, and the next two years reading books, practicing dots, stringer control and shaping, trying various techniques and trying new things.
I then discovered that I love making organic focal beads. With nature as my inspiration, I strive for a soft, elegant organic style in my beads by using blended flowing transparent colors to achieve depth, cubic zirconia, dichro, fine silver, copper and murrini. A secondary process of copper electroforming, using leaves from my yard, is often incorporated into the bead design.
I now work out of my home studio, which has five torch stations where I teach all levels of lampworking classes...beginners to advanced. Metal smithing classes are also offered.
I feel very honored that my glass beads and jewelry have juried into the Indiana Artisan program, and now carry the Indiana Artisan logo.
I feel that lampworking and jewelry design are two of the many blessings in my life, as are the many friendships I have made along the way.