An Unorthodox Upbringing
When I was a little girl I lived aboard a sailboat and traveled up and down Central and South America with my family. Through my travels I was inspired by the culture, history, folklore, colors, and the stunning beauty of the nautical world. I would collect shells and sea glass that I would use to create earrings and necklaces and I would sell them to other sailors while we passed I each other in port. These early experience in creating handcrafted goods was the spark that ignited my creative fire.
I studied children’s book illustration and metalsmithing at Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia and cloisonné enameling from master enamellist Merry-Lee Rae in California. My education gave me tools necessary to begin crafting handmade pieces of art that combine glass enamel and precious metals into vibrant designs that are timeless and visually narrative.