
Art, whether in my professional life as a dentist, or in my part-time life as a lampwork and jewelry artisan, occupies a good portion of my consciousness at any one time. I have memberships to several local and regional art galleries, and I always make time when travelling to visit local art exhibits.
The creative process is elusive sometimes…the ideas come, but not fully formed, and I have to let the artistic elements sort themselves out before I can accomplish the technical part of any skill.
If there’s one thing that defines you, what is it?
I try to understand other’s viewpoints, and can see a particular issue from several perspectives. This is both an asset and a pitfall, as others can see it as indecision, whereas I see it as carefully weighing the various factors that go into one’s decision-making process.
What role does your family play in your art?
My family and my home are my “comfort ground”. I have a wonderfully supportive husband, and four terrific children…27, 22, 17, and 14 years old. My husband built my glass studio for me, and is a great source of insight and guidance when it comes to the “how can I accomplish that?” questions.
Where do you live and what is it like?
I live in London, Ontario, Canada, in a house with a big lot that sweeps down into a ravine. Regular visitors to our yard are deer, fox, skunks, raccoons, and a great horned owl. I call it my little slice of paradise.
Where did you learn to craft?
I’ve been crafting since I can remember. I got my first “paint by number” black velvet oil painting kit when I was seven. Crewelwork and knitting was next, beadwork and cross-stitch followed, then sewing, and mosaic art. I’ve always been fascinated by glass and took my first lampworking course three years ago….eureka, this is IT!!!
Who is your favorite craft supplier?
My favorite craft supplier for jewelry supplies is Artbeads, great selection and really good prices! My favorite glass supplier is Artistry In Glass, a local shop who’s customer service is unmatched!
If there is a new craft you could learn, what would it be and why?
I would love to take a stained glass course to broaden my horizons and learn the techniques to make windows. Having travelled and seen both historical and modern stained glass windows, I’m in awe of the skill and expertise that is required.
What are your goals with your ArtFire studio?
My ArtFire studio contains both lampwork beads for jewelry designers and finished jewelry pieces. I love to see what other jewelry designers use my beads for and would love to use my ArtFire studio as a platform to expand my business.
Where do you receive your inspiration, in general?
I love nature and the natural world around me: the colors, shapes, and vistas. My inspiration is often acquired from hiking in rugged countryside, the Rocky Mountains are my favorite.
How did you come to selling crafts?
I was making jewelry for family and friends, and they suggested that I could sell it to others. I learned the rudimentary part of website design, and obtained a small business license. I like having an online business because the rest of my life is so busy and selling online allows me to tailor the amount of time I can spend.
Who are your other favorite ArtFire artists?
It’s very difficult to choose only a couple of favorites…there are so many. I love nunofelt’s felted scarves!
How did you come to find a home on ArtFire?
I learned about ArtFire from a number of other sites, forums, and word of mouth. I decided to open a studio and found it a great format to sell from.
What is the best piece of advice you can give other crafters?
The best advice I can offer is to learn to take good photographs, and to use a good photo editing program. Don’t be shy about promoting yourself, your craft, and your colleagues.
What is the most treasured thing in your craft stash?
Without a doubt it is a set of 12mm perfectly matched cultured pearls that my husband bought me for a gift about four years ago. I keep them in a velvet lined box and take them out to look at them, but I haven’t come up with the “perfect” idea of how to use them yet, although when I do it will be with 18K gold.
If you won a thousand dollar craft shopping spree, what would you spend it on?
I would spend it all on glass rods and sterling silver beads.
Why do you think that buying and selling handmade products benefits society?
Learning artisanal techniques brings us back to a day when real value was placed on the effort that goes in to learning and mastering a skill set. In our “consume and throw away” society of today it is valuable to be more aware of those roots of yesteryear. By making handmade products one appreciates the skill and attention to detail in other’s crafts, and gives us a common ground to understanding each other.
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