Artist's Statement

I grew up in a household where making things by hand, from ‘scratch’, was not only valued, but considered the right and only way to make anything. A cake or mashed potatoes made from a box, for example, was “fake”; not the real thing. My mother not only grew her own veggies in her own garden, she pickled her own cucumbers. She made candles, homemade jams, breads and all sorts of things I was unable to appreciate for what they were at the time.

I have four sisters; two younger and two older. They are all intelligent, talented, and beautiful. Like most children, it was the two older sisters with whom I felt the most in competition, as everything I did, they had already been there, and done that. Both of my two older sisters are very artistic; in high school, they explored various artistic media, including sketching, painting, photography, and theatre. I, on the other hand, can’t draw, paint or act, and while I love taking pictures, I’ll never be considered an artist for it.

So, I needed to find my own creative niche.

Throughout high school, I explored many art forms, including theater, photography, music, literature and writing. Once, I even took a dance class. When I went to college, I continued that exploration, and graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a B.S. in Liberal Studies, minoring in music. I also explored the rich cultural offerings of greater New Haven, from the museums and theaters to arts festivals and concerts on the green.

A friend brought me to the local bead shop, The Rock Garden, when I was a sophomore in college. I was entranced by the diversity of shapes, colors and textures of beads available for sale. The salespeople were not only kind and helpful, but very patient, as they showed me how to design and make my very own pair of earrings for the first time. I have been beading ever since, and over the years, beading has become an integral part of my life.

I work with a variety of beads, from crystal to onyx and moonstone, from freshwater pearls to turquoise and natural shell, resulting in a constantly changing inventory of raw material and finished pieces. Many artists create work which is meant to be shown, not used, and is not accessible to most people who, like myself, do not have a disposable income ready to be spent. I have a few “show” pieces, but most of my work is meant to be used, to be worn and enjoyed; not just by those who can afford it, but by anyone who appreciates beauty, both in themselves and in their accessories.