Artist Highlight

"As an avid, life-long animal lover, I have had pets of all descriptions since I was a young child. My father, a wildlife biologist, introduced me at an early age to animal rescue by constantly bringing me homeless animals he had found in the woods.

How many kids do you know who had a pet weasel?

As an adult I have surrounded myself with dogs and cats, and have worked with the local humane society as a pet-facilitated therapy volunteer. My current loves are my terrier mix puppy, Zoe, and my two big-boy, fat cats, Stan and Ollie. All three have come into my life in the past year and have totally made my home their kingdom.

My interest in jewelry began in 1997 when I took metal smithing classes at a local community center. After a 25-year career as a professional photographer with a degree in graphic design, I wanted a way to express myself in three dimensions. I also wanted to combine my love of animals with my newly-discovered passion for working with metal.

I have discovered that my true love is working with mixed metals, juxtaposing the different colors of sterling silver, copper and brass to fabricate my kinetic creatures. Much of the fun comes from working through problems and adding some form of mechanical movement to the pieces. My goal is to create a piece of art that conveys character and personality, and will also evoke a smile".