Before 2007

This helps define where I began.

Art Quilting - Within NMQA I meet a group of art quilters. They encouaged me to start to look outside the box. Less patterns and color freedom! I began to take lot of classes. I felt like a sponge, I just couldn't learn enough.

Community Service - While I was learning to quilt I met a lady who invited me to look at New Mexico Quilters Association (NMQA). The first time I went to a meeting I met a wonderful group of ladies that were in a sub group called Sweet Charity. They were making quilts to give away to those in need here in New Mexico. I joined them and we made over 3,500 quilts during this time.

Quilting - One day a friend walked into my house with five bins of fabric. A pack rat had gotten into her shed and she had to wash everything. She said she did not want the fabric back in the shed, and she knew I would find something to do with it. Back to my pack rat habits. I took a bin of fabric and my old sewing machine and headed down the hill to a local fabric shop, Quilts From the Heart (I still go there).

This is not the first quilt I started but it is the first I finished.

I took a class on creating art with found pieces. We went into a local wooded area and created art, took pictures and left the sculptures there for others to find. I went back months later and they were still there.

Claywork - I was going through a time of trial and found myself in a ceramic class. One teddy bear and a rabbit later I found I really enjoyed learning how to use glazes and other ceramic stuff. I took a bunch of classes, opened a storefront and began my journey into clay.

This is the store and production facility in Los Alamos.

Marketing was the hardest part for me. But I went to market in Dallas here. It was designed for only southwestern products.

New Mexico has a ceramic show where people compete for ribbons. My store took Best Shop for two years. My students were awesome!

I've done a little sculpting.

I developed a series of dishes that I marketed in Santa Fe and in craft shows.

I developed the glaze for this chili series. It was a hit.

Designs were based on the Anasasi Indians' work.

I developed a Lords prayer series. I have a friend, Marilyn, that did the most beautiful caligraphy for me.

This series was blueberries on top of a white glaze.

My very first class. They all made yard bunnies.

I taught many children. I loved watching them try new things.

Amanda & Bill

Amanda & Bill - I came across these pictures. This is my granddaughter and my husband. It sure brings back memories.

Cast dragons done with raku glazes.

Burial Urns done for a scientist in Los Alamos.

Burial urn done for a friend in Mexico.

Jewelery - Who can resist strings of beads? I can't, so I designed necklaces and strung them to my heart's content. One day I tried a little silversmithing.

I found a source in Germany for some wax that would soften at hand temperature. I made a line of candles by using this wax to sculpt designs and then attached them to premade candles. I also hand dipped candles but I do not have any of them left.


Knitting - A very sweet white haired old lady taught me how to knit in my senior year. I made a letter man's sweater and a car coat. I was so proud of myself. I wish I had taken pictures but I did not. I'm afraid I have regressed and the only thing I have have been making is scarves.

Picture at an arts & crafts Christmas show.

Sewing - In my junior year of high school I discovered I could sew (a teacher deserves a lot of credit). I started on a formal for the prom and made a matching coat (in black velvet and white pique no less). If you don't know you can't do it you probably can. Followed by four wedding dresses, a few bridesmaid outfits, and a couple of more formals and finally I decided that I could sew.

Daisy chains - As a child I loved to do repetitive things. I spent hours knotting daisies and clover (more plentiful). I don't remember what I did with them but I remember loving it.

Sandcastles - One of my first memories are of a sand box my father made. He filled it with sand that was full of periwinkle shells. I hunted for them by the hours. Probably my beginnings of found art. Mustard flowers and a few flowers stolen from my mother's flower beds adorned my sand art work.