The Origin of My Fascination with Glass

My love for glass began in college where as a chemistry major I was required to take glassblowing classes in order to create my own equipment for experiments.  Much to my professor’s dismay, I soon began my own experiments just with the glass - creating flowers, leaves and other very non-scientific objects.  My love for jewelry and all objects shiny and colorful has been life-long, and I began designing my own jewelry about 11 years ago incorporating my glass art and other objects.

Using the torch to gently coax the glass into shape and to capture intricate details, I follow each inspiration and my passion in duplicating the colors, shapes, and beauty of nature.  Each of my pieces is lovingly created by hand in my studio from an inspiration, idea, or thought. Each piece I design and construct is one-of-a-kind and seems to have its own personality, not only through the creative process, but as a final work of art.   My objective for the art glass and jewelry that I create is to replicate some of the beauty nature offers in an object that can be held, worn, and cherished forever.

Select Exhibitions, Awards, and Recognition

• Selected as an Artist in Residence, September 2010, Pilchuck Glass School, Stanwood, WA
• Juried Exhibition, July 2010 – June 2011, "Convergence II", International Society of Glass Beadmakers, International Traveling Exhibition
• Bead Dreams, Finalist in Lampworking/Glass Category, 2010, “Bead & Button Magazine”, Kalmbach Publishing Company
• Buyers Market of American Craft (The Rosen) Show, February 12-15, 2010, Philadelphia, PA
• Selected as a Resident Glass Artist, 2008-2009, The Workhouse, Lorton Arts Foundation, Lorton, VA
• 2008 Bead Arts Award, 1st and 2nd Place, Featured in 2008 November/December issue of "Step by Step Beads", Interweave Press
• Juried Exhibition, August 18 - September 30, 2007, "Once Upon a Bead", Catskills Mountain Foundation Gallery, Hunter, NY
• Featured Artist, Australian Beading, Premiere Edition, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2007, Universal Publications
• Juried Exhibition, December 1 - December 30, 2006, "Celebrating Craft", Rossdhu Gallery, Chevy Chase, MD
• Guest Artists Exhibition, December 9, 2006, Lorton Arts Foundation, Lorton, VA
• Juried Exhibition, September 30 - November 12, 2006, "Once Upon a Bead", Catskills Mountain Foundation Gallery, Hunter, NY
• Featured Artist, The Bead Review 2005, Annual Publication of the Year's Best Glass Art Beads
• Third Place, Glass Category, 2005, Virginia's Best of Artists Juried Competition and Publication
• Honorable Mention, Jewelry Category, 2005, Virginia's Best of Artists Juried Competition and Publication
• Select Artists Exhibition, 2004, Corcoran College of Art + Design, Washington, DC
• Featured Artist, 2004, Spotlight on Magic Color Reactions, Publication on Glass Art Beads
• Permanent Exhibition Celebrating Beads and Their History, Bead Museum, Washington, DC