I first discovered stained glass 30 years ago while living in a historic home in the city of St. Louis. Our house had interior windows over each door. Enchanted, I decided to learn how to make stained glass windows, and ended up making three for the house before we moved. I'd also always admired Tiffany lamps, so I took my second formal class in order to learn how to make three dimensional objects. In addition to lamps, I also made hinged jewelry boxes and terrariums. Eventually I started to learn fusing (which resulted in a couple of "oops" boxes filled with my first efforts).

Over the years, my basement studio area has expanded to hold four kilns (one of which is large enough for me to get into); a traditional glass grinder; lap grinder; a monster industrial work table; machine table; crates of stained glass and fusible glass; a huge toolbox on wheels; shelves and shelves of molds; pattern making supplies; zinc came; oak framing; and more.

I'm no lady of leisure. We have a 6,000 sq. ft. garden on our five acres. I grow much of the produce we consume. We had over 750 pounds of produce this year, including over lbs. of organic potatoes! I grow twelve types of potatoes plus two types of apples, spring and fall raspberries, melons, summer and winter squashes, seven types of tomatoes, herbs, garlic, leeks, red, yellow and white onions, peas, green beans, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, swiss chard, blueberries, four kinds of cucumber, lots of flowers, sweet red bell peppers, radishes, carrots and beets.