230amStudio

230am Studio is located in Indian Orchard Mills, a former spinning mill on the Chicopee River in Indian Orchard, MA. Folks always ask about the name of my shop. "Is that when you create your work?" Well...kind of. The name derives from the restlessness that comes in those early hours of the morning, when I wake up, and it's hard to get back to sleep. It's a time of inspiration, when my thoughts are running wild, a little out of bounds, a little terrifying at times. It's that time when I KNOW what it is I was meant to do.....so I keep my sketchbook by my bed, and I jot down words.

I'm a paper and mixed media artist. I've been working with handmade paper, pulp, and surface-decorated papers for about 14 years. In an earlier life, I majored in International Business and minored in French. I worked at a financial services firm, and then in college admissions. I left admissions to move to Japan with my cat, where I taught English and traveled, and then I went to graduate school and earned Master's degrees in English and Business Education. When I graduated, I was married, with a son, a daughter on the way, and 2 cats. As I reorganized my life, I knew that flexibility was of utmost importance to me as I raised my children. I began life as an adjunct professor, teaching English, Professional Writing, Business, and Art. I also started my studio work on a serious level.

Because, you see, I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t making art, and fibers have always been a big part of my creative explorations. I began sewing, knitting, embroidering, crocheting and woodworking in elementary school. My father was an artisan woodworker, and he and my mom taught and encouraged me every step of the way. As a teenager, I sold my work in a tourist shop in my hometown, in the mountains of NC. I studied drawing and sculpture in college, and have studied fiber art and soft sculpture. Since 1999, I've worked mainly with fibers used in papermaking.

My work evolves from handmade and surface-designed papers and pulp. Much of my inspiration comes from a “sense of the spiritual” found in nature, in both sacred places and in nature’s artwork: an intricate, meandering grapevine tendril; a perfectly round, smooth, wave-tumbled stone from the coast; birch bark; manzanita burls; a carefully woven bird’s nest; a bone; a poppy seed pod; an antler. These elements come together to form my Lorica nests, which whisper of emotions, the life cycle, and the significance of home, even at its darkest. Lorica nests are hand cast with handmade paper or pulp. I then incorporate fibers, beads, found objects, stitching, basketry and packaging techniques to transform the seemingly ordinary into works that evoke wonder, peacefulness, beauty, and sometimes pain. “Lorica,” the Celtic word for "breastplate" is a blessing or prayer for protection. To me, the word perfectly captures the spirit of my "nests." Nests are homes--vessels for birth and life, memories and "becomings." Our homes, as vessels, are meant to protect, shelter, nurture, and guide.

In addition to my Lorica nests and unique handmade books, I also design and create collages, cards, ornaments or charms, handmade paper, and surface-designed papers. Prints of most of my work are available. 230am Studio offers workshops, and custom orders are always welcome.

And, by the way, I have 3 cats now.