I've taken a few classes but like many others my training is mostly self taught. I have loved arts & crafts since that big grey clump of clay was sitting in the center of the table in Mrs. O'Neils kindergarten class.

My mother & aunt were very talented with stitching, ceramics, sewing and lots of other things so I guess that rubbed off on me. I started drawing after someone complimented me on my psychedelic doodles when I was a kid and continued to love art class throughout high school. I was supposed to go to college & wanted to major in art but instead I went to Europe (for the summer) to travel and didn't come back for four years! While there, I met my crazy Dutchman & got married and my focus in life was then raising my family. After having 3 daughters, there was one last try for a boy which turned out to be 2 more twin daughters. We made arrangements not to have any more children but when 2 more girls we knew needed a safe & stable home we took them into our family as well, so I ended up raising SEVEN daughters! In 1998 all 7 were teenagers! I'm sure many men out there can feel for my poor husband!

In 1995 with my 2 good friends, we opened "A~ga~pe' Gifts & Crafts", a shop where many talented people were able to consign their works of art with us. That's when I started painting, improved my skills & actually earned some money from my art. I did that for 7 years until I stepped out of the partnership to help with my grandson who was born with a very rare syndrome called 4P minus or Wolf-Hirshhorn Syndrome which causes him to have many special needs. Since staying home with him, my creative outlet was mostly craft shows.
Once all of my daughters moved out and on their own we converted our walk out basement into my art studio where I teach porcelain painting and kiln fired arts. Once a year in the Fall I have a big open studio craft show with some of my close artistic friends. You can see some of it here on our blog ~ http://oakdalecircle.blogspot.com/

I hope you'll enjoy browsing through my etsy shop and possibly discovering a special find for yourself or for your gift giving needs! I hope to be adding more stock in the coming weeks.

Wishing you many blessings!
~Patricia