Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved searching for sea glass on the beach. Holding my grandpa's hand, we'd walk down to the beach together after dinner - him in his Docksiders, me in my flip flops. He would teach me how to look for sea glass in between the enormous boulders on the beach in Rhode Island. The "blue-ies" were always lucky.

I could spend hours combing through rocks and pebbles to find the perfect piece of glass. Today I use that same approach when finding the right components for each piece of jewelry in my shop.

And while I don't always use sea glass in my jewelry, I source all of the colors from nature's palette: flowers from my garden, sun setting in the winter in Connecticut, and of course - the colors of the beach in New England.

I am a full-time speech language pathologist working with elementary age children. While I love what I do, it can be intense. Making jewelry has become one of my favorite outlets. I have always considered myself to be creative, but was never "artistic". Making jewelry has helped me to find my artistic side. I love blending colors and textures, and exploring the countless materials available to create unique pieces.

Most importantly, I am a wife and a mother to two wonderful, heartwarming boys, ages 10 and 14. Although they have the ability to interrupt my work incessantly, they also inspire me to think outside the box and to be courageous in this endeavor of mine. My favorite is when they come and sit with me in my studio as I bead while they draw, read, or chat. I couldn't have "picked" a better family.