A Love Affair with Creating
I've crafted as long as I can remember. When I was a young girl who was supposed to be asleep for the night, I'd be crafting under the covers using a flashlight as my only light. I never could get enough of creating.
Throughout my life, I'd create in some form or fashion. You name it, I've done it. I'd make Christmas ornaments with my kids each year, sew my daughter's outfits, make rag dolls....the list goes on and on. To this day, I can't just sit still and watch television. I always have to have something in my hands. When traveling, I usually work on hand sewing a grandmother's garden quilt while I ride on the plane or sit in the car.
While the majority of my sales on Etsy have consisted of faith-based/Catholic jewelry, polymer clay art jewelry and home decor items, I'm going to begin selling items such as mini quilts, pincushions and patterns to my shop. I will continue to carry faith-based jewelry, however the polymer clay junk food jewelry that I have been designing and selling since the mid- 2000's is being discontinued. This is due to two primary reasons - the first is I'm a bit burned out after making these for almost two decades. The second is the number of copycats using my original concept is now in the hundreds and it is no longer feasible for me to continue with making these designs. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but when it cuts into the financial bottom line, it's time to change things up a bit.
My work has been published in several books and publications including: Polymer Cafe, Belle Armoire Jewelry, Haute Handbags, Somerset Gallery,
Altered Art Circus by Lisa Kettell, Jewelry from Found Objects by Heather Skowood, 1001 Steampunk Creations, among others.
I was commissioned to make the jewelry for the St. Damien of Molokai canonization celebrations in Hawaii a few years ago. My handmade kitschy food jewelry is sold at the Jell-O museum in New York and other retail outlets in the United States. I was awarded the "Eco-Chic Jewelry Artist" by Prilosec OTC in the summer of 2011.
ALL OF MY PRODUCTS ARE 100% HANDMADE IN MY HOME CRAFT STUDIO. That's right - I don't farm out work to others or have anything manufactured for me. I make each piece with care, love and commitment to my craft.
