Girl meets glass.

I've always been a crafty gal. The jewelry making, though, surfaced from a desire to collect. I wanted to get my hands on all the gorgeous Czech glass I was introduced to here on Etsy. I began making jewelry primarily because I wanted to play with Czech glass. I continue because there's a lot of glass out there.

This is a Dark Ride. My shop's name is a reference to a sign on the set of an old TV show. I always took it as a comment on life, in that context, but it also resonates with my excursions into popular culture. I enjoy the dark rides -- Gothic and detective fiction, horror narratives, and, particularly, vampire stories -- in popular narrative, graphic novels, video games, on film and television.

My interests have influenced my studies. I recently obtained a Master's Degree in Popular Culture. My areas of study? Detective fiction and vampire narratives.

The dark rides of popular culture also influence my assemblages. I dip into literature, fairy tale, music, television and film, and borrow from times past and imagined for inspirations. I work with antiqued metals primarily because of its ability to evoke another time. I work primarily with Czech glass with Picasso finishes because it is so freakin' awesome.