I've always earned my living as an artist and will to the end of my life!
I started my Gallery, Uptown Tribal, in Bisbee Arizona in about 1996 and filled it with my work exclusively.
I had already been one of the jewelry designers and manufacturers for The Nature Company, a national chain mostly found in upscale (!) Malls.
When I first arrived in Bisbee, I had already written, illustrated and self published two books, "Basic Wire Work For Bead Jewelery" (because there really was very little on the subject) and "How to be Successful in the Bead Jewelry Business" (Of course, because I don't sell them through Amazon, they say they are out of print. Not true, I publish them myself!)
I also began writing a weekly How To column for the Lapidary Journal. I wrote 46 articles in all, in the early 1990s.
This was followed by four How To 1 1/2 hour films. In those days, instructional films on Lamp Work and Bead Jewelry making, were few.
For several years in the early 1990s, I sold extensively on Ebay. Now I have committed most of my Online Sales to Etsy. I opened it in 2008 but did not begin selling until 2011.
For many years, I have traveled to England to teach lamp work and bead jewelry design and construction,during the heat of Arizona Summers. and have also spent many of those Summers in Normandy, France, also working in Glass.
Now that I have a little Grand Daughter, I will resist traveling to Europe in the Summers and go to California to teach.
My gallery has moved to another location in Bisbee but Uptown Tribal is still open!
I am now offering classes in my home studio.. I have 30 instructional films on Youtube.
