I've been making jewelry on and off for over 15 years and started melting glass in 2005. Always interested in sculpting, I decided to take an Italian-style offhand glass blowing class at a local arts school when I lived in Phoenix. The experience was absolutely exhilarating yet, quite humbling. I took the class twice, but also took classes in both soft (soda-lime) and hard (borosilicate) glass and finally fusing. Once I was introduce to "lampworking" or "flameworking" to make beads I was hooked. What a trip.

I then took a few jewelry making classes, PMC, and chainmaille. I had an amazing studio while I lived in Phoenix! However, now that I live in San Francisco, there really isn't a place for an oxygen or propane tank in my apartment. I do sometimes rent a torch at a nearby hot shop to make beads when I can. For now, I share a stainless steel table with my husband where we can make things with our hands.

I've always been fascinated with crystals, not necessarily in the mystic sense but more in the how they formed, as my father gave me some crystals that he acquired while getting his PhD in Electrical Engineering. He was part of a team developing silicon chips to use in telephones. When he explains how they're made it simply blows my mind. Having said that, the crystals and gems I use are formed in nature, not in a lab. Well except for the occasional sparkly Czech or Swarovski beads.

You may notice that I often mix metals. I really like the contrast, especially when I can apply a patina or oxidizing treatment. I hope you like it too.

All of the lampwork beads used in my jewelry are hand wound by me unless otherwise noted. Each one is immediately kiln annealed in a digitally controlled kiln.