For much of my life, I didn’t have the luxury to think of myself as an artist. Of necessity, my family’s focus was on practical skills to make a living. But growing up in Pittsburgh, where public school children visited art museums regularly and could even choose paintings to hang in their classrooms, I developed a deep and lifelong appreciate for design, form, and especially color. Now, I am fortunate to have the time and space to experiment with making instead of just appreciating crafts.
Each piece of jewelry features handcrafted, unconventional beads made from polymer clay. All of the necklace clasps are easy to manipulate: either clasps that I fashion from silver or brass wire to complement the beads or strong magnets covered in clay for a seamless appearance. The result is a collection of jewelry that is beautiful and fanciful. The pieces make bold statements, yet are lightweight, durable and easy to wear.
In the Washington, DC area, my jewelry has been shown and sold at juried, invited and other events sponsored by the Creative Crafts Council, McLean Project for the Arts, Glen Echo Partnership for the Arts and Culture, the James Renwick Alliance, the Rappahannock Art Tour, and Chevy Chase Artists. It is available for purchase at the Phillips Collection gift shop.