About The Artist

I love to work with my hands and solve creative problems. As a Creative Director and Commercial Graphic Artist for the past 3 decades, I’ve enjoyed many creative and rewarding challenges. However, each creative business solution has a limited lifespan – days, months or years – depending on the problem to solve and it’s various applications.

Then, the “age of technology,” eliminated the “hands on” love affair with my drafting table, pens and markers. Since the computer became my main artistic tool in 1989; pushing a mouse around all day and staring at a screen created a nagging desire within me to create with my hands again. (Somehow creation with a computer isn’t real. It’s not tangible. You can’t hold it, flip the page around, erase it… or get dirty for that matter. Don’t get me wrong, technology is a blessing, but when you’re an artist, it’s just not the same!)

I longed to create and make “things” that would be loved and appreciated by people; that would be original, long lasting, meaningful, empowering and make someone smile. I yearned for more personal and intimate connections, and an outlet to express but I didn’t know what to do, or what medium I to work with.

Eureka!

After meeting Iris and Rick Austin at the Boardwalk Art Show, I was inspired to make jewelry. They are incredible human beings, jewelry designers, metalsmiths and lapidary artists who both have an undeniable passion for the minerals and gems they create their jewelry around. After purchasing several cherished pieces of their work at the Boardwalk Art Show, my life was forever changed. I was moved by their passion, their ability to make other people happy by wearing their work, and I felt metalsmithing was something I had to explore.

A few weeks later, I met Emory Liggett (Tops In Opals, Elizabeth City, NC) at a local Gem and Mineral Show. I was fascinated when I heard him tell he a customer that he could cut an opal to match the stone in her ring while she waited. I asked if I could watch him. He cut an opal while I looked over his shoulder. Then he gave me a piece of opal to cut, and I’ve been hooked on lapidary art ever since.

I’ve been an artist since I was a kid. My interests and hobbies have always been on the artistic side. I have journeyed through various other creative paths, such as fashion merchandising, fashion design, sewing, enameled jewelry, paper jewelry, fused glass jewelry, Indian beadwork, stained glass, wearing unusual jewelry (Jewelry seems to be a thread running through here! – I LOVE JEWELRY!) picking up any kind of interesting rock, shell or “found object” I see, gardening (I love to dig), I’ve even dug fishponds, and now, I dig for rocks and gemstones whenever I get a chance!

With my 2 assistant “rock” hounds by my side (my dogs Demi & Jet,) I work with silver, gold, unique minerals, fossils, shell and gemstones to create handcrafted fine art jewelry as “Art On You.” We love to Rock it!

I thank my husband, Kim for his support, encouragement during show and tell, smiles (and muscles when I need them at the art shows!) Plus, he’s an awfully good companion when it comes to rockhounding, too!