I have always had artistic leanings, but it was when I took a metalsmithing class in college that something clicked and I said, “This is what I’m meant to do.” I majored in jewelry and metalsmithing and now I sell my work primarily through retail craft shows and home shows. I make all my pieces by hand using hammers, anvils and stakes to raise, forge and sink my pieces. These techniques have been used for thousands of years and help me to connect to the different cultures I study.
My work is influenced by the ideas of ceremony and adornment. I am interested in ancient and tribal cultures whose symbols and myths, while not always blatantly represented, infuse my pieces. I try to bring these influences into my work while maintaining a modern feel. The idea of creating personal ceremony in modern life prompts me to develop pieces for the home and body.