My high school Art teacher told us to look at a piece of Art and decide how to redo it and make it your own. That’s what I enjoy doing! I started out in Art and Home Ec at St Catherine’s college in St. Paul, Minnesota.  After two years I took a break and went to work at a local TV station and then got married a year later and had three little girls in five years.  When the girls were old enough for pre school I created craft projects for three year olds at their school and did all the buying for the school for ten years.                  

Next a friend convinced me to co-manage a Wildlife Art Gallery for two and a half  years. When it closed I decided to learn how to frame and went to a picture framing center in Jackson, Mississippi, in March 1982. For the next eighteen years I did framing for a gallery, local wildlife artists, businesses and private homes and my frame shop was in my home. At this time I learned how to do faux finishing doing frames and furniture.  We moved to San Antonio, Texas, where I designed and painted children’s furniture. I also took classes at Texas A&M to become a Master Gardener. I love gardening and flower arranging. I took a class on designing belt buckles (took second place for best glitzy buckle) and designed wine charms and jewelry. I was juried into art shows in Texas and sold in galleries in Santa Fe and Minnesota.                      

Eighteen years ago when we bought a lake home in northern Minnesota I ran into my high school Biology teacher who was the assistant director at Camp Knutson, a camp dedicated to children and adults with special needs. She asked me to get involved and that’s when I started a new program for the campers called “Beading at the Beach” twice a week. I had sixty kids the first year and now we touch 1200 kids and adults with disabilities every year. This is how I spend my summers.        

Another passion is knitting and needle pointing. My Nana taught me to knit when I was seven so I could knit doll clothes for my sisters. My mom started me on needle pointing.  I served as President of the Verdes Art League for three years using my time and energy with this amazing group. Our Verdes Art League is so special because we are all so caring and enjoy sharing with each other.