I've always made jewelry. Whether twisting telephone wire into rings, or learning silversmithing in the art department at the University of New Mexico in the 80s. My small metals professor would tease me about the gaudy earrings I used to wear back then. Every time I would walk into class he would stop me and ask, "what still-lifes are you wearing in your ears today?"

Beads became my big obsession after getting laid off from my job. I just dragged out my box of beads and couldn't stop creating. Then it happened...the bracelet that launched my Etsy career!

My niece was chosen to introduce Michelle Obama at a rally in Albuquerque in 2008. She wore the beaded wrap bracelet I made her. When my niece met Ms. Obama backstage at the rally, Ms. Obama told my niece that she loved her "bracelets" not knowing it was one long continuous piece. My niece took it off and said, "my auntie told me that if you liked my bracelet I had to give it to you." I did tell her that, jokingly, before the rally never imagining that she would actually even notice it!

After the rally I had so many women asking me where I sold the bracelets! That night I made two bracelets and launched my Etsy site!

I have now ventured into the world of paper and decoupage, always looking for sumptuous paper and interesting images and shapes. .

I'll never stop making jewelry; or wearing jewelry, or buying jewelry, or collecting jewelry. It has evolved in so many ways and I love that people love my work!