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I have always been involved in some sort of creative handwork from an early age. I learned to sew when I was ten and by my teens I was making made-to-order clothing and was doing costuming for theatre productions. In my twenties I began to design jewelry and was doing gold and silversmithing in my own shop. I then went on, in my thirties, to become an accomplished needlewoman and taught many varied antique needlework techniques, such as hardanger, cutwork, stumpwork and pulled and drawn thread, at a large needlework shop in New Hampshire. The one thing I had never even dabbled in was painting. I went through my life never believing (even remotely) that I could draw a straight line--never mind paint! I was talked into taking a painting class by a woman who was teaching a Rufus Porter-styled barrel stave. I was hooked from the very first brushstroke! I continued by taking an ongoing class at a nearby shop where the owner specialized in the most wonderful aging techniques and what I learned from her has greatly influenced my work. After about a year of painting, I realized that I either needed to stop painting or start selling my work as there was no place left to put anything in my very small home! I did a very small amount of wholesaling and displayed and sold my work in a couple of New England craft shops. After about 4 years I decided to change the focus of my business and began publishing some of my designs, expanded a bit further into wholesaling more finished products, and also began selling my work online. I have since exhibited my work at a national wholesale show for several years and I have shipped my work to shops and galleries through the country as well as overseas. Perhaps it is because I am a New England native, or perhaps it is just my personal tastes, but my favorite works are those things typical to old New England. One of my greatest loves has always been old gameboards, but the price of the antique boards was out of my reach, so I began designing and painting my own to replicate the old appearance. They continue to be a favorite subject for me. I frequently focus my work in the area of recreating the look of age-worn functional items and I find great joy in working on reclaimed pieces of furniture and wood. I thank you for visiting my website and hope that you will find some items that give you pleasure. So, grab a cuppa and just browse to your heart's content! I'd love to hear from you!
Americana | Boxes | Gameboards | Signs | Furniture | Patterns | Fabric Goodies
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Updated on November 12, 2005