Q: Tell us about your family and pets.
I have been married to my wonderful Husband Byron for 13 years and together we have 3 boys; 9 year old Alec, and 6 year old twins Sean and David. All my guys are the light of my life! We moved into a home that overlooks Clarks Hill Lake in Lincolnton GA almost a year ago and we just feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful place. I included a photo I took from our back porch. We also have 6 animals, 3 dogs and 3 cats that we share our home with. All but one of our animals (sheltie) are rescue animals. Needless to say we have a lot of dog and cat hair in our dust bunnies! But they are so much fun and there is nothing better than taking a nap with one of our warm furry friends.

Q: Tell us about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.
I was born in Long Beach, CA, and was adopted when I was 6 weeks old to a couple who had a 4 year old boy who was also adopted. We lived in CA until I was 12 then moved to Wisconsin where my Mom and Dad are from. Talk about culture shock! I had no idea there were so many cows in this world! And talk about freezing cold! When I was a little girl I loved to color and draw, and would do that almost everyday. My Mom would do crafts with us occasionally which I just loved.

Q: To what do you attribute your talents and what inspires you?
I attribute my talent to God. I think he made us creative creatures, and loves to see us paint and draw and stamp and such, and to use that to enhance our lives and our family and friends lives… and to just give us joy. Nature inspires me the most. If I am in a creative drought I go for a walk down by the lake and it clears my head looking at all the beauty around me, and I am ready to go back into the Studio. I also get great ideas from magazines, and TV commercials. I like to use color combinations that I see in ads or in other products not related to the stamp and scrapbook industry.

Q: How did you find PWA?
I was looking for a good wholesale source for micro beads for my online store www.TheStampingStudio.com when I came across PWA on a Google search, and they had the best prices around. I soon placed an order and joined the Yahoo group to get more ideas on how to use the beads I was selling. I just LOVE the PWA group and it is the only group I am on besides my own. I wish I had more time to post and chat with everyone. I attended the WLSBP in April and had fun with everyone!

Q: When did you begin stamping?
I began stamping after the birth of my first son 9 years ago. I started Scrapbooking and came across a CTMH catalog and without ever having stamped before, I signed up as a demonstrator! I was published in one of their catalogs one year and that was just a thrill for me and is when I really started to get serious about stamping. I then discovered another home party rubber stamping company that sold unmounted stamps, and I thought unmounted stamps were such a good idea that I quickly switched companies. I did very well with that company, and continued to get published in magazines, and even designed the cover of their catalog one year. After being with them for a few years I felt God telling me to go out on my own, and after praying about it and talking with my husband I decided to start my own online rubber stamp company. I did not know any artists when I first began and drew some of the first stamp sets myself! I have now been open almost 4 years. My brother in-law David has a master degree in film and was looking for a project to do and we decided to film stamping videos. That was really fun, and we are hoping to do some new ones... (that was 4 years ago) DVD's this time, in the near future. Shortly after we filmed the videos I sent some pitches into The Carol Duvall show and was accepted! I have flown out twice to CA to film 4 segments. It was such a nervous thrill!

Q: What is your favorite stamping technique?
Just one?! I like to stamp with solid/bold images the best. I like things to be neat and clean and symmetrical. I also like to color with a blending pen and ink pads. I am really into making bottle cap jewelry lately, and I also like to make useful things like notebooks, and clipboards and things like that.

Q: Do you have any other hobbies or interests, besides Stamping?
I dabble in photography, and jewelry making, and I also like to sew simple things like curtains. I have sewed new curtains for the Studio and am now working on curtains for Alec's room. I also love to sing, and although I live to far from my church to be in the choir, I enjoy being in their yearly cantata's. We had an Easter cantata this year for the first time that I was a part of.

Q: Will you show us some pictures of your stamp/craft room?
Sure! I have the joy of a working Studio and Store all in one. My Studio is connected to our home. My animals love to hang out in the Studio with me and that is where I took all the photos of the dogs. I have most of my personal craft supplies hidden behind a curtain on industrial shelves. I have classes and workshops here so I need to be able to hide my mess! God had used rubber stamping to bless my life so much!