Q:  Tell Us About Your Childhood, Where You Grew Up and When Your Creativity Began. I was born on Cinco De Mayo, (May 5th), in St. Louis, Mo. When I was 7 years old we moved to Texas and I've been living here since, (except for my first 5-married years when Bob got transferred to California.) I had extremely artistic parents who were raised on the "family-comes-first" value; one may be allowed to have all of these great talents, but make sure you work 9-5 to make a living raising your family then do for yourself later. I had the perfect only-childhood, was waited on hand and foot, and that's very lovely until it's your turn at 18 to go out into the real world! Since all I knew was "fluff" I worked in a Beauty Salon, started modeling, and then after what I thought was years of dating boys, I fell in love with Bob. (I was 19 then.) As crazed as he can make me sometimes, I must give a tribute to him for a few things he taught me, like how to cook and clean and make a bed! (Now he wishes I would do those things daily, like I try for crafting!) I got the artistic side of my parents through their many loves: writing, drawing and any theatrics one can think of, I think because they met on stage in New York. Two unknowns just starting out, they fell in love, so they came back home and started their family.

Q:  To What Do You Attribute Your Talents, and What Inspires You.
I have the best mom in the world, who unfortunately now has Alzheimer's. Sharp enough still as the worst has not yet set in, so we are happy day to day until we can't be any longer. She lives in Mississippi, and with me being in Texas that makes it doubly hard on us. (my step-dad takes care of her daily needs, but I wish she were here with me.) My grandparents were my inspiration too, as I was truly inspired from above. Both grandfathers were Baptist preachers, and only now in writing this little bio do I see how many generations are so different, yet the same. My mother came from what I believe were the Walton's, and my father's family were more like the Kennedy's; One small country church preacher who helped out neighboring farms in the Depression, and the other ministering to congressmen and even Presidents. Both sides of the families were there for me, and I believe from that I always find the good in something first. Whether it's in meeting people or in making crafts or whatever blows my way. My most recent lesson was because of the PWA group and what I have learned about life. I have to share this fear I had of even becoming one of the AOTW, of which I STILL don't think I have truly earned yet. I've seen the most fantastic artwork of so many women, (and I love a good museum so I've seen a lot), and I was feeling so VERY unworthy. Really...It was sad. Only recently did a good friend make me feel better about it all. She said that we women are artists of all kinds, and this article seemed a way to not only look at what the girls made, BUT just as much, to meet them and get to know them. When I saw it that way, well, I feel different now. There will always be those who are more talented than I, but maybe in different fields, and that's what makes us all unique. Added to this, I am VERY thankful for Michele A-Z, for making me feel special for what I've accomplished and especially for all the work she does too.

Q:  How Did You Find PWA?
Terry Townsend "showed me the light" and that would be "eTerry" to ya'll. We are in the same craft group and one day she brought this site to us, and needless to say I have been hooked ever since! She and I bonded through PWA I think, and that was almost 2 years ago. I feel VERY close to this group and adding to you all I'm in a total of 16 groups, most of who meet monthly. Now I love all of these gals here and many are VERY dear friends, but then on-line friends have become the best too! My first encounter with someone I had never personally met, Ms Sharon (from Mars), and her DH Andy, well, they made that meeting SO special! Now I would love to be one of the official liaisons to any of the PWA gals that come through Texas, and I know Bob would like that too. I MUST add a few words here to just a few of the PWA gals: Evelyn Spikes, Thank You for both your truly inspiring artwork and for always being at-the-ready when I need help on anything; Melissa Baldwin, I miss chatting with you! And our Queen Suzanne and Bishop Marjie. You both have made me feel so welcome too. I think because of them I have become a better group organizer, both in areas I chair or just belong in. O'SO much thanks to the Queen and the Bish, from Lady Chat!

Q:  When Did You Begin Stamping?
Well, actually, when I joined PWA! I even remember my first important chat about stamping with our own Katharine Warmerdam, and sadly it was the night before her accident. We were chatting away in the once infamous Yahoo Chat Room, (where I can no longer enter because of the new computer), and we were having a most wonderful time, with Hitomi and a few other gals. I remember she was so astonished when she heard I did not even own one stamp yet, but "hopefully soon" I said. She'll be glad to know that I have acquired stamps here and there, and although I do not have "drawer-fulls" as many do, I am getting there!

Q:  What is Your Favorite Stamping Technique?
Because I am SUCH a novice I guess it would be any stamp I can color and then bead over, (for now.) I am a real "less-is-more" kinda gal; the simple touch. Now, you put me in an amazing class, (which I have had very few) and I think I could do some stuff! The difference of say~ give me a fish ~plain; and then teach me to fish~amazing. The classes are SO much fun and the Flip-Flop class was huge to me as I multi-stamped and colored for the first time and could easily pick that up. I'd LOVE to come to one of the PWA classes, but talk about feeling like a country gal in the big city. Whoosh!!

Q:  Do You Have Any Other Hobbies or Interests, Besides Stamping?
Working on scrapbooks would have to be my first REAL hobby, as far as paper creations go, as from there natch beading and stamping. Then because I am in SO many groups I have learned to be quite good at throwing together dinner parties, either timely or at just a moments notice. I really prefer themed items or events and have recently found a collecting bug in me too. Anything with cards, (for my Poker or Pokeno groups); Purses, (should I show my purse wall?); Salt N Pepper Shakers, (all over the kitchen), and then I'm also a music and movie addict. I only have about 75+ items in each of the categories above, (see still a novice), but for movies and music, well, we don't own it all but to hear Bob tell it, just maybe. I work with philanthropists and many charities too, and my fave 3 are: The Kingwood Heartbeat Bears, where we just raise funds and 100% buys bears for giving here at home and any who need them: GAC, "Golfers Against Cancer" (which I need to be more involved in) as their proceeds are 100% towards cancer research, and then AABY (Animals Always Believe in You), and 100% of their re-sale shop and fashion shows go towards opening a no-kill shelter in our little town.. I have to add that I love my Gourmet group as I've become SUCH a better cook, and thank goodness Samantha is now a good cook early in life!

Q:  Will You Show Us Some Pictures of your Stamp/Craft Room?
Sure, what little there is. It's a combination of a craft/guest/spare/computer room, which I also refer to it as Samantha's West Wing. We have what I call a 3 bedroom dollhouse, so with 2 of the bedrooms being SO small she's taken over this area too, mostly with her posters and pictures of Anime. (Japanese Animation.) When a big craft mood strikes, my craft area becomes the combination of most of my house; I have a lovely dining room, 2 extra 6-ft tables and 2 full card-tables-and-chairs-sets for the living area, and then my breakfast table too. When I put all of those things together, open up my 30+ craft bins and invite some gals over to craft or scrapbook, you can always hear me say..."Wow, Crafting! Throw in a tree and a fat guy, and it's like Christmas!!"