 Q: Tell us about your family and pets.
My husband Adam and I
have been married since 1990. We have one cat named Princess Pretty Kitty.
Over the years we've had five dogs: Rambo, Rufus, Rowdy, Felony, and
Brutus.
My family is very important
to me. We are very close and I would do anything for them.
Adam and I live with my Mom in the home I grew up in. There are so many
happy memories here and we are making more and more every day! My Mom is
81, but she looks and acts more like 60. My Dad passed away in 1994.
I miss him very much.
My maternal grandparents immigrated to the US from Abruzzi, Italy and
my paternal grandparents immigrated from Isola Delle Femmine, Sicily in the
early 1900's. My grandfather served on horseback in WWI in the United
States Calvary, my Father served in WWII (where her met my Mom while he was on leave in New
York), two of my uncles served in Korea, and my brother served in Vietnam. I am the youngest of five children (three
sisters and one brother). I am very close to my siblings. My sisters all
live within 9 miles of my home and I speak to them every day. My brother lives
about 200 miles away, but we are still close. Between Adam and myself, we have 16 nephew and nieces, and 17 great
nephews and nieces. I am very proud of each and every one of them!
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Q: Tell us about your childhood, where you grew
up, and when your creativity began.
I was born and raised in
Pittsburg, California (San Francisco Bay Area). I remember that I always
loved to draw. I would draw anything; people, animals, still life's or
whatever I decided looked interesting! When I was a teenager I had a lot
of fun designing clothing and teaching my friends how to sew. My friends
hung out at my house a lot. We had a lot of sleepovers. I still have the
same friends from Junior High/High School. To this day, my friends still
hang out at my house! LOL In the 80's
we would stay up late to watch Headbanger's Ball and we would attend most of the
music concerts in Oakland and San Francisco. I had
big hair and I was so proud of it! LOL Those were some good times!
I still go to concerts when I can, my favorite singer/songwriter is Chris
Cornell. Now days, we play bunco, board games, and do lunch and have dinner parties!
I love parties, but I think I love the planning just as much. I love
having themes and party favors and all that fun stuff!
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Q: To what do you attribute your talents and what inspires you?
My Mother taught me how to sew at a young age. I even made my own wedding
dress! My father liked to woodwork. He made and painted duck decoys. I
attribute my talents to them and the fact that they were always very supportive
of any art/craft I was involved in. They always encouraged me. My
father said that there was nothing I couldn't do. I believed him, so I
learned to do a lot of different crafts and I have several hobbies a result. I think that everyone has a talent for
something, you just have to find out what it is.
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 Q: How did you find PWA?
I was searching the internet for micro beads and I found
the lowest prices at the Pennywise Arts website. So, I placed an order and
joined the group! I am so glad that I did! I have made some wonderful
friendships and I have learned so much from this very talented group!
Q: When did you begin stamping?
I started stamping after I joined the Pennywise Arts Group. But, I had
been collecting stamps about 1 1/2 years before that - not really knowing what
to do with them! I received a lot of inspiration and encouragement from
the group, so I finally busted out my stamps and started using them. After
attending the 2006 WLSBP in Seattle I was totally hooked! I have even been published in "The Rubber Stamper"!
Q: What is your favorite stamping technique?
I like using Alcohol Inks for backgrounds such as Polished Stone. I also
like to distress with either ink or chalk.
 Q: Do you have any other hobbies or interests, besides Stamping?
I love to travel.
We have been on 6 cruises. My husband and I have
had the pleasure of traveling to Mexico (6 times). We went to Italy a few
years ago and Canada a year before that. We have also visited several
states; Alaska (my favorite), Hawaii, Seattle (5 times), Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New York
(8 times), Philadelphia, Houston, and New Jersey. In October of 2006 we went
to Niagara Falls, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Maryland, and then we
took the New England Coastal Cruise to Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and
Halifax & St John, New Brunswick, Canada. We went to France and
England on our last trip (November 2007). We plan to visit Washington
(again) in May.
I have tried just about
every artsy crafty thing I could think of, such as cake decorating
(everything from South Park's Cartman character cakes to five tiered Wedding
cakes), painting (tole, one stroke, and realistic), sewing, and woodworking.
I took 4 years of drafting so I like to create my own plans/blue prints
and have Adam build what I design. We work very well together as a team!
When my father was alive, I
enjoyed going Skeet and Trap Shooting with him. I shot Trap competitively
once. I finished in third place, it was fun though!
I spend a lot of time on my computer. I
have a lot of fun creating graphics and writing html code and devising ways to
use my computer in my art.
Q: Will you show us some pictures of your stamp/craft room?
Yes, but it isn't really a regular craft room. I have two rooms, one has
my stamps, inks, paper, and other products that have to be in a temperature
controlled environment. Everything else is in the enclosed patio, which is
more like storage space. I do most of my art on a roll top desk in the
family room. My husband is in the process of putting together more
cabinets for the patio, so I can get my art/craft stuff more organized in the
coming year.
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