Q: Tell us about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.
I was born and raised in Seattle Washington. When I was 20 I met my future husband. He was from Sydney Australia and was visiting relatives in Seattle. A friend of my brother introduced us. I remember going home and telling my mother after the first date that I was going to marry that man. Naturally she was horrified. Not that she didn't like Frank, she just didn't want me to move to Australia (which, as a mother now myself, I can totally understand). Anyway we dated for awhile then the US Army got involved. It was during the Vietnam war and they tried to call Frank up to serve for the US. He decided that if he was going to fight it would be for his homeland and not the US so within 7 days he was headed back home. He wasn't deported since he paid his own fare home BUT it did take us many years for us to get a visa for him to return to Seattle to visit both our relatives. Two months after he left Seattle I was on a plane bound for Sydney. He met me at the airport along with all his family. Boy that was an eye opener. I was used to Mum and Dad and a brother. Frank was one of 9 and of Italian descent. That night I think half of Sydney came to visit with me.  Anyway, I survived the initial shock and a year later we got married.

Mom was always doing something with crafts.  Seemed to go in spurts (like I do now, so I guess I inherited that from her!) She had her ceramic stage (me too), cake decorating (and me) and was always either crocheting or knitting something. I don't like to knit but have moments of crocheting but not so much now that I discovered stamping. I worked with a girl who made cards and she actually got me started. I went to a 6 hour class and the rest is history. I was hooked. That was about 10 years ago. For years I did my crafting in the spare bedroom at home but once we built our new Panel Beating shop (body shop to you Yanks!!) Frank gave me the largest office to work in (I say he gave me, but actually I took it!!). I now have this large 20' x 11' room with windows all down 2 sides. Great lighting for crafting. I'm running out of room though,  so I keep asking if I can knock a wall down and take part of his office (yeah like that is really going happen! VBG!!) I'm at the shop most days.  I get to play with my stuff but I'm also on hand if he needs an errand run or needs to be taken somewhere. Works well for both of us.

Q: To what do you attribute your talents and what inspires you?
I don't know about real talent. I've tried so many different crafts over the years, but I can honestly say stamping seems to be what I feel good doing. Seeing other people's work or something in a magazine gives me my ideas. If I'm really stuck I just sit and look at my stamps on the shelves and usually something will come to me. I do like to use UM's BUT since they are put away in drawers I tend to forget they are there so end up using my tried and true favorite mounted stamps.

Q: How did you find PWA?
I honestly can't remember how I met up with Suzanne but I can remember her asking if I'd like to join her new group. I was also lucky enough to be in Seattle for the very first shoe box party at her house. I've been to several since then and I was able to attend 2007's Worlds Largest Shoebox Party in Washington.

Q: What is your favorite stamping technique?
I don't really have a favorite technique. I do cards mainly. I've tried altered books, tins, puzzles and the like but keep going back to cards.

Q: Do you have any other hobbies or interests, besides Stamping? Other interests would be doing jigsaw puzzles and reading. I'm an avid reader and like just about anything. I love medical horror (like Robin Cook and Michael Palmer) but am not averse to reading a good old fashioned love story or spy type story. I also like family saga type books.

Q:  Do you have any other fun facts or adventures to share with us?
Many years ago I took part in a ladies only demolition derby. My girlfriend and I decided it would be fun to drive in it so my DH and hers set about getting a car for each of us. Her husband was a race driver at the time so we borrowed his race suits and helmets and it actually freaked out the other lady drivers cause they thought we looked professional. Came time for the race, all lined up to go - her battery was dead and she never got off the start line. I was so disappointed for her but had my own self to think about. I had a ball bashing and crashing and speeding to get out of the way of others. I came 3rd in that race when my motor finally gave out with no water after an earlier hit to the front end, and I won the most aggressive driver award. Frank said afterwards that I would NEVER do that again. He said it was horrible sitting up on the hill and seeing other drivers aiming for me then I'd scoot out of the way at the last second. The one good side? He said he didn't know I knew how to drive so well (hey fear makes you move real fast!!) After that he never had a problem letting me drive when we were out.

For my 50th birthday I went tandem skydiving. Where I worked at the time, organized a discount price for anyone that wanted to take part. My boss dared me to do it. I thought it a good idea at the time but as the time drew closer I had second thoughts but I DID go ahead with it. What a buzz. Will NEVER do that again but it's nice to be able to say I did it!! I was sore for days afterwards and had bruising where the harness cut into me. If I didn't move for even a couple minutes it was excruciating to get going again. Guess my muscles didn't like that activity too much.