Q: Tell us about your family and pets.
I am happily married (19 years) to the most wonderful guy. We have three daughters (Carrie, b.1990, Corinne, b.1993, and Caty Mae b. 1996) We have also adopted two retired racing greyhounds, Velvet and Lexi.

 

Q: Tell us about your childhood, where you grew up, and when your creativity began.
I grew up in Bakersfield, CA. My dad was in construction trucking (I worked flagging traffic one summer for him, and did office work other years. I even owned my own set of double bottom dumps for a while.) My mom made sure we three kids (me and my two younger brothers) went to church and school. Not exactly an idyllic home life once I entered my teens, I bolted for college at 18 where I earned a degree in broadcast journalism and two teaching credentials.

Creativity? Hmmm. I was always highly imaginative and a voracious reader. I used books to escape the tension around me, and my imagination allowed me to live in other worlds. In my teens I discovered theater, and spent hours on stage and backstage in community theater. I also discovered a gift for photography which allowed me to frame the world as I saw it. As an English teacher I used creativity to bring literature alive for my students. As a theater teacher I used my vision to motivate my actors and tech crews.

I really don't draw, so when I found rubber stamping in the mid 1990's I was first skeptical. It took a few years for me to find my artistic voice. In the last year I really found myself exploring all kinds of media, and have begun to truly view myself as an artist.

Q: To what do you attribute your talents and what inspires you?
It's all God!!! God gave me vision and imagination to help me through a challenging childhood home life and He now allows me to enjoy creating for the pure joy of it.

Q: How did you find PWA?
I think Melissa Baldwin introduced me to PWA... but it's such a part of my life that I don't really recall how it all began!!!

Q: What is your favorite stamping technique?
I am a learner, so my favorite technique is usually the one I am learning at any given time!

Q: Do you have any other hobbies or interests, besides Stamping?
I still love to read and am in a book club with my neighbors that I enjoy very much. I'm also co-writing a curriculum for HS American Lit. I will always love theater and as my children grow up I hope to perform more often. Our whole family is active in our church, and both Brian and I sing in the choir. I also play tennis (badly) with my neighborhood team.

Q: Will you show us some pictures of your stamp/craft room?
Sure!