About Me

withmom1a.jpg (55788 bytes) My earliest memories are sitting on my Mother's lap while she shopped for dress patterns and fabrics. She would talk to me about the fabrics and I would feel them with her. I guess that is where I learned to appreciate and love the feel of fabric and the wonderful things that could be created.

My mother was an expert seamstress and taught me to sew, embroider, and knit at an early age. By the time I was 8, all the appliances and pillows had embroidered covers and all my dolls had an extremely fashionable wardrobe. In high school, I was wardrobe mistress and made many of the costumes for our school's theatrical productions. While in college and after, I designed and made wedding gowns as well as restored them. I also made costumes for various local rock bands. While in college, I majored in education with a specialty in art. I also developed a love of working with fibers and found objects incorporating weaving and embroidery in many of my pieces. I was also at that time employed by a local weaver and learned to dye fabrics using natural colorants and mordants. After college, I concentrated mostly on hand embroidery. I employed many different fibers, fabric grounds, silk ribbon and beads.

Along the way, I met my husband of almost 25 years. In November of 2003, I retired from my day job and in 2004, joined a doll club and started making dolls. Nothing has been the same since! To say they have taken over is an understatement! I feel I am still a beginner and have so much to learn but also feel that I have lots to share. I have met many extraorinary and inspiring dollmakers along the way though I sincerely consider Patti Medaris Culea my mentor of sorts since most of what I learned was from her books.

In January, 2006 we adopted a 9 year old female Maltese, Diamond, through the American Maltese Association. She was rescued from a Puppy Mill in Pennsylvania. Diamond has become an intregal and loving part of the family and we wonder what we did before without her gentle loving presence.

Awards	Various years, Blue ribbons for embroidery and Needlework at the Monmouth County Fair 2004 Joggles (http://www.joggles.com) Best Interpretation Goblin Princess contest: The May Queen, Warts and All 2005 Soft Dolls and Animals Collage Doll Contest Winner: Empty Nest 2005 ITS Festival Doll Challenge, 2nd Place People's Choice, Yah Hui 2006 Hoffman Challenge, 2nd Place Dolls, One Kiss is Not Enough 2008 Hoffman Challenge, Best Use of Fabric, Ms. Peacock in the Conservatory with the Candlestick 2003 Quilting Arts Magazine Calendar contest, Judges Choice, SunSpot 1997 The Caron Collection (http://www.caron-net.com) Winner Dyed and Gone to Heaven Contest #2
Periodicals	Quilting Arts, Winter 2002, Judges Choice 2003 Calendar Block Quilting Arts, Winter 2003, Outside the Box Challenge, Day in Night Soft Dolls and Animals, May 2006, Creative Cloth Doll Challenge Winner, A Last Peek, You Did What With That Pattern Soft Dolls and Animals, September 2006, A Last Peek Doll Crafter & Costuming, September 2007, Dances With Butterflies Doll Crafter & Costuming, November 2008, Autumn Harvest, the Gallery - Fringe Elements Doll Crafter & Costuming, December 2008, Show Report - Day With Dolls
ePublications	CQMAGOnline (http://www.cqmagonline.com) staff writer from 2003 - 2007
Books	Creative Cloth Doll Couture by Patti Medaris Culea, Interweave Press, page 52, Gloe a Firefly Fairy