When I was a child my grandmother Charlotte would occasionally give me a piece of her costume jewelry. This was a big treat for me, and I would take the piece apart and customize it to suit my needs. I had no way of knowing that this was the start of a jewelry-making career.

In 1991 I took a beginner metalsmithing course at the Greenville County (SC) Museum of Art, where I learned the basics: cutting, filing and soldering. I got to spend two weeks in the summer of 2004 at the Penland School of Crafts, studying surface decoration techniques such as acid-etching and roller printing. I have also taken fold-forming and chasing and repousse' classes, and in 2007and 2008 I took enameling courses at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Anything else I know about jewelry construction I've learned on my own through trial and much error.

I hand-fabricate all of my pieces from sterling and fine (pure) silver and 14 and 18 karat gold sheet and wire. All of my designs are original, and I like to have unusual natural gemstones as a focal point in my work. Sometimes I'll incorporate a piece of vintage jewelry into one of my pieces.  And since learning how to enamel, I've been setting cloisonne enamels into my pendants, rings and earrings.  Enameling is addictive- so many techniques and colors to choose from!