I always thought I would like to learn to do stained glass and finally in 1996 I decided to sign up for a stained glass class. I loved it!! So I signed up for class after class after class until I had taken all the classes that were offered, including copper foil, leaded glass, fusing, slumping, lamp making and mosaics. Guess what all of my friends and relatives got for Christmas??

A couple of years later a friend introduced me to beadmaking. The first few years I dabbled a bit making a few beads now and then. But in 2003, she convinced me to take an advanced class. I was apprehensive about taking an advanced class as at that time I still considered myself a beginner--maybe intermediate on a good day! So to prepare for the class I told myself I had to make 100 beads a week until the class started so I would actually be ready for an "advanced" class.

The class came and I was glad I had practiced! One thing led to another and beadmaking took over all of my spare time. I no longer have time to do stained glass, but I keep telling myself that I still plan to make another lamp someday.

I have since taken lampwork classes from Hannah Rosner, Kristen Frantzen-Orr and Jim Smircich.