Somehow the universe decided that I would merge my two favorite mediums together to create what I call "wearable ceramic art."
It started when I rolled out a piece of scrap clay and began doodling some abstract designs into it. I thought, “Now, wouldn’t that be cool hanging on a cord around someone’s neck?” So I made it into a pendant for my sister. A friend saw it, and gushed…”That’s SOOOO cute, you really ought to make more of those!” So I did. I made ceramic pendants for friends...for family...for my art shows, and before you know it, ceramic jewelry and ceramic beads became the cornerstone of my art business. That was ten years ago. Cut to today and I’m still making ceramic jewelry out of clay--and I still LOVE it!
I draw inspiration for my jewelry and pottery from the many places that I travel around the U.S. I feel an especially deep kinship with the southwest, and its desert beauty because it is the land of my heritage. As I was growing up, “la familia” was everything. My beautiful, sweet, and gentle mother, Mercedes, instilled in me an exceedingly strong work ethic, family values and entrepreneurism. She supported me, and championed me, in every single venture I embarked upon. My mother will forever remain my greatest inspiration.
Despite my deeply imbedded roots in the southwest, we eventually landed in Wisconsin where this region has captured my heart with its lush green landscapes, wonderful wildlife, and abundant lakes -- over 15,000 of them as a matter of fact! Winters are harsh and bitter cold as we live under a constant blanket of deep snow with sub-zero temperatures. But summers are beautiful, and magical, and lovely, and produce seemingly endless opportunities to work in my warm and breezy pottery studio.
I also like to support the "little guy," and buy locally when I can. I purchase all of my pottery supplies from small clay companies in the neighboring city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. I buy my jewelry components from small, independent bead shops all over the U.S.
All of my pieces are original and have been produced by me in my Rivertown studios.
real twig impression pendant in lambs ear green glaze
woodland mushroom miniature from the "up north" collection