ABOUT THE ARTIST

aIn  In love with the Caribbean Sea, I began my expression thru jewelry by bezeling sea glass that I had gathered off the beaches of St. Croix.  As a self-taught metalsmith,  PADI Scuba Instructor, and a Pisces,   I lived in the Virgin Islands for over 20  years before I made a move to Louisiana and now Gulfport, Florida.  Having strong family ties to Louisiana, witnessing Katrina and Rita from St. Croix, was an awakening experience for me.   I  first made a move  to Lousiana just after Katrina, to  be a part of the rebuilding process in any way that I could.   Currently I work, travel and live in between Southeast Louisiana,  a lovely little town outside of Breckenridge, Colorado (Fairplay, Co)  and Gulfport, Florida.  As life experiences both challenge and inspire my spirit, I  continue to focus my designs on life's ever changing tides.  I have melted precious metals with emotions (sometimes, adding a bit of whimsy) to create my line of jewelry.  I personally design my pieces beginning with a simple message or image that I want to share.  I fabricate my jewelry starting with raw materials, sterling sheet and 6-20 gauge silver wire, using mixed media, 14kt gold accents & whatever else seems to make the piece "happen".   Me, myself & I, hammer, saw, file, solder, stamp, bless and yes, even polish my own pieces.  I love to use rivets or what we call "cold connections" to allow my pieces to have moving parts.  I have also invented a few of my designs by carving wax and using the process of lost wax casting.   Nearly every piece was designed and created to be worn as a token of personal energies, inspirations and experiences which have shaped our lives.