I am currently serving a term on the board of our local chapter of the ISGB (International Society of Glass Beadmakers) the So Cal Flame Surfers as treasurer.  I am also the local "glass pusher"; owner of The Mandrel in Redondo Beach.  Not only is this a retail glass store, but it is also a teaching studio featuring many renowned artists.

I discovered lampworking in early 2004, and took the leap of not only jumping head first into making beads, but also opened up a retail glass store with the help and support of my husband Jeff, just 14 ½  months after taking my first class.

My artistic career began as a very young child.  My talented grandmother began teaching me many skills from sewing to crocheting to seed bead work as early as I can remember.  I was always eager to learn, and grasped these lessons from my grandmother and put my heart and soul into my own creations.  From there, I remember sitting at my father's drafting table and loving all the mechanical pencil and rulers.  I began drawing, and this eventually lead me to college and graphic design. 

Armed with an associate degree in graphic design, I quickly determined that a cramped cubicle space in an office was not my style, not to mention that I hate being told what to do!  While raising our two sons, Michael and Anthony as a stay-at-home mom, I continued to pursue my love of the art and glass and went on to learn to make and design stained glass windows.  What a powerful combination, graphics and glass!

I became intrigued with the idea of adding fused pieces to my windows, and headed over to Pacific Art Glass to sign up for fusing lessons.  The next fusing class was months away, but…..a lampworking bead class was coming up very soon.  LAMPWORK?  What is lampwork?  I had never heard the term before, but took the class anyway.  Instantly hooked, I have not turned back since and have poured my heart and soul into glass beadmaking and running my little shop.  I still have all that stained glass in my garage.

I started my beadmaking career on a Hot Head torch in early 2004, but quickly upgraded to a Minor.  Today, I use a Carlisle Mini CC, and work primarily with Effetre, Vetrofond Crystal Clear and German furnace glass to complete the glass palette, along with fine silver (in many forms, such as fuming, leaf and wire or specialty silver rich glass) that I incorporate into my beads. 

After the first few beginner classes, I went on to take a Master class with Andrea Guarino-Slemmons in 2007 (my first lampworking class in 3 years!).   I also have had the opportunity to benefit from the instruction of many of the artists teaching at the studio.  Among those are, SCFS president, Judy Carlson, Heather Trimlett, Margaret Zinser, Jennifer Geldard, Kim Fields, Andrea Guarino-Slemmons, Larry Scott, Bronwen Heilman, Kate Fowle-Meleney and many others.  I am also inspired by artists such as Michael Barley and Trey Cornette.