I started making amulets many years ago and decided I should expand to evening bags so that I could really get into the designs I was creating, on a larger scale.  I consider myself a mixed media 3D artist and one of my areas of work is evening bags, wedding purses and designer art purses. Each purse can take anywhere from one month to three months to create. Every one is created free-hand and one of a kind. I never repeat a design. I do accept commissions and will work with the customer to complete a beautiful design for a special occasion. My customers tell me that they often display their purchase on an easel or shadow box, as well as use them. Now I show at juried art festivals in Florida primarily, and sometimes in New York and New Jersey.

My materials are glass beads (Japanese) in a multitude of shapes, size and color. I use faceted gems precious and semi-precious, 18kt gold clasps, findings and beads, silver too, pearls, crystals, found materials and I weave with monofilament (ten lb. test). My linings are either satin, silk, crepe de shine, and linen. My hardware if any is hand made by me or a fancy gold-filled chain. The lining is always hand sewn into the purse. I do three dimensional weaving on each purse, as well.  My designs are taken from nature and my imagination. I create only one of each design, so that each piece is unique.

A design nightmare for me is discovering I made a mistake half-way through several weeks of work and having to take it all apart and start over again. I am a perfectionist and can not leave a mistake in my work.  As a child I discovered that I could draw but my parents felt this was not something they would promote. My desire to be an artiste was always done in secret. I did not get into art until after I turned 50 and then had to teach myself everything. I was introduced to weaving with beads and loved the art, immediately. My greatest achievement is that my work is in several museums in permanent displays. I have won many awards and this year I won three Best of Show awards and several Museum Purchase Awards. My fellow artist friends, many famous in their own right, consider my work a force to be reckoned with. This acceptance is why it is all worth it.