MY STORY

A transplanted Detroit City girl growing up in Southern California, I always felt out of place. I wanted wide open spaces and a lot more hiking and birds. Finding all of that and more at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho was a delight.

So what do you do with a degree in Philosophy? You become an accountant and a sometimes artist of course! And what does a bird loving hiking artistic accountant do? Travel as much as possible…from backpacking in New Zealand, living in Japan, seeing Thailand on the back of a motorbike, chasing exotic birds throughout Central America, hiking the Atlas Mountains of Morocco to narrow boating the canals of England, sunbathing the beaches of Malaysia, stalking the wild everythings of Australia, shopping the beautiful villages of Bali and ogling some of the 1600 bird species of the Amazon and Andes of Ecuador, tramping the jungles of Mexico and Panama, I always keep my eyes skyward for birds and my feet planted firmly on the trail.

That trail led me to Canada's capital city, Ottawa, and while “visiting” for 5 years I met and married my music loving husband Daryl (Mr Music). Now, not only do I know bird songs but my I-pod song count is outrageous thanks to Mr Music’s influence. He is also handsome, a charmer and handy beyond belief!

Always interested in birds, making things, usually self-taught and constantly learning, I started sewing after university when I needed a backpack. I made one and it worked! After some traveling I decided to try my hand at weaving and I still have several floor looms in the studio for fiber exploration. Needing to cover a window with a broken seal led me to learn stained glass. Crocheting, knitting, woodworking, I was a jack of many trades and a master of none. But I’ve always loved jewelry so it was a natural progression from stamping and painting dominos years ago to hammering and riveting metals. And with metals I found my joy. Using argentium and sterling silvers, titanium, copper and brass, I love bringing whimsy (and birds) to my workbench when creating pendants, rings, earrings and brooches. My passion for nature, especially birds, fuels my work and brings such delight. Now I aspire to be a master silversmith, an aspiration that will last a lifetime.

Mr Music and I now live in Point Roberts Washington, the best gated community in the USA. Living here is sometimes a challenge made possible only by will and a Nexus Card since our small community is accessible only by car through Canada or by boat from the USA. We own a small mail and parcel business where those accounting skills come in handy when I’m not at my workbench. Our family consists of 1 adorable cat living with us in a very funky house on 2 quiet acres. Open space, hiking and birds are right out my door and a beautiful studio awaits above the garage for those moments of creative necessity and joy.

BIRDS MUSIC CHARM

Handmade & One of a Kind