Native Texan! I've been designing jewelry for about four years now. However, if you ask my mom, she'll tell you I've been doing it since my early teens. I use to take my costume jewelry apart and create something more appropriate for the outfit or fashion of the moment. Without proper jewelers' tools you can only imagine how creative those pieces were :) Well, I've advanced a bit since then, invested in the proper tools and classes, and the pieces I'm creating these days are finally worthy of public consumption.

My latest passion for the past three years has been Lampworking, or Artisan Glass Beads. I'm a Leo and a pyro at heart so working with molten glass and fire is just a dream come true. It's magical when fire, glass and creativity come together to create a true work of art. I'm not sure it's my creativity at work or just the Glass Gods giving me a nod every time I create something beautiful, but it is the most fun I've had with art in a long time.

Isn't this corner just begging for a studio!!!

I was a little concerned about the cinder blocks but Mike assured me after the deck was built the structure would be reinforced and there would be no foundation issues. He was right, it's a very sturdy little studio.

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I finally took some new pictures of my completed studio. It's just perfect! Pay no attention to the wilted plants hanging in the front, the heat is brutal right now.

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This is the lampworking station. Mike hooked up DirectTV in the studio, I mostly listen to the music channels. The kiln is an Olympic with a digital controller.

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The jewelry creation station. Many hours at this table.

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Yes, I did clean up the studio for these pictures, it's seldom this tidy. Creativity is usually very messy for me!

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This table is mostly used for photography and odd projects.

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The hours seem to fly by when I'm working on beads and jewelry. It's often very late when I emerge, luckily I have two big lovable bullmastiffs that watch over the place for me.

Mia is three years old now. Isn't she pretty!

Boston is her handsome companion, he's two years old.