Who am I?
I am an artist, USAF Veteran, mother of two amazing daughters, wife of a stellar guy, and crazy cat lady in training. I have three Yorkies so that makes me a dog lady too. Oh, and I can’t forget the 14 chickens and all of the chipmunks I feed…Let’s just say I’m an animal lover and leave it at that. I live in a quiet Vermont town made famous by Norman Rockwell but have a bit of wanderlust thanks to my upbringing as the child of a Navy man and yearn for adventure and exploring the world. I always strive to see the best in any situation and aspire to help others do the same but find the most joy in teaching and seeing the creative spark ignite in others.
But what about the clay?
I began my clay journey in 2000 while serving in the USAF. Working in my studio was the only place I could escape to when life became too much. At the time, I was completing my Bachelor’s degree while my husband was deployed to Iraq and I was the sole care giver of our two young children. I like to say that clay found me when I needed it the most.
Clay became such an important part of my life that I switched my major from Geology to Art, pursuing ceramics full time. After graduating in 2006 I moved to Vermont, converted an old barn on my property to my ceramics studio and have never looked back.
I discovered my love of teaching though the local art enrichment program. Seeing the joy I could give to others through sharing my knowledge spurred to me return to University for my Masters of Fine Arts. Armed with my graduate degree I began teaching ceramics at the local college and through a community art center.
Where there is a will there is a way.
When the art center closed its clay program and the local college discontinued ceramics I began to look for other ways I could teach ceramics. This led me to launch ClayShare, an online school for all things clay where students of all levels can learn at their own pace, in the studio of their choosing. It is a place of community where everyone is welcome and encouraged to find and express their creativity.
I am here to share my love of clay with you and know that once you lose yourself in ceramics as I have for the last 20 years you will never want to stop making.