I have been working with multimedia materials for as long as I can remember. At elementary school age, instead of playing with dolls, I created furniture, rooms, decor, clothes, cars, and minature food items. I also designed and helped create paper mache parade costumes. While in middle school, I created a complete 10-room dollhouse, made minature dolls, won first place in an art doll contest, created custom halloween costumes for my sister, and continued paper mache art.

In high school, I moved into baking edible 2D bread art sculptures of the Trojan Horse, as well as other ancient structures. I also made medieval Barbie doll clothes. I continued my interest in minatures and collected and made furniture, people, and food items in 1/12 scale.

I married my high school sweetheart during our college years and together we have 2 wonderful kids. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Science from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a Master's Degree in Information Techology from Northwestern University, in Evanston, IL.

Life as a mother, wife, and businessperson took precedence over exploring new art venues. I continued dabbling in a variety of media as time permitted. In 2007, I saw a Lark Book featuring polymer clay. (Wikepedia defines polymer clay as "a sculptable material based on the polymer polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It usually contains no clay minerals, and is only called "clay" because its texture and working properties resemble those of mineral clay.") I was struck by the beauty and diversity of polymer clay. I tried it and was immediately hooked. Since that time I have become involved in the International Polymer Clay Association, attended the NPCG's Synergy conference, took classes, founded the Metro Milwaukee Polymer Clay Guild, and made numerous friends. I am thankful and grateful to the wonderful polymer clay community, as I have become friends with so many and have also learned from them.

Today I specialize in making polymer clay canes. My daughter, Alaina, uses my canes to create the finished jewelry. She is the "2" in Destined 2 Clay. It has been wonderful to work side by side her.

Thank you for reading through this long recital. If you have any comments or questions, please email me at destined2clay@sbcglobal.net.

Blog Links