Though I began my career as a fiber artist, I'm chiefly known as an innovative Kumihimo jewelry artist. My work blends the ancient traditional Japanese art of braiding silk strands into cords with a contemporary viewpoint.
When I was a quilt artist, my work won awards and toured internationally. Eventually though I hit a creative block. I began a desperate hunt for a new form of artistry. I found it in the vibrant strands of silk used in Kumihimo.
Ever since the time that Kumihimo found me, it's beauty and style have captured my heart. My work is influenced by the Japanese esthetic of creating beauty through the simplicity of form. My joy is simply the act of creating.
I work on the traditional Japanese braiding stand. The repetitive braiding movements, and the sounds of the wooden bobbins hitting against the legs of the stand becomes a form of meditation and focused relaxation.
After taking six master classes in this art form, I traveled to Japan to study with the master Makiko Tada at the Kyoto Institute. When I returned, I developed new ways of incorporating creative designs using seed beads, pearls and gemstones such as labradorite, pyrite, spinel and lapis lazuli.
I generally work with tiny beads, size 11/0s seed beads and 2 or 3mm beads. But I will use any size, depending on the design and color of the piece.
Color is my passion, and I'm often inspired by the randomness of colors found in nature and the play of light on them. Creating Ombre effects, where one color shifts and blends seamlessly into another is a favorite technique I developed.
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