I was an Army brat, the fifth of five children. I was born in Germany then grew up in Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Fayetteville Arkansas. My mother did crafts with us as children, but passed away at age 39 when I was 14. My father remarried in 1975 and I gained two stepsisters.

I met my husband Mark at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Clothing and Textiles. We moved to Little Rock late 1980, eventually had two children and while working at Acxiom, I earned a a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems then a master’s degree in Data Quality.

Late 2023, I started taking fused glass classes at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Wingate Art School and now am enjoying my own home studio. I retired from Simmons Bank in 2025 and am thrilled to have found an art form that demonstrates the beauty and science of melted glass. I feel I am channeling my mother’s artistic talents. Creating this art is truly my therapy.

I was diagnosed a few years ago with Dry AMD, which is slowly affecting my vision, so I’m hoping to create and share as many beautiful pieces as I can, while I can. My husband is very supportive about the time I put into this art form and doesn’t complain too terribly much about the high expense of equipment and materials.