I've been making glass beads for over 20 years.  I learned to make them while my high school art class hosted an artist in residence.  She taught us everything from beadmaking and fusing glass, to stained glass and painting on glass.  Melting the colorful hot rods of glass in the flame just fascinated me and I've been making beads ever since.

Of course beadmaking is just one of my passions, teaching high school art is my professional trade and another passion of mine  Though I'm  now retired I was an art teacher for 20 years, and I am National Board Certified.  I take my vocation very seriously and I liked to instill the same in my students; art isn't just about making pretty pictures.  Art can open doors to math, history, science, and critical thinking.  My students were also a joy to me. They challenged and inspired me.  I really miss teaching and I hope to go back to it one day.

In addition to teaching art, I have also taught glass beadmaking for different art studios. While I lived in Louisiana I taught several years for the Stone and Paper Art Studio.  Here in North Carolina, I have taught for the Turchin Center Community Art School.  My students range in age from 14 to 65.  I teach private lessons as well.

Over the years, I have mostly sold my beads over eBay, Etsy, and ArtFire which has been fairly lucrative!  I have also sold my beads in different shops and markets.

Education: 

•  Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond LA, 1984, BA in Art Education
• University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 1993, MA in Art Education.
• National Board Certified Teacher, Early Adolescent to Young Adulthood, Art,2004
• Penland School of Crafts, 2007, Glass Blowing

Employment History:

• Bogalusa High School Art Teacher, Bogalusa, LA, 1990-2005.
• Stone and Paper Art Studio, Mandeville, LA, Glass Bead Making  Workshop Instructor, 1998-2005.
• Wilkes Central High School Art Teacher, Wilkesboro, NC, 2005-2007.
• Turchin  Center Community Arts School, Boone, NC, 2005-2008.
• Private Lessons in Glass Bead Making 1995-present.

Affiliations:

• International Society of Glass Beadmakers 
• National Art Educators Association
• Watauga Arts Council
  

Above is an example of a piece of jewelry that I made years ago.  After a while I decided I was done making jewelry; it took too much of my time away from the torch. 

Now I create focal beads and beads in sets.  I temporarily string them, in hopes of inspiring  more talented jewelry designers than myself.