I've been making glass beads for over 15 years.  I learned to make them while my high school art class hosted an artist in residence.  She taught us everything from bead making and fusing glass, to stained glass and painting on glass.  Melting the colorful hot rods in the flame just fascinated me and I've been making beads ever since.

Of course bead making is just a passion, teaching high school art is my professional trade.  Teaching art is also a passion, and it pays a lot better!  I've been an art teacher for 20 years, and I am National Board Certified.  I take my vocation very seriously and I like to instill the same in my students; art isn't just about making pretty pictures.  Art can open doors to history, science, and critical thinking.  My students are also a joy to me. They challenge and inspire me.  I am currently "semi-retired" from teaching, but I hope I can get a job teaching high school art in Boone one day...soon!  I really miss teaching.

In addition to teaching art, I have also taught glass bead making 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 very 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

Above is an example of a piece of jewelry that I made a few 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  the create my beads in sets.  I temporarily string them, in hopes of inspiring  more talented jewelry designers than myself.