Life is fun. And what could be more fun than creating magically before your eyes.

I’ve been creating with my hands and heart since I was a little girl. I’ve always played around with scraps of fabric, yarn, thread, any kind of fiber – and I still find myself fascinated with those materials now. It’s proof that you never really need to grow up.

I live in my favorite place in the whole world – Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a small island seven miles out to sea off the coast of Massachusetts. It’s known for its quiet beauty, creative and caring community and summer tourists! I commute to work by following the path through the perennial garden, beside the pond to my studio in the back yard. Yes, life is rough (but I did spend many years doing high-pressure corporate marketing work, so I’ve paid my dues!).

Creating a doll combines so many – sewing, surface design, needle sculpture, embroidery, beading, painting, shoemaking, design, storytelling – that it is endlessly intriguing. There is always a new avenue to explore.

And where do I find my ? In children’s books, folk tales, ancient cultures, and nature. In colors overlaid in unexpected ways. In the patina and richness of age of a found object – an old key, a vintage brooch, a handmade toy.

. You interact as you create. The magic is in seeing the personality that emerges. Each has a life of its own.

It’s also about . Layer upon layer – silk on wool on tapestry with beading and embroidery. Antique fabrics that have already lived a life of their own. Old keys, bits of nature, objects made by hand in far-away places. It’s the magic and the mystery. I love to combine things that don’t seem to go together.

When people see my dolls, they smile. And what could be better?

Thanks for stopping by.

Member of The Academy of American Doll Artists (AADA)