As the mother of three, grandmother of seven, and great-grandmother of three, I am blessed to be doing the work I enjoy.
A love of the creative arts has been a part of my life ever since I was a young child. My artistic talents were encouraged at home and my work was appreciated. One of my youthful pieces even hung in the Oklahoma State Capitol building for a while. My mother was a wonderful seamstress and taught me to sew when I was young. Sewing came easily to me, but I especially enjoyed French hand sewing and smocking. The ability to hand sew well encouraged me to try my hand at making cloth dolls. That interest was soon eclipsed by a growing interest in creating my own sculpted dolls. But, as for many others, the practicalities of life dictated the need for a different type of career. After graduating from SMU, I worked as a Registered Nurse. However, much of my free time was spent making Santa and Peddler dolls, as well as teaching my finely honed craft.
For a while, in the 70's, I explored quilting and won many honors and awards for my creations. Many of my quilts were given as donations for raffles, or to the Shriner's Hospital in Shreveport, LA for the children's beds. But the love of doll making eventually drew me back to my first love. Since my retirement, I have been able to devote myself to my creative interests. At 71 years of age, I spend much of my time creating my Santa's and dolls with the help and support of my wonderful husband. I have been truly blessed to be able to enjoy and further develop my artistic ability and to share it with others.
About a year ago, my husband and I also became fosters for needy dogs. Because I work at home, I am able to enjoy my craft and also provide a loving, kind environment for dogs who have been mistreated. It is incredibly rewarding to see these precious little animals, many of which come from puppy mills and have been abused, neglected, and unloved, become the happy dogs they were meant to be. I am grateful to be able to provide a loving home until they find their "forever" homes. My husband and I enjoy our home and garden; it is very peaceful to sit on our patio and watch our little "doggies" play in the yard.
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