You may see more of my mixed-media creations on my blog:
http://sugarlumpstudios.blogspot.com

Hello! My name is Nancy Maxwell James and I am a dabbler. I love to create using all sorts of mediums. Pattern papers, rubber stamping, fabric, wood, assemblage, collage, altered art, a never ending smattering of whatever strikes my fancy in whimsical moments. I find creating allows my soul to be fulfilled and love to spend hours in the studio.

I am married to Steve who is a wonderful man and supports my endeavors with all his heart. He frequently takes me to get supplies or asks when he thinks I may be running out of items to work with. Not many men would support my art habit! :)


I am also "Mom Dork" to three wonderful children who are now young adults. My son's Ian and Andrew love to tease me about my cabinet photos that I bring home to work with. They tell me it is creepy to bring people in the house that may have died from the plague or measles. My daughter, Allison "gets it" because she is also an artist and embraces that Mom "saves" unknown realtives.

My students at school (I work at my local High School) enjoy seeing my latest projects when I bring them in. My art was dubbed "Creepy Attic Art" by one former student. Some can't get used to baby fairies with wings. As they say..."beauty is in the eye of the beholder"...you either "get" this type of art or you don't.

I started dabbling in mixed media in 2006. This was a difficult time in my life as my Dad was dying (leukemia and Parkinson's disease) and my son Andrew was in the Army training to go to Iraq. After taking care of my Dad during his final days, I spent months in the studio creating. Most of the pieces were about him at different stages in his life. This was how I grieved and also embraced the eighty years he had on earth. I feel blessed that we were there at his side the last few days of his life and were able to say good-bye.

I love genealogy and learning about my heritage, and this reflects in my artwork. I have been blessed with hundreds of photos from both of my parent's families (I am the historian) and love to scan, alter, and document about relatives and the past. This has also resulted in many articles that have been written and published in various Somerset Publications.

Some of my artwork...
My Grandfather is the cute little laddie in the upper left hand corner.
Somerset Memories - August/September 2007 Issue

Altered Book of my Grandparents journey to the United States
Somerset Memories - April/May 2009 Issue

"When The Swallows" tribute to my Dad
Somerset Memories - August/September 2007 Issue

"Fly Fairy" - Altered Cigar Box