I apprenticed as a woodcarver at Reed Bros. furniture in Sebastopol, CA in the 90s. I was taught to carve high relief, Jacobean inspired designs under the mentorship of Duncan Reed, Jason Todd, and Paul Hampton. These Master carvers were all students of Alfred Durney, an apprentice of Charles Marshall Sayres. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to carry the torch of this amazing craft forward.
In the years following my apprenticeship, I have had the good fortune to work with a wide range of mediums. My family had a company that built sets, signs, props and exhibits. I transitioned from exclusively carving furniture, to technical drawing, graphic design, commercial art, and have more recently settled into education. As an teacher, I have the privilege of sharing these diverse skills with students, helping them discover their own creative potential while preserving traditional craftsmanship alongside contemporary design approaches. My teaching philosophy emphasizes a choice based practice of hands-on learning. Supporting students develop their skills and confidence has become one of the most rewarding aspects of my career journey. I currently reside in Sonoma County, CA with my husband Joel. We once owned a small sheep cheese business, but today our sheep dairy has been repurposed into a shop/office where we collaborate on fabrication projects and where I occasionally host specialized workshops for small groups of students. |