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Born in Schenectady,
N.Y., I was the middle child between two boys. Both parents were trained fine artists,
graduates of Syracuse University. I also graduated from
Syracuse University but not in fine arts because my Dad just felt it
was too insecure a way to make a living. But he did well
and was listed in Who's Who in American Art and now is
listed in Who Was Who in American Art. He was an
artist / director for the General Electric Company for 35 years but was also a teacher and held workshops as well as teaching at the local
museum.
I started drawing and painting when a toddler on my father's knee in his large
studio and
took lessons one summer at the museum. That was about it
except for being allowed to
look at art books veerrrry carefully ("kink" was a four letter word in
our house).
The house actually sunk a few inches over the years from the hundreds of
books lining the built in shelves all over the place.
After graduating, I got married to my college
sweetheart ), became a mom and moved
to
Boston, Mass. where we lived
for six years. I loved that
city. I've
also lived in
Chicago and
Kankakee, IL, Wilmington,
N.C.
and Memphis, TN. Since 1989, we've
lived in Lakeland, FL
which is between Tampa
and Orlando on the West side. I
worked for twenty years at a
variety of jobs,
always crafting
and sewing on the
side (even sold a bunch of my hand
crafted
jewelry
over several years).
My last
"real" job before I
quit to care for my mom (who passed away in 1994), was for an
environmental firm. Then I decided
to take the big jump and actually quit my "real"
job in
1997 to pursue my
art full time on the internet through two web sites - one at
Jeans Dog
Shop and the other at Wunavakind
(as well as my designs on products
produced by
Cafe
Press.)
I love to read when I get a chance
(fiction and non-fiction) and am an avid Oprah fan. Since my
former hobbies have now become a source of income, I don't really have any
more hobbies except maybe dusting (just kidding).
I also love watching
Animal Planet with my
dog Paddy who jumps down from the couch and sits
up in front of the TV and often jumps up and shuts it off by mistake.
My extra-curricular activity is volunteer work at the SPCA every week.
I have a son Jordan, daughter-in-law Anastasia and two
grand kids -
Nicholas
and Lauren
who live in New Jersey (we're in Florida). I also have a wonderful step
daughter Kerrie who
lives in California with her husband Jack and am now a grandmother for the
third time when beautiful Molly was born. My husband Jim, an
excellent golfer (4 handicap)
is one
of the nicest people I know
(he actually has given up closet space so I can store even
more of my
craft stuff!) and
I've been happily married to him for over 20 years now.
P.S. You know darn well
nobody's life sounds this good. Rest assured I have had my share
of
"growing" experiences some of which I hated with a passion (oh, but I
learned SO much! :) Overall though, I have to admit I've
been profoundly blessed in my life. I love it when Diane Keaton
says in Marvin's Room to her sister played by Meryl Streep -"I've been
so lucky in my life to have loved so many people." or words to
that effect. That's how I want to be lucky too.
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