I am a Maker. A trendy term perhaps but it suits me well. I’m definitely a DIY kind of person. From running my children’s wear business, pursuing a weaving practice, learning new fiber-related crafts (current passion is the vintage CSM - Circular Sock Knitting Machine), tending gardens, cooking/putting-up nourishing food, or fashioning a hand-made home, it’s all about living a creative life. Nothing makes me happier than building or making something wonderful from scratch.

 My love for fiber began when my mom, a home-economics teacher, taught me to sew a straight seam and stitch my first quilt when I was six years old. Years later I would earn degrees in Fashion Design and Merchandising from Kent State University which set me on a course to pursue my love of cloth professionally.

In 1993 I started Fleece On Earth a small designer-owned company focusing on making clothing using the novel Polar Fleece fabrics. A few years later my passion for knitting blossomed as I acquired the skill of flat-bed knitting and added cotton sweaters and hats for infants and young children to my line. Little did I know my fascination with fancy string had only just begun!

The timeline of my fiber journey detoured into weaving in 2008 when I was blessed to study with Betty Atwood, UVM professor emeritus. With loom basics under my belt my weaving fervor exploded as I added many different types of looms to my studio and earnestly studied various weave structures and techniques. Lately I have been taking a deep dive into the world of Tartan Plaids, an homage to my Scottish ancestry.

In 2023 I acquired a 1921 vintage Circular Sock Knitting Machine. Not only do I love the history, process and of course the making of socks, but this makes a seemingly magical demonstration that enthralls all who watch.

Inspiration of course comes from nature, colours and shapes around me, and the vast and diverse array of natural fibers and the potential each cone of thread holds within…now there is true potential! Honing skills, overcoming limitations of equipment or materials, reevaluating projects throughout the process all add worth to the experience, the value of learning a new skill and the joy of creation.

My designs have been sold at juried craft fairs, through my own brick and mortar stores, in galleries, retail shops and through my website.

Making heirloom-quality textiles has become the greatest passion of my life and I look forward to many more hours following my bliss belly up to my looms and machines designing and making items for the home and to wear.

The magic of turning string into cloth is mesmerizing and the more I learn the more I realize there is so much more to learn!