Early Influences

I credit an elderly woman, Miss Leach, for sparking my early interests in sewing and cloth. Traveling by bus carrying her suitcases to different neighborhood homes in Portland, she taught sewing classes to young children like me. I was in my element. Sitting on the floor, we learned embroidery stitches on small projects and soon, I also created hand-sewn garments that I proudly wore. (And, I was relieved to discover they didn't fall apart when I moved!)

Other influences included: my grandpa Oscar who was a tailor (and always wore a bow tie and fedora), my grandma Ann who took me shopping for school clothes and had wonderful taste, my adopted grandma Bernice who loved sewing for others, and my Home Ec. and art teachers, Mrs. French, and Mrs. Borden, respectively, who encouraged independent classroom work and somehow loved high school students.

EDUCATION

• MS Degree, Oregon State University, Apparel Interiors Housing & Merchandising (1995)

• BS Degree, Oregon State University, Clothing Textiles and Related Arts, (1975)

• Linn Benton Community College overseas program in Florence, Italy (art classes, Fall term 2006)

• Oregon College of Art & Craft (fiber courses, summer 2003, '04, '05)

GALLERIES/SHOWS/PUBLICATIONS