My career began as a silk-screen artist in 1980. Over the course of 15 years, my screen-printing business grew into a clothing manufacturing company. I always enjoyed designing the clothes, making the patterns and cutting the material. This process actually mirrors the process of designing a piece of furniture. The transition from fabric to wood has been a natural progression for me -- I have traded soft, natural fabric for hard, natural material.

My first effort in creating durable pieces of furniture began with rustic pieces more suitable for the out-of-doors. However, I have been fortunate enough to attend four wood concentrations at Penland School of Crafts to learn everything from the basics of furniture construction and joinery to coloring and carving furniture. I continued on with my wood education by attending and graduating from the Haywood Community College in the Program for Professional Crafts; Wood Program. This has led me now to the crafting of functional, solid furniture that is enjoyed by my friends, family members and customers.

To conceive an idea for a piece of furniture on the drawing board, select rough sawn wood, joint, plane, cut, and finish this natural material into a beautiful and useful object is like no other experience I have had as an artist.

When I design a piece of furniture, I think of the end use it will have and where it will live. The design also incorporates my ideas and perceptions about the people who will use the finished product. These thoughts are what give me the creative energy to design and craft a piece of furniture. The design of the piece and different woods I use, suggest the function my furniture will serve. My desire is to continue to learn about form and function partnered with the many varieties of wood and finishes as I continue to create for myself and others.