You might wonder what my source of inspiration or my precise area of specialization is. Is it Japanese art, antique Welsh quilts, fabric painting, machine quilting, or abstract art? I suppose that I am inspired by all of those things. I have never felt the need to fit into a particular niche, or to stretch my boundaries to be outside of the box. I just am.

What really inspires me is genius: those people who are so connected to their art form that they are able to excel light years beyond the status quo. That would include: painters, musicians, architects, writers, or anyone who is able to obtain an emotional reaction from the viewer or participant: like goose bumps, or being moved to tears. I am intrigued by the process of becoming so perfectly aligned with your creative energy that it takes over your life.

Nature also inspires me a great deal. I live in a small town in Humboldt Count y located in northern California. Humboldt has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever experienced. We have the redwoods, the ocean, several wild rivers, and a temperate climate which are perfect for spending a lot of time outdoors. I will be including photos of some of my favorite spots on my blog.

There is a huge arts community in Humboldt County. I am very fortunate to live in an area which is very supportive of the arts community. When you tell people that you are an artist, they don’t merely raise an eyebrow and sneeringly reply, “Oh, really?” They automatically assume that you must be quite accomplished at your craft to enable you to pursue it as a livelihood.

I love helping others to discover their unique creative path. Everyone has a gift, but sometimes it can be difficult to define. Sometimes it takes a little push from another person to encourage someone that it really is alright to pursue whatever it is that makes them feel alive and brings them joy. We should all dedicate more time to the pursuit of happiness.