Creativity is a catalyst that enables me to burst through perceived obstacles. It is the doorway and the windows and the tiny, hidden-in-plain-view openings to wonder and the pursuit of my own personal happiness…

My life as a creative person has taken me through some wonderful experiences. In 2004, I started making an indie fashion line, Xmittens. Xmittens focused on the production of warm weather gear such as fingerless gloves, cuddly jackets in a wide range of sizes, and more. I had just graduated from college with an art degree, survived a terrible car accident and learned how to walk again. I was totally unsure of what to do next, so I am very grateful that Xmittens quickly developed a loyal following of customers who wanted to support an independent designer!

After 10 years, I started developing designs and collections as a surface pattern designer. It’s absolutely fascinating to use the art techniques that I love; Japanese shibori fabric dyeing, watercolor painting, Matisse-inspired cut paper, drawing; and then digitize and continue working on the designs in order for them to printed on myriad products such as fabric, wallpaper, paper products, and more. Please click on my website and Blog links for more information about buying designs, or licensing.

Not only is one of my purposes in life is by making actual objects and designing patterns for other, I also facilitate creativity in others by direct interactions in a class, in volunteer art experiences, or by enabling another person’s innate creativity to flourish by being inspired by, being immersed in, or wearing one of my creations. I am currently rostered as a Resident Artist by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Being a Resident Artist/Teaching Artist has allowed me to teach what I love. Sometimes, I teach traditional art skills while other times we immerse ourselves in newer technologies and create digital designs to print onto textiles. Regardless of what I am teaching, I always learn a new way of doing something that I am familiar with…a shortcut a student developed, a new creative pathway to explore in my own studio…