The inspiration for my glass work is botanical, based on my other life: I am a Master Gardener, garden designer and teacher of horticulture. I began glass flameworking in 2001, shortly after I began teaching classes at Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh. My first major botanically-inspired piece was ‘Waterlilies’ and I began to use the glass disc (as lily pads in that piece) as a primary element that allowed me to use color in a different way, and to create necklaces in a balanced array of lightweight pieces (chunks of glass are very heavy). I have gone on to create pieces based on poppies, carnations, wisteria, morning glories, etc. Although necklaces are my primary creative focus, I also make earrings, bracelets, rings and brooches.