Finding Beauty in Every Board

I've always appreciated the beauty and character of wood. My late mother, an antiques dealer and artist, taught me to recognize the unique qualities of different wood species and to appreciate the craftsmanship behind handmade furniture and treasured objects. Those lessons stayed with me long before I ever considered woodworking myself.

When my husband and I finished building our cedar home, I couldn't bear to throw away the leftover pieces of wood. Instead, I began experimenting, turning scraps and off-cuts into useful objects. What started as a retirement hobby quickly became a passion. Today, I enjoy giving new life to downed trees and reclaimed wood, transforming them into charcuterie boards, birdhouses, bowls, boxes, furniture, and home décor that celebrate the natural beauty already hidden within the wood.

Every project begins with the material itself. I love discovering the colors, grain patterns, textures, and personalities of different wood species, then designing something that allows those qualities to shine. My work is rooted in the belief that practical objects can also be beautiful, and that thoughtful craftsmanship adds meaning to the things we use every day.

My Artistic Journey

Woodworking continues to teach me something new with every project. From milling a fallen tree to refining my joinery or learning a new turning technique on the lathe, I enjoy the challenge of solving problems while expanding my skills. The process itself is as rewarding as the finished piece.

Recently, I've been refining my woodturning abilities while creating a handcrafted dinnerware set as a wedding gift. Some of my favorite projects have been deeply personal, including a yarn box I designed for my daughter featuring a Fibonacci-inspired spiral opening, and a heart-shaped cedar keepsake box for my son's family that now holds my grandchildren's treasures. Those pieces remind me that handmade objects become part of family stories.

When I'm not in the workshop, you'll often find me exploring the woods of Downeast Maine with my little dog. Nature constantly fuels my creativity—not only through the materials it provides, but through the quiet beauty and endless inspiration found just beyond my back door.

My Favorite Quote

"Today's a whole new day to mess things up."
— SpongeBob SquarePants

There's absolutely nothing perfect about my art. It's the process that keeps me coming back.