My first metals assignment was to pierce a design from sheets of copper with a jeweler saw and utilize only cold connections, a few finishing techniques, and/or patina to create an interesting composition with depth within the 2D piece of work.  Working with metal felt natural and it put me into a zoned-out trance of sorts.  I finished that assignment in record time and thus began my obsession.  

 

In 2003, after receiving my BFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN I moved to New York City.  I had several jobs in my 12 years in NYC.  One of my first jobs was at a jewelry store in the west village doing sales and some minor repair work.  At the same time I annually assisted Gallerist Charon Kransen set up for the SOFA Expo.  I later got a position designing jewelry for Gwen Stefani's LAMB line and eventually did bench work for designer Alexis Bittar. 

 

In 2007 I got curious about blacksmithing and ended up apprenticing for Marsha Trattner of She-Weld in Red Hook, Brooklyn for the next few years.  Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012, Marsha's studio was wrecked and she was unable to reopen until 2018.  I moved to St. Louis in 2015. 

 

In 2016 I was the first female contestant on History Channel's Forged In Fire knifemaking competition show.  (Season 2, Episode 1 "Warhammer")  Since then I have been volunteering and teaching at the Arch Reactor Makerspace and am the Blacksmithing instructor at Craft Alliance as of this past Winter 2022.