Hello

     My roots are in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where all of my family members work with their hands.  Growing up, my family made frequent trips to Jugtown Pottery—where I loved watching the Owens family throwing on the wheel. Later, as a military brat, I lived in Texas, North Carolina, Japan, and finally Virginia. No matter where we lived, my parents always made a point to visit local artisans. Those experiences planted the earliest seeds of my creative journey.

     I later attended Christopher Newport University, where I studied Psychology and Fine Arts. After graduating, I became a costumed interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg, and it was there that I discovered my love of teaching and sharing stories through hands-on experiences. I returned to CNU to attend the teacher certification program and became a classroom teacher in Newport News. 

     Life shifted when I became a mother to two creative children, both on the autism spectrum. I stepped away from the classroom to be a stay at home parent. Later, I returned to professional work and I served as the Education Director at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center—a role I truly loved, where I was able to blend my passions for art, education, and community.

     When PFAC closed in 2020, I carried everything I had learned and opened a small children’s art studio. That leap of faith eventually grew into what is now Village Studio Arts, a space built on connection, creativity, and a deep love for sharing the joy of making.