I was born in a small town in Indiana and while I had a lovely childhood I wanted nothing more than to get the heck outta there. I suppose that is typical teenage attitude. I got my wish upon graduation from high school and left the Midwest to attend The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. I received a B.A. in Speech Communication which was fitting for me since I love to communicate (read: I love to talk!).
My husband and I married right out of college and didn’t wait long to start a family. We now have four gorgeous, precocious children and I have been an at home parent for them for the past 14 years. My love of art and creating has been born from my interactions with my children and the activities they have participated in. When they were very small it was capturing all the cute moments in handmade scrapbooks which led to designing creative birthday parties with original games and handmade decorations. As they became elementary age it was creating meetings, projects and activities for their Scouting groups. Somewhere along the way I began to create for myself. What a novel concept — doing something just for me.
Art then became my meditation. My mental vacation. I love working with all types of materials and media. The first things I created to give or sell were jewelry pieces. I fell in love with sterling silver and Swarovski crystals. I learned to crochet (a favorite art form my grandmother had lovingly done my entire childhood) and started whipping up afghans, scarfs, hats and more. I moved on to altered books (because I am an avid reader and nothing feels more amazing than the pages of a book) which led me to where I am now: mixed media art incorporating paper, paint, pens, ink, rubber stamps, fibers and whatever found objects have grabbed my fancy.
I dreamt the name The Felicity of Form. I often lay in bed with my mind whirling in thoughts. I remember thinking of how the children were getting older and someday I would have time on my hands. I tried to think of how I would like to spend that time. What would make me happiest? I woke later with the name on my tongue and the idea in my heart that the thing that makes me happiest is creating.
It seemed fitting. I don’t just create with objects. I create moments in life with my husband, my children, my family, my friends. I create thoughts and words and deeds everyday. All of these things bring me a myriad of emotions and experiences, however, more often than not they bring me happiness. Art is just a physical manifestation of these moments and experiences.
Thank you for sharing with me what inspires me most. I hope you enjoy visiting The Felicity of Form.