The Gilded Touch

Taken at Sliding Rock Cabins in Ellijay, GA - September 2009.

If you are searching for a luxury mountain cabin getaway with your furry companions, this is the place to go!

About The Artist

JURIED MEMBER

YADKIN VALLEY CRAFT GUILD

ELKIN, NC

(2008- )

http://www.yadkinvalleycraftguild.org/

GILMORE SHOWS - GREENSBORO CRAFTSMAN'S CLASSIC

WINSTON-SALEM CRAFTS GUILD

(1994-1999)

COTTON KETCHIE ARTS FESTIVAL

MOORESVILLE, NC

http://cottonketchieartsfestival.com/

I GREW UP IN WINSTON-SALEM, NC, LOCATED IN THE HEART OF NORTH CAROLINA, AT THE FOOTHILLS OF THE BEAUTIFUL AND WONDROUS BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS.

THE 1.4 MILLION-ACRE YADKIN VALLEY, JUST WEST OF WINSTON-SALEM, IS HOME TO EXQUISITE VINEYARDS AND WINERIES. NORTH CAROLINA RANKS AS 10TH IN THE NATION FOR GRAPE AND WINE PRODUCTION WITH 61 WINERIES. IT SEEMED APPROPRIATE THAT I TAILOR MY LOVE OF ART TO COMPLIMENT THE WINE INDUSTRY.

I LIVED HERE MOST OF MY LIFE UNTIL I MET MY SOUL MATE AND SWEETEST LOVE, TOM, AND WE MOVED TO THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLAND OF ST. JOHN. LIVING ON A 28-SQUARE-MILE CARIBBEAN ISLAND WAS AN EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET, AND I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT I LIVED IN SUCH AN EXOTIC LOCALE

AND EXPERIENCED ADVENTURES THAT SOME ONLY DREAM OF.

TOM AND I WERE MARRIED THERE, ON A BEAUTIFUL QUIET PALM TREE SHADED BEACH, WITH OUR DEAREST FRIENDS TO SHARE OUR DAY, AS WELL AS OUR SWEET GOLDEN RETRIEVER SANDY.

(PLEASE SEE MY GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE PAGE TO HELP THE NEUSE RIVER and TRIAD GOLDEN RETRIEVER RESCUE.)

WHILE LIVING ON ST. JOHN, I GAINED AN APPRECIATION FOR SO MANY THINGS ON THE MAINLAND THAT I PREVIOUSLY TOOK FOR GRANTED. TOM AND I ESPECIALLY MISSED OUR EXTENDED FAMILIES, AND SO WE MOVED BACK TO THE WINSTON-SALEM AREA IN 2005. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW QUICKLY AN AREA CAN CHANGE IN ONLY A FEW YEARS.

THOUGH I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTRIGUED WITH COLOR, DESIGN AND ART, I DIDN'T TRULY DISCOVER MY HIDDEN PASSION AND TALENT FOR PAINTING UNTIL AROUND 1993. I BEGAN THE GILDED TOUCH WORKING OUT OF MY HOME WHILE RAISING MY SONS, AARON AND NOAH. I STARTED PAINTING GLASS ORNAMENTS AND THEN ADDED IN FURNITURE PAINTING, CUSTOM FLORAL DESIGN, MURALS AND FAUX FINISHING.

TODAY, I AM THOROUGHLY ENJOYING GLASS ART, AND I BELIEVE THAT MY WORK REFLECTS MY WHIMSICAL VIEW ON LIFE. THE PIECES THAT I PAINT ARE WORTHY OF COLLECTOR DISPLAYS, BUT ARE UTILITARIAN AS WELL.

MOST ANY DAY YOU CAN FIND ME IN MY STUDIO, USUALLY WITH OUR SWEET SANDY AT MY FEET, AS WELL AS OUR KITTIES, OLLIE AND PATCHES (aka MR. GRUMPY). JOINING US IN DECEMBER 2008 WAS PUMPKIN ( PLUMPKIN!) WHO I FOUND MEWLING IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE COSTCO. HE'D BEEN ABANDONED THERE AROUND A WEEK BEFORE. HE'S NOW A FAT AND HAPPY HOUSE CAT AND IS GRADUALLY ADJUSTING TO LIVING WITH TWO OTHER KITTIES AND A VERY SWEET GOLDEN RETRIEVER.