My paper crafting journey began in the 1990’s while looking for a way to take my vacation photos and create something other than just a photo album.   As with any journey the road twists and turns and takes you to unexpected places.  A friend invited me to a stamp party and I ended up more of a stamper than a scrapper!!  Living in Southern California at that time was a dream - the sheer amount of resources in terms of stores and materials, as well as accomplished paper artists was incredible.   My first time at the Carson Convention (the mother of all stamping conventions) was overwhelming and I realized I wanted to learn as much as possible about every technique, tool and product!!  My local stamp store was a great source of classes and materials and I must have read every stamp magazine on the market.   After winning a blue ribbon at the local county fair (and $6 in prize money!!) I started submitting cards for publication and have the pleasure and good fortune of being in The Rubber Stamper, RubberStampMadness and Take Ten magazines.

This journey continued when my wonderful husband, Orvil, and I moved to Florida in 2004 where I became friends with a terrific group of stampers.  Two of them, Jan Marie Caruso and Sharon Doolittle,  and I made the decision this year to create our own stamp line and open up an online store, Flourishes.   What a change it is to go from the very pressure filled and analytical world of finance and budgeting to the pressure and joy of creating your own business. 

Like many of you, my life has taken twists and turns.  I was born and raised in Connecticut, thinking that is where I would stay.  I met my husband while on vacation in Cancun (another story for another day!!), and he was living in California.  One thing led to another, I moved out west, we married and spent our honeymoon at the place we met.  I never thought I would leave California, but never say never!!  We now reside in beautiful northwest Florida, just outside of Pensacola with our three dogs, Dakota, Roxy and Brandy. 

In life, sometimes you just have to take the scenic route.