Rock Hunting is in my blood.

I grew up in a rock hounding family. Every vacation was spent exploring the Western United States in search of the next great find. When my interest in soft stone carving grew as an adult, I went with my mother (the ultimate adventurer well into her 70s) several times to Soapstone Ridge, northwest of Yosemite, California. Each time we dug in the dirt for the best pieces of soapstone bringing home small and large pieces. These pieces of varied color make excellent grips for the selenite knives, daggers and swords I now create. I also use alabaster for the grips as it is soft enough to carve into different shapes.

I rarely recreate anything as I prefer to be challenged by something new and different than my previous creations. Each piece is inspired by the length and shape of the selenite. Most of the time, I 'see' the finished piece in my mind as I sit with the stone before working on it. I love the creative aspect of working on each piece. Sometimes they morph into something entirely different than what I imaged to begin with. I do my best to blend my energy with the energy of the selenite and never force a shape onto a piece. 

I have had some of the best adventures in my life with my mom. The first time we tried to find Soapstone Ridge, I was driving my 1956 Willy's Jeep Station Wagon. We didn't know we were taking to the long way to get there, going up and down mountains, crossing a river and finally arriving after several hours of back country driving. At one point that day, she called us "two lost loonies in the boonies". I laughed. However, being a little crazy only added to our adventures over the years.