Here is a quick summary of my art training and more:
In 1983, I completed a year-long course in Commercial Art at West Valley Occupational Center, in Woodland Hills, Ca. I learned a lot of valuable skills, but ultimately, the field wasn't for me. My main love, with art, was always making things that are in three dimensions. About two years later, I took a stained glass course, through a community
college. It taught the traditional stained glass method of fitting glass between lead channels, called "came". Soon after this, I took another stained glass course at McGroarty Arts Center, in Tujunga, Ca, which taught the copper foil method, pioneered by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Tiffany was able to create much finer and delicate stained glass, like those seen in his lamp shade designs, with this new method. In 1990, I graduated from California State University Northridge, with a B.A. My specialties were glass, jewelry making, and textiles. in Marriage, Family & Child Counseling, in 1992; and worked in counseling and social work for the entire decade of the '90's. Art therapy was incorporated into my work, whenever possible. After burning out on social work, I returned to my original love: creating artwork for myself, family, friends, and others. A month after the online mall for hand-crafted gifts, Etsy, started, I opened my shop "NotablyGifted"; selling textiles, jewelry and Sock Monkeys! I was one of 50 sellers chosen to mentor other sellers on the site. The shop has remained inactive since 2008, when I went through cancer treatment. Thankfully, I've been cancer-free, since then. Interestingly, I took a refresher stained glass course at McGroarty Arts Center, a few years ago, and it was 30 years after the first one. The course was great, and I learned about new tools and techniques, which weren't around, when I took the first course. I credit my love of stained glass to playing with Lite-Brite, as a kid. Multi-colored plastic pegs are stuck into a screen with a black background, to create designs. A light from behind the screen, shines through, creating magic --just like stained glass.