artist bio
background
My family has been a part of Lincoln, Nebraska since homesteading in the Northwest Lincoln area over 125 years ago. I was born and raised in Lincoln, as was my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother following a cross-country trip by my great-great-grandparents by covered wagon.
My early inspiration into the arts came from family, such as my great-grandmother, Faith Hattan, who was a puppeteer and created the most beautiful puppets. Some of my most vivid childhood memories are of my maternal grandfather, a graphic artist, painter and illustrator, and my maternal grandmother who was an Art Education professor at UNL and a painter. My grandfather would let me sit at his great big desk and color with what had to have been very expensive art markers and I often wonder how many art teachers remember me sitting on my grandmother’s desk during class when they were still students. My mother, my father, my aunt and my brother have all built their lives around creative arts. I continue to gain great inspiration from my two daughters.
creative history
I discovered quilting in the summer of 2001, making my first small quilt for my daughter. I have since completed numerous quilts, each one allowing me to gain more mastery of the skills required, although all along I had a great desire to enter the area of artistic quilting. In 2006 I began to make great strides as an artist. I now have my own studio and am excited to take as many projects as I can.
I am also experienced in other textile arts, having learned to sew by example from my stepmother and paternal grandmother. I have had several related businesses – Dreamy Fairies was created in 1998, and consisted of different types of fairy dolls. I also have worked with dress-up clothes for children in a business called Pretendables. Previously, I designed my own line of children and infant’s bedding which was marketed under the name Bedjammies.
In the beginning, however, I was inspired by photography. I started at age 14 working in the darkroom of my father’s advertising business. I went on to take photos for both my high school and college newspapers, as well as working or 3 years in the family and children’s portrait photography business. I still do a little freelancing under the name of Blink photography.
I currently address my left brain and financial needs as a Right-of-Way Specialist in the City of Lincoln’s Urban Development Department.