I grew up in a steel mill town in the Laurel Highlands of western Pennsylvania. Being surrounded by beautiful rolling hills juxtaposed by bridges, railroads and industry greatly affected my design sensibilty. Clean, simple geometric forms are the building blocks of my designs, which are inspired by architecture, machines, toys and nature. By combining these seemingly different influences, I am exploring the concept of jewelry as playful object.

My present work consists of jewelry with kinetic elements designed to attract and engage the attention of the wearer. These articulated parts rely on the action of the wearer for motion. This action can be a simple turn of the body or a deliberate manipulation of the movable parts. This kinetic aspect of my work creates an intimate and unique relationship between jewelry and wearer. My jewelry, by definition, is not only an object of personal adornment but also an object of personal interaction and recreation.

When I was five years old, I announced to my parents that I was going to be an artist and as a high school student I discovered my passion for metals while making a large scale welded steel sculpture. At eighteen I moved to Philadelphia to attend Moore College of Art and Design, intending to concentrate my studies in sculpture but becoming entranced by jewelry making. I transfered to Tyler School of Art/Temple University for their renowned Jewelry/Metals Department where I received a bachelor’s degree in fine art.

After college I gained invaluable experience perfecting my skills working under a master goldsmith. During this period I worked on my own designs at night and on weekends and began selling at craft shows. In 1998, I was able to devote myself full-time to my own business.

I now make my home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in South Carolina with my husband Ben Gilliam and our cats Olivia and Fredo. Ben, also a metal artist, teaches at the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities.