Total happiness for me is sitting under the old maple tree in the back yard during the summer or by the wood stove during the winter weaving my pine needle baskets. The everyday world dissolves and my mind goes to my "Basket Place". Each newly created pine needle basket is one of a kind. Once in awhile I do a basket entirely of pine needles, but I typically use a gourd for the base. Every gourd is different in size and skin color. I am constantly on the lookout for natural embellishments to work into the basket design. I use slices of black walnuts, sea shells, gemstones and even deer antlers! No basket is ever really planned. I just wait for it to "speak" to me.

I began weaving traditional baskets many years ago. Then one day I discovered the art of making pine needle basketry and I was hooked. I still weave traditional basketry, but my true passion is making pine needle basketry. I am totally self taught. I did not even discover the history of pine needle basketry until I was surfing the web one day and discovered that the southern plantation slaves went from sweet grass basketry to pine needle basketry when they were sold to another "master" and no longer had access to sweet grass. And of course Native Americans have made pine needle baskets for hundreds of years.

My baskets can be found in private collections in Kentucky, New York, Texas and California. Commission work from deer hunters also keeps me busy. Wives really hate that deer head hanging on the wall, but when that prize rack is on a beautiful pine needle and gourd basket they are very pleased!

Giving demonstrations of my craft at the Artisan's Center in Berea (where my baskets are sold) and to leadership seminars in Trimble County, my home, are fond times. I love to share with others the joy of basketry. It gives me great pleasure to share my art with others.

In 2006 and 2007 I was awarded several blue ribbons for my basketry at the Kentucky State Fair.

The Louisville Artisans Guild Merit Award for Outstanding Craftsmanship was awarded to me in 2007.

I am president of the Trimble County Arts Council; a juried member of the Louisville Artisans Guild; a juried member of Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen; The Madison Art Association; and juried member of Kentucky Crafted the Market. I also belong to the Kentucky Gourd Society. My baskets can be found at the Artisan's Center in Berea, Ky. and Simply Coffee and Crafts in Carrollton, Ky.