| “The cure for boredom is curiosity. But there is | | | | I had to relearn to read, write, talk and walk. This |
| no cure for curiosity.” I’ve certainly lived | | | | forced me to slow down and reevaluate my |
| this quote. I can say that I have never been bored | | | | priorities. My boys were always my top priority but |
| because my curiosity has ridden over most all my | | | | they no longer lived at home. I had recently divorced |
| other needs and emotions. I drove my parents | | | | so it was important to finally focus on me. I asked |
| crazy with the “What’s that? Where are we | | | | myself, “What would make you happy? What is |
| going? How was this made? Why do we do it this | | | | your passion?” |
| way?” questions; having to be quieted with the | | | | Being unable to work again in the stressful, fast |
| typical parental answer of, “Because.” | | | | paced lifestyle of corporate business the answer was |
| I have spent my whole life living outside of the box | | | | immediate. Art. Design. Humor. My father gave me |
| looking at things different from others, trying to | | | | his twisted ‘humor’ gene and it is a big part |
| figure out why things have been done one way and | | | | of who I am. Laughter and whimsy has always |
| why couldn’t they be done another way. For | | | | helped me shine inside. So the answer became |
| instance, when I saw a rusty toaster in a garbage | | | | humorous art, Whimsical Curiosities. |
| can I thought, “what a great body for a doll!” | | | | My Whimsical Curiosities creations are now my |
| Another example was a carpenter friend of mine had | | | | passion. I love being in my studio, serendipitously |
| collected a large bin of specialty wooden pencils from | | | | putting together found items in unexpected ways. I |
| lumber yards. I asked him if I could have them and | | | | find myself working alone (with my faithful dog |
| turned them into a unique rustic frame for a wall | | | | Tank), laughing out loud often. My dolls are made |
| mirror. | | | | from antique porcelain heads and arms, vintage |
| Luckily I share my mother’s artistic gift and had | | | | kitchen appliances, vintage machine parts, junk |
| my fingers in different mediums of art all my life, i.e. | | | | drawer items and costume jewelry. My mosaics are |
| batiking, candle making, acrylic painting, murals, graphic | | | | made from vintage toys, broken ceramics, and |
| design, folk art design, collage, furniture making and | | | | vintage hardware. |
| fauxing, and sewing. However, being a single mother | | | | My life no longer proceeds at a stressful pace and I |
| of two boys, I had to work in the corporate world | | | | am content and happy. I am also very proud of my |
| to bring in a stable paycheck. This kept me from | | | | curiosity and humor. Curiosity is the very basis of |
| taking my creative interests seriously. | | | | discovery, adventure and education, and if you tell |
| In 2002, at the age of 50 years old, I had some | | | | me that curiosity killed the cat, I say the cat died |
| personal tragedies that caused me to have a stroke. | | | | gallantly! |