My joy is to play with mud. It nourishes my connection to Spirit and to myself. It is my hope that as you view and handle the pieces, one will inspire a similar joy and connection within you. Every one of my pieces is made by hand and has it's own personality. I work in Raku and Stoneware, bringing together the four elements - earth, air, fire, and water - in playful ways. Working with clay - or playing with mud - is a process of discovery. Opening the kiln is like opening a present: you're never sure what you'll find inside. One of the definitions of the Japanese word Raku is 'happy accident.' More often than not, that's what you get: a magical and unpredictable blending of clay and fire. Because of the nature of the glazes, Raku work is primarily decorative and can't be used for serving food. Stoneware allows for more control, particularly with the application of glazes. I use this more traditional medium to explore different ideas and create functional objects. The glazes are lead-free and non-porous and can be used for serving food. Sometimes, a piece will come out the kiln feeling not quite finished. That's when I add natural found objects like branches, feathers and seashells or beads and semi-precious stones. I call these pieces Spiritware. Generally made from Stoneware, they are both functional and decorative. These pieces have found homes as altar bowls, wall hangings, serving dishes, centerpieces, and containers for precious objects. I hope you enjoy these offerings.