I was raised by a creative and inventive mother who believed that if you see something you like, you can figure out how to make it. As I grew up making cool things, I studied art in high school and graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in textile art. I’d always loved and worn hats but hadn’t found a place to learn the craft of millinery until 1995 when I took a workshop from Seattle milliner, Wayne Wichern. I continued to study with Wayne, was inspired by and learned much from other milliners including Anne deVuono, Izzie Lewis and more recently Lina Stein.

I work in felt, straw and sinamay cloth, on traditional hat blocks.

Each of my hats are unique and individual handcrafted pieces inspired by organic, non traditional shapes as well as the classic and timeless. Quality materials have a life of their own that almost communicate how they want to be shaped with blocks and with the imagination. Working with a limited number of traditional blocks, I sculpt and play with each piece until the hat itself determines it's final shape. The process is as much fun as the end result which can always be a little surprising.