BEGINNINGS
had brought from Germany, since most American jam recipes use too much sugar for my taste and did not have the pronounced fruit flavor I was accustomed to. Everybody I gave some of my jam to seemed to enjoy it and that in turn gave me the idea to take it to the local market to sell it and make extra Christmas money for my children’s gifts. I added some other fruits I had gathered during summer and made my first profit that year.
The following year I returned to the market at Christmas time with more flavors of jams with fruits friends had given me off their trees. After that, a lot of my customers called me during the year to get ‘their’ jellies. The rest is history. Adding flavors by ‘playing’ with different combinations and added ingredients like nuts and liqueurs, I now have quite a variety. The alcohol evaporates, but the flavor remains, so my possibilities are endless. I still add new flavors every year. The newest one was actually my now 14yr old son’s idea and it is another winner variety.
By now I am in my 10th year at the City Market year-round every Saturday morning and have developed a following.

- As for the jewelry - that is another story. I have always enjoyed working with precious stones and metal, having started my business apprenticeship in Germany at one of the finest jewelers in Wiesbaden. Small and intricate crafts have been my interest all my life, so working with small beads and wire came natural to me. I remember spending many days with my enameling kiln as a teenager. That part I have not yet found the time to get back into, but I eventually will again.
During the Native American ’craze’, dream catchers and dream catcher earrings were my first pieces. The very first pair of earrings I made was bought by someone in a store where I was going to show my work before I could even offer it to the store owner for sale. I have made many dream catcher earrings and necklaces since and even sold to the local Native Americans.
Researching different suppliers for the gemstones I added different beads and finally began stringing necklaces with stones and fetishes, combining them with Liquid Silver and goldfilled tube beads.
My first pieces look much different from the pieces I work with now, constantly growing and developing my own style. Everything I know about stringing and wire wrapping I have taught myself. The stone energies have always been a part of my work, starting with the ‘sacred’ turquoise in the dream catchers.
Custom pieces have always been part of my work, matching the many moods and outfits of my customers.