About the Artist
Michelle was born and raised in Iowa, living mostly in and around the Cedar Rapids area. Being a curious child, she was fascinated by arts and crafts of all kinds. Both of her grandmothers were crafters of one sort or another. One was an excellent seamstress, sewing most of her own clothing. The other was also a seamstress, and was interested in knitting, beading, and shell crafts. Michelle learned to weave beads around age eight while on a summer visit.
Michelle taught herself to knit when she was about twelve, and learned more complicated patterns from her grandmother and a neighbor. She also taught herself needlepoint, embroidery, crewelwork, decoupage, sewing, and crocheting before the age of 15. After she was married, she used her skills to make needed items for her home. When she had children, her skills came in handy for sewing clothes; knitting sweaters; making blankets and toys; and the inevitable mending jobs. When her son was about 2 years old, one of his favorite toys was a hobby horse made from a broom handle and an old rug.
Michelle moved to Minnesota in 1989, where she worked for several years in a city office. Wanting to spend more time with her children, she ran an in-home childcare business for 10 years. Eventually, Michelle began designing mohair teddy bears which she sold through her website and at collector shows. She also learned to sculpt dolls, using either polymer clay or needle sculpting techniques in fabric. When her children were grown, she ran a custom machine-embroidery business for several years before finding glass as an art medium.
Michelle learned to make lampworked beads by taking a lampwork bead class at a shop about an hours drive from her home in the Twin Cities. The medium was so mesmerizing, she spent countless hours perfecting each skill taught in the class. She has since taken many other classes, including an intense 5-day glass workshop with world renowned glass artist Loren Stump. Today, Michelle creates her little works of art in her glass studio in rural Minnesota.
Michelle's beads are featured in several retail bead stores in Minnesota, on Ebay, and of course, here on the site. Feel free to contact her if you have questions or suggestions. Your feedback is always appreciated. |
