THE FULL STORY

PAST:

My maternal grandmother revealed to me shortly before she left, that my Sicilian heritage included the farming, harvesting, spinning and weaving of linen.

Meanwhile grandma, the first of my tribe, born in the United States, was commanded by her parents to leave high school at the age of 14 and start work in the sweatshops of New York City, abandoning her dream of becoming a doctor.

I had asked "Angie" how she coped with 14 hour days at her treadle machine, to return home and care for a husband and two children.  She turned to me and replied, "Well, I would go places - to Florida, China, everywhere I could.  I could use my imagination [creative thinking] while I worked to help me get through the days..."

Meanwhile,

My mother, by necessity, sewed all the clothes for my sister and I.  Also, she loves a bargain and has impeccable taste in clothing, textiles, art and furniture and design. 

MY STORY...

I've always produced art.

My most infamous work was completed at the ripe age of 3, I'm told.  My canvas was my freshly painted bedroom - three coats of pink, I believe. (thanks for preparing my canvas so lovingly mom!)  From what I can remember, it consisted of a cacophony of tadpole people in every crayola color available back in 1963.  Measuring 10'x8'. 

Needless to say the critics did not applaud!

Later, at the age of 12 or so, due to my alleged expensive taste in clothes, etc. my parents took this as an opportunity to teach me the value of "why don't you get a job?" This lead me to learn the value of hard work which lead me to inevitably begin to sew, design, embroider and otherwise embellish my own clothes and for others as well.

I discovered a new talent and means of expression!

AT PRESENT:

Combining my need to create, with my concern for thrift, a well honed shopping addiction and an equally compelling concern for the sustainability of life on this beautiful planet we inhabit, Process was born.

TO BE CONTINUED...

You can recognize when someone is wearing my work.  It will have a seed pearl and a recycle or spiral charm sewn on.  That's mine.  The pearl - process.  The charm - sustainable, artful, life.