I was born in a small community in central Wisconsin. I earned my undergraduate degree in music education with a major in piano. I also earned my master’s degree in teaching the visually impaired from Northern Illinois University. I coordinated a service unit for persons with disabilities at that same university for over 20 years. I have also been a full-time instructor at the Hadley School for the Blind for over ten years.
I have designed a small-scale children’s book project which I do out of my home office. Volunteers join with me to create print/braille books for youngsters who are blind or for family members or friends who are braille readers who enjoy reading to the munchkin patrol.
The other project within my adult life that has meant a great deal to me was to spearhead the organization of the first-ever benefit concerts for The Hadley School for the Blind.
I began taking weaving classes about sixteen years ago. I have had the joy of working with two excellent teachers at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles, IL. It is a wonderful place to learn new art forms to love. It was challenging to figure out ways to create complex braille weaving patterns and work out techniques so that I could do the entire weaving process independently–measuring the yarn, threading the loom, and finally having the joy of throwing shuttles and having my fingertips discover the complex patterns coming alive on the loom.
