I’ve always been an artist. From an early age, I’ve enjoyed drawing, painting – making. I teach art at my studio in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. It is wonderful to watch my students progress to the point I can introduce them to different materials and techniques. Their enthusiasm to learn is very satisfying to witness.

I love vintage! My father collected antiques and I think that is when I, too, learned to appreciate the quality and beauty of things made to last, and from a bygone era. I am so inspired by those fancy hand-drawn filigrees, beautifully scribed letters, majestic paintings and handmade furniture.

Serendipity connected me to a very large, unsorted stash of vintage postage stamps. Some from the 1800’s – the very first stamps invented! It has taken months to sort through these, and it’s become a hobby I couldn’t have predicted. But I’ve found these little pieces of art and history fascinating. To discover countries that no longer exist! To learn of the historical significance of each little piece of paper! To think they have survived this long! I have been sorting and researching and trying to figure out what to do with them all – far too many to keep! They aren’t valuable to stamp collectors, but they have become precious to me. I think others will find value in them, too.