How I Came to Love Clay

I had the privilege of growing up on a century farm in southern Ontario, where I spent countless hours riding my horse through the beautiful pine forests and river valleys. The woods were always my sanctuary—my happy place.

In the first chapter of my life journey I earned my cosmetology license. It was my first experience taking something raw and shaping it into a creative vision. After several years in the beauty industry I decided to earn a business degree to help me understand the less fun, but necessary part of owning a business. To be an entrepreneur is to take an idea and make it a reality. You need to be creative and passionate to do this well, but doesn’t hurt to have an understanding of finances.

While in my early twenties, I lived on a remote island of 400 people on the Inside Passage of Northern BC. While there I became immersed in the stories of the people of Klemtu, and fostered a deep respect for the First Nations that lived there, and their history /connection to the world around them. They have a unique ability to weave nature and tradition into art. My time there shaped a part of who I am today.

At this point, life gave me the greatest gift of all—my two children. They continue to inspire and ground me in ways I could never have imagined.

Over the years, I’ve lived in various parts of Canada—Southern and Northern Ontario, Nova Scotia, Northern. Central and Coastal BC. Each place shaped my understanding of life, from the fishing lifestyle to the art of tole painting. I came to appreciate the unique cultures of both the East and West Coast, and witnessed how the landscapes—the Great Lakes, the prairies, the mountains—shaped the lives of the people who lived there. The struggles and triumphs of each community were reflected in their art, teaching me that creativity thrives from both hardship and joy.

Eleven years ago, we made the move to Cochrane, AB, where the mountains, forests, rivers and ranchlands continue to feed my creative soul.

Throughout my life, I’ve learned pottery from many teachers across the country. When I was ready to leave the corporate world behind and fully immerse myself in my passion of pottery, I sought advanced technical training from art schools in Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC.

Pottery, like life itself, is beautifully imperfect and always evolving. In nature, I’ve come to realize that the most stunning things are often the most imperfect—the curves and bends of rivers, the asymmetry of wildflowers, the way a sapling learns to grow around obstacles and reach for the sky. Each of these imperfections creates something uniquely beautiful. Pottery follows the same principle. As the clay passes through my fingers, it transforms into something one-of-a-kind. No two pieces are the same.

My work is deeply influenced by nature, life experiences, family traditions, farm life, and the animals we share this world with. When I hold a piece of clay shaped with care and love, my hope is that it brings a sense of peace and connection to the natural world and the diverse cultures that surround us.