I had just exited the New York City Library of Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. As I walked through Hearst Plaza, I was struck by a print hanging in the window of Avery Fischer (now David Geffen) Hall.  The large framed print was of tulips. Until then, my mind’s eye always saw cut tulips standing tall in a glass vase. In this print however, like a river the tulips flowed out one side of a decorative porcelain vase. I had never seen flowers arranged like this before. The outstretched petals of the long-stemmed garden and parrot tulips were beige with fine curved lines of deep red - reminiscent of Venetian marbleized glass. To me, this was the makings of an artist whose vision was beyond convention.

The image of that floral print never left me. Every time it entered my mind, I wanted to create a similar painting of my own. I eventually did. Although nowhere near the proficiency the artist of the print possessed, I was nevertheless satisfied with what I produced. Concurrently I developed a passion for flowers and floral design. I realized that like any fine art, floral design can evoke emotion and tell a story. I enrolled in floral design classes at New York Botanical Garden. There I learned the infinite creative possibilities to working with flowers.  

I chose to work primarily with silk flowers and botanicals. They don’t require specialized and expensive refrigeration, and their “forever life” permits me the time I choose to design an arrangement.  In a small dining area, off the galley kitchen of my CO-OP apartment, is my workspace. Being creative can require some sacrifice.  Nevertheless, that deficit becomes insignificant when I witness someone’s joy when looking at or (even better) purchasing one of my floral designs. It’s my hope that you find my work, and this website, viscerally moving, meaningful, and calls to mind life’s beauty.

I have vended at numerous artisan and craft fairs and I can honestly say that the happiness my work has brought to people is equal or greater than the pleasure of a sale itself.

A few memorable reactions and comments people have had to my work displayed at artisan and craft fairs:

“I bought a holiday arrangement from you last year and I love it so much I keep it out all year.” 

“You mean these aren’t real?!?”

A young boy took his mother’s hand and brought her to my display asking if she would buy him a small arrangement of daisies in moss – something I never imagined happening.

 For a holiday craft fair, I use a backdrop of birch trunks I painted on foam core. A woman came by my display and said: “I want to walk through that.”

A woman approached my holiday display table, opened her arms as to embrace it, and smiled. She didn’t say a word – she didn’t need to. She also didn’t make a purchase – but that’s okay – her expression was priceless.

“This is beautiful (referring to a medium size arrangement of wild red berries in a gold mercury glass vase) – I’ve never seen something like this before!”

I’m amazed at the countless times young people have turned their heads in awe of my displays. No joking – we’re talking middle school students.

At a holiday craft fair another vendor called out to me and said: “I’ve been watching you. Every time someone buys something you quickly re-arrange your display to make it as perfect as possible!” Okay, so I’m a little obsessive about how my displays look. No worries though, I’ve yet to cut off an ear!