My husband, Randy, is 1/4 Cherokee Indian. The rest, I believe is Irish and German. One thing I have noticed about him that must come from the Native American in him, is that he has a different kind of intelligence than other people. He knows things that he never learned or studied. It seems like the knowledge comes from somewhere inside and that it is more a feeling than a thought. I don't know, but I do know that he is the kindest man you would ever want to meet. And he thinks all the little creative things I do are just wonderful. It is always nice to have constant flattery for the things you do.
I started creating my "little people" in 1996, and last year was the first time I entered them in anything. They have won awards including 1ST Place at the Big Fresno Fair. I knew that I liked them, but it really blew me away to win something for them. And then when people started wanting to buy them, whoa, I hadn't expected that either.
It was Christmastime, 1995, when I saw a picture in a magazine of a Santa that a lady in Montana had made and I was just so impressed. I found out that they were sculpted out of clay and one day I bought some just to see what I could do with it. At first, everything I made looked like aliens. Then normal faces started appearing.
I love making really old people. They just seem to have much more character than others. I also love making the queen and the witch from Snow White, because of the massive difference in the two. (I loved Snow White)
When I am not creating my "little people", I can usually be found with my animals. My husband and I have 11 dogs, 11 cats and 2 tree squirrels. (Update: October 1999~~ We now have 13 dogs, 12 cats and Joey died in May. New info on Joey's Page and at the Animal House coming soon.)
They are all spoiled rotten and we wouldn't have it any other way. They give back lots of love and they appreciate every little thing.
They usually have patience with me when I spend hours with my dolls, or at the sewing machine. Sometimes, though, they think they need my attention and become very loud and rambunctious. Then I will have to stop working for awhile and lay down with them or play with them, or feed them...Come to think of it, they are REALLY demanding little critters!!!
My husband is so good. He doesn't begrudge me any of the time I spend with my dolls or my animals. As long as I am happy doing it, he thinks it's great. He really does admire my dolls, and of course, he enjoys the animals almost as much as I do. The squirrels, in fact, are his.
I had to add my interest in my pets, because if you know me, you know ALL my pets, and pretty much have to put up with their antics. Sometimes I don't know how our friends can stand having to fight through all the commotion they make EVERY time one comes over. But they do.
Christmas Carols