D E D I C A T I O N
                                                    
                                                                                                       
  
  WHERE THIS ALL BEGAN A DEDICATION TO MY
NIECE
Mary Klose

Making stoma covers, began after my niece had her
throat cancer operation..Mary was a very stylish lady,
and always was a "knock out" whether in jeans or a
velvet cocktail dress...she often wore scarfs to cover
her larynx surgery site...or high collars, turtle necks.
We were always on the search to find something
special that would cover...I had a  belt that had a very
large shell, that I bought when I lived in Hawaii, and we
shortened the ties, and it was a very interesting piece.

We were in an art gallery, which is located in a park in
San Diego... where a lovely (in the tune of over $150)
crochet necklace was shown. Mary considered buying
this piece, but we decided that we could go home and
get our creative juices flowing. We design and make a
similar piece which was actually a better concept for
her purpose than the original piece, being washable,
smaller, and lighter weight.

I am an artist and jewelry designer, Mary, an
artist...putting our heads together and hands to work
we made our first Stoma Cover..the first pieces were
made from wonderful beads and yarn we found in a
family trunk,  left by her mother-in-law that made fabric
wall hangings...

Mary had a stoma cover for every outfit that she wore,
and was very stylish, and received many compliments
on her designed, one of a kind neck piece.
Since Mary's passing, I have continued to make these
stoma covers, always looking for interesting yarn and
beads...and keeping my hands busy and my designing
an ongoing pleasure...
I offer these unusual pieces to you...they have a price,
but if any person that has had their larynx removed,
and doesn't have extra money...I would like to have
them write and let me know of their situation..
I have been given an artistic gift, and I am willing to
share with those that can not afford to purchase, yet
have the desire to LOOK GOOD.  








  
                                                      
                               
'B O U T    B O W

I was raised on the beach in San Diego, California, where the love
of the outdoors and appreciation of the vibrant colors of nature
were an early influence, and now evident in the art pieces I create.
 These pieces are in various media, batik, watercolor, acrylic and
enameling.  

Early childhood days were spent exploring the mud flats that were
in the middle of Mission Bay. We sailed, and swam, collected
paper dolls from the Sunday funnies, our imaginations were quite
active, as we played pirates and dressed up pretending we were
princesses. I feel fortunate to have grown up years ago, where we
had no fears and were free to roam and went barefooted,
well some things never change.
I have always enjoyed working, and during the years that my
children were young, I was fortunate enough to have jobs with oil
companies as a geological and geophysical draftsman also worked
in the land department working on maps and plotting
leases/information...In those years, OIL was KING in the Central
Valley of Calif, with a lot of exploration within the state and in
Alaska .  I was able to work the hours and days that I wanted, by
contracting my time. There were days that I wanted to play golf or
attend my sons ballgames and was able to do that...My daughter
had a horse, we had a pool so Mom was needed at home when
school was out.
After my son and daughter were raised, Hawaii was my home for
many years, where I worked as an illustrator at Hickam AFB, and
for the Navy, as supervisor for Third Fleet Headquarters graphics
shop, on Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor. I rode a ferry
to and from work everyday.  The sunrise over the mountains, and
the beautiful cloud formations started every day with a calm,
peaceful feeling.  My staff and I produced the artwork for the
production of slides, training aides, maps, and publications used
in the training of the Pacific Fleet.  

Living in Hawaii, travel to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Singapore,
Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Indonesia) was
convenient and exposed me to the various art forms and designs
of the area.
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Upon retirement I made a dream come true.  Never had traveled
across our vast, great country, had never seen the Mississippi, or
the Atlantic Ocean.  Home for almost a year was a 21-foot motor
home, traveling from San Diego to Bangor, Maine, to Key West,
Fla. and back to San Diego.  There was no plan, no time
restraints, just where the spirit moved or fellow travelers would
suggest a turn in the road.  On this trip I had no TV, no computer,
no phone…only my art supplies.  I entered a few art shows along
the way, and sold a few pieces of jewelry to other campers. I
visited with family and the military friends that had moved on from
Hawaii to towns across the nation

Enjoyed the life of a latent hippie....gypsy...no plans, no routine,
no place to go, no time to be there
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I returned to Topsail Island, North Carolina to live for several
years. Living on a remote, seaside island, every day started off
with a beautiful sunrise over the ocean, while the dolphins swam
and played in the surf, the pelicans flew in formation over head,
summer brought the nesting turtles.  This experience gave me the
opportunity to feel the spirit and solitude of the sea and the life
along the shore. In this setting I found an inner peace that can’t be
found any other place, for me.   Many of my creations, in jewelry
and paintings depict this love of the sea and the inhabitants. It was
at this time that I started selling my art to retail stores in the
coastal towns of North Carolina. I have marketed my
“Things/Creations” in art shows and galleries, and stores in North
and South Carolina, Hawaii, California, Washington, Alaska and
Florida.

I experienced Hurricane Fran in N.C. ...My building was closed for
repairs for a year...I returned to San Diego and when  I was able to
return...it was not the same...they say you can't go back...think
that is true.  I had friends in Mt. Dora, Florida and visited them and
fell in love with the little town, which was close enough to the
ocean that I could drive for my SEASIDE FIX.

Leaving Florida when my niece was diagnosed with cancer, I lived
with my nephew, Mike and Mary, until her passing...Followed by a
few years of taking care of family business, I am back in Hawaii .

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If I had a theme for my life..
it would be to

ENJOY THE TEMPORARY,
as all things ARE temporary,
the best of times and the other...all things change...and that is
a good thing.

The good things are here to enjoy at the time
The bad things will pass in time, giving us hope for the
future
AND people we love matter most
Email
to order or inquire
Mary in Mexico,
wearing a collar
with beads, that
matched her
sheer navy and
burgundy
colored dress
The very first Stoma Cover...
I make all the Stoma Covers shown on this website...
Constantly on the look out for yarn, beads, yardage
and ideas that would work
I love corresponding with the customers, learning of
their families, activities and
sometimes of the hard times that they experience...

I try to fill the special needs that my customers have,
following throat surgery

IT IS MY PURPOSE AND MY
PLEASURE