My desire to practice reusing and recycling is fueled by the shame and pain I experience in confronting our wasteful consumer driven society trained to consume more and more, only to throw away again. Artistically, I delight in breaking the rules with my work by stepping outside the traditional use of a material and or technique. The process of creating interesting, thought-provoking art fuels my passion. For me, incorporating many different, sometimes opposing materials into one fascinating and beautiful piece is a reflection of life. Different cultures – the sacred and profane, personal and professional, agony and elation, cats and dogs – these opposing things, ideas and emotions are the composition of life. Opposing factors are my art – discarded rubbish combined with precious metals, stones and beads. It is the blending, the revealing, the tolerance and acceptance of these differences in my art – and life – that truly makes my heart sing.