My Work

I have been sketching since I was old enough to hold a pencil. In grade school I frequently got into trouble when I was caught trading my handmade paper dolls (drawn in class) for bubblegum! I have had very little formal art education. I started doing building sketches when my church handed out envelopes with a $10 "Talent" ( Matthew 25:14-28) to increase for the Lord within so many weeks. I made sketches of the church and then homes, and local historical buildings. The "talent" was successful for the church and led to the start of a new business. In 1976, I took a calligraphy class and was hooked! The addition of pressed flowers from my gardens and roadsides caught on and the Lord blessed this portion of my business as well. I chose the name "Sonshine Crafts" from a favorite quote, "Let the SON inside you shine for all to see." My goal is to do just that, through the many encouraging and uplifting verses and Scripture in my collection. My choices reflect my faith in God and the goodness of family, friends and the home. I hope they will be a blessing to you.

Since meeting many other pressed flower artists online, we have formed the World Wide Pressed Flower Guild (http://www.wwpfg.org) and I have been inspired to create many all floral pieces. I have learned that pressed flower art is simply “painting with flowers” and anything is possible! Visit my gallery

Me and My Family

I was born and raised in the Hudson Valley, NY. In February of 2004 I moved to Jonesborough, Tennessee where I took over the ownership of a small store for three years.

I attended the University of Maine, with the intention of becoming a teacher, but got sidetracked along the way. My two daughters and their families live in New York State, and I am the proud grandmother of 5. My husband passed away in 1987 and I lost a third daughter in an automobile accident in ’91, but God has been very good to me and has blessed me with a wonderful Christian church, family and friends.

My Testimony

I became a Christian in 1976 after attending church for many years and assuming that I was a Christian.  But at a Friendship Bible Study, sponsored by Christian Women’s Clubs, I found that I had never made a personal commitment to Christ during all those years.  I knew OF Christ, but I didn’t know HIM!  I had always thought that I might make it to heaven by my “good works”, but now I know that I am saved by FAITH, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9) and that the ONLY way to heaven is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).  I know, that if I should die today, I WILL go to heaven, and only because of Jesus Christ!  I am so blessed to have Christ as my companion and Savior through all the good and bad times.  I hope you do, too!