I began my life as an artist, in 1981, with hand papermaking.  For about two years I was obsessed with making paper from any conceivable fiber, experimenting with different pulps and getting to the point of being able to produce the effects I wanted.  Then, with stacks of handmade paper all over the house, I began to make large collages and to experiment with various modes printmaking. This period of intense exploration lasted for about 12 years.  I still experiment, of course, but I did find some forms and strategies that work well for what I want to express.  Assemblage, using paper cast into sculptural forms as a framework and incorporating found objects, printed and drawn images as well as textiles, became and remains a preferred form. Many pieces deal with Feminist content and have primarily been shown at alternative spaces in the Bay Area, with the exception of shows in Malta and Italy. The political, autobiographical and narrative elements typical of the Feminist Art Movement are a major part of my work. On a parallel track, I began making artists’ books in 1991. I make unique, rather than editioned, books that function as sculptural objects. I also use related formats, such as scrolls, portfolios or boxes of letters. In the last two years I have focused on altered books.  My book works have been shown in San Francisco, Seattle and Southern California. In 2005 I was awarded an artist’s residency at the Jentel Foundation in Wyoming.  Applying for and receiving this fellowship was a turning point in my development and identity as an artist. That developmental process is also evident in a book I am currently writing, entitled Joy in the Making:  Artist’s Dreams and the Recovery of Delight in Art-Making, to be published by Council Oak Books.