It all started with needing a camera bag that wasn't an eyesore to use at a wedding I was shooting for. Not being able to find the perfect bag for the occasion, I set out to design and create my own. It had to match my formal attire, but more importantly it had to be functional and carry my lenses and equipment without obstruction. This simple need has opened a world of possibility.
Sewing lead to costume creation, and some of those costumes require a bow and arrows. Not one to play a part half-way, I felt it important to learn how to shoot a bow to fully get in character. Not to mention, it's just a really cool skill and is a lot of fun.
Before I ever started sewing clothing, I was sewing books. This desire came also from a set of specific requirements, where I needed a sketchbook of a certain size and of certain paper stock and durability, and the only feasible option was to create my own. This lead to others wanting similar sketchbooks and asking me to create them. The skill of being able to bind and collate books has been more helpful than I've ever expected. When it came to publication design, it allowed me to articulate with printers of all levels exactly what I needed and demonstrate to them personally how a project could be assembled.
I've always had a love for music from a young age. It started with playing the trumpet at age 10, then fumbling on my grandmother's organ, and then playing mediocre guitar and harmonica throughout high school. Today I still love all of my instruments and am continuing to collect and learn new ones whenever possible, making the mandolin my latest musical endeavor.
Painting once scared the hell out of me as a young art student. I was only comfortable with working in graphite. It was monochrome, drab, and at times limiting. Once I had a strong grasp of color theory and realized there was nothing to fear, I not only learned how to paint, but I've embraced it fully in just about every form. These days I prefer oil paints, but I will always find a place for acrylics and water colors.