Gloria - Michigourders Director

On a warm summer day in the Bavarian mountains of Germany, a shinning light was born into the world of art

Two days later and just down the road I was born. I don't know what time but my mom remembers missing lunch.  I came to the States at about 3 years of age, living in a farming community in upstate New York. At 12, we moved to Michigan where I've been since. I'm married to a wonderful man since I was 19, never mind how old I am now. I have three grown children and 3 grandchildren, two horrible little dogs that I adore and Mr. Peepers, my canary.

I've always been interested in art. While I didn't pursue a degree, I did take every art class offered by Oakland Community College.  Artistically I'm an accomplished portrait artist I prefer pastels or colored pencil as my medium. I paint as well and took up painting furniture which I sold in galleries for a time. I paint murals interior and exterior, create faux finishes, work with polymer clays, make jewelry, dolls in fabric and otherwise. I design children's knitwear and I write children's poetry and stories.  Evidently I have too much free time. And afterseeing a decorated gourd in Niagara Falls a few years ago I started working with gourds. It has become a passion for me. I am able to use nearly all of my skills on them. With their round surface they create enough of a challenge to keep my fleeting interest.

Because of gourds I am learning basketry and carving. I've discovered a huge variety of new products to play with. I've fallen in with a delightful group of "gourd heads" who have seen fit to make me their

director and I have nothing but high hopes for our future as an organization.

See Gloria's work on her web site www.imsart.com

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Gourd Guild