Mostly magazines like Somerset Studio. I love to see what other artists are doing. A great idea may come from the smallest detail of someone else’s work — travel also provides great inspiration. I collected all the soaps from a hotel in Florence because they were wrapped in the most beautiful paper that has appeared in some of my art. A fairly inexpensive purchase in Venice came in a print paper bag that was absolutely gorgeous. I have copied it many times over to use in my collages. And I love foreign newspapers. I told my husband recently my French newspaper is almost all cut up. We'll have to plan another trip!

My first recollection of creating is from about 4th grade. I used to draw fashion all the time. The fashion trends of the ’60s and ’70s are recorded sitting in a drawer at my mother's house! I also loved to sew and embroider all the time. I was not the best art student but I always practiced everything I learned at home. No matter how tight the money was my mother was always supportive in my creative needs and bought whatever I needed.

I seem to be drawn to piecing things together. I was doing a lot of mosaic for awhile and I got tired of the mess and the fact that the weather had to be just right for the grouting process. I think what's great about collage is that I'm not good at painting but I can sketch so I can use paper and found objects instead of paint. As an avid collector of "stuff" this suits me.

My studio is always in a state of creative chaos. About six years ago I wanted to turn my spare room into a studio but the idea was overwhelming and expensive. I cut out pictures and journaled thoughts on how I would like it to be. I put it all on poster board and hung it in that room. I realized about two years later I had to have that room and just did it. My husband didn't mind the change and he actually helped pick out and put together furniture for it. That's when I really blossomed as an artist. I no longer had the restrictions of getting everything out and then cleaning up the mess. This just takes up too much energy. I am now surrounded by my favorite things, even my old tin paint box from when I was little. My son's first denim jacket is hanging on the wall next to a fully lined yellow linen coat my aunt made for me when I was a baby. I like to have my favorite stamps, ribbon, etc. within easy reach. If it's all put away neatly I won't think of using them.

I'm 51 and I've dabbled in everything … and therefore never feeling really great at one thing. If creating is in your blood and you know when it is, you just have to keep creating. You must use your instinct when you do something that you feel is good and just submit. When I submitted something for the first time, I never heard anything and I absolutely loved what I sent in. I realized how much artwork magazines must receive so I chose to believe that they just never got it! A year later after doing one of my paper girls, I just knew they would be published and they were. A couple of months later my apron girls were accepted. Just submit and know that rejection is part of the creative process.

I just finished some Marie Antoinette dresses and am starting a series of pieces using real faces with my paper fashions. This is more difficult than I had anticipated but I am getting through it. They will be submitted to Somerset Memories when finished.

I love travel – it really gets the creative juices flowing. I also love to garden. It's very therapeutic for me, and wish I had more time for it.

It was an amazing feeling. I had to keep reading it to make sure that it really said what it said. I have struggled with that "am I good enough" for so long. So I think it occurred to me that I'm good enough!

I have two..."Just do it" and "With God anything is possible."