Born in 1969, I am a proud second-generation Swede and third-generation Norwegian who grew up on Mitkof Island in Southeast Alaska. The island’s sole community, Petersburg, fondly known as Little Norway, shaped my life from the very beginning. Surrounded by the stark beauty of Southeast Alaska and deeply rooted in Nordic heritage, creativity was never separate from daily life.

With parents who were both commercial fishermen and artists in their own ways, I grew up where artistry took shape through the tasks of everyday living. That influence never left. Combined with my own experiences, it continues to shape the work I create today. I’ve been happily married since 1988, am the mother of two, and a proud Nana to four.

My connection to Nordic tradition later led me to northern Sweden, where I spent time with Sámi artisans, learning directly about technique and tradition, ensuring my techniques were authentic. Those experiences inform how I approach my work, with care, respect, and an understanding that these practices carry history far older than any single maker.

Meet Optimus Prime, also known as Posie or Opie. She is my service dog, and she is part of how I move through the world. My work does not happen without her.

While she may not create the art itself, she is essential to everything that makes it possible. Posie is twelve years old and small in size, but she has learned how to stand steady in big spaces. Raised among large dogs, she carries herself with calm assurance, attentive and present, always aware of what is happening around me.

She is with me through every stage of the creative process, from long hours in the studio to travel, galleries, and shows. She sits at my feet while I work, rides beside me on the road, and stays close in unfamiliar places. Her presence keeps me grounded, regulated, and able to focus, even when the environment is demanding or unpredictable.

Wherever I go and whatever I do, Posie is there. Not as a companion to the work, but as part of it. She is constancy, steadiness, and quiet awareness, and she makes the work possible in ways that are difficult to explain, but impossible to separate.

Vinnie and I have been together for thirty-seven years. We met young, built a life together, and learned early how much steadiness matters when you’re making something from the ground up.

When it comes to Nomadic Artistry, Vinnie is the one behind the scenes. He packs the truck, sets up the booth, tracks inventory, and makes sure everything is ready before I ever step into a show. He prefers to stay out of the spotlight, but his presence is woven into every part of how this work moves through the world.

He is the constant that allows me to focus on the work itself. When something needs fixing, carrying, adjusting, or holding together, he is already there, quietly making sure it’s handled.

And yes, this part is personal. From the start, he has been my best friend, my partner, and the person who steadies me when things feel heavy. I couldn’t do this life, or this work, without him. His strength, his consistency, and his big heart are the reason so much of this is possible.