Mary grew up in northern Ohio and is the oldest of nine children. She had the great fortune in her early childhood of living in a Polish neighborhood and being spoiled by her Grandmother with great cooking and great stories. Reading was important to Mary, and an extra credit assignment by her eighth grade English teacher sparked her desire to be an illustrator. Her teacher assigned her to create a children’s picture book. In creating that book, Mary could combine her love for stories and for creating art on one stage in a picture book. Mary studied illustration at the Columbus College of Art & Design, in Columbus, Ohio, where she met her husband Les.

 

After graduation, she tried living in Les’ home state of Maine, but all the snow and short springs brought them back to Ohio and to a permanent home in Cincinnati. Mary has two sons.

 

Owen is an executive chef and David is an electrician. So at Mary’s house there is always a great holiday meal and excellent lighting above it! In her second studio Mary enjoys working three-dimensionally creating jewelry, which she sells at art shows.

 

Her jewelry is a combination of different materials including polymer clay and electronic components. Each original piece has its own title and of course, a story.