Mary Anne Knapp
From my earliest recollection, I have loved making things. I made clothes for my dolls out of scraps from my mom's sewing basket, and my grandmother taught me to knit. I took art lessons for a time, but quickly learned that while I loved working with color and design, I had absolutely no talent for drawing or painting.
I grew up in Texas and Oklahoma. My family moved often as my dad was an engineer with a major oil company. I graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock with a BS in Secondary Education, married shortly thereafter, and moved to Pennsylvania. I have two children. My son David is an engineer with IBM, and lives in Poland with his wife and three sons. My daughter, Laura, is an Ultrasound Tech, and lives near Scranton, PA. She and her husband have a 16 month old son, Mason, who is hands-down the cutest baby on the planet. They are expecting their second child in November. Being a grandmother is the best!
While the kids were growing up, I was an avid quilter, and dabbled in rug hooking. I had a home business making and selling hand-smocked childrens' clothing through an agent in Phoenix, AZ.. I loved doing all of these things, but it wasn't until I moved to New Hampshire a number of years ago, that I began making jewelry. I was hooked immediately, and started making jewelry for myself and my family. Soon people began asking me to do work for them, and that was the beginning.
I especially love working with polymer clay. The possibilities are endless, and the ability to create in an infinite range of color and design is very appealing. I tend to be drawn to colors that I see in nature and in my surroundings. I carry a notebook with me, and jot down ideas and color combinations that I want to develop. There are so many techniques that I want to experiment with, and I can truly say that I am thoroughly enjoying this journey of discovery.
When I am not making jewelry, I work full time managing a dental office. In my spare time (?), I enjoy reading, tennis, kayaking, walking and just about anything that takes me outdoors. I am also a member of the Walpole Artisans Coop in Walpole, NH. It is my wish that everyone who purchases and wears my jewelry enjoys it as much as I have enjoyed creating it for them.
