​Creating beautiful one of a kind Jewelry is a second career for Judy. Originally from Wisconsin, Judy taught physical education and coached women’s gymnastics at Nicolet High School in Glendale , Wisconsin. Numerous job transfers for her husband, led her to West Michigan, where she began studying jewelry.

Judy has been fabricating or casting jewelry for 27 years. Her early education began at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art. But since those early days, she has had the pleasure of studying with many inspiring goldsmiths. Studying in New York City at the Jewelry Arts Institute, and Cecelia Bauer’s Studio, has exposed Judy to alloying and fabricating fine jewelry with 22 karat gold. Judy has also been working with Argentium sterling silver for the last 5 years, having studied with Ronda Coryell--the world’s premier Argentium instructor--many times. Learning the intricacies of working with this high carat silver, and  incorporating that knowledge into her own designs has added new versatility to Judy's fabricated jewelry. Judy continues to pursue opportunities to expand her knowledge and skills, studying with world class metalsmiths such as Il Maestro Fabrizio Aquafresca from Florence Italy, the foremost expert in repousse. goldsmith Michael David Sturlin, silversmith Richard Salley, and stone setter Gerry Lewy.

Stones have always been a part of Judy’s designs. The phrase “ From Earth To Art” has been part of her inspiration and business from the beginning of her jewelry career. Traveling to many gem shows, meeting the various lapidarists and sometimes the actual stone miners over the years, has been a huge learning experience. Picking out the “perfect”stones for her designs is very exciting. And the over the top excitement comes from attending the annual Tucson Gem Show, held in Arizona every January-February for two weeks.

Judy has been an active member of the Kalamazoo based “Signature Artists LLC” group since 2004, participating in year round activities as well as their annual holiday artist gallery. Judy is also a member of the Michigan Silversmiths Guild. Spring of 2017 brought Judy to the beautiful coastal town of Grand Haven, Michigan, where she is now a resident artist at the wonderful maker’s space Studio JSD.