Ever since I was a little girl, I've had two great loves: creating art and being around animals. I followed my passion for art by studying Art Education at Northern Illinois University and spent the first seven years of my career as a K-12 art teacher.

But the pull to work with animals was too strong to ignore. So, a little over a decade ago, the opportunity arose and I swapped my crayons for a clicker and became a certified dog trainer, specializing in positive reinforcement methodology through the Karen Pryor Academy. I spent over a decade as the Lead Trainer and Behavior Specialist at a local animal shelter, and currently continue to teach basic manners and puppy classes, but my love for creating has never waned. This led me to combine my two passions into Pawsitively Inspired.

With Pawsitively Inspired, I get to be a maker, drawing inspiration from the animals I adore and continue to work with every day. While many of my creations are pet-themed, I also dive into other genres, from geek culture to sports and beyond. I specialize in custom crafts made from a variety of media; including hand-painted wood, resin, slate, leather, metal, acrylic, sublimation, and more. I love to learn and challenge myself daily to try new tools, materials, and techniques. I create everything from my home in a suburb west of Chicago, IL, where I live with my husband, our two dogs, River and Scout, and a handful of funny felines.