Ladybug49

Hi,

My name is Linda. I did very little drawing while growing up, though I wished I could many times. In high school (back when impressionistic art had just become the most "IN" thing in the art world) I took a course in art and received a C-. I assumed that meant I couldn't draw. In another high school I took an industrial arts course where part of it was an introduction to leather work.

In 1974, during a career crisis, I prayed long and hard about what to do. Through a series of events the Lord guided me to understand He had given me a talent for animal portraiture. (I never had any training for this type of work and it was not "self-taught!") In the beginning I worked mainly with tooled leather, doing portraits of people's pets mostly on purses and wallets.

In 1977 I married my wonderful husband and became an "instant" mamma to his two sweet little girls. That also transplanted me into the beautiful smokey mountains in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area. In 1980 our third (and last) daughter was born. Becoming an instant mom for a lady who only babysat a couple of times in her life also caused some instant changes. Art work became a hobby instead of a vocation.

Some time after our last daughter was born Tandy closed many of their stores including the one in Chattanooga, TN where I lived. I felt I was saying good-bye to an old friend. As the years passed, I experimented with different craft and traditional art forms. But nothing ever satisfied me like leather work. Finally, in 2004 I discovered that Tandy had joined with the Leather Factory and was again making its products available. I have since joyfully brought leather back to prominence in my line of mediums!

Well, my little ones are grown. My husband and I are retired, now, and I can go back to what has always given me pleasure, fulfillment, the ability to meet new friends and be around the people and animals I love. I hope, in time, to meet some of you and that we may become friends.

Sincerely, Linda (Ladybug49)