Alison
began her career in 1980 as an acrylic nail artist in Arizona.
In
1987, she became the educational director for a nail supply
house and
adjoining nail school. At that time, she introduced the concept
of air brushing on acrylic nails in Arizona.
Following
the birth of her first child in 1988, Alison launched her
first artistic endeavor called, Spintacular T’s a spin
art clothing company. Husband Mark built a paint spinner and
Alison designed thousands of different designs applied to
their line of custom designed clothing. She successfully sold
her clothing line at various juried fairs, including the ‘Fountain
Hills Fine Arts Festival' in Fountain Hills, AZ, near Scottsdale.
During
this same timeframe, Alison also promoted her line of spin
art clothing through JC Penney. She and Mark traveled throughout
Arizona providing spin art demonstrations and selling her
products at JC Penny-sponsored special events.
After
selling Spintacular T’s, Alison decided to focus on jewelry
design, thus, Dazzles was born. She created contemporary earrings
and pendants made of highly luminescent polymers. Her work was
displayed in boutiques and craft shows in and around Scottsdale
and all over Arizona. For a brief time, she and her mother Carolyn
joined forces to produce customized, hand-painted, children’s
furniture, built by her husband Mark.
In
2002, Alison returned to jewelry making and partnered with a
friend to develop Sparkles All Over,LLC. Specializing in manufacturing
unique hand-made, beaded jewelry, the business gained distribution
throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The business expanded
rapidly and Alison found herself inundated by orders. She soon
became lost in the shuffle of high volume production and realized
that in order to have time for her family and raise two teenagers,
she needed to switch gears. After heart-felt deliberation, she
decided to relinquish her portion of the company and focus her
efforts on a more creative medium that she had recently fallen
in love with.
During
the peak production season of Sparkles All Over, Alison had
stumbled upon the art of polymer clay. It became the ideal therapeutic
antidote to the demands of managing a high-volume business.
Creating with clay evolved from a relaxing hobby to becoming
the focus of her artistic passion.
Alison
became immersed in every aspect of polymer clay. She eagerly
read every piece of printed material she could find on the subject.
In 2004, she became a member of the Arizona Polymer Clay Guild.
Through her membership, she found kindred spirits willing to
share their craft and mentor others. A world of resources opened
up and allowed Alison to fast track her obsession with clay
into a showcase of artistic uniqueness.
In
the spring of 2005, Alison had the opportunity to attend a two-day
workshop on various techniques taught by renowned polymer clay
artists, Judith Skinner, Syndee Holt and Marie Seagal, owner
of the Clay Factory in Escondido, California. Judith Skinner
is best known for her Skinner Blend, which is a technique of
color blending. Syndee Holt is president of the San Diego Polymer
Clay Guild and has appeared on HGTV’s Carol Duvall show.
Alison now joyously creates one of a kind pen & pencil sets,
business card holders, switch plate covers, jewelry, key chains,
money clips, license plate frames and mirrors, to name but a
few. Most recently, Alison was commissioned to customize a full
set of silverware. Almost any inanimate object is fair game
for Alison’s imagination and transformation into a polymer
clay-covered treasure.
Alison
and her husband Mark are currently in the process of expanding
their home and including a spacious studio/office where Alison
plans to teach and mentor others. No artistic creation would
be complete without the watchful eyes of the family’s
four-legged pals: Storm, Jasmine & Jamaica.
Her
work may be seen in Scottsdale’s Fifth Avenue shops such
as Artistic Expressions and galleries near Boulder, Colorado
such as Suspended Gems and Eclectic Arts. |
