Born and raised in Denver, I acquired a love and appreciation for all things western.  As a girl, I spent my summers with relatives on ranches and farms.

When I was about 10 years old, I spent the summer with my aunt and her family at Fruitland, close to Farmington, New Mexico.  It was a rural area and close by there was a little trading post and store. The Indians would come, some in horse drawn wagons with rubber tires, to buy and trade at the store.  I’ll never forget one whole wall was covered in turquoise pawn jewelry.  It was all so stunning and beautiful,  I fell in love right then and there.