I became enamored with birds at the age of 7, when my uncle sent me a new copy of National Geographic's "Song and Garden Birds of North America." It was a thick book, but I read through the entire book, and virtually memorized all the birds in it. It seemed, too, that my name meant I was predestined to be a bird enthusiast. I was determined to be an ornithologist when I grew up. At age 9, I had a school project where I had to do a report on two birds, and one of the options was to paint pictures of them. This is when I learned I could paint birds as well as any adult. In the next two years, I painted more birds, and started winning art contests in my school. Throughout the years, into my old age, I frequently included birds in my artwork, first through painting and drawing, then through crocheting and embroidery, and finally in my mosaic work. More than half my mosaics include birds in them, even if they aren't the subject of the mosaic. "Bird Is the Word" pretty much screamed at me to make more! So I did.