At that time my pony, Joep, went through some tough times because I was very fanatical about going into the equestrian sport. At age 17 I changed my mind and wanted to do something different. Because I always wore these funny looking earrings that I made myself, my biology teacher suggested to me to go to the technical school for gold and silversmithing in Schoonhoven. Since I didn't know what else to do I took his advice and in 1991 I became a certified gold and silversmith.

Then I wanted an education at the art academy. For the first year I choose drawing and painting but after 6 months it frustrated and depressed me so much that I wanted to quit and become a carpenter or car mechanic. Luckily I went to the gold jewellery department. It was a struggle, but my tutors had the confidence that I would be successful.

In the year of my final exam '95/'96 I started to crochet and knit jewellery.
I had completely forgotten how much I used to like that and how well I could do it. As a child I used to knit socks and jumpers while I was watching TV. At weekends I had to go to boating with my parents, which I didn't like, and during these weekends I did nothing else but needlework. I never had the slightest idea what would come of this.

I never run out of ideas. They are all around me. A bad time in my love life and a mouse infestation in our house resulted in the spermheart The TV programme Pippi Longstocking and "Opsporing verzocht" (search request) resulted in a Pippi Longstocking Balaclava. Animals fascinate me. Whenever I'm in another country I lrather visit zoos, aquaria or museums.
I think I am hooked on crochet, knitting and jewellery to the point that in 2001 I suffered from RSI and had to put down my needles for a while. Fortunately I am fully recovered and I now diversify my work with gold and sliversmithing. A whole range of plastic and rubber animals are waiting to be cut in pieces to be turned into jewellery or a jewellery like object.