Favorite Color: pms 185

Colorstrology Color: Jester Red

Ya Ya name: Viscountess Shops Too Much

In the beginning...

From an early age I knew I was destined for a career built on creative expression. Crayons left in the hands of a young child are a beautiful thing; however, I often reduced babysitters to tears when they discovered the newly completed mural on the hallway wall. Many never returned to our house. Many probably quit babysitting altogether. Some may have refused marriage and families of their own.

In high school, I enrolled in a graphic design summer honors program at Indiana State University and was hooked. After completing a five-year degree at the University of Cincinnati and a short stint as the art director for a glass and ceramics company in Indiana, I married my college boyfriend and moved to Washington. I accepted a position as the design manager for a local print shop. After three years, I realized that I needed more creative freedom. They simply could not produce the designs that I envisioned. As my mother said, "you come from a long line of people who can't work for other people." And WinSome Design was born. Like everything I do, I jumped in with both feet and never looked back.

Most of our waking hours—the part that really makes up our lives—is spent at work. I feel it is essential to our overall health and well-being to love what we do. We can make a difference in the lives of the companies that we work for and the people who work for those companies. I have been fortunate that many of my best friends started out as clients (and remain clients)—a direct result of the collaboration between us. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I will do my level best to make it fun and easy to work with me. I hope that you will do the same.

A few of my favorite things...

• Favorite pastimes include chronic volunteerism, making jewelry, and reading. I've made quite a few bracelets. I love James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, and Greg Isles. And it goes without saying that J.K. Rowling is a brilliant creative talent shown book after book in the Harry Potter series. Right now, I am busy making things for Christmas. Well, I SHOULD be busy doing that anyway!
  
  
  
• My kids occupy most of my free time—as well they should! I am a Cub Scout leader and will be marching my boys through the Bear rank this year. My daughter is in kindergarten this year, and so I am also a Girl Scout Daisy Troop leader. I am, yes, a sucker for punishment!
  
• My favorite movies include The Sixth Sense, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, all of the Harry Potter movies, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. TOO hilarious!! Really, I have loads of favorites. Just depends what strikes me at the time.
  
• When I can, I watch Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, The Unit, and I really enjoy Ugly Betty—although I rarely have time to watch. I reallly like the new show Pushing Daisies; it's light and fun. Television takes a back seat to our otherwise busy evenings.
  
• My musical tastes are very eclektic...my current favorite sonsg include Don't Blink by Kenney Chesney and Streetcorner Symphony by Rob Thomas. I sing weekly as a second soprano at Christ the King Church in the Traditional Mass Choir.
  
• I really enjoy cooking, and seem to be taking after my mother. She is a phenomenal gourmet who does her thing while changing whatever recipe she's pretending to follow. THIS year, she asked ME for a recipe. I have A R R I V E D! Her current favorites of mine include strawberry pie, sun-dried tomato pesto & artichoke chicken, and cherry oatmeal scones. My bruscetta chicken has no recipe, but so far, I have been able to duplicate it successfully. (We have "good news/bad news" dinners at our house. The good news is, if you don't like it, you'll never have to have it again. The bad news is that if you do like it, you'll never have it again.)
  
• I find inspiration in...my children, sunshine, coffee, my children and my extended family. I love being involved with both Cub and Girl Scouts and teaching the kids new things. It is so much fun to watch them figure out new things.
  
• I can be bribed with: STARBUCK's Venti Americano and large sums of money. Vacation homes in the mountains or on a beach somewhere would be great too. (Borrowed time-shares work great too!)