Over the past 20 years, Lesley
has generously shared her passion
for art and creativity with others.
She’s worn many hats throughout
her career, and her studio refl ects
her artistic passion: she’s a former
contributing editor of CLOTH PAPER
SCISSORS magazine, an art coach,
a traveling teacher, the author of
eight books, and a working mixed-
media artist. Her studio has room
for writing, painting, cutting, and
quilting. It is a sanctuary where
her inner world of creativity and
imagination come to life. This space
is versatile!
Lesley’s bright and light-fi lled
space overfl ows with a colorful
jumble of folk art, vintage photos,
and almost every art supply
imaginable, all displayed on a
peaceful backdrop of blue. Her
favorite object is an antique wooden
doll torso with long arms that
balances on a wooden dowel. It’s the
fi rst thing she sees when she opens
the door. “She serves as a daily
reminder that both art and life are
a continuous balancing act. If she
can maintain her balance all these
years (and not break!), I know I
can, too.”
Lesley’s studio is currently—and
has always been—in her home. “If
it were not,” she confi des, “I’d never
be home! I have a long history of
carving out studio space; from my
bed, to a dedicated corner of my
bedroom, to—for just the last six
years—a room of my own.” As it is
a small room, the dining room table
occasionally fi lls in as a workspace,
and the overfl ow of books, supplies,
and teaching materials are relegated
to the basement.
Like many artists, the studio is
where her heart and hands work
together and where she feels most
alive. “I don’t think I could work
in a neat organized space. When I
work, I pull out a large selection of
fabrics, papers, colors, and materials
for inspiration.” Over time, she has
learned that an unexpected random
juxtaposition of art elements seen
out of the corner of her eye is often
better than one she tries to plan and
control.“I don’t think I could
work in a neat organized
space. When I work, I
pull out a large selection
of fabrics, papers,
colors, and materials for
inspiration.”