The Trophies came about after listening to an NPR segment about how normal people have been known to have trophies engraved in their own honor.  I've struggled for years with undiagnosed thyroid disease.  I felt I was never a good enough mother, artist, wife, or business person.  Other people seemed to perform routine tasks with a joy or ease that I lacked.   In putting together a slide lecture for the International FLameworking Conference, I was stunned to reflect on the quantity and quality of the work I'd produced.  My work objective is often to elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary, and what better venue then a series of trophies.  Here I've celebrated my unique ability to draw upon a broad, subtle, and sophisticated color pallet.  I've celebrated a classical form, and I've celebrated my joy in creating large scale objects.  But at heart, I've celebrated the accomplishments of keeping true to my artistic vision while raising two fantastic kids.  On a happy note, I received my diagnosis in late 2005.  With medication I feel like I'm in my 20's. I may have missed out on most of my 30's, my 40's are looking very promising!