"Having grown up in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and working for the Forest Service, I have spent a great many hours in the woods, observing the interesting shapes and tangles limbs and branches can weave themselves into... imagining how and why they came together in such a manner. All of us have noticed a root, limb or rock that suggests a part of a chair or table. I began collecting such pieces from the wild making the suggestion become reality...using balance and symmetry, yet in a style the table might naturally have followed while growing.

"On the practical side of my process, I am on solid ecological footing. All my table legs are from dead wood found in the forest. Locust and several other species have lost the battle competing for light in a maturing hardwood forest. The dogwood is a victim of dogwood anthracnose, common in our area. Mountain laurel is taken from the land being cleared for housing developments and the like, also common in our area. Boards for the table tops come from small local sawmills.

"I enjoy the physicality of all aspects of my work: time spent in the woods collecting, matching legs to tops, and the enjoying the unique characteristic smells of the various types of wood. I find satisfaction creating functional tables from organic shapes that perhaps evoke a memory of time spent in the forest...bringing harmony and peace to the eye and mind."

Now a mother of two, Anne is still roaming through the woods...only now she is bringing home those tangles of laurel and locust. She artfully brings the beautiful and peaceful grace from the woods into our homes and gardens.