My Training
I began doing piano touch-up in the late 1980’s on the used pianos my husband and Registered Piano Technician Anthony Pascone purchased to add to our growing rental inventory in southern California. It was the perfect learning environment -- practicing on our own pianos while I learned my craft. I come from a fabric art/quilting background so I had worked with colors and detail work for many years. Paying great attention to detail has been a benefit to my doing quality touch-up work. I took classes all over the USA from well-versed instructors in both lacquer and polyester touch-up techniques. I took classes with Star Product instructors learning lacquer techniques (Star was later bought out by Mohawk). I studied with a pioneer in polyester touch-up, Dwight Pile, from Canada back in the early 1990’s. In the early 2000’s I attended the Allied Piano workshop using the German Konig products. In 2006 I attended the Steinway factory class in lacquer touch-up. As it is a small community of touchup specialists, I developed mentor relationships all over the country.
Woodworker
Our daughter needed a specially sized farmhouse table and benches for her kitchen, so I built them. I have done numerous remodeling projects in our houses over the years.
Quilter
I love solving the puzzle of selecting the fabrics and blending them together in a quilt or wallhanging. This is sharks for my youngest grandson.
Hiker
I'm in a mountain hiking group that I love to go out with into the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. It is such a beautiful environment that it would seem a shame to live here and not be a hiker! It is a great way to stay fit as one ages, especially since I still am crawling around on the floor repairing pianos!
Avid Gardener
One year I accidentally ended up with some special Italian squash plants called tromboncino. It was fascinating to watch them grow into very long curling shapes. Delicious green and also as a winter squash. I come from a farming family and love to play in the dirt.
Costumer
Asheville has an active Mardi Gras organization which we are enjoying. I have been a costumer for decades. I mothered parade units in the Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Parade for ten years in the 1990's. I've thrown numerous costume parties for various family birthdays and other occasions, as well as planned and decorated many events for organizations to which I have belonged. Life needs to have some fun!