About the Artist
I am a glutton for anything shiny,
glitter and gaudy.. always have been. I was the little girl that other girls got
tired of playing with because all I wanted to do was play Barbie dolls all the time.
I'm a self taught artist and am one of those people that if I do not create, I
get really blue. So Gilly Gals fills the craving on those issues for me.
I started making my Genies and Belly dancers
over 20 years ago, in 1997. After watching an I Dream of Jeannie marathon on Nick at
Night I got to thinking to myself, "she must be tired of wearing
the same thing day in and day out." Thus Gilly Gals was formed and the rest is
history.
I'm a happily married, stay at home Mom with
three of the most perfect children you've ever seen! Ha! Ha! Ha! Seriously
though, our kids are good kids and my husband and I are so thankful that we have
been given the gift of these three sparkling souls to share our lives
with! They make us laugh, cry and teach us things we thought we already knew,
but obviously didn't! LOL! Kids have a way of doing that to a person. ;)
I'm a big voice for originality in this line
of work. If you see something on my site, you're seeing it for the first time. I
do not "borrow" designs from other artists as I feel it is unethical and
disrespectful to their creative minds. I am constantly searching for new area's
of inspiration. If we don't push ourselves as artistically, we don't expand our
talents.
I am a former staff writer for Barbie Bazaar
magazine. I started the column Kelly's Clubhouse in '01. I held that post for
several years until I resigned due the the birth of our 2nd child. I am sad that
this publication is no longer in print. It was such a wealth of knowledge!
I am also the current standing repaint artist
for the Grant a Wish Doll Convention. They asked me to be their repaint artist
in April of 2011 and I remember being so delighted that I literally cried! It is
now June of 2019 and I am going on my 9th year with them. It has been a great
honor to be a part of their event.
I also crochet, sew, embroider and I LOVE to
make rag quilts when I have time. I decorate cakes for fun, too. I don't sell them. It's
just a fun thing I like to do.
*~* Some
of my accomplishments include, but are not limited to...*~*
2014 - 2019
Artist -
2012 Grant a Wish Souvenir doll
2018
Workshop Instructor -
2012 Grant a Wish Convention
2013
Workshop Instructor -
2012 Grant a Wish Convention
Artist -
2013 KenVention Souvenir doll
2012
Workshop Instructor -
2012 Grant a Wish Convention
Artist -
2012 KenVention Souvenir doll
2011
Workshop Instructor -
2011 Grant a Wish Convention
*I will be teaching restoration of vintage Barbie clothes*
Silent Auction Chairman -
2011 National Barbie Convention-
* Silent Auction Realized over $14K for Provero
House charity of Ft Lauderdale*
2010
Silent Auction Chairman - 2010 National Barbie Convention
*Silent Auction Realized over
$14,000 for Rainbow Babies Hospital of Cleveland and the Rock Hall*
Workshop Instructor - 2010
National Barbie Convention
Workshop Instructor - 2010
Grant a Wish Convention
1st place Dream Date Competition
- 2010 Grant a Wish Convention
Peoples Choice Award - 2010
Grant a Wish Convention
Previous Years
Silent
Auction Chairman - 2008 National Barbie Convention
*Silent Auction Realized over
$13,000 for Special Olympics*
National Barbie Convention Silent Auction
Donation 2001 - $300
National
Barbie Convention Live Charity Auction donator 2002 (by Invitation only)- my
doll realized $900 for CAAF
National
Barbie Convention Live Charity Auction donator 2004 (by Invitation only)- my
doll realized $2500
National
Barbie Convention Live Charity Auction donator 2005 (by Invitation only)- my
doll realized $900
Grant a Wish Charity
Auction Donator 2002 - $600 for my doll I made for them
Grant a Wish Charity
Auction Donator 2003 - $800 for my doll I made for them
Grant a Wish Charity Auction Donator 2004 -
$400 for my doll I made for them
Grant a Wish Charity Auction Donator 2005-
$200 for my doll I made for them
Grant a Wish Charity Auction Donator 2006-
$150 for my doll I made for them
Grant a Wish Charity Auction Donator 2009 -
$75 for my doll I made for them
Grant a Wish Charity Auction Donator 2011 -
$435 for my doll I made for them
Grant a Wish Charity Auction Donator 2017 -
$120@ for my repainted Monster High dolls I made for them
Grant a Wish Charity Auction Donator 2017 -
$65 for my Barbie pink crocheted poncho I made for them
Blue Ribbon
winner Ohio State Fair 2001 (5th largest State Fair in USA)
Staff Writer for Barbie Bazaar 2001 - 2003 * I started Kelly's Clubhouse for Barbie Bazaar in 2001*
Workshop Instructor
for 2010 and 2011 National Barbie Convention
Workshop Instructor for
2003, 2004, 2005, 2009 and 2010
AND 2011 Grant a Wish Convention workshops
HOME