In 1990, Cathy needed presents for her friends, but was short on money. Her older sister took her to an amazing bead store in downtown Ann Arbor, MI, where they lived, and taught Cathy to make wooden beaded jewelry, a cost effective way to customize presents for many people. Later, during high school, Cathy discovered seed beads, wire work, and metal work. During high school and college, studying Chemistry, Cathy continued to enjoy making jewelry for herself and as gifts to others. Beading has an addictive effect, and Cathy found herself making more jewelry than she could wear or give away. At the behest of a friend, she began selling her hand-crafted beaded jewelry at craft shows, and Dorothea Designs was born. The first show was at the high school where Cathy was a Chemistry teacher, and soon, other shows followed.
In 2009, Dorothea Designs went online, with an Etsy store, and soon thereafter, Cathy opened a second Etsy store, Aurenta Atomica (http://aurentaatomica.etsy.com) for geeky and scientific jewelry. Starting in the fall of 2010, Cathy has taught weekly jewelry making classes at Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts in Columbia, MD. In the summer of 2011, Dorothea Designs was at the Fenton Street Market in Silver Spring, MD on six weekends, as well as a number of other local craft shows.
Cathy enjoys working with unusual materials, such as guitar picks, Mahjong tiles, or Shrinky Dinks™. She enjoys traditionally styled beaded jewelry, as well as wire work. Last summer she started a line of necklaces based on the atomic emission spectra of various chemical elements and compounds.
Cathy lives in Catonsville, MD, with her husband and son, and makes jewelry when she isn't chasing them around or teaching Chemistry.