Mary is an avid beadworker in real-life scale and enjoys the challenge of reproducing the craft in miniature. She credits her father, a master carpenter, with instilling the love of crafting in her at an early age. "My dad got me started creating things before I was even in school. He always got me a Christmas present just from him; one year it was lace up cards, another time an embroidery kit, another a little red spinning wheel." Also, she says, "I had to justify my bead addiction to my husband and actually create something with my vintage beads!"