Chris grew up in the Gold Country of Northern California. Though fortunate to have experienced the beauty of this area as a child, she made a break for Dubois, Wyoming as soon as her children were grown. March of 2009 marked the anniversary of her 20^th year in the Wind River Country.
During the early to late 80’s Chris was in the leather business. Her specialties were custom moccasin making, leather clothing, bags, sheepskin coats and vests. Eventually this led her to the circle of reinactors known as buckskinners or mountain men. She began attending the mountain man rendezvous’ throughout the western and Rocky Mountain region. Pre 1840 shooting bags, muzzleloading accoutrements and old style beadwork were her area of expertise as a merchant on Trader’s Row. During the 1990’s Chris’ beadwork was represented in Gallery of the West, Charles D’ Lou Wildlife Gallery, Martin Harris Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming and the Grizzly Moon Gallery in Dubois, Wyoming. 
Chris began sculpting in 1998 after being roused by certain sculptors like Sandy Scott, Daro Flood, Bud Boller, T.D. Kelsey, Hollis Williford and Malcolm Alexander. Having no fondness for drawing she began simply to sculpt in clay and was surprised that she had a talent for the third dimension.
In 2001 Chris became the Art Director for the Wind River Valley Artists’ Guild in Dubois and her sculpting was put on hold for several years. As luck would have it one of her jobs as Art Director was putting on classes and workshops and silversmithing was one of the first classes offered. Her instructor was longtime friend, John Story, who had been in the business for over 25 years and it was then that Chris began a new career in silversmithing.
Chris admires all facets of jewelry making and silversmithing, but the old style Southwest silver jewelry provides an endless inspiration to her creativity in this field. The design, artistry and workmanship of this period continuously takes her to new levels of achievement and skill. As her mentor John Story loves to remind her, “The only thing holding a person back is their imagination”! Chris’ response is usually, “and a certain level of hand-eye coordination”. Chris is most fortunate to have been gifted with both.