I was that kid who spent half his spare time in the garage modifying my toys or drawing countless reams of designs of everything I could think of.  I was lucky enough to get the call from a family friend who owned a jewelry store, Bourne's Jewelry of El Reno, Okalhoma, one Christmas inviting me to come to work as my older brothers had before me.  I spent several holiday times throughout middle and high school working for them.  In 1989 when I went to East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, GO TIGERS!, and I happened into a job at a local jewelry store, The Diamond Shop.  This where I fell in love with jewelry.  Luckily enough I was falling in love also with my now wife of 34 years, Jami, who talked me into taking an art class.  I was hooked.  After a few years there, I went on to Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology in Paris, Texas tolearn my craft.  After completing my education we moved to Duncan, Oklahoma where I was the jeweler, gemologist and store manager for 27 years at Payne Jewelry.   We moved to Edmond,OK a few years ago to take teaching jobs but I still do for design, custom jewelry and repairs for  Payne's and other jewelry stores.