Leslie grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and spent her summers in Kentucky with her father until she was 18. She attended the University of Denver, then later received her degree in Social Ecology with an emphasis in Psychology from the University of California at Irvine. It was at UC Irvine where she took an elective class in ceramics with the late Gifford Myers. He was a unique ceramicist and teacher, and he really made the class exciting. She spent more time in the studio than in her studies geared towards her major. While not receiving a degree in art, she was able to attend the Art Institute of Southern California (formerly known as The Laguna Beach School of Art) prior to attending UC Irvine.

In the early 1990’s, Leslie moved from Southern California to Kauai mostly to surf. Leslie was inspired by a beautiful necklace a friend had made for her and decided to experiment with making her own jewelry. That experimentation led to learning different beading techniques including beaded embroidery, peyote stitch and sculptural peyote stitch. She later sold at craft fairs and to friends. From Kauai, she moved to the North Shore of Oahu where she continued making jewelry, and selling her art and jewelry at a local gallery in Haleiwa. After four years in Hawaii, she decided to move to North County San Diego where she lived for more 25 years until moving to New Mexico. While in San Diego she continued to work on her jewelry and sell her creations on Etsy, in Hawaii and other boutiques.

Leslie  made her way to Santa Fe in 2013 and fell in love with the town and the people. After visiting every year, sometimes twice a year, she made a bold leap to pack up her house move all her critters to New Mexico. In the first six months of living in Santa Fe, she found Green River Pottery where she took a hand building class. She was hooked. Ceramics became her passion along with her jewelry. Leslie’s other artistic talents include photography and painting. She derives so much pleasure in creating and hopes that that joy translates to her work. Along with working in her home studio, Leslie shares her home with her furry family. With gratitude she has finally found her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.