1. Tell us a little about yourself?
In real time, I am a licensed property and casualty insurance agent, divorced, one Son and a grand daughter – who is my angel! Born and raised in New York. I am one of those complicated people who spends a great deal of time analyzing everything.

2. Why/how did you get started in making icons?
That’s pretty much how I got started chatting. My Son was in the Marines and there weren’t any good long distance plans at the time. He got me started with talking on ICQ, I discovered the park and became intrigued with icons. My son made them for me at the time, as well as the iconeers there – however, I always hated waiting, so decided to try my hand at it. I laugh now, but appreciate my many friends who wore those horrid creations!

3. How long have you been making icons?
I guess that would probably be around 6 years ago now.

4. What program (s) do you use?
PSP – exclusively for creating. I’ve had every version, however, I absolutely love their newest version, X. For animation I use Ulead’s gif animator 5 and Animation Shop 3.

5. Do you use filters and tubes? Any favorites?
Filters are my friend – I enjoy working with them because it gives all the added extras needed to get just the right touch for an image. I don’t use so many tubes, other than sparkles, although I have over one thousand loaded in PSP.

6. Do you prefer working with images that are already cut down to size that the person wants or working with the original image?
The original image, because the cut is the most important thing. Also, I find that many people don’t compress and save the images correctly, and they wind up being grainy, which I hate.

7. Do you like changing backgrounds? Do you prefer to make your own or use backgrounds from the net?
Changing backgrounds is both fun and challenging. I use both types of backgrounds, but most recently have gotten into creating my own to fit the image I am working on.

8. What kind of images do you prefer to work with?
There isn’t any one kind I like, but prefer a crisp image to begin with.

9. What do you do when you just can’t seem to get inspired with a specific icon?
Laughs! Well, if anyone saw my PSP screen at any given time, they would know the answer – I just let it sit, and sit. If it’s time for a restart of my computer, I save them in either psp or psd format and go back another time. There are many for myself that I don’t complete for months.

10. What are your feelings about animation?
It’s over used and distracting in chat. Not every image needs it, just like not every image needs a background change.

11. Do you have a particular look in icons that you, yourself go for?
Blonde, sexy, classy and with attitude.

12. Do you use a signature on your work?
I do and have used the same one since I began marking them. Recently I’ve tried out another I made, but I’m not sure I will ever use it because everyone knows the one I have used for so long.

13. Your biggest pet peeve about icons?
That would have to be that stretched and grainy look. I think every Iconeer and freelancer started out with that happening until we figured out how easy it was to remedy that problem.

14. When you receive an order, do you prefer specific instructions or would you rather just go with how the image makes you feel?
Well, I believe that when someone requests a certain image, they did it because it kind of “spoke” to them. They visualize it and then try to explain it to the Iconeer. I can’t always see what they see, because people are different, and it may “speak” to me entirely differently. So, I’d have to say I rather go with how the image makes me feel – but the image is for someone else, so some instructions are necessary. After I make it how they visualize it, if I feel it would look better another way – I will make it both ways and let them decide.

15. Are there any colors you like or dislike working with?
Not really, although I hate the color green for anything other than money *chuckles*.

16. Are there any images you prefer not to work with?
That’s an easy one – I don’t like working real porn looking images – I think subtle is always sexier.

17. Do you find all your own images for your pages?
I’m lucky in that I have several friends who for years have been sending me images that I use for both my pages and for myself. I do spend a great deal of time searching for images myself, however.

18. Do you like a challenge in icon making?
Definitely! I love a challenge in everything I do in life.

19. If there was only one font you could use, what would it be? How many fonts do you have?
I have purchased font cd’s over the years and I search the net constantly for any new fonts. If I had to venture a guess as to how many I have it would be 10, 0000 – I only have 700 loaded to my font folder though as too many bogs the computer down. If I had to choose one it would be Spring – a bold but elegant font.

20. Anything else you would like to add?
I would like to thank every Iconeer and freelancer out there. Watching other people’s work has helped me learn one thing or another. I’d also like to thank anyone who has ever given me the honor of “dressing” them. It is my pleasure, and I hope to do it for a very long time!