2009 to early 2011 I have been living as a Core Fellowship Student at Penland School of Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The fellowship provides nine students an opportunity to work for the school in exchange for room, board, partial tuition for workshops, and studio space. Within the two years I have participated in workshops ranging from clay, printmaking, books, textiles, etc. I have had the freedom to explore materials, techniques, tools and subject matter that I might not have had the opportunity to do elsewhere.