Ruby Begonia is the nickname my father gave me as a child.  Now that I am an adult, I go by the name Roberta Miller but keep my creative child alive with the nickname.   As an Bay Area recycler, artist and crafter, I am always trying something new, I took a stained glass class from Ken Matthias of Alameda Art Glass.  It was quickly obvious that I loved this medium.  My first piece, a small blue and yellow panel,  hangs in the entry to our home.  My second piece was a fan lamp for my Mom's birthday.

I work in the reuse and recycling, and in my work I come across items that are still useful.  Many people don't have time see these items in a different way;  all it takes is seeing things anew.  I have found many lovely things on the streets during bulky waste clean-up collection days.  It is no wonder that I bought a truck to haul my "finds".

Lamps are both functional and decorative; they can be a real focal point in a room.  During my many trips to antique stores, thrift shops, flea markets and collectible fairs, I have found many fascinating items that seem to cry out for a new life.  So I have reincarnated many of these items into lamps.

My husband and I live in Alameda, California in an old home that is very much a work in progress.   I grew up in California's Central Valley and moved to the Bay Area in 1986.  We have 2 dogs, Ernie and Edie, and a cat named Millicent.  Ernie is a shepherd/greyhound mix we got  at a shelter as a 11 month old puppy in 2003.  He enjoys a rousing game of tug of war and going on patrol via foot, bicycle or car.  Edie joined the pack as a 5 month old puppy in the summer of 2005  also came from an animal shelter.  She is a black Labrador mix and adores Ernie when she isn't teasing him.   Millicent is a tortoise shell colored cat that I have had since college (20 years ago). The pets add a fun dimension to our lives, although with three of them and only 2 of us, the balance of power has definitely shifted in favor of the four leggeds.

I hope you enjoy browsing my website and my work.  Perhaps you will be inspired to look at everyday items you might otherwise discard, in a new and creative way.  Like I always say, be brave and try something new.