JEROME THOMAS
Growing up in Vermont, I was fortunate to have been raised by two incredible parents who instilled in me a love of nature, design, and creativity. My father, Ray, was an enthusiastic outdoorsman who loved gardening, fishing, and carving stunning nature scenes. His passion for the beauty of Vermont’s rivers, mountains, lakes, and wildlife rubbed off on me at a young age. Meanwhile, my mother, Diane, was all about design. Despite having a tight budget, she created beautiful homes for us and was interested in interior design, architecture, and color. My parents’ love of nature, color, beauty, and design was woven into the fabric of my being and has become an integral part of who I am today. I have a strong desire to create; I feel it in my heart and hands. I am grateful for the skills and love of beauty my parents passed down to me, but more importantly, for their love.
KAREN YAFFE
My mom and dad were both artistic in different ways. Dad was a professional painter (not an art painter) on the side, and he loved to build model boats from way back in the day like the Mayflower. His superpower was his work ethic, meticulousness, and attention to detail. Mom was a seamstress; she taught me how to sew, and that is where I got my love for stitching. Her power
