To be honest, I am totally in shock! I mean, I love teaching and I am confident that I do a good job (you crazies keep coming back for more!!!) but to be put in a group with these other ladies has me blushing beyond belief. THANK YOU!!!I would like to give a special shout out and big ol' THANK YOU to Cynthia Rutledge who is OF COURSE on this list. She has been my mentor since I was a teenager (ok, I was 22 when I met her). Cynthia and I worked at the Shepherdess together (we had more fun than anyone should have on the clock). Her bead career took off from there as seedbeads captured her and engulfed her brain. When I was learning beadwork and wirework, I watched her teaching career grow as she successfully and continually inspired students to create masterpieces. And I would think to myself "wow, how does she do it? All these shows and all this teaching? Man, I wanna be like her when I grow up". Cynthia helped me a ton when I first started teaching. She was generous with her knowledge and incredibly encouraging. Her designs and teaching etiquette are exceptional. So the most exciting thing about this super awesome and flattering Top Ten thing, for me, is being on this list with her.
