S: Do you mostly spin with spindles or wheel?
JM: Lately, I spin pretty equally with both. I used to spin almost exclusively with my wheel, but now I love to take my spindles along to coffee shops and sit and spin in public. It's been a lot of fun answering questions and doing a bit of education; especially with children. They are always fascinated.

S: How did you get interested in spinning?
JM: Well, I was reading a book on medieval textiles and wanted to reproduce some of the fabrics described. At the time I was heavily involved with the Society for Creative Anachronism, to which I still belong, and I was really into making accurate reproductions of clothing from my persona's time period. I figured that the only way I could truly recreate the fabric I wanted was to spin the fiber for it and then weave the fabric myself. That got me spinning, but I still have not made that fabric! Spinning became an end in itself and I just recently started using some of the large stash of yarn I have spun.

S: I know you have a background in art, can you tell me a little about it?
JM: I was doing drawings and artwork back as far as I can remember. When I was about 10, I attended a Saturday art class for children at Purdue University. Later, I started taking oil painting lessons with a local artist. I did this for a number of years and sold my paintings all through high school. I am actually a psychologist by degree, but I have always worked in the printing industry or advertising.

S: What other arts do you like to do?
JM: I have done many paintings over the years that hang on walls all over the country. I had my own stained glass studio about 10 years ago in upstate New York. One of my larger glass commissions is installed in a boardroom in Walsall, England and a local architect and I had a show at the American Handweaving Museum of stained glass windows and architectural details throughout the past 100 years in the United States. Over the years I have done illuminated manuscripts, photography, stone carving, leather tooling, historical clothing reproductions, jewelry, knitting, crocheting, weaving, kumihimo, ...pretty much most any art form you can think of, I've tried or immersed myself in for at least some period of time.

S: Tell us a little about your family...
JM: I have a wonderful and supportive husband and two daughters. One daughter, who is 12, is at home and a freshman in high school via an on-line program. The other is 23 and in college in Vermont. I also have two rat terriers, two cats and two horses. All but one of our critters would be considered "rescues" as each had been abused in some manner. My family and I feel very strongly about helping both animals and people whenever and wherever we can.

S: Where can people find your spindles?
JM: I sell some spindles on eBay, but most of my work is commission work. People contact me via e-mail after seeing articles like this one or finding my website. They have an idea, or sometimes a photo, that they would like painted on a spindle that they can then use and cherish for a lifetime. Some spindles have been very, very special like portraits of pets who have passed away or flowers that someone's mother loved. Every spindle that passes through my hands touches my life in some way. I get to know the person who ordered it and I remember them. I have some very close friendships and feel a kinship with many of my customers.

S: How much of your work is custom work?
JM: About 90%.

S: How can people get in touch with you?
JM: Via e-mail and they can see examples of my work at my website. The archives contain a lot of photos of previous spindles. I have a photo of every spindle I have ever painted!

S: What is your spindle painting process... Do you think out the themes first, or do you just sit down with a brush and let it come out?
JM: Most of the time, people give me an idea of what they want or they send a picture for me to work from. Sometimes, I do a search with a keyword on Google "Images", just to look at what's out there and get ideas. Sometimes photos that my younger daughter takes inspire me. I have so many ideas for spindles that I make lists and collect photos. When I actually sit down to paint a spindle, I sand the whorls first, then put 3-6 undercoats on the whorls if it's to be a fully painted whorl. Then, I start painting. I don't do drawings or outlines or any of that sort of thing. I simply look at a picture or go from the idea in my head and I paint directly on the whorl. So everything is straight from my hand through the brush to the spindle. So far, I haven't had any that I have had to pitch. I knew that was a question someone was asking!

S: Anything else you'd like our readers to know about your spindles?
JM:This has been the most satisfying "job" I have ever had in my life. I have connected with so many spinners and they have shared parts of their lives with me for which I am truly grateful. Most people would think that it's "just painting a picture", but it's truly been much, much more than that. Each spindle means something to the person who orders it and I paint each one with an extreme amount of care and attention to detail; I could not do them any other way. Sometimes they take a lot longer than I would have anticipated, but it's worth every moment.

People never pay for a spindle upfront. They only pay once the spindle is complete and they see a picture and are happy with it. I am happy to say that I have never had a customer want a spindle changed or refuse a spindle. That is a track record I am really proud of.