Barbara grew up outside of Chicago. She earned a BFA degree in Jewelry/Metalsmithing from the University of Illinois. Her love for enameling began during her graduate studies at Indiana State University and continued through ten years of college teaching at SUNY Geneseo. After leaving academia, Barbara dedicated her professional life, as a full-time studio artist, to creating and marketing her enameled jewelry for galleries and juried craft shows. Her studio practice now concentrates on researching and innovating enamel processes, preparing to teach workshops, and creating unique enameled jewelry and objects that showcase her advanced and well-developed enameling and metalworking skills.