Occupation: I'm an artist and an art teacher. I taught for 15 years, mostly in New York, until I took time off to stay home with my son. I wanted to pursue my dream of just doing my art, so I started my own business, KDdid Designs. I make jewelry,
Occupation: Iâm an artist and an art teacher. I taught for 15 years, mostly in New York, until I took time off to stay home with my son. I wanted to pursue my dream of just doing my art, so I started my own business, KDdid Designs. I make jewelry, do art parties and classes, and portraiture. Iâm also in my third summer running the art program on the beach for the Country Club of Fairfield. I literally teach on the beach. Itâs a challenge, with the sand and the wind, but Iâm not complaining.
Family: My husband is Joe, who is also a teacher. I have a beautiful daughter, Chiara, who will be 13 in September, and a son, 3½ , Logan, who is adorable and full of energy.
Pets: I have three cats, Pepper, Luna, and our killer, Anubis. He was named for the Egyptian god of the afterlife. He takes it seriously and determines which creatures in our backyard will live, and which will not. We have a little ferret, too, Miss Molly, and a fish named Phoenix.
How long have you lived in Newtown? We bought our home in 2005, so we are coming up on our fifth anniversary here.
What do you like to do in your free time? I do work on my art and jewelry. I make handcrafted, sterling silver jewelry that incorporates healing stones, and show them at artshopct.com. I enjoy the outdoors. I have an herb garden, and I put my son in his bike seat and we go biking up at Fairfield Hills. We all spend time at Treadwell pool and go hiking. I like to cook, and I like yoga.
Do you have a favorite cookbook? The Mediterranean Diet by Marissa Cloutier and Eve Adamson. Itâs a great book. It uses all wholesome, fresh foods, like a lot of olive oil, fish, fruit, and vegetables. I believe you should eat food the way it is supposed to be. I donât like to use any processed foods, and I like to support the local farmersâ markets.
Do you have a favorite travel destination? Naples, Florida. My parents have a house there and the kids and I go at least once a year. Itâs not an overdeveloped town. The beaches are natural and beautiful. I love to get away there. I come back completely recharged.
What is the best thing about Newtown? I love the history of the town. My aunt just did a huge genealogy search of our family, and even though Iâm from Saratoga, N.Y., on my maternal grandfatherâs side, several of my relatives settled many towns in Connecticut as far back as the 1600s, including in Newtown. So itâs fascinating to me that hundred of years ago, my family was here. Newtown is a great place for kids. It has a small town feel, like where I grew up, and I feel my kids are safe anywhere they go here.
If you could do something you have never done, what would you do? Iâve never been to Europe, so thatâs something Iâd like to do sooner, rather than later. Iâd like to explore some of the towns where my favorite artists lived, especially Van Gogh, who spent a lot of time in Arles, France. My fatherâs family is from Germany, so Iâd like to explore that culture.
Do you have a personal philosophy? Go with the flow! When things are good, slow down and enjoy the good and small things. When things are tough, recognize the lesson of the situation and move on. Know that good times are around the corner again.
What makes you laugh? My children, definitely. And I love classic old movies like Young Frankenstein. A lot of Mel Brooks and Monty Python I watch over and over and find new things to laugh at each time.