Riba has been collecting cookie jars for quite a few years. Her collection includes favorite jars such as Miss Priss, the Lefton Bluebird, Miss Cutie Pie, Brush Formal Pig and Metlox Beulah. She also collects wall pockets, white pottery, Westie and Scottie figurines (and a real live Westie named Brodie). Joan describes her house as "quite full".
Riba has been doing restoration since 1995. She took an intense class, then started experimenting and "inventing" methods of her own, including a method of creating missing porcelain lace. All the while combining them with the techniques she was taught. Riba has always had an artistic background -- her Mom, aunt and cousin are all award winning artists. She is also an award winner, but her awards were edible -- in cake decorating. Riba would be quite disappointed if a Best of Show Ribbon was not won. But that disappointment only happened one time!
Joan credits the techniques and skills developed and used in cake decorating, as well as custom Christmas ornaments, with helping her make an easy transition to repairing and restoration of pottery. One example of this was fellow students in the restoration classes had to write down recipes to make various colors, but she had it all in her head naturally.
With her incredible gift for color and excellent techniques in decorating, Joan has built a busy career as a restoration and repair person. She performs invisible repairs, fixes cracks, chips and even makes missing pieces.
