Arlene earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design and art history and considers herself an artist and craftsman. Following her daughter's love of rocks, she soon was attending William Holland to learn to wrap her daughter’s cabochons.  She found her calling in metal work and became an instructor in several mediums at her local Gem & Mineral Society, The Great Bead Escape retreat and Wild Acres EFMlS. A longtime mentor and fine jeweler, Don Dietz, taught her techniques in creating jewelry from Black Coral found on the beaches of Florida and has incorporated other techniques she learned to create beautiful Jewelry from Black Coral.