In Istanbul, Turkey when 16 years old, looking up inside the Blue Mosque, she saw thousands of little square tiles.... not like a geodesic dome, but some how smooth... Ýthey had matched the round dome shape. ÝAnd around her, all of the Turkish tiles were so beautiful. ÝHer interest in the artistic use of tiles had begun.

As a young wife to a Ceramics and Glass Professor, she was trained through osmosis by some of our country's best: ÝDon Reitz, Harvey Littleton, Warren MacKenzie, Susan Peterson, plus a one weekend course from Paul Soldner himself, the man who brought the Raku firing technique to this country in the 1950's. ÝShe was smitten.

Starting out as a Filmmaker, she is now finalizing a half hour animation of old Life Magazine images in her production of Franz Kafka's "The Bucket Rider". ÝIt is a story of transformation. ÝHowever she easily shifted to clay by age 23. ÝDuring this first career in clay, she took an award at the First International Women in Clay in the Women's Building in LA, and offered the smallest piece sold at the Opening Exhibition for the Trans America Building in San Francisco.

Taking a 14 year leave of absence for more time with her child, she became a corporate Art Director in Los Angeles. ÝShe has worked for John Kluge, America's first Billionaire, as well as Gene Autry the singer, star and superb business entrepreneur.

Ms. Merriman has taken many awards and been published widely: Elected Membership in Pen Women, June 2003; inclusion in Tiles of the 21st Century Exhibition 2002, International Elite Tile Exhibition, Santo Domingo 2002; Fine Homebuilding Magazine, cover article, July 2001, Kitchen & Bath Design News, front cover August 2000; ÝSpectrum International Ceramic Tile Design Competition 1998, Residential Award of Merit, ÝFeats of Clay X, took Award of Recognition by the Tile Heritage Society and Purchase Award from, juried by Ken Ferguson.

In 1997 she became an Artist in Public Buildings: Vermont State Office Building, Springfield, VT and in June of 2003 she will once again grace the public with a mural of works about the life of Calvin Coolidge at the Historic Site in Plymouth, VT.