Gay started carving in the mid-1980s under the guidance of her uncle Rey Bjurstrom. After working with him for a few years she started designing her own patterns and developed her own distinctive style. Her traditional carvings include Santas, cats, dogs, moon and sun, rabbits, birds, flying pigs, dragons and a myriad of other creatures.

In the last few years, she has “branched out” by creating sculptures using unique branches and fungi found in the woods, a little paper clay and carved features. One such sculpture, “Rocking the Woodpile” was featured in the Art of the State in 2015. To keep her creativity fresh she constructs one-of-a-kind character boxes, each with its own delightful personality. Everything you find on Gay’s studio shelves has a whimsical twist that is certain to make you smile. Her carvings and sculptures now reside in homes all over the US and the world.

Gay and her work have been featured on HGTV’s “That’s Clever”, in “Country Folk Art” and “Chip Chats” magazines and numerous newspaper articles. In 1998 she was awarded Master Craftsman status by the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. Gay’s studio, where she can be found at work creating her carvings, has been an integral part of The Village Artisans Gallery since it opened in 1995.

The examples of Gay’s work shown here will give you an idea of the one-of-a-kind sculptures that have escaped from her imagination.