Traditionally, clay whistles (or ocarinas) took the form of small birds.  Mary has observed that people have a strong connection to different animals and has expanded the art by sculpting a variety of animals, from large polar bears to tiny creatures that can be worn around one's neck.  All are whistles -- some are "tweeters," making wonderful trilling bird sounds and simple tunes, and some are tuned to our conventional musical scale.  The process of tuning the whistles requires constant care in retuning each sculpture as it dries prior to firing.  Mary's tuned whistles come with a fingering chart so anyone can learn to play them.

Born and raised in Central Vermont, Mary studied art and geology at the University of Vermont, traveled throughout South America, and returned in the early 1980s to raise her family in East Montpelier.  There she was introduced to the Mildred MacKenzie technique of producing musical sound from a pinch pot.  "Whistle making allowed me to work at home in a creative and intentional way.  There is no end to the possibilities of form and sound."