A true lover of the art, she has been publishing her work since 1989, when she entered an afghan contest sponsored by Crochet Fantasy and took an honorable mention. Since that time, some 150 of her designs ranging from fine Irish Lace to colorful doilies to “Special Challenge” afghans, have appeared inside and on the covers of magazines and hardback books ranging from Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications to Bead & Button. She has also published a number of feature articles on various crochet-related topics. Melody’s work has been exhibited in juried shows in several states. In January 1998, she was the featured designer in Crochet Fantasy’s “Meet the Designer” series.

               Melody has taught beginning, intermediate and advanced crochet classes for over 20 years. She has also taught beaded crochet extensively, including a crocheted beaded flatwork technique that she invented. She is in charge of the class program at a well-known Alabama bead store, where she teaches about 60% of the classes herself.

               Currently, Melody is marketing her own line of bridal and formal jewelry, which includes a number of crocheted necklaces and bracelets. Her art jewelry and wall hangings are almost exclusively in the crochet medium, often incorporating not only seed beads but natural gemstones and cabochons as well. These pieces employ a special technique she has developed, which she calls “Overlay Crochet,” and which she views as the culmination of her development as a fiber artist. Most recently, her overlay crochet work has appeared in Beadwork and Bead & Button.