Minor completed her B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in jewelry and metalsmithing at University of Illinois and Indiana State University. She began enameling during graduate school and continued innovative explorations of enamel processes, with the support of research grants, while teaching at the State University of New York at Geneseo. During this time she began combining enameling with metalsmithing, jewelry forming and fabrication techniques to create narrative reliefs, sculptural objects and jewelry.
Minor is a full time studio artist concentrating on limited edition and one-of-a kind enameled beads, jewelry and small objects. A considerable portion of her studio time is devoted to researching and experimenting with enameling techniques in an effort to go beyond the normal and expected enameling results and to answer the ever present question of "what would happen if I did this?". Her research and experimentation leads to many new and wonderful enameled jewelry and bead designs, as well as subject matter for the in-depth enameling workshops she teaches.
Her workshops, lectures and demonstrations include a variety of subjects related to jewelry and enameling on metal, metal forming, and design/pattern development using enamel color. Minor teaches frequently at well known crafts schools, universities and regional guilds. Her work is exhibited widely across the U.S. and abroad and has been pictured in 500 Enameled Objects, The Art of Enameling, and Art Jewelry Today.
