In 2002, during one of these workshops, Marla J decided to make her first porcelain egg. After retiring from a career in Education, Marla J and Bill started traveling for about six months every year, doing volunteer work at a Christian Boarding School in Kentucky. It was during this time, she found it was much easier to continue with the porcelain egg art, as she traveled away from home. In 2004, she began working with the authentic shells. Now her time is consumed with "working" with both types of egging and porcelain lace draping.
About 1999, quite by accident, Marla J discovered the dying art of porcelain lace draping. While visiting a friend of a friend's home, she saw the most beautiful figurines . While searching local ceramics shops trying to find someone to help her learn the art of porcelain lace draping, she found out not too many people practiced the art. She was told that Ann Vaccaro, who lived in Phoenix and was considered by many, to be the Grande Dame of porcelain lace draping, gave classes, but that one would have to be really lucky to get into her classes as they were always full. Marla J went home, called Ann Vaccaro, and was invited to come the next day, as she had an opening in that class. For several years, Marla J took lessons under the tutelage of Ann Vaccaro. A new passion was born.