Jan Bode Smiley made her first quilt block, based on a magazine photo, when she was a teenager. She began to quilt in earnest years later when pregnant with her first child. She quickly gravitated toward contemporary quilts based on traditional designs. Her work has been exhibited nationally, and she has been teaching and lecturing since the late '80s. After selling the business, she went back to her studio work, where she spends as much time as possible. Currently, she is merging her textile background with her expanding interest in mixed media. First carving her own stamps for use on paper and fabric, then learning about altered books, visual journals, and scrapbooks, she enjoys exploring the unlimited potential of combining her interests.