Sallie Youmans, an award-winning artist from Edisto Island, South Carolina, shares her passion for art as an eggshell artist and floral designer.

In 1986, Sallie began engraving for Lewis and Abe Harris, owners of Hayes Jewelers, located in Walterboro, SC. Several years later, she became interested in eggshell carving and began studies under master engravers Dee McNeely and Dr. Lewis Jensen.

After many years of training and experience, Sallie's workmanship has been recognized by several fine-craft organizations. Her exquisite eggshell carvings are showcased and marketed by the SC Artisans Center, exhibited by SC Palmetto Hands, and have traveled through the SC State Museum's exhibition program.

Recently, the South Carolina Poultry Federation asked Sallie to design an eggshell for the White House. She gladly accepted and created "Southern Pearl."

"Southern Pearl" will be exhibited in the White House Visitors Center during the Spring of 2005. After the public exhibition period, the egg creation will be moved to a private collection.

As Sallie has continued to pursue her eggshell art, she has also continued to pursue another passion... floral design.

Before Sallie ever thought of carving an eggshell, she longed to be a floral designer. Focused on her goal, she began a self-study of the art of floral design. Many years later, she traveled to the sunny state of Florida where she graduated from the South Florida School of Floral Design.

Sallie's long-time passion for flowers has taken her from backyard barbecues to such historical sites as Cypress Trees Plantation, Edisto Island, SC and Boone Hall Plantation, Mt. Pleasant, SC.

On February 5, 2005, Sallie was given the honor of designing for The Chocolate Affair, a black tie charity event dedicated to reducing the dropout rate in Charleston County. Her exquisite design was displayed in the grand ballroom at Hibernian Hall in Charleston, SC.

"Southern Pearl"
photo by Dianna Kilpatrick

"The Chocolate Affair"
Paul Cheney/Charleston Picture Company