Jane began making Sailor Valentines in 1986 after a vacation on Sanibel Island, where she saw the art for the first time. Her father worked at sea much of his life and he often would bring home shells from far away.

Shortly after discovering Sailor Valentines, Jane was diagnosed with Lyme disease. It took many years to recover and during this time she began making flowers inspired by plants she was cultivating in a greenhouse in Rhinebeck, NY.