Sidney Oltman Ferrell was born to American parents in Tokyo Japan. She was educated at the American School in Japan (class of 1957) and received her bachelor 's degree from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She has also lived in Colombia, Canada, France and Sweden. She is an author and a fiber artist. She founded a textile business, St. Clair Designs, which specialized in the design and production of custom rugs and fabrics for the interior design market. Her artworks in weaving, basketry and handmade paper have been shown in exhibitions throught the U.S. and are found in several private collections.