Gwen was born July 13th, 1964, in Detroit, Michigan. She is half Hungarian on her mother's side and "American mutt" on her father's side. Her paternal grandmother always told her family that they were part Indian, but had no documentation.

Gwen's family moved to Milan, Michigan shortly after she was born. She attended Milan schools, where art became her lifelong pursuit. Upon graduation, she received a grant from her high school and a scholarship from Eastern Michigan University, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in fine arts and a minor in costume design.

While at Eastern, she studied many different disciplines including: drawing, painting, print making, textiles, sculpture, and jewelry. When trying to decide on a concentration for her degree, one of her professors recommended, "All art begins with drawing, and if you can draw you can do anything." She took this to heart and has her concentration in drawing.

While at Eastern, she met her husband Michael Fedor, who was studying accounting and had a lifelong interest in Native Americans and their art. Mike took Gwen to her first Pow Wow on her 20th birthday. She was instantly awestruck and fascinated by the beadwork she saw and was determined to master this new (to her) art form.

For the most part, Gwen is self taught. Although Mike did show her the basics of beadwork, he states, "I don't do beadwork. It will drive you crazy." Within a few years, Gwen began winning awards for her work at local Pow Wows. She won many first-place ribbons and best of show awards, and was encouraged to compete at the national level. She has recently been awarded the Master's status and has won top honors twice at the last two National Pow Wows, an honor no one else has received.

To ensure the accuracy and authenticity of her work, Gwen and Mike have studied numerous museum collections and accumulated their own extensive library. The have also attended quite a few museum seminars across the country on the material culture of the Plain Indians. In the footsteps of the great painters of Europe who honed their talents by reproducing works of their predecessors, Gwen has also benefited from this technique. By careful examination and reproduction of old pieces, she has learned volumes on the skill, ingenuity, and resourcefulness of the beadworks from the old days. She is grateful for all the beadworkers before her who, through their work, have brought such joy to her life.

Gwen says, "Beadwork is the second love of my life; Michael is, of course, the first."