In the 1970s Perkins was one of a small group of female artisan glass blowers. In the 1980s Perkins built her own glass studio in Pojoaque, New Mexico where she worked on learning Venetian glassblowing techniques. She further refined her glass making technique while studying with the Murano glass master Lino Tagliapietra[4]
While living in New Mexico in the 1980s and 1990s she studied botanical forms including cacti, flower buds and bouquets and began incorporating those forms into her work. In the 1990s she began incorporating bronze, steel bars and iron into her glass work to create larger works including lattices, wreaths, swags and bouquets.[5]
By the early 21st century Perkins had mastered her glassblowing technique and become known for her creation of brightly colored botanical sculptures created using Italian techniques including murrina, reticello and granulare. She also built her fourth hot shop on her estate located 20 miles north of Santa Fe, New Mexico.[4]
Perkin's work has been displayed at Habatat Galleries in Pontiac, Michigan,[6] Addison Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico,[7] Traver Sutton Gallery in Seattle, Washington,[8] The Elliot Brown Gallery in Seattle, Washington, Imago Galleries in Palm Desert, California, Cline Lewallen Galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico,[9] Tagliapietra and Dante Marioni at Galleria Marina Barovier in Venice, Italy, and at The Corning Museum of Glass, in Corning, New York[10]
In addition to her glass work, Perkins has taught at the Pilchuck Glass School, California State University at San Jose, Penland School, and the University of California in San Diego.[11] Additionally, she has taught workshops for students at the GlassRoots hot shop in Newark, New Jersey.[12]