She has built nearly 20 sculptures in her four-year career, including tiki men surfing waves, a medieval-themed display where a dragon is wiping out a castle - complete with damsel in distress, she's done a rodeo clown theme and even a "sand bar" starring an octopus bartender, floozy fish with big lips and a shark versus seal in a game of pool.

Donze's creativity and skill are both natural and cultivated. In 2008, she joined her husband's business in Olympia's Sand in the City event, where master builder and event organizer Bert Adams immediately recognized her talent and took her under his wing.

"I remember the sculpture she was working on - a polar bear looking into a fridge - it was pretty obvious she had talent," he says. "She had no tools, but she impressed the coach."

Since then, she has traveled to Portland, Ore., Canada and places in between, and even had an invitation to go to Taiwan. She just completed a sacred heart sculpture at the Federal Way Tournament of Champions, as part of a Northwest Invitational.

So what's Donze's favorite thing about sand sculpting?

"I like the way the sand falls away when you move your tool; it's like butter," she says.

This weekend Donze will be showing off her craft at the annual Sand in the City event at the Port of Olympia. The event is a fundraiser for the Hand's on Children's Museum, which is set to open at its new location on the East Bay waterfront this fall.

The theme for this year's builders is "The Path of Water," and will include pieces from the museum's new exhibits, such as an Eagle's nest, mimicking the museums display that allows children to climb into a net high in the air to get a bird's eye view.

On Friday, she will act as a coach for sponsored teams from local businesses participating in the event, and on Saturday she will be working with other master builders.

Donze's team, which includes at least six other masters, will be working on a waterfront theme. The sculpture will be eight feet tall and six feet wide.  Donze says she looks forward to making the pilings and wood grain. She also looks forward to the crowd.

"I like that people are fascinated with sand sculpting," she says. "They are curious and ask so many questions ... its fun to interact with them."

Sand in the City runs Aug. 24-26 and includes an opening night gala, beach parties with live music and entertainment, as well as a free grandparents day on Sunday. For more information, visit www.hocm.org.