I first learned to sew when I was 12 years old. As a teen-ager, I made most of my own clothes. Much to my mother's consternation, I often chose unusual fabrics and colors to fashion my wardrobe. I have always been fascinated with the colors and textures of fabric and yarns. In 1993, I began making quilts. Initially, I made traditional pieced quilts. Over time, I shifted to designing my own quilts. My passion is developing the interplay of color and textures within a piece.
My other great love is nature, particularly her forests. In 2000, my husband and I moved from an urban neighborhood to a small home on a dirt road. We live surrounded by forest. I love to wander in the woods and fields and observe the tiny details that are so rich in texture and color. I strive to capture my observations in cloth. My hope is that my work will lead others to a deeper appreciation and respect for our fragile environment.
My inspiration comes from the natural world around me. The woods and fields that blanket the rolling hills surrounding my house are full of plants and animals that intrigue me with graceful lines, subtle colors and rich textures. Earth tones are common colors in my pallet.
I use a combination of commercial, hand-dyed and hand painted fabrics to create the foundation for each piece. I add layers of thread and fabric to give imagery and texture. In addition to generous amounts of machine quilting, many of my pieces involve either thread illustration or thread painting. Some pieces have three-dimensional thread sculptures. Thread is applied by hand manipulation with an ordinary sewing machine. Shading and luminosity are added with additional layers of fabrics, thread, or paints. Beads, yarns, foils, feathers and other textural elements may also be used. Needless to say, these quilts should never see the inside of a washing machine! They are meant to hang on a wall and be viewed as art.
