Artist Statement

I am drawn to both color and texture simultaneously. I often find myself stopping to ponder something in nature that catches my eye - the sun shining on fall leaves, rocks in a stream, the pattern of bark or lichen, the lines of frost on the concrete sidewalk,  the creeping vines on the side of a building, or the way grasses, vegetables or flowers are colorfully arrayed in the garden.  I bring these images and their colors into the studio.  

I start with plain white cotton fabric. Then by using some element from my original photographs, I add color and texture to the cloth through screen printing, mark making with various bottles, brushes, scrapers and other tools, and fabric dye. Creating a piece of fabric is a multi layered process of adding color, marks, batching and then repeating the process with more color, marks and batching until the fabric is completed. Once the fabric is completed other techniques like appliqué, piecing, painting, stitching and machine work are used as necessary to complete an art quilt.

I have been a devoted hand quilter since I began making quilts and wall hangings more than 24 years ago. I find value in intentionally slowing down and making space to be present and thoughtful in each part of the creative process. As my work evolves, while I am not giving up hand quilting, I am discovering that some pieces look better when they are completed using machine quilted.  No matter the means, the three layers are held together, and I still receive as much satisfaction creating as seeing my wall hangings finished and on display.