I am self-taught, and have been quilting for 30 years.
I originally worked in traditional designs and techniques, including hand quilting. When moving to Pennsylvania in 1996, I established my quilting business, Great Quilts, and with the help of a special group of local quilters I began making traditional quilts. During the last several years I've been experimenting with a more contemporary approach that incorporates original designs, handpainted fabrics, machine quilting, and embellishments. I show my work in both national and international juried shows and have won several awards.
My work often reflects nature. The designs are often embellished with organdy ribbons, sheer fabrics, beads, papers, ceramic pieces and natural materials to achieve depth and add interest. My work often inspired by my handpainted fabrics. This really challenges the creative muscles, often requiring new approaches to develop the design, although traditional design elements can still be found in many works. Color has always been an important part of my work and the handpainted and overpainted fabrics offer a lot of opportunity to feature that.
Today my main focus is on creating custom art quilts. The most recent works are finding homes in both traditional and contemporary settings, businesses and homes. I continue to show my work in shows, concentrating in the area of fiber arts.
My formal education includes a masters degree in Organizational Management. Most of my previous work life was spent in administrative positions, including senior management. I'm enjoying this more creative career path!