I come from generations of textile artists.  My mother is an award-winning weaver in my home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.   My grandmother painted watercolors, and made beautiful needle- and crochet- works. My great-grandmother crocheted, among many other things, two tour-de-force banquet-sized lace table cloths.

​

My recent art quilts are usually based on photos I take myself. I use a computer to aid in creating my patterns – making easier work of enlargement and color/value separation. Then I use a light table, transfer paper, fusible webbing, an iron, very sharp knives and scissors, and two sewing machines.  After the subject is created in fabric for the viewable top layer, a middle layer of batting and a backing layer of fabric are added.  Stitching through all three layers adds dimension and texture.  Thread colors of the quilting stitches add shading and value interest.  Each work takes dozens of hours to complete, using advanced computer, composition, color theory and sewing skills.

​

I do not tend to imbue my artwork with deep emotional meaning or political statements; I enjoy the challenge of recreating a beautiful photograph as a work of art where the medium is fabric and thread - rather than paint or pencil.  It takes a lot of thought and creativity to make this transformation and that is what I enjoy the most.  I am also proud of my technical skills with fabric and thread.  When someone new to my art looks at it from a distance and says “that’s fabric?!?” – then looks at the work or image up-close to confirm this -- and then gives an appreciative gasp of wonder – that’s the reward for me.

​

I also enjoy the simpler meditative work of sewing traditional quilts for the bed, which I usually give as gifts to friends and family.  Bed quilts are never-ending hugs for those I hold dear.
 

​