I have been a quilter for many years, an observer of nature and art since childhood. Through painting in various forms, photography and gardening I have worked to study nature more closely. It has only been in the past few years that I became aware that there was a way to combine all of these interests in the unique form of the art quilt.
This awareness has sent me on a journey of exploration and discovery. Having little formal training in art I have learned through reading, workshops, the internet and experimentation. Inspiration comes chiefly from my own photographs of nature and my general surroundings. I may paint a color wash or create a pieced background depending on the subject. I may use raw edge applique, adding layers of fabric pieces, using mostly batiks and hand dyed fabric, paint, and colored pencils to create depth. Other times I will create whole cloth quilts on which I paint or use colored pencils to draw and blend color developing an image that is not quite representational yet not abstract either. This is intended to encourage the viewer to take a closer look. Rather than fully reproduce the photographic image, you will find a bit of mystery where there is something left to the viewer’s imagination in my work. Free motion quilting is then used to add texture and interest to each piece. I consider the quilting an integral part of each art quilt.
Creating art quilts brings me great joy and a deeper appreciation of the world around us. My intent as I continue my journey is to share some of that joy with you the viewer and to inspire you to take a closer look at your surroundings and perhaps see things in a new and different way.
Selected Exhibits
2021
“Peonies and Petunias” – Accepted to exhibit in the SAQA Global Juried Exhibit “Light the World” to debut in European Patchwork Meeting, Saint Marie-Aux-Mines, France September, 2021.
“Fisherman’s Intent” and “Beach Boys Breakfast Club” – Accepted to exhibit in SAQA Florida Regional Juried Exhibit “Floridian Flavors” Leepa-Ratner Museum Tarpon Springs, Florida, Virtual Exhibit SAQA Global Conference 2021, Martin County Cultural Art Center 2021- 2022
2020
“Five Red Orchids”, “Bayou Ablaze” and “Agave Sunset” Accepted for exhibit in Virtual Exhibit “Every Color has a Story” Flagler County Art League December 12 – January 21, 2021
2019
“Rising Waters” – an installation piece done in collaboration with artist Annette Boncek – Accepted to exhibit in Tampa Bay Surface Design exhibit in conjunction with “Quilts &Textiles@DFAC” at Dunedin Fine Art Center Dunedin, Florida June 7 – August 18, 2019
“Night and Day – Coming and Going” – Accepted for exhibit into SAQA Florida Regional Juried Exhibit “Perspectives” LeMoyne Art Center Tallahassee, Florida July 19 – August 31, 2019
“Florabundance” – Accepted for exhibit in the Juried Exhibit “In Full Bloom” Houston International Quilt Festival October 31 – November 3, 2019
“At the Koi Pond” – Accepted for exhibit in the Juried Exhibit “Landscape” Houston International Quilt Festival October 31 – November 3, 2019
“Orchid Radiance” and “Treasures Returned to the Sea” – Accepted to exhibit in “Fiber Fusion” at Studios of Cocoa Beach, Cocoa Beach, Florida September 24 – November 19. 2019
“Dinner for Two in the Conservatory” – Exhibited in Showcase of Quilts – The Quilt Guild of The Villages, The Villages, Florida January 25 – 26, 2019
2018
“Agave Variegata”, “Lily Pad Log Jam”, “Dinner for Two in the Conservatory” and “Night of the Harvest Moon” exhibited in QuiltFest Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida September 20 – 22, 2018
“Of Water Waves and Wonder” and “Treasures Returned to the Sea” Accepted for exhibit in the Juried Exhibit “Landscapes and Seascapes” 311 Gallery Raleigh, North Carolina July 5 – July 28, 2018
“Peachy Pelican” and “A Trunk Aided Root System” – Accepted for exhibit in the Juried Exhibit Hotel International Quilt Show of Dubai Roda Al Murooj Hotel, Dubai, UAE March 10 – 11 2018
“Oh Magnolia” Accepted for exhibit in the Juried Exhibit “Flowers and Gardens” 311 Gallery Raleigh, North Carolina
‘fluttering Fantasy” and “Amaryllis” – Accepted for exhibit in the Juried Exhibit “AQS QuiltWeek” Ocean Center Convention Center, Daytona Beach, Florida March 1 – 3, 2018
“Lily Pad Log Jam”, and “Fluttering Fantasy” Accepted for exhibit in the juried exhibit Mancuso Quiltfest “World Quilt Florida” exhibit Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida January 18 – 20, 2018
2017
“Force and Reflection” – Accepted to exhibit in the SAQA Global Juried Exhibit “H2Oh” Premiered at National Quilt Museum, Paducah, Kentucky June 23 – September 19, 2017 and went on the exhibit at New England Quilt Museum, Lowell, Massachusetts, Desert Sonoran Museum, Tucson, Arizona, San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles through April, 2019.
“Alice in Rapunzel Beanstalk – Growth Gone Awry” – Accepted for exhibit in the SAQA Florida Regional Juried Exhibit “Growth” Dunedin Fine Art Center Dunedin, Florida June 9 – August 18, 2017
“Green House Green Monster” – Accepted for exhibit in the SAQA Florida Regional Juried Exhibit “Stitched – Embracing the Quilt as Fine Art” Court House Cultural Center Stuart, Florida January 20 – February 25, 2017
“Sunset Harbor” – Exhibited in Showcase of Quilts – The Quilt Guild of The Villages, The Villages, Florida January 27 – 28, 2017
“Tranquility Falls” – Accepted for exhibit in the juried exhibit Mancuso Quiltfest “World Quilt Florida” exhibit Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida January 19 – 20, 2017
2016
“Orchid Grotto” and “Catch of the Day” exhibited in QuiltFest Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida September 15 – 17, 2015
2015
“A Trunk Aided Root System”, “Sarah Sees the Light”, “Green House Green Monster” and “March of the Azaleas” exhibited in QuiltFest Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida September 24 – 26, 2015
2014
“Jamaica Me Coconuts” exhibited in QuiltFest Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida September 25 – 27, 2014