I began my sewing career at the tender age of eight, making a dress for my doll. I then evolved into sewing my own clothes in high school. Over the ensuing decades, I had mastered virtually every sewing technique – from quilting and embroidery to wedding gowns to slipcovers and drapes. So, by the time I retired from my custom interior sewing business in 2015, I decided to refocus my artistic energies toward the creation of quilts and memorial pieces. In transforming ancient quilts, silk ties, and wedding dresses, I found Victorian crazy quilts and the baby block pattern to be of the greatest interest. They led me in the direction of improvisation and abstraction – two words that represent exploration and experimentation – an appealing departure from the exactitude of my business.

This new challenge didn’t require learning new skills but necessitated a more elusive quality – originality.

By Hand

When looking at my art, you are seeing silk pieced together by hand with silk embroidery thread. Once at a gallery showing someone asked me, "What kind of a sewing machine do you use to make those stitches?"

At present, we are in an age when nature and handwork are in decline to the point that there is no longer the common experience of using your hands to make something. This is a source of sadness for me as I look at so many who would find joy in themselves through working with their hands. This understanding is the force that motivates me to move from my happy workshop table to communicate what I have learned through long years of study.

I hope that by displaying the images of my handcrafts on this site, you will be inspired to see them in person and even consider studying these art forms for yourself.

My Writing

As the decades reach further away from my beginnings, the study of writing became more essential as I explored my family, which then catalyzed my desire to chronicle the adventures of a lifetime. My passion for writing essays about my craft/art studies springs from a desire to encourage others to recognize how essential it is for us to explore our creative natures. You can click here to explore my essays, sewing stories, and restoration stories.

I hope you enjoy your exploration of my website.

Acknowledgments: Art Images – Digital Grange, Technical Support – Alan Jones, Portrait Photography – Michael Woolsey

All of my textile art is one-of-a-kind and hand-made. If you’re interested in purchasing a custom-made creation (e.g., pillows, sock dolls, memorial pieces, wall hangings, etc.), please contact me here.