ARTQuiltsjourney

Storied fabric. Seasoned quilts. Softly frayed edges. These are just a few of our favorite things. Kindness. Women’s issues. Social justice. Personal histories. These are just a few of our shared interests.
 
On our journey of friendship, we discover our common threads through art, and more often than not, we use cloth to tell our stories and speak our truths. We’re not carbon copies, yet even in our differences we find opportunities to rejoice, chortle, and learn. If that’s not the mark of true friendship, please tell us what is. Here’s to the joy filled journey of an ever-unfolding friendship. 60” x 59” 

After many work experiences in Fashion, Graphic Design, Photography, and Worldwide Travel, I am going back to my roots: Sewing and Pattern Making.
I create unique mixed media textiles stretched on a frame or hanging quilts using sewing, applique of printed textiles, transfers and photographs. My inspirations come from patterns, shapes, bright colors, recycled materials, my photographs taken in many countries over the years. I am very inspired by World Graffiti, which is often associated with vandalism, but has proven to be much more and plays an important role in the world of Art, Design and Fashion. The journey for me has been my return to my "sewing roots" after working with different mediums and I am happy to discover that Sewing is quietly returning, and a new generation of makers is embracing the skill. 50" x 38"

When you need a break, you are always welcomed at the Star Dust Motel. Check-in and sit a spell watching the stars come out. Snuggle in cozy pillows and read by warm lamp light. At the Star Dust Motel time stands still so you can catch up. 45" x 60"

I started with a bag of gifted scraps and assembled them using the odd shapes with minimal modifications - no plan for the outcome. What emerged was this form of a powerful woman. I was reminded of Little Edie Bouvier Beale’s assertion that “staunch women don’t weaken, no matter what.” Thus began my ongoing artistic journey exploring staunch women and what they mean in this world – especially in these very difficult times when some are trying to diminish the power and autonomy of women. 29" x 13"

Represents a place with lots of bright sunshine. 36" x 29.5"

On a dark night in 1961, a New Hampshire couple shocked the world by claiming to have been abducted by aliens. Since then the story of Betty and Barney Hill has provided a template for subsequent encounters with unknown phenomena. This quilt imagines the  travel of this interracial couple through the White Mountains, with a fracture in the journey defined as lost time and the dark mysterious return home that they could not remember. 72" x 24"

Inspired by Dorothea Lange’s iconic photograph, Migrant Mother, I challenged myself to capture Florence Thompson’s poignant and painful expression in an art quilt. At the time, Florence was a 32-year-old widowed mother of seven. She and her family journeyed from Oklahoma to California and at times into Arizona to work as migrant farmers. I endeavored to convey the dichotomy of hunger, poverty, and despair alongside resilience, strength, and dignity. I used a layered appliqué technique and incorporated antique buttons on Florence’s shirt and a 1930s feed sack as the baby’s wrap, adding historical detail to the piece. 44.25" x 33.5"

In September 2025, Hurricanes Humberto and Imelda converged in a rare phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect—a dance of two powerful storms drawn together on a shared path. Captivated by their motion and energy, I explored images of this event and reimagined it in fabric. Through free‑motion quilting and layers of varied threads, I translated their swirling interaction into texture and form. For me, this piece reflects the theme “Journeys”—a visual representation of how separate forces travel, meet, and transform one another along the way, creating unexpected beauty within nature’s turbulent rhythms. 16" x 21"

I have journeyed twice in the past 2 years to Uzès, a town in the South of France, which dates back to Roman times, to visit a lifelong friend, who now lives there and whom I met 65 years ago, Our visits over the years are always filled with joyous recollections of our times together, of shared memories of loved one and friends. 24.5" x 23"

Going from lightness and certainty to darkness and the unknown. Resilience is tested and hope struggles to emerge. Challenges, both real and imagined, take hold. Where is the courage? It is in the dim light that is slowly revealed. The reappearance of strength and wisdom brings forth gratitude for the journey. 26.5" x 56.5"

This string-pieced pattern suggests the scales of exotic creature. 60" x 51"

 Costanera is a Spanish word for a path or road leading to or adjacent to a water front. When I begin a piece as a small painting which I digitally enhanced and had printed on fabric, I am on a journey both in finding my way in paint to create a landscape or in thread to develop the textures. 24" x 18"

Titled after James Taylor’s song, “Walking Man” offers a visual commentary on humanity’s disengagement with the world and seduction by the digital realm. Life’s embodied journey in the physical world is rich and intriguing, but too often we find ourselves forsaking our sense of touch and connection to one another, leading the life Thoreau described as ‘quiet desperation’, and becoming the character Taylor so simply and eloquently painted in his song: “Walking man/ The walking man walks/ Well, any other man stops and talks/ But the walking man walks…” 40.5" x 35"

This piece has evolved from multiple disciplines. The original background was a monoprint painting that I later had printed on fabric. The hidden house behind the wall came from a photo I took in Giverny of Monet's home. It was printed on silk organza and sewn into the original background and later embellished with flowers and stitching. 19.5" x 23.5"

Quiltmaking is a means for me to combine my creativity and technical skills, translating ideas and concepts into fabric.  My inspiration comes from a variety of sources -- traditional quilt patterns, innovative artists from various media, nature, shapes, architecture, fabrics, photos, words, and the desire to experiment with new techniques to further develop my own style.  Leave Your Zip code brought together my two passions, quilting and photography. 35" x 33"

Insects, plants, animals and humans all journey from place to place ... migrating to continue or expand their species, in defense against hazards like climate change, or simply looking for a better life. 20" x 24"

My journey starts with fabrics that delight me, bringing them together in a way that invites closer inspection from color to details to texture. Maps take me places I may never see in person, but adding pieces from my scrap bins, I find I make them mine. 35" x 34"

The image of this ice-dyed (by the artist) piece of cloth reminds me of the 1979 series “StarTrek”. From their official website: In the vast universe of Star Trek, humanity is free to pursue the spirit of curiosity, equality, and the advancement of all life. The tales woven transcend the ordinary and beckon us to embark on a profound journey of exploration and enlightenment, presenting a future without racism, sexism, intolerance, poverty or war. 19” x 19”

Communities are built slowly, incrementally, as people join together over common interests, traveling to meet and share. My Village imagines the people and communities in my life, the tenuous roads that serendipitously connect us, then lead away. A few wonky curves represent the connections. On the way to building this village, some of the houses became ghosts, receding into the distance. Villages, like relationships, can be ephemeral. 36" x 48"

My journey of faith has included the Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist and Moravian demoninations. All are Christian churches but each has their individual traditions and rituals.  Most Chrisitan churches celebrate Christmas Eve with a candle lite service, reminding us that Jesus is the light of the world.  In addition, Moravians add a red paper ruff to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.  My journey has been full of questions, doubts, learning, acceptance and joy.  It is never ending and I know it will follow me in death. 10” x 10”

My journey as a fiber artist began during Covid when I couldn’t concentrate on the technical precision of traditional quilting I had done for 40 years. I discovered fabric collage on Pinterest and started with simple designs and techniques. I soon figured out how to use my photos to create portraits. Matt is my latest subject. His portrait is the first time that I’ve mixed collage with fabric sculpting (shirt, vest and pants). His style is unique…flowers, stripes, plaid, funny socks and almost always a bit of flannel. It’s the kind of stylistic abandon I strive for in my projects. 56" x 28"

This landscape shows the vanishing sun over a lake cottage surrounded by hills, flowers and sky.  It reminds me of what an adventure the trip to Ireland was. 19" x 18"

As I worked on this abstract image, I began to see shapes and colors reminiscent of Lascaux cave paintings, that date to 16,000 to 14,000 B.C.E.  An auroch, huge ancestor of our cattle, looms over the Paleolithic hunter. In the 1960s, when I traveled to the original cave as a teenager, the dark caverns were in low light. The early artists created these imaginative depictions of animals. In torchlight, they become mysterious and magnificent. 36" x 34"

This piece traces a journey shaped by wandering—where the body moves forward while the mind drifts skyward. Layers of fabric and stitching mirror memory, landscape, and thought, overlapping and dissolving like clouds in motion. The figure emerges and recedes, carried by currents of curiosity rather than destination. With her head in the clouds, she navigates by intuition, allowing detours, pauses, and uncertainty to guide her. This work honors travel not as arrival, but as becoming—an ongoing passage between earth and imagination, grounded steps paired with a restless, dreaming gaze. 20" x 20" 

My crazy quilt journey is inspired by Australian fabrics.  Australia has unique ecosystems with varied biodiversity.  My intention is to accentuate the flora and fauna represented in the fabric using hand embroidery with a variety of embellishments, including offsite appliqué of the kangaroo in the central block. 42.5" x 42.5"

You arrive in Marbhig quietly. The village rests in the South Lochs of the Isle of Lewis, held between land, water, and sky. Stillness comes first.

As your eye travels across the work, the landscape unfolds — croft houses grounded against the wind, open moorland stretching outward, a rugged coastline shaped by time. Paths appear and disappear, skies shift, and the breeze moves gently across the loch.

The journey asks you to slow down, to notice what endures. A Breeze Upon Marbhig invites you to pause, breathe, and feel the quiet movement of a place suspended in time. 34" x 60"

Dreams of Floating symbolize my surrender of control and my trust in the providence and guidance of God, my heavenly Abba. Serene floating suggests acceptance of the transformations of my aging body, as well as delight in the increased creativity unleashed along the journey of life. 71.25" x 57.5"

This work marries interior and exterior spaces—daydreams and flights of fancy with actual physical adventures, an everyday story and mythology, animal and human spirit. It connects my impressions of the northernmost shore of Denmark to a room in Poland and a swamp in Georgia, mapping a life and heralding its ever-nearing end, while still embracing the next new journey. 35" x 41"

These are confusing times especially as I’m navigating complex grief after a traumatic personal loss. I often feel uncertain about where life is taking me. If only figuring out where I’m headed were as easy as asking Siri for directions. This improv creation grew bit by bit as I channeled my feelings. It is made of scraps gifted to me by many friends. The embroidery captures personal symbols and words that are on my mind, including a quote that expresses my feeling about loss with overstitching to keep that message sacred to my heart alone. 31" x 36"

Bold geometry, layered color, and dynamic movement are combined to explore light, structure, and rhythm. A celebration of Varenna, Bellagio, and the many other delightful villages along Lake Como. The hand-quilting accentuates the vibrant colors and patterns, while the machine-quilting strengthens the lines and movement. Take a moment and enjoy the warmth of the Italian sun meeting the cool waves upon the shore. 33" x 55"

It is fun to walk in a park in a big city like New York. The buildings are so tall and the park so colorful and peaceful. It’s an exciting adventure that helps us stay calm in a raging city. 20 x 17”

My husband, Todd, and I went to Portugal and Spain in the spring of 2025. Every time we got off the coach, our guide, Ricardo, would say, “Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a short walk.” Sometimes the short walk was 5 minutes; once, it was 25. During the 17 days of the trip, I walked 175,400 steps in short walks. 18" x 18"

One of our most favorite journeys was on the Rocky Mountaineer Train in Canada. The trip included two helicopter rides and overnight stays in some of the most beautiful places imaginable—Lake Louise will always be my favorite. The stewards were exceptional, treating us like royalty, and the scenery was breathtaking.
Seated in the first car, we rounded a sharp curve high in the Rockies, giving us a great view of the train cars behind us. The moment I saw that photograph, I knew it had to become one of my thread paintings. 20" x 11"

Back in the 1960s, our family made the long drive from Maryland to Indiana each year to visit my grandparents. Somehow, our visits always coincided with cherry season. My sister and I would climb the tree next to her house, pick the cherries, and pit them while my grandmother worked her magic, turning them into the best cherry pie in the world.
This journey down memory lane always brings me back to those cherry-picking days. Cherry is my favorite pie, but none has ever come close to my grandmother’s. 12" x 12"

All who wander are not lost, they are on a journey of discovery and imagination transportation is their means of travel. 35" x 46.5"

Suggests a blurry image of a colorful garden or, perhaps, an aerial view of countryside. 59" x 49.5"

While wandering the narrow streets of the walled city of Lucca, Italy, I noticed the rustic door at number 72. It captured my attention with its weathered charm. It was smaller than others on the street. The rich textures of aged wood and weathered ironwork created a sense of timelessness. It invited curiosity about what was behind it and the stories it holds. 29.5" x 24.5"

Blindingly white reflections on clear glass guardrails alternate with transparent views of the ocean below. The gray aluminum mullions frame this image as they frame the glass. Glossy teak railing has an oval profile. I took this photo as an architect with a taste for urban design, in cold, bright evening light as we left Vancouver harbor for Alaska. 12" x 12"

As I was composing this piece, I was thinking about psyche and the psychoanalytic tradition’s concept of individuation, particularly as it relates to human development and our continuous process of becoming. This work manifests an expression of how we imagine our futures and remember our pasts and how both impact the choices we make on our journeys through life—as well as how we continue living and dreaming through these various versions of our becoming. 30" x 30"