My primary artistic endeavor is making art quilts. These are not traditional bed quilts or traditional patchwork, but art pieces that hang on a wall. They are made of fabric with embroidery, fiber, and bead embellishments. All my designs are original. My abstracts are compositions driven by color and movement; my landscapes are based on real or imagined places. I am influenced by God's grace and creation, archetypes, travels, and mythology. Most of this work is hand stitched appliqué, as I build up layer upon layer of fabric; to this I then add surface designs such as hand embroidery or beading as highlighting. I then quilt the complete piece by machine. I find the handwork to be a form of meditation and prayer, while the machine quilting allows me to finish and move on to the next project.
I also make clergy stoles and liturgical banners. Some years ago I began making cotton "Creation Stoles" to give priests an option for wearing natural fabrics at camps and outdoor services. The fabrics reflect the beauty of the outdoors from outer space to under the sea. I branched out into various liturgical designs, including large processional banners and altar hangings. One of my pieces hangs in the Bishop's Chapel (Episcopal Diocese of Alabama.) My clergy stoles are worn by clergy of many denominations.
Another form of artistic expression are pipes that I wrap with yarns, cording, and other fibers. While items such as sticks and pipes have often been used in conflict and warfare, I call my creations Instruments of Peace, based on the prayer of St Francis. These are up to five feet long and of various diameters, and may be hung on a wall individually or as a grouping, thus suiting needs for large or small spaces.
I have done some kind of handwork involving fabric and fibers for much of my life. My mother taught me to sew clothes when I was a child, and through the years I learned needlepoint, counted cross stitch, and knitting. As I became more interested in pursuing my artistic side, I took a number of courses in drawing, watercolors, and acrylics. My most influential mentor is Meinrad Craighead, and I was fortunate to study with her at her home in Albuquerque NM in 2002. She had a profound influence on me, and from that point, I knew I needed to be doing art work on a regular basis.
I also make purses. Many are knitted, but some are sewn of fabrics. All are lined and one-of-a-kind. For charity, I knit prayer shawls for people in distress and I sew pillowcases for homeless children. When I feel the need for a break from stitching, I make collage greeting cards, as it feels like cheating to put things together with a glue stick!
My goal is to bring awareness of God's love and the beauty of God's creation to people who see my work. My pieces are held in private and liturgical collections, and I show my work at juried art shows throughout Alabama. I hope you will support artists and handcrafters wherever you are.
