I was born in Los Angeles, and raised with my five siblings in Rancho Cordova, a suburb of Sacramento. I now live a few miles to the east in Folsom. I have been married to Charles, a soon-to-be retired engineer, for 35 years. Until he left us last summer, our only child was our 14-year-old border collie, Augie. We have many treasured nieces and nephews, some who now have their own children.
I have long been a collector of interesting things, many of which some people would consider junk. My mother used to call me a magpie because I couldn't seem to resist picking up any shiny object I saw on the street. The kids at school were less kind-they called me a grub. This sort of "junk" often finds its way into my quilts as embellishment. The wood textile printing blocks I have amassed may be used for painting fabric or texturing clay. My antique teapots sometimes inspire a quilting design.
Although I have been sewing since I was a young child, I have only been making fiber art since 2005. Prior to that, I entertained the left side of my brain by being a bookkeeper. Later, I went to college and became an elementary school teacher. As a visual learner myself, I enjoyed incorporating art into my classroom lessons. I also taught an after-school drawing class.
I have always loved to express my artistic side, but never realized my potential until I started making quilts. While I appreciate the art of traditional quilting and am in awe of the skill it requires, I seek a more abstract outlet. I saw a television show about creating fabric from eclectic materials, and never looked back. After several years of study, practice, and encouragement, I now consider myself a "real" artist.
Exhibitions
“Folsom Thursday Night Market”, Vendor, Folsom, CA, 2009
"Gourd & Arts Festival Preview Exhibit", The Gallery at 48 Natoma, Folsom, CA, 2009
"15th Annual Folsom Gourd & Arts Festival", Vendor, Folsom, CA, 2009
"Threads of Life", Fundraiser for Marshall Medical Center Cancer Resource Center, Silent Auction, Placerville, CA, 2009
Pacific Siamese Rescue Fundraiser, Castro Valley, CA, 2009
Education
"Embellishments ala Carte", workshop with Larkin Van Horn, Sacramento, CA, 2007 "Fabulous Fusible Flowers", workshop with Melinda Bula, Folsom, CA, 2007
"Kimono in a Garden", workshop with Rami Kim, Folsom, CA, 2007
"Art for Quilters", Quilt University Online Course with Marilyn Belford, 2007
"Artists Revisited", Quilt University Online Course with Marilyn Bedford, 2007
"Elements in Fabric", Quilt University Online Course with Linda Schmidt, 2007
"Home Building", Quilt University Online Course with Betty Alofs, 2007
"Three-Dimensional Design", Folsom Lake College, Folsom, CA, 2007
"Ricky Tims' Quilt Seminar", workshop with Ricky Tims, Arroyo Grande, CA, 2005
"Free-Style Designing", workshop with Judi Dains, Folsom, CA, 2005
"Designing Around Circles", workshop with Judi Dains, Folsom, CA, 2005
"Free-Motion Quilting", workshop with Judi Dains, Folsom, CA ,2005
"Threadplay", workshop with Judi Dains, Folsom, CA, 2005