My commitment to education is equaled only by a passion for my family and for the arts. Early on I was a freelance cartographer for the University of California, Los Angeles, sold miniature paintings to such establishments as “The Egg and the Eye”, a Los Angeles folk art gallery at that time, Robinson’s Department Store and Virginia’s Gift Shop at Knott’s Berry Farm. I received a Presidential Recognition Award for my contributions to Los Angeles’ Allesandro Elementary School’s mural project, while I also taught arts to a group of gifted students. I created an adult sized rocking horse, the plans of which grew into a small business operation and experienced a level of international success through such publications as Popular Mechanics.
All the while I immersed myself in quilting, sewing formal gowns and original designed clothing. When not sewing, I was painting and had my work exhibited at California State University, Los Angeles, and the University of Southern California. It wasn’t until the year 2000 that a colleague prevailed upon me to attend one, just one, local quilt guild meeting. Henceforth an entirely new focus and passion began to consume my artistic applications. I became part of a group that spearheaded the formation of an art quilt subgroup and I joined “Quilt Visions” of San Diego, Studio Art Quilt Associates, and Quilts on the Wall. The rest is history. I was hooked. Due to a set of very fortunate circumstance, I was able to exit the world of academia, move to Vista, California, where my entire hilltop home has become a studio filled with the wonder of color and fabric.
My art quilts have sold from Glendale, California to the Gulf shores of Florida with resulting commissioned requests and are exhibited at a local retreat center. As with any passion, there are never sufficient hours in the day to quickly enough follow the muse into ever-new territories. Every day, in some way, is dedicated to the arts with a special emphasis on the art quilt genre and fabric surface design. My days are filled with designing, and stitching, and painting and dinking in the untold wonders of the world that keep creativity alive. As a result of popular demand, I am now formulating class outlines and will teach various aspects of fiber arts commencing in August, 2010.
Artist Statement: My mission is to create lasting works of art that elevate the spirit, bring joy and pleasure to others through visual and tactile interaction, and thereby spark the innate creativity in others.
