Sewing mini quilts is my solution to creative laziness. I may be in between projects or have been away from the studio, or just wanting to work intuitively, without a plan or defined goal. I start by sewing scraps. I have buckets of scraps (doesn’t every quilter?) and small vignettes that didn’t work out, but couldn’t be tossed away. I sew and sew and sew. Eventually I feel a little more creative and get excited about possibilities. The end result…
Art quilts can be so personal, so special in our lives. Like many handmade items, they are labors of love, and a joy to make. Here are a few of my quilts that are special to me, because of the back-story. Below: A…
Many of my weaving designs started with a classic quilt pattern — Amish, 3 Bars, 9 Patch, Log Cabin, to name a few. I’ve now applied the same approach but without the limitations of the loom. For my contemporary classics art quilts, the…
Rather than making new year’s resolutions, a few years ago I switched to Christine Kane’s suggestion to selecting a word of the year. Just one word, nothing fancy or hard to remember, and then apply that to as many parts of your life as…
Organizing your fiber studio can feel like a chore—no fun at all. But it is a necessary chore that will result in a more functional and enjoyable space. During my 35+ years as a weaver, I stashed looms and supplies wherever there was empty…
I discovered weaving in 1978 and spent the next 15 years happily exploring the world of weaving. For the next 20 years, I designed, wove and marketed table linens in repp…
It’s probably not news that one of the latest housing trends is living in a tiny house. I realized I actually live and work in what could be a “tiny house” because my space is 571 square feet, total. That was just the beginning…
Working in a series can be very invigorating as one discovers new possibilities with every new piece. One of my favorites is Windows–An Art Quilt Series. Architectural elements and their inherent angles and lines, are infinite sources of inspiration. Windows can be…
I’m considering the potential in these raw photos that I’ve taken when I have been out of the city. As I work forward, I will view them in black & white, maybe focus on one part of the lines or shapes, maybe deleting some…
From a maker’s point of view, small art quilts are wonderful for many reasons. I try out new designs and color combinations. I can use up small fabric scraps that I’m too cheap to throw away. I get immediate gratification as it moves…