Recurring themes in my textile art have to do with natural configurations: rocks, trees, grasses, flowers, ocean, and the land. They are the common thread running through my mind as I work intuitively designing quilts letting the designs take on a life of their own. I am fascinated with line, pattern, shape, color, and texture, and how to design with these elements capturing the essence of what I see and feel. My favorite quotation is from Emerson, “Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.”

As co-owner of The Stitchin’ Post in Sisters, Oregon for 48 years I have been involved in quilting industry as an author, workshop/lecture presenter, and founder of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. I received the Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year awards in Sisters, and was the first independent retailer to be inducted into Primedia’s Independent Retailer Hall of Fame. In 2010 I was inducted into the Quilter’s Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana and received the Michael Kile Award of Achievement honoring commitment to creativity and excellence in the quilting industry. The Stitchin’ Post was one of the first stores to be included in the American Patchwork and Quilting top ten quilt shop issue. I have written of 30 books. I have also participated in gallery shows, as well as featured artist at the Yokoyama and Birmingham quilt shows, designed fabric, taught business classes, and appeared as an artist on OPB’s Oregon Art Beat. In 2000 I received numerous awards individual awards for my quilts, have a quilt in the Paducah Quilt Museum permanent collection, and had a quilt selected for the 2019 Quilt National show. In 2020 I was awarded the Ben Westlund Memorial Award by the Deschutes Cultural Coalition of the Oregon Cultural Trust. (The honor is awarded to those who have served tirelessly throughout the years to forward arts and culture in Central Oregon.)