I’ve always been fascinated with fabrics. I’ve loved the colors, the textures, the possibilities! Fibers have inspired my imagination, whether I was weaving sculptures, designing costumes, or teaching a class of fifth graders how to quilt. Sewing has always seemed to provide a creative, yet calming, dimension to my life.
My landscape quilts allow me to translate what I see into a fabric “painting”. I can experiment with new techniques as I shape the real world scene I’ve chosen into textiles. When I come upon a site I like, I take several photographs of it. I draw a rough sketch of my scene, combining the different photographic views into one portrait that contains the important elements I want to illustrate. I strive to portray the scene as realistically as possible, finding the perfect fabric and thread to accurately convey what I see, but still express a sense of whimsy. Texture, color, luster, transparency – they’re all important qualities that contribute to just the “right” fabric choice. I build the background and foreground structures layer by layer, adding stitched details. During the many hours it takes to complete each piece, I get to know some of Boston’s famous buildings and the Cape’s natural landscapes quite well as I strive to simulate their details. I like to think that my quilts impart a unique viewpoint of the city and seascapes they depict, helping to give the viewer a new perspective on a familiar site.