Artist Statement

I am a self-taught artist who tells bite-sized stories with fabric and thread. I use simple stitches on layers of manipulated applique to create dimension and movement. My figurative stories mostly live in the past and showcase the pluck and strength demanded of American life during the 30’s-60’s. Events like the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and the Civil Rights Movement created both heroes and villains. But I focus on the ordinary folk who had to find their place somewhere in between.

My lighter side lives in the mid-century furniture and design world for which I create small “sets” that showcase the whimsy and fun of that era’s form and color. It’s my attempt to make up for the fact I never got to live in the Brady Bunch house.

 Virtually all of my work is hand stitched and pieced using needle-turn applique. I also use watercolor, gouache, pencils and pastels to tint fabric as needed.