...with my son Owen,
when he was younger...
Waltzing Dog
My company is named "Waltzing Dog", in honor of my unbelievable three-legged waltzing dog (get the "Waltzing" bit?) who survived more contact with a moving car than any dog should. We affectionately used to say, "Well, he's most of a good dog!" Bosco passed away to Doggie Heaven in December 2002. He was 14. Gosh I miss that dog.
I live out in the country in North Carolina with my sweet husband (who is also a very talented, award-winning woodcarver), our 2 adorable sons, 6 kitties, and 2 great dogs.
Technique
I create my pieces from a collage of commercial fabrics, then I free-form machine-quilt them, which is a lot like drawing while moving the paper under a stationary pen. I utilize raw-edge piecing (I'd go *NUTS* turning under all those teeny edges...) and don’t use fusible (yet) (never say never...) I find myself developing art quilting techniques that are fun and outside "the rules"! (what rules??? There actually are NO Quilt Police!!)
My quilts usually have a shaped, quilted frame. I tend to work within about a 20-something by 20-something finished size ~ it’s easier to free-motion quilt. Once I've completed the "Art Quilt" part, I add on a border frame.
I just LOVE color!!! My favorite part of quilting is playing with color. I love to push color to its limits by matching multiple fabrics, colors, and visual textures in surprising ways. I prefer to work in 100% cottons using bright jewel-tone colors, but make occasional forays into more subtle color palettes and other fibres.
Of course, the other part I enjoy about quilting is shopping for fabric... what fabric-aholic wouldn't?
...The Magenta Faerie...
Influences
I have long been influenced by images from the Belle Époque. I especially love the art of Mucha, and Guimard, the architecture in Belgium... that fabulous whiplash curve... and all the faeries! I'm looking forward to creating more pieces incorporating an Art Nouveau flair. And those wee faeries that swarm around my studio will sneak into the work...!
Current Projects
I'm pleased to anounce that I have been included in the
ArtWanted.com publication "Creative Minds"! The book is available from
both their website as well as at Amazon.com!
I have
yet to create a quilt of my dear departed Waltzing Dog, Bosco... maybe
with
faerie wings...
And the faeries are always there, waiting to be
captured in quilting...
...I feel the muse peering over my shoulder...
...the fabric is beginning to fly...
