An E7 design that looked good. Disappointingly, the optical illusion does not show up, except in the photo. The overall design can't be appreciated except from a distance. It is still growing on me.

Made for the McCall’s 2015 “Be Creative! Quilt Challenge”.  This quilt was selected as a finalist in the contest.  It is currently traveling around the country and appearing at the Quilt and Sewing Expo shows.  The contest was sponsored by  McCall’s Quilting and sister magazines Quilters Newsletter and Quiltmaker.   

Made to prove to a friend that I knew HOW to applique. Gifted to granddaughter for 2012 Christmas.

I have watched my husband, Harold, and this Case Track Loader work long hours and heavy loads

through the years.  The have seasoned well as they represent some of the back bone of our country

in their projects.  I am proud to introduce you to the character this machine acquired over time.

Ranch life as a young girl brought "great respect" for the work in the saddle as I

rode alongside the seasoned ones.  Long days, tough rides, cattle drives through

difficult terrain but fresh air, sunrises and sunsets made for a wonderful way of

life.  My quilt is a tribute to the cowboy.

This was my Mystery Quilt for 2015 through my shop in New Zealand. We created this quilt in different colourways but this was one of the favourites, the colour is called Blue Diamonds.

I design a new Mystery Quilt each year.

This quilt was total serendipity. It is made from the scraps from another quilt - mostly Moda Fig Tree.   I love hand applique, so I started out by drawing the central motif and then just added additional borders to the quilt.  I adore Ohio Stars and Orange Peel blocks, so added those, as well.  There was no planning involved, I am embarrassed to admit - the quilt just happened.  I added buttons and yo yo embellishments.  As the quilt is so busy, I decided to keep the quilting simple. It will probably not be everyone's cup of tea, but looking at it cheers me up!

"Walking Through Fields" uses slashed silks, netting and cotton to get the effect of flowering fields.

Interpretation of photo taken at Antelope Canyon.

Interpretation of photo taken at Antelope Canyon.

Although I love the four seasons of Montana, the winter seems to wear us

down quickly with the cold and snow.  I go to the Studio to anticipate spring.

It is easy to pull the colors of spring, shades of blue skies and green grass.

Moisture, robins coming home and we come out of hiding.

My crazy quilt features photos from my grandmother's album. It delights me to see the fun that my grandmother and her friends had at the turn of the last century. On the back of the quilt I placed a copy of my grandparent's marriage certificate and three small enamel buttons from my grandmother's trousseau.

Started as a panel, borders added, lots of outline stitching to set off all elements of the tree and gifts, stars stitched in white glitter thread - very happy with the way the quilting highlighted the image.  Coordinating place mats included for holiday gift.

This is the 2nd place winner for the 2016 Hoffman Challenge I created and dedicated to our family dog "Lucky"  of 19 years. She passed away during the making of this quilt which led me to such intense quilting. It's amazing what we can do when our minds are distracted with such wonderful memories of a family furry member! I love you still Lucky! 

This quilt was a challenge as there was very little of the basket fabric to work with, but it forced me to practice my piecing and to let loose of precision a few times just to have enough fabric in spots.  It's now in my friends cottage in Nantucket ready for those chilly evenings.

The quilt is gift for my mother.

Pieced and quilted on a domestic sewing machine for my husband's great grandson.

Liberal use of rulers/templates for domestic machine quilting, plus some freehand quilting. 

During a visit my brother planned a ride on the High Trestle Trail, part of the Rails to Trails Conservancy. I was so awestruck as we approached the bridge, I knew I had to make a quilt.  Two years to the day after our ride, it was finished.  The sky is pieced with angular squares. The bridge is done with a modified paper piecing technique, as well as applique.  The rider is done with applique and thread painting.  The Des Moines River is quilted in the sky, as well as rotating squares to reflect the design of the bridge.  There is also quilting to pay homage to the railroad, with the ghost of an engine and a coal car. It was accepted into the AQS Des Moines Quilt Show October 2016.