Village - My husband teaches at a charter school in Milwaukee. The school operates under the concept of the Maasai Tribe in Africa. The Village theory is very important in how the school views it students and how they learn best. Children are raised by a Village. A child is unable to learn unless they are healthy. All aspects of a childs health is incorporated in their learning. I wanted to donate this quilt because of the theme matches the schools concepts. It is a newer school and needed a piece of art to help build a postive image of what a village is.

Thimbleberry Sunset - Block of the month by Lynette Jensen. I loved this quilt so much that I made several. This particular quilt went to a former student who became a teacher a few years later. I didn't question my husbands wish to give Tom and his wife a gift that they would be able to use for years to come. I was very proud to give something I had made to a couple that had done so much with their lives in such a short time.

Storm on Puget Sound - I made this quilt for my sister in law who needed a lap quilt for their summer cabin on Stuart Island in the San Jaun islands in Washington State. Storm at Sea is my favorite pattern and it fit right in with her nautical theme.

Circle of Life - This is a mother/baby quilt I made for a friend who delivers babies! The circle of life!

Moon Lake Quilt - This is one of a series of night-time lake landscapes I made in 2003-2004 after discovering raw-edge applique. I like the sparkly effect of iridescent machine quilting on the shiny lake fabric to depict water at night. The moon was fussy cut and appliqued on.

Magenta Lake - This quilt is part of a lake series of landscapes I made in 2003-04 after discovering raw edge applique and the effect of iridescent thread on shiny material! I was going to make them in every color for a surreal effect.

Starry Lake - This is one of a series of night-time landscapes I made upon discovering freeform raw edge applique. I like the sparkle and magical feeling. This was machine quilted with iridescent thread on shiny fabric for water effect.

Powerless - This quilt is inspired by the Step 1 of the 12 Step recovery program, as a reminder that we are Powerless over pretty much everything, all the way to the planets and universe itself. I learned shadowing techniques from a wonderful book called "Casting Shadows" by Colleen Wise.

Red Wedding Quilt - Why did I decide to make a red wedding quilt? I'm not sure... but just wanted something snazzy. This red quilt has about 80 different fabrics, including novelty fabrics to represent the recipient's interest and local culture... Coca Cola, Georgia Bulldogs, tomatoes, apples, etc. I used tons of variegated red thread for the machine quilting -- I just felt it needed lots of stitches to pull together the variety of fabrics. The quilt represents the diversity of living life to the fullest!

Soshell's Quilt - A nice quilt for a wonderful young lady!

Days of roses - I fell in love with watercolour quilts on purchasing this book.

Happy - My mother saw this quilt in local quilt show and liked it. The name of the quilt in the show was Happy. I recreated it for her kingsize bed.

Flag - This was made from a kit I bought at a quilt shop while travelling through Indiana. I pieced it in my RV on the road and raffled it off to benefit 9/11 survivors.

Dr. Niblett's Pig Pink Serenity - Based on drawing of pig by a surgeon I work with. I decided to have some fun with his drawing. Mostly done with batiks and some of my hand dyed fabric.

Dogs Playing Poker - This quilt started out as a joke for my step daughter. Her significant other was bemoaning the fact that she had put up all kinds of pictures around their new house, but he wasn't allowed to hang his favorite art, "Dogs Playing Poker". I found the panel on e-Bay just before Christmas 2006 and designed a simple quilt around it in EQ5. I waited and waited and the panel didn't arrive. I had all the other material (all doggie themed) ready to go and still no panel. The seller had taken sick and was hospitalized before she could mail my fabric. Her family finally found all her orders and filled them as they could. I would have felt very small indeed complaining about their poor sick relative, so I gave Pete a raincheck on his Christmas present. Other quilts came along and poor Pete's quilt wasn't finished until just a week ago. I gave it to him last week, explaining the delay. He is delighted in spite of the nearly nine month wait. I think he's getting something simpler this year.....maybe an embroidered flannel shirt.

Contemporary, but still Amish - It started as a Challenge: Create a contemporary variaton of a classic Center Diamond. All pieces are cut without ruler, the quilt is pieced in soft curves. I added free-form hand-drawn feathers in trapunto, and fine micro-stippeling. Finalist on display at International Quiltfestival Houston 2008

Precious Metal - We all take it for granted to have a golden ring or a warm house. Recent mining accidents made me remember how brave men and women put their life on line to unearth precious metal or coal.