After I had been a traditional quilter for only two years, my husband was contracted to a two-year position with an American engineering firm in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We moved to the Middle East in 1982 with our little daughter, my Viking sewing machine, a trunk full of fabric and a heart for adventure. As soon as it became known within the company that I was a quilter, I was pressed by fellow expatriate women to teach them to quilt. Talk about growing up fast! And with limited supplies in the local market! My husband’s two-year contract expanded to nearly 18 years and during that time I saw the world, had a second child, taught numerous multi-national quilting classes, and was a founding member of guilds in Abu Dhabi and Dubai (where we moved in 1993). While in Dubai, I was fortunate to be mentored in drawing and water color painting by British artist, Judith Ford. Those lessons in color and composition continue to be very useful in my work with fabric.
We chose to move back to the United States in 1999 and my husband secured a position in Sunriver, Oregon. Since that time, I have been active in the 150-member Mountain Meadow Quilt Guild in Sunriver, and am taking as many classes and workshops as I can. I continue to teach locally and enter local, national, and international shows. I was honored when the Sunriver guild named me Master Quilter in 2002 and I served as their Co-Chair in 2006 and 2007.
In 2007 I was commissioned to design two pieces for The Lake House at Caldera Springs, a new resort community near Sunriver (see Molten Convergence and Viscous Cascade in the gallery). I found commission work to be a very exciting experience and hope to obtain more commissions in the future. I enjoy being given a scenario or statement and interpreting it in fabric.
While art quilting is my passion, I also spend time on stage as a classical singer. I have performed since 2002 with the Obsidian Opera Company as a chorus member as well as performing the roles of Pitti Sing in The Mikado and Grandmother Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. I currently study voice with Dr. Monica Torrey and perform with the Central Oregon Mastersingers. I have donated fundraising quilts to benefit the Youth Choir of Central Oregon and the Obsidian Opera Company (see “Tutti Fior” in the Gallery).
Classes Taught
Quilt Drafting
Quilt Design Using the Overhead Projector
Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Hand Piecing and Quilting
Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Hand Appliqué
Quilt Embellishment with ribbon, beads, found objects, etc.
Quilted Postcards and Journal Covers
Mini Art Quilts – Design and construction
Fabric manipulation (the use of Shiva Paint Sticks, Angelina fibers, photo transfer, fabric painting, stamping, foiling, collage)
Juried Shows
International Quilt Association Show in Houston, Texas
American Quilters Society Show in Paducah, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee
Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, California
Semi-finalist in the $100,000 Quilt Challenge in 2006
Betty Gray Art Gallery Show at Sunriver Resort, Sunriver, Oregon
Deschutes Country Library show in Sunriver, Oregon
Local Shows
Annual Sunriver Quilt Show since 2000 (showed quilts and demonstrated hand appliqué and embellishment)
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show since 2000
Beverly Runner
Beverlee Runner
Beverley Runner