techniques used

My favored technique is called “picture piecing” a phrase coined by Cynthia England - utilizing an original design as a guide, I make a freezer paper template, cutting apart the design and placing the template on specific fabrics as I deem appropriate. After each fabric piece is selected, I reform the design - sort of like a fabric jigsaw puzzle - and hope it all comes back together! All work is done by machine, for both piecing and quilting. I am drawn to hand dyed, hand painted and batik, both commercial and hand made, as these fabrics have several nuances which adapt well to the “picture piecing” method.

I use a broad spectrum of colors, depending on the theme of the piece and I always tend to have some yellow in piece, somewhere, as it is one of my favorite colors. I am also just starting to develop “Thread Painting”, utilizing whole cloths and creating the image through a multitude of thread colors. I also enhance, if needed, with oil pastels.