Artist Biography: My mom taught me, very patiently, to sew when I was quite young. I come from a long line of artists and generally handy people, so I was always encouraged to create and learn and try. I sewed my own clothes and did various other arts and crafts through school, but then life took me elsewhere, with degrees in Linguistics and Law, and work as a Naval Officer, attorney, teacher, refugee assistance coordinator, community liaison, and mother of 5. I didn’t discover my passion for quilting until after law school when I made my first quilt. My Granny always said there was no such thing as an ugly quilt; but I proved her wrong with that first one. Since then, I've made hundreds of bed and baby quilts, wall hangings, pillows, purses, animals, and table runners. Since I was first blessed with granddaughters, I've returned to sewing clothing, primarily with brilliantly colored and patterned African fabrics.
Artist Statement: My love of fabrics and inspiration to create reached a new level when I lived for several years in Côte d'Ivoire and Botswana. I focus on using African batiks and tie-dyes for my clothing, and those fabrics, small embellishments, bogolanfini, and other textiles in other work.