My Inspiration

• Let The Beauty of What You Love, Be What You Do!   Rumi

I am sometimes inspired to make theme pieces  by the world around me:  nature, current events, other cultures, travel.  

In the Migration Tunic  my thoughts converged regarding people migrating as they have from the beginning and the annual migration of beautiful monarchs  to Mexico.  Everyone and everything has migrated in the past for many reasons and/or currently  for survival....sometimes against all odds.  The tunic is handwoven of cotton, silk and rayon and finiished with tablet woven bands. The original embroideries are from photos and drawings of butterflies and a photo of petroglyph people.

Violence at home and abroad, wars and tribalism, gave rise to the Peace Vest. Handwoven sections combined with recycled denim discharged and embroidered with: John Lennon quote,  Iriquois prayer for peace, peace symbols and "peace" in different languages.

Summer trips to Maine, climbing on the rocks and observing the 12 foot tides inspired this coat. It is reversible of handwoven wool. It is finished with a tablet woven band with ties and exotic wood beads from Costa Rica. It was exhibited in the Maryland Federation of Arts,  Fiber National exhibit  2016 

All living beings on earth are endangered by a warming planet. This handwoven bamboo and cotton coat depicts  threatened animals embroidered  dark and fading. Weather events  are embroidered on the front band. It is reversible to a dyed and painted surface of the earth, animals, birds and bees.

Exhibited  in the Maryland Federation of Arts, Fiber National Exhibit, 2018

Peoples Choice Award at Chestertown River Arts Exhibit, 2023

This vest was inspired by photos taken on a Safari to Kenya and Tanzania. The animal weavings were created from  photos taken in National Parks. They were woven on my jacquard loom, and sewn  into a vest with a vintage piece of fabric.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument where Spider woman rock towers,  inspired this coat. Handwoven of wool and silk it is embroidered with Petroglyphs from photos taken in Petroglyph National Park. It is finished with  a Tablot woven band and exotic wood beads from Costa Rica. 

A visit to the Harriet Tubman National Park in Maryland inspired this tunic. It is woven of silk with recycled denim accents and embroidered with the North Star which guided the slaves traveling the Underground Railroad. It is reversible to a patchwork side echoing the quilts of the travelers. The patchwork includes Harriet Tubman photos and quotes.  Exhibited in the MFA 2018 Fiber National Exhibit.