Maps and Landscapes
America: Stitch by Stitch
The US is a diverse nation. I was first inspired by Wild Olive’s 50 States Stitching Club, which I hand-embroidered in the center of each English paper-pieced star. I chose and sourced textiles that corresponded to each motif. I utilized those fabrics for both the backing blocks for each star as well as for each state on the hand-pieced and hand-appliqued quilt top.
Kingdom United by Tradition
in the autumn of 2017, I had the opportunity to visit a destination that I had dreamed about since my youth: the United Kingdom. The sun was rising as the plane drew in over Ireland, and I saw that the fields below me looked like quilt blocks enclosed by sashing created by trees and stone walls.
The map was created with textiles sourced on that trip and back in the US, which I quilted as I built the map. The waves that so captivated me, I hand-painted on organza, cut and pieced to capture the tumultuous Atlantic. The map was hand-appliqued onto to the waves and the backing is another quilt itself—a scale UK flag.
Ala Moana
Sand. Sea. Infinite inspiration. I am naturally drawn to the ocean. Hawaii is a tropical paradise almost within my reach. A close friend moved there in our youth and the photos that were shared with me always made me long to feel those waters and tread on those sands. Using those photos as inspiration, I created a series of the two forces of nature that most entranced me: water and fire.
‘Ala moana’ in the Hawaiian language means ‘path to the sea.’
Top left: Walaleale, Wall of Tears, Kauai, HI
Top right: Shark Feeding Grounds, Ni’ihau, HI
Bottom left: Keanalele, Queen’s Bath, Kauai, HI
Bottom right: Lehua Seabird Sanctuary as seen from Ni’ihua, HI
Kupaianaha
Fire: cleaning and destructive. Fascinating yet dangerous. This series seems abstract, yet captures the reality of moving lava: fluid, irregular, solid and liquid at the same time.
‘Kupaianaha’ in the Hawaiian language means ‘how wonderful.’
Top left: Pahoehoe (basaltic rope lava)
Bottom left: Lava Skylight, Kīlauea, Hawai’i
Right: Pele’s Hair (volcanic glass lava)
Kaulike
When lava, spewing forth, meets the sea it cools quickly while boiling the ocean into steam.
The billowing steams clouds can be deadly as they contain small glass shards of fragmented lava and acid mist from sea water creating laze.
This piece is comprised of velvet, silk, and tulle—luxurious fabrics associated with wealth and power—and Tyvek, a workingman’s tool.