Multimedia Fiber Artist - Creative Spirt - Curious ExplorerInspired by the natural and cultural landscapes of the world at my feet. Creating with fiber and multimedia reflects my passion for the land and its people. The rich color, texture, and culture of the Southwest are constant inspirations that drive my creative passions. Journeys on long stretches of highway provided ample time to study diverse western landscapes. It was during these family road trips that my mother taught me to sketch the scenery. Although I dabbled in many mediums over the years, I eventually found my way back to my first love – working with fiber. Combining my passion for landscape, nature, culture, and fiber, I began interpreting the landscape in a mixed media of fabric, fiber, beads, and other embellishments. Using quilting techniques I manipulate cotton fabric into landscape formations. Botanical elements are then stitched in with fine threads and silk ribbon, adding character, dimension, and depth. Bead-work and metallic thread add a final touch of sparkle to each scene. Taking needle in hand before the age of five, I spent most of my life perfecting my art form. My mother taught me the art of fine hand embroidery and quilting, and I am self-taught in many other techniques. Always seeking out new materials and methods, I enjoy manipulating fabric and fibers to create variations of traditional techniques and create new ones. Although working with fibers is my primary passion, I also enjoy photography, watercolor, pen and pencil sketching, pastel, and everything mixed media. After an amazing 21 year career as a National Park Ranger, I now enjoy spending most of my time as a multimedia fiber artist, writer, graphic artist, and surface pattern designer. Surface pattern design is progressing toward designing my own fabric line collections and I am so excited about this new direction - so stay tuned. In the mean time, creativity, exploration, travel, scientific inquiry, and love for learning satisfies my endless curiosity about our amazing natural and cultural landscapes of the world at my feet. Mostly though, I find great delight in the creative process no matter what I am doing. It is the essence of my humanity. Have a Beautiful Day!