Carpe diem (Seize the day)   

 A single day in Virginia was the inspiration for this design; from a beginning sunrise at the beach, through a beautiful sunny summer mid-day, to the peaceful dusk and sunset at the mountains; inside, the moon illuminates interesting and complex shadows, gently touching the treetops and a rolling landscape within.  

An adaptation from A Birthday Wish by Dorothy Nell McDonald bridges and connects the box reiterating the theme of complex contrasts in each day of our lives:

Wish not for joy without sorrow

Endless days without the healing dark

But for love, strength, faith and wisdom

For God’s sweet peace as each day is done.

Awarded Best in Show, Frank Lloyd Wright Award, People's Choice, and First Place for Surface embroidery at Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit 2008. Juried into EGA's Through the Needle's Eye traveling exhibit 2008.

Treasure Map

This composition was inspired by the almost magical illusions that can be achieved through the careful use and control of color and value. A mysterious theme of a treasure map contributed to these illusions as a treasure chest of gold and setting sun are illustrated on a cartouche which appears to sit on top of an ancient nautical map.

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

The inspiration for this design came from life’s constant changes; something good always seems to follow bad and a challenging event or what seems like a tragedy or disaster at one point in time will open the door to an unexpected opportunity, create a positive event, or change our perspective and life. An oval box represents the circle of life and has the four seasons portrayed around the outside; the top of the box pictures the universals of water, air, land and fire. A tiny outline of silver peaks out from the clouds on top to hint at the meaning within. Inside, a shiny silver lining speaks to the theme and is in marked contrast to the colorful, naturalistic and not always so “glittery” world outside.

Awarded Frank Lloyd Wright Award, Judge's Choice, People's Choice, First Place for Surface embroidery at Woodlawn Needlework Exhibit 2006. Juried into EGA's Through the Needle's Eye traveling exhibit 2008.

The Color Square

Primary and secondary colors are used and mixed to produce tertiary colors through optical blending. An intense study in the use of hue, saturation, and value.

Appalachian View

This composition was selected to explore the illusion of deep space using atmospheric perspective, shading and shadows. The expanse of terrain was represented with layers of mountains and hills that gradually changed from intense greens to cool, de-saturated grays and blues through fabric painting and dyeing. The trees that frame the foreground have greater leaf texture, contrast, and trunk shading than distant trees in the landscape. The design was composed to add to the illusion of depth by drawing the primary focus to the birds in the foreground and then outward as they view the far distant lake, house, fields and disappearing mountains; the eye is drawn back around to the contrast of more pronounced foreground details with more intense hues emphasizing the illusion of depth and distance.

Step 4 of Master Craftsman in Color