Techniques: Machine quilted

Design Source: Scenery in northern Nevada

My inspiration is living in northern Nevada and experiencing the beautiful locations in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This art quilt was inspired by a photo that I took of the waterfall cascading down the mountain and into the rocks below.

Techniques: Machine pieced, appliquéd, and quilted, painted, fused, threadpainted

Design Source: Collections of Japanese and Chinese paintings

This work harkens back to my childhood years growing up in Japan. We used to sing the song, “Usagi, Usagi,” about a rabbit looking up at the moon. It is also a celebration of spring as cherry blossoms appear in all their beauty. People flock to the parks during cherry blossom season to admire the blooms that represent the fleeting quality of life. They have a very short season, and must be enjoyed now because they may not be here for long.  

Techniques: Painted and trapuntoed

Design Source: Photographs and observation

While traveling in our caravan around Australia, I found the Kimberleys to be awe-inspiring. The scenery in the Kimberleys is breathtaking. I was inspired by a group of people on horses herding cattle by the side of the road, which they call the long paddock. In northern Australia when there is not much grass due to the harsh, dry and arid conditions, the farmers take their cattle to feed on the grass on the side of the road. The horses tails are made of silk threads and hand-painted. The border is made of cork, which is lovely to work with but hard to unpick.  

Techniques: Machine pieced and quilted

Design Source: Photos of Coyote Buttes

The undulating sandstone formations at Coyote Buttes, Arizona take on brilliant colors at sunrise and sunset.

Techniques: Machine appliquéd and quilted

Design Source: Photograph

Like the trees and the bushes, elderly people are part of the landscape around us. We don’t always notice them or care. We should. These fellows are in Chateau de Choenoceau in France sitting on two benches with their dog.

Techniques: Hand-appliquéd, painted

Design Source: The bright contrast of purple and green in spring

I love the new spring colors on an early morning walk.

Techniques: Machine pieced and quilted, dyed

Design Source: Fire

Originally inspired by the horror of deadly fires in Greece in late July 2018, this quilt was completed as the Camp and Woolsey fires burned in California.

Techniques: Machine appliquéd and quilted, fused

Design Source: My photograph

This is my view of Palm Canyon with its native palm tree, the small stream that winds its way through the canyon, the beautiful rocks and boulders, and the hiking trail that starts at the bottom and takes you to the top, complete with a beautiful desert sunset.

Techniques: Hand-embellished, machine appliquéd and quilted, painted

Design Source: Victorian row houses of San Francisco

This was inspired by the beautiful Victorian row houses of San Francisco. The angle of the road is typical of the steep hills throughout the city. The cable car is the fun mode of transportation found there.

Techniques: Machine pieced and quilted, painted

Design Source: Original work

The sounds of rain and thunder during a nighttime storm create a dark symphony of music. The sound of raindrops falling on different objects is altered by the direction or force of the wind. The deep booming of kettle drums adds emphasis. The sight of storm clouds moving over the landscape, either night or day, is always an awe-inspiring display of wonder for me.

Techniques: Hand-appliquéd and embellished, machine appliquéd, quilted, and embellished, trapuntoed, thread-drawn

Design Source: My own photograph

Using fabric and fiber, as well as quilting techniques such as trapunto and thread-drawing, in this quilt I interpreted a photograph I took near Hamilton, Missouri. I wonder who built and owned that wonderful barn? This one made me think of my grandfather, a Danish immigrant who in his time built the biggest barn in Dakota County, Nebraska. Every barn has a story.

Techniques: Machine appliquéd and quilted, painted

Design Source: My travels across this huge country

Landscapes from the Heartland are often dismissed. It is a wide open landscape of grasses and wild flowers that is vital for bird migration. Our economy depends on the high plateau with its diverse flora that grows wild on the side of the back roads.

Techniques: Machine appliquéd, quilted, and embroidered, painted

Design Source: The soil of Puglia

For this quilt, I painted an olive tree growing in the red soil of Puglia. One can see the sea and coast far away in the background. Each leaf was sewn separately and two different gold, silver, and dark gray metallic threads were used to create movement.  

Techniques: Hand-pieced, quilted, and embellished, machine pieced, quilted, and embroidered

Design Source: Chezhan Station

The word Chezhan means cart yard in Taiwanese. Many of the carts were parked at the Chezhan Station. The station has beautiful scenery and a nostalgic feel to it. It has developed into a tourism spot due to its unique scenery. The town has a simple prewar Japanese-style beauty, like a little oasis, bringing people back to the good old days.

Techniques: Machine quilted, fused

Design Source: Images of the Super Bloom in California this year

Whenever the state of California gets a lot of rain in the winter, the hills and meadows are blessed with a Super Bloom. It is an explosion of flowers in yellows, reds, purple and, of course, oranges from our poppies. It is such an astounding sight that it causes major traffic jams, road closures, and limitations for park entrances. This year, the Super Bloom was even visible by satellite.

Techniques: Machine quilted

Design Source: Yushan rhododendron is a unique conservation plant in the mountains of Taiwan. The people look forward to enjoying the rhododendrons at Hehuan Mountain during the sunrises in May and June each year. The mountains are stacked and the clouds are lingering, making people enjoy the beautiful scenery. My work records this beauty.

Techniques: Machine pieced, quilted, and embellished

Design Source: Taiwan

Yilan Mingchi is the largest broad-leaved forest and eucalyptus garden in Taiwan. The park includes tourist attractions and hiking trails such as Qilan Mountain Villa, Mingchi Mountain Villa, and Mingchi Forest Recreation Area. Every autumn, it is the photographer’s favorite shooting place.

Techniques: Machine pieced

Design Source: My hometown

I created this image of the beautiful Shihfen waterfall in my hometown.

Techniques: Machine pieced, appliquéd, and quilted

Design Source: My photograph

This piece was inspired by a photo I took of two koi fish in a pond surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. I added the third koi and the stone ledge at the edge of the pond to complete the composition. I loved the deep shadows on the large leaves hovering over the pond and the contrast in color with the fish.

Techniques: Machine appliquéd, quilted, and embellished, painted

Design Source: My photograph

This quilt was designed from a photo of a very special place with an aspen grove near a lake. I have tried to capture this place using other mediums and quilting techniques throughout the years. It wasn’t until I came across using a silk confetti technique that allowed my intuition to create this special place in an art quilt. No planning or drawings were used, just a photo and memories.