Sewing, Music and Art introduced themselves to me when I was five years old -- and they have been constant friends my entire life.  Georgia born, Alabama reared and Louisiana educated, I earned my Bachelor's in music as an oboist.  When you visit my longarm quilting studio, you will most often hear some form of jazz from various corners of the world playing in the background.  And while I also enjoy painting and drawing, quilting is way out front in first place.  Most recently, I have been incorporating drawing and painting in the art quilts I personally create.

I made my first quilt when our first child was born.  Within a year, I learned that one could create handmade things and sell them on consignment in shops.   And so I began to develop what would become my "line" of quilted items.  In the 1980's, living in Dallas, TX, I started my own company, The Patchwork Cottage, and placed my personally designed line in the Dallas Market Center.  We sold and shipped to shops and department stores over a five state area, including Neiman Marcus and an order that went to Japan.  I loved designing new items for the line and working with the 21 women who sewed all the orders -- all of us working in our homes.   

Silver Forest Quilts, my quilting business, opened many new doors in the quilting world.  This is such an exciting time to be involved with the quilting arts and to have a chance to bring my own influence to this creative field.  I enjoy designing and making art quilts, making commissioned quilts for clients and quilting over 100 quilt tops which are designed and made by clients who bring them to me to be quilted.  I thoroughly enjoy the artistic challenge of transforming the quilter's vision into reality.  If the quilter asks me to make all the design choices, I pretend it is my own quilt and I draw inspiration from the design of the quilt, the fabrics and what I can glean about the quilter's own personality and taste.   My Innova longarm machine can accommodate edge-to-edge and custom quilting -- computerized or free-motion quilting for any size piece -- a California king-size quilt, a placemat, or anything in between.  The range of possibilities is endless!

Valley Forge Homestead Quilt Guild I have enjoyed interacting and working with the 100+ quilters in the guild.  I recently served as President for two years, after serving as Vice President. 

My studio is located on N. Splitrail Drive in Colorado Springs. My full time quilting business was located in SE Pennsylvania for 11 years before I relocated to Colorado Springs.  In addition to quilting for others and designing and making art quilts, I enjoy planning and hosting unique quilting classes in my studio for up to six quilters at a time.  Creativity, various cultures of my ancestry and nature are my Muses.  Close your eyes, imagine walking into the Silver Forest -- look around -- be inspired -- and let's create something you will love forever.

Quilts Made by Me