I began quilting in 1979 and continue to this day. It is a pleasant pastime. I love to work with color, be productive and resourceful, and take the time in all stages to “get it right” before calling the quilt done. Making incremental progress is satisfying, right up to embroidering my name and date. Eventually, there is nothing left to do.
A quilt summary with piecing details can be found below.
Wild Goose Chase – fragments
Assembly: Corduroy, tufted using 3 colors of thread • Full size • 1979
First quilt made to serve a “captain’s bed” that was designed and built by my husband. Resourced cut-up jeans comprise most of the contrasting colors. The quilt wore out, and was disassembled in 2025 when I hoped to restore it. Two sections remain from the top. Two small lap quilts may be made from the remaining parts in the future.
Detail of pattern
Scrap Quilt Grid and Dynamics
Assembly: Cotton, quilted, stitch in the ditch • Queen size • 1980
A mock-up using color xeroxes of fabric and then adjusted with colored pencils helped work out a solution to a hodge-podge of scraps. The model was a project for a color theory 2 independent study course at Mass College of Art. I cut half-inch squares from the xeroxes and moved them around a grid drawn on poster board. I learned that it was important to impose order on such disparate elements to avoid mud. One special fabric was from a favorite red dress that I wore to my college commencement. The red hues gave energy to the design.
Detail of pattern
Shoo-fly
Assembly: Wool, quilted, diamond pattern in center and frame, cable pattern on wide border •
Full size • 1982
Wool fabric seems to make a quiet color experience, with bits of intense color from cut up miniskirts adding life to the design. We lay on this for many years when watching TV. The cotton back shows wear at the top-level junctions of pieced fabric. Live and learn.
Detail of pattern
Hovering Hawks
Assembly: Wool, quilted. Center HH triangles include stitch-in-ditch and continues HH pattern in solid areas. Concentric zig-zag and running feather pattern at border. • Full size • 1982
Small triangles were cut from miniskirts and a donated scrap of bold blue/white gingham check. The bold checks were tamed as they spread out in the light brown ground from suiting resourced at a yard sale. Pops of color came from the cut-up mini-skirts. We lay on this for many years when watching TV. The simple cotton back shows wear at junctions of pieced fabric. I love the red “force field.”.
Detail of pattern
Basket Variation
Assembly: Cotton, quilted with overall concentric arcs • Queen size• 1984
The ivory ground was an early decision. The variation “basket” design incorporates an idea of a cactus block design. Cut up clothing was mainly from shirt-waist dresses and my husband’s favorite India-print blue shirt. (The India print did not wear well over time but it is integral to my enjoyment.) Initially, I thought the large-block design could be interspersed with a same-size solid block but it was too jarring to take in visually. I was forced to get it right by using many small triangles of color, resulting in more than a thousand pieces total for this quilt.
Detail of pattern
Birds in the Air, Rotated
Assembly: Cotton, quilted, overall concentric arcs • Twin size• 2000
I liked the ivory ground and rotated blocks to create diagonal stripes across the top. Again, cut up clothing was used as a resource, mainly from dresses and pant suits.
Detail of pattern
Hourglass
Assembly: Cotton, quilted with herringbone pattern • Queen size •
2001
The hourglass design in this scrap quilt is mainly resourced from cut up clothing, including men’s shirts and pant suits. Order was created with visual “rows” of a solid color, resting places for the eye. The colors are mainly soft, green, teal, turquoise, orchid and royal blue. It is suited for warmer months in spring and summer. The back design reminds me of pansy colors and seems suited for cooler weather.
Detail of pattern
Nine-patch, Five/Four
Assembly: Cotton flannel, tufted • Throw size• 2003
First in a series of three explorations of the nine-patch design for throw sized cozy quilts. Flannel shirts were cut into uniform squares at the start, then designs followed. This version was what I regard as classic nine-patch
Detail of pattern
Nine-patch, Five/Four, Rotated
Assembly: Cotton flannel, tufted • Throw size • 2003
Second exploration of the nine-patch design for a throw sized cozy quilt. Flannel shirts and purchased fabric were cut into uniform squares at the start, then designs followed. This version rotates the blocks to create a diagonal flow across the top.
Detail of pattern
Nine-patch, Center Block
Assembly: Cotton flannel, tufted • Throw size • 2003
Third exploration of the nine-patch design for a throw sized cozy quilt. Flannel shirts were cut into uniform squares at the start, then designs followed. This version has a lattice to surround individual blocks. Each block has a red center with one other color to surround it.
Detail of pattern
Log Cabin, Barn Raising (rotated format)
Assembly: Cotton, quilted, overall concentric diamonds • Queen size • 2006
The simplicity of the log cabin design is easily made magic by rotating blocks to exploit contrasts of light/dark. This quilt was a thrill to make and complete!
Detail of pattern
Tree Canopy – Original Design
Assembly: Cotton, quilted, overall concentric arcs • Queen size • 2025
The leaf pattern in deep green is deliberately asymmetrical, meant to evoke looking up through a tree canopy. I liked to see the fabrics from bed sheets on laundry day and saved them for quilting. A bit of blue dress shirts were used to fill in. Much later, I worked out the design on graph paper. Each square is 2” when sewn. The basic quilt-top was made and put away for several years until I could complete the project in 2025.
Detail of pattern
Wild Goose Chase – Redux Variation
Assembly: Corduroy, tufted • Queen size • 2025
Redux of my first pieced quilt from 1979. I made a grid with colored pencils to map the original design to figure out what was needed for the redux. Some original fabric was saved from the 1970s, and later-era thrifted corduroy garments retained the original palette. The disparate redux elements forced a decision to make the columns of triangle/arrows reverse direction. A different effect then occurred from negative spaces around the arrows. The quilt is impractically heavy and large, but it’s a stunner. I love the back as well, maybe more. Maybe the whole piece could function as a hanging room divider!
Detail of pattern
Blue Dream, Series 1, Nine-Patch Four/Five
Assembly: Cotton, tufted • Throw size • 2025
The Blue Dream Series includes an element of lovely, royal blue fabric from repurposed sheets. My aim was to make small, snuggle-sized quilts with large pieces of my fabric stash. The size is just right for the top of the bed or sofa. The first Blue Dream series uses the simple nine-patch design for the overall image and royal blue appears as overall ground. This one has a pale yellow border to enclose the 9-patch. An animal print used in the back’s design is charming to a youngster. The tufting kept the project simple and a timely gift for a young grand-nephew (a fourth birthday, one of two brothers).
Detail of pattern
Blue Dream, Series 1, Nine-Patch Three/Six
Assembly: Cotton, tufted • Throw size • 2025
The Blue Dream Series includes an element of lovely, royal blue fabric from repurposed sheets. My aim was to make small, snuggle-sized quilts with large pieces of my fabric stash. The size is just right for the top of the bed or sofa. The first Blue Dream series uses the simple nine-patch design for the overall image and royal blue appears as overall ground. This one has a green border to enclose the 9-patch. An animal print used in the back’s design is charming to a youngster. The tufting kept the project simple and a timely gift for a young grand-nephew (a second birthday, one of two brothers).
Detail of pattern
Blue Dream, Series 1, Nine-Patch Five/Four
Assembly: Cotton, quilted, concentric arcs, mirrored direction • Throw size • 2026
The Blue Dream Series includes an element of lovely, royal blue fabric from repurposed sheets. My aim was to make small, snuggle-sized quilts with large pieces of my fabric stash. The size is just right for the top of the bed or sofa. The first Blue Dream series uses the simple nine-patch design for the overall image and royal blue appears as overall ground. This one has a dark navy border to enclose the 9-patch. The back is a simple, dark navy field with two inset green rectangles, then bordered by a rich deep blue.
Detail of pattern
Blue Dream, Series 2, Homage to Albers and Rothko
Assembly: Cotton, tufted • Throw size • 2026
The Blue Dream Series includes an element of lovely, royal blue fabric from repurposed sheets. My aim was to make small, snuggle-sized quilts with large pieces of my fabric stash. The size is just right for the top of the bed or sofa. Designs vary within the second series. The homage harks to the way that the pieced magenta square and horizontal lt blue stripes float and react in the deep blue ground. Royal blue strips run up the side edges. I thought of Albers first, then the horizontal stripes made me think Rothko. The back is plain and pleasing.
Detail of pattern
Blue Dream, Series 2, Sugar Bowl Blocks
Assembly: Cotton, tufted, stitch in the ditch • Throw size • 2026
The Blue Dream Series includes an element of lovely, royal blue fabric from repurposed sheets. My aim was to make small, snuggle-sized quilts with large pieces of my fabric stash. The size is just right for the top of the bed or sofa. Designs vary within the second series. For this quilt, checked fabric from a remnant included a misprint. The overall design includes cut pieces of it as a ground to float the three sizes of sugar bowl shapes. The pastel-toned back is simple and evokes my love of Amish quilts.
Detail of pattern
Blue Dream, Series 2, Animals with Strips and Stripes
Assembly: Cotton, quilted, concentric arcs • Throw size • 2026
The Blue Dream Series includes an element of lovely, royal blue fabric from repurposed sheets. My aim was to make small, snuggle-sized quilts with large pieces of my fabric stash. The size is just right for the top of the bed or sofa. Designs vary within the second series. For this quilt, leftover pieces of animal print were combined with strips to “stretch” the pattern The pastel-toned back made use of large fabric pieces and kept the palette consistent for the series. , then stripes were added for the final dimension.
Detail of pattern
Quilt Summary: Piecing Details
Each quilt assembly is detailed below with a set of images.
CLICK EACH THUMBNAIL TO SEE FULL SCREEN
1979
Wild Goose Chase
Top: pieced corduroy with deep bottle green for “arrows”, other colors in light and mid-tones of greens, blue, beige, ivory, coral, gold. Original top was framed with cadet blue.
Back: Cotton, solid corduroy in cadet blue. Picture shows color close to original.
1980
Scrap Quilt Grid and Dynamics
Top: pieced cotton made up of two-inch squares resourced mainly from cut up clothing and donated scraps, some fabric purchased for uniform elements. Inside grid of blue and yellow. Edge border is navy blue, incorporating a run of a red/blue checkerboard.
Back: Cotton, wide red rectangle inset into blue field
1982
Shoo-fly
Top: pieced wool shows shoo-fly colors on a grey herringbone ground, dark blue frame for top design, bordered with mid-purple color
Back: Cotton, double-inset rectangles of dark orange into light purple ground
1982
Hovering Hawks
Top: pieced wool on light-brown ground of wool suiting. Wide border frame in dark purple with inset red rectangle.
Back: Cotton, wide inset rectangle of red into tan field
1984
Basket Variation
Top: pieced cotton scraps combined with ivory solid that forms a ground. Blocks were set on the diagonal, alternating a large image basket block, with a block made of many small triangles. A blue inset rectangle frames the pieced section. A thin blue edge completes the design.
Back: Cotton, appliqued grid on solid ivory ground, with 3 blue stripes from each direction (NESW) with red squares at intersections.
2000
Birds in the Air, Rotated
Top: pieced cotton scraps combined with ivory solid that form the design’s ground. Square blocks are made from right triangles. All blocks are uniform size: two ivory and deep blue triangles form one type of block, and a second type block is comprised of 4 small squares of contrasting triangles. The overall diagonal rows emerged by rotating the ivory/deep blue squares. Inset narrow red rectangles before blue border.
Back: Cotton, appliqued, composite, grid lines in blue, turquoise, and red, creating crosses with center squares on patterned ivory ground. Wide turquoise border edged with blue from top-side
2001
Hourglass
Top: pieced cotton
Back: Cotton, Amish bars of bold yellow and magenta purple inside magenta purple rectangle, surrounded by subtle navy/white skinny-striped fabric, then double-inset rectangles of magenta.
2003
Nine-patch, Five/Four
Top: pieced cotton flannel of color on medium gray ground, frame of skinny red stripe against green border
Back: Cotton flannel, gold/green plaid, frame border of green, narrow red inset rectangle, blue border edge.
2003
Nine-patch, Five/Four, Rotated
Top: pieced cotton flannel of colors on gold/tan ground, frame of skinny red stripe against green border
Back: Cotton flannel, gold/green plaid, border of green with narrow red inset rectangle, blue edge
2003
Nine-patch, Center Block
Top: pieced cotton flannel, frame of skinny red stripe against deep blue border.
Back: Cotton flannel, red and blue stripes onto green field, gold/green plaid wide border, red edge
2006
Log Cabin, Barn Raising, Rotated
Top: pieced cotton in light/dark contrasting tones of reds, pinks, yellows, pale beige. Blocks have yellow centers.
Back: Cotton, Mid-tone magenta overall ground, inset floated pale yellow diamond outline, inset rectangle frame of deep purple/black, wide magenta border
2025
Tree Canopy, Original Design
Top: pieced fabric in deep green and muted light blue. Frame of royal blue. Edge border is magenta.
Back: Cotton, light-tone aqua ground, inset floated center diamond outline of pale yellow. Royal blue stripes form two inset rectangles. Edge border is magenta.
2025
Wild Goose Chase, Redux Variation
Top: pieced corduroy in deep greens and blues for the arrow forms, other colors in light and mid-tones of greens, blue, beige, ivory, coral, gold. Frame edge in navy and red strips.
Back: Mixed, linen, cotton, linen/cotton, and corduroy. Center is red/white ticking, framed by narrow red pattern, then salmon-colored linen as a wide inset rectangle, another narrow red frame, then red corduroy frame border.
2025
Blue Dream, Series 1, Nine-patch, Five/Four /yellow
Top: pieced cotton in royal blue, bird print, pale yellow frame.
Back: Cotton, pieced animal print with green stripes, purple frame, lt blue wide border
2025
Blue Dream, Series 1, Nine-patch, Three/six/green
Top: pieced cotton in royal blue, bird print, lt green block and frame.
Back: Cotton, pieced animal print with blue stripes, lt blue wide border
2026
Blue Dream, Series 1, Nine-patch, Five/Four/dk navy
Top: pieced cotton in royal blue, bird print, dk navy frame.
Back: Cotton, dk navy center, double inset green rectangles on deep blue ground, royal blue wide border
2026
Blue Dream, Series 2, Homage to Albers & Rothko
Top: pieced cotton with rich deep blue, magenta center square, lt blue horizontal stripes, royal stripes at vertical edge
Back: Cotton, center blue rectangle, lt blue wide border
2026
Blue Dream, Series 2, Sugar Bowl Blocks
Top: pieced cotton in royal blue, pink, pale yellow floating on ground of checked blue/gray/ivory
Back: Cotton, center pale yellow diamond floating in lt blue/purple field, lt blue/gray wide border
2026
Blue Dream, Series 2, Animals with Strips and Stripes
Top: pieced cotton animal print interspersed with royal blue strips, royal blue frame, lt teal -green ground, lt blue/gray border
Back: Cotton, yellow and lt blue rectangle quadrants, checked pattern strips, lt blue/gray wide border
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