The Year 2007

2007 was a time to relook at my artwork.

On a trip to California and Nevada I started to do macro photography. I love seeing what is inside of things we take for granted. I started taking pics of green things and just couldn't stop. I'm not sure what I will do with all these images but a few art projects are floating in my mind.

Recycle was in my blood before it ever became part of everyone's lifestyle. When I would take a class I would see people throwing away bits of gorgeous fabric. I asked for them and such began my fabric scrap addiction. I love making scrap quilts.

Postcards are so small. They are a perfect way to use up more scraps.



Still worked with my wonderful Sweet Charity group. We began making love quilts. We have gone far afield of the original style and it continues to evolve. This group made over six hundred quilts this year.

Before 2007

This helps define where I began.

Art Quilting - Within NMQA I meet a group of art quilters. They encouaged me to start to look outside the box. Less patterns and color freedom! I began to take lot of classes. I felt like a sponge, I just couldn't learn enough.

Community Service - While I was learning to quilt I met a lady who invited me to look at New Mexico Quilters Association (NMQA). The first time I went to a meeting I met a wonderful group of ladies that were in a sub group called Sweet Charity. They were making quilts to give away to those in need here in New Mexico. I joined them and we made over 3,500 quilts during this time.

Quilting - One day a friend walked into my house with five bins of fabric. A pack rat had gotten into her shed and she had to wash everything. She said she did not want the fabric back in the shed, and she knew I would find something to do with it. Back to my pack rat habits. I took a bin of fabric and my old sewing machine and headed down the hill to a local fabric shop, Quilts From the Heart (I still go there).

This is not the first quilt I started but it is the first I finished.

I took a class on creating art with found pieces. We went into a local wooded area and created art, took pictures and left the sculptures there for others to find. I went back months later and they were still there.

Claywork - I was going through a time of trial and found myself in a ceramic class. One teddy bear and a rabbit later I found I really enjoyed learning how to use glazes and other ceramic stuff. I took a bunch of classes, opened a storefront and began my journey into clay.

This is the store and production facility in Los Alamos.

Marketing was the hardest part for me. But I went to market in Dallas here. It was designed for only southwestern products.

New Mexico has a ceramic show where people compete for ribbons. My store took Best Shop for two years. My students were awesome!

I've done a little sculpting.

I developed a series of dishes that I marketed in Santa Fe and in craft shows.

I developed the glaze for this chili series. It was a hit.

Designs were based on the Anasasi Indians' work.

I developed a Lords prayer series. I have a friend, Marilyn, that did the most beautiful caligraphy for me.

This series was blueberries on top of a white glaze.

My very first class. They all made yard bunnies.

I taught many children. I loved watching them try new things.

Amanda & Bill

Amanda & Bill - I came across these pictures. This is my granddaughter and my husband. It sure brings back memories.

Cast dragons done with raku glazes.

Burial Urns done for a scientist in Los Alamos.

Burial urn done for a friend in Mexico.

Jewelery - Who can resist strings of beads? I can't, so I designed necklaces and strung them to my heart's content. One day I tried a little silversmithing.

I found a source in Germany for some wax that would soften at hand temperature. I made a line of candles by using this wax to sculpt designs and then attached them to premade candles. I also hand dipped candles but I do not have any of them left.


Knitting - A very sweet white haired old lady taught me how to knit in my senior year. I made a letter man's sweater and a car coat. I was so proud of myself. I wish I had taken pictures but I did not. I'm afraid I have regressed and the only thing I have have been making is scarves.

Picture at an arts & crafts Christmas show.

Sewing - In my junior year of high school I discovered I could sew (a teacher deserves a lot of credit). I started on a formal for the prom and made a matching coat (in black velvet and white pique no less). If you don't know you can't do it you probably can. Followed by four wedding dresses, a few bridesmaid outfits, and a couple of more formals and finally I decided that I could sew.

Daisy chains - As a child I loved to do repetitive things. I spent hours knotting daisies and clover (more plentiful). I don't remember what I did with them but I remember loving it.

Sandcastles - One of my first memories are of a sand box my father made. He filled it with sand that was full of periwinkle shells. I hunted for them by the hours. Probably my beginnings of found art. Mustard flowers and a few flowers stolen from my mother's flower beds adorned my sand art work.