I was a bit reluctant to start quilting, because in my mind, I thought quilts were only quilted by hand.  I knew that I didn’t have time for that, since I work full time.  But I found out that you could quilt with a sewing machine.  Wow!  Now that, I would be interested in.

I signed up for my first class a little over six years ago.  It took me six weeks to piece the top of my sampler quilt.  But then I needed to learn how to do the quilting.  So, I signed up for another class.  And I was hooked.  I haven’t quit taking classes and I never will.

I consider myself a traditional quilter with a little Bling Bling.  I love to embellish my Quilts with Rhinestones and those beautiful threads that are available to us.  I like to try different techniques and see which ones work for me.

I have won a few awards for some of my quilts.  These awards include Best of Show at the Tulare County Fair, Best of Show and Best Machine Quilting at the Best of the Valley Quilt Show and Third Place at Road to California Quilt Show.  I was also juried into the AQS Nashville Quilt Show and Pacific International Quilt Festival.

I encourage everyone to take advantage of all the classes being offered locally.  We have some really talented Quilters right here in the area.  I am very fortunate to have learned so much from these wonderful Quilters.  And there is still so much more to learn.  Also, join the local Quilt Guilds.  Not only do you have the opportunity to take classes at very reasonable fees, but you also get to meet the most wonderful people.

In addition to my quilting life, I was raised in Tulare and now live in Visalia.  I have worked for the Tulare City School District for 31 years.  And I have the most wonderful and supportive husband, Larry.  He is a great critic and is always encouraging me.

It is a huge honor to have been selected as the Featured Artist for this Fabulous Quilt Show.  I hope I can inspire other beginning quilt artists to keep taking classes and creating beautiful quilts.

Keep on Quilting!