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APPLIQUE WORKS »
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GLOSSARY »
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Dimensional techniques bring textural interest into what has
traditionally been viewed as flat works using the placement of colored and
patterned fabrics stitched together by hand or machine (or both) to create
essentially graphic surface designs, (traditional quilting). The techniques 
I employ tend to use various methods of fabric folding, manipulation,
twisting, pleating and insertion of fabric or other elements into seams to
create dimensional designs.
I also often include dimensional hand stitching (embroidery) stitches such
as French Knots to pop out on the fabric surface like thick dots of paint.
Another technique I use is called Trapunto where a design is stitched and
extra filling is stuffed in between the fabric layers to force a raised
area on the surface of the work.  Dimension can also be achieved using
embellishments such as beads or found objects that can be couched (bound to
the surface with hand or machine stitching) onto the fabric's surface. If
it can be safely attached, it can be used.
Look closely to see how many techniques you can identify in my artwork. As
a painter uses brushwork to accentuate his or her interpretation of the
world, I use many techniques to express myself and expand the role fiber
can play as an art medium. The more techniques you recognize, the better
you will understand the artwork and the artist's vision. (see
Glossary for expanded technical details)
Scroll to view Samples below »
(see Contact or My Online Shop for purchasing)
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Red and White 12" x 12"
Cotton Fabric, Thread
Techniques used: Dimensional insertion, Free-Motion machine stitching and French Knots
A View from Baker Court #1 28 ½" x 22 ¾"
(Part of a series A View from Baker Court SEE ALL »»)
Cotton Fabric, Thread
Techniques: Dimensional Piecing, Raw-edge Applique, Free-motion stitching, Trapunto
This is the largest piece in the "A View from Baker Court" series based on my own original photo. (See Photo »)
It incorporates many techniques including individual, free-standing trees and bushes in the foreground to provide
extra,
almost 3D dimensional effects.
Environmental Kaleidoscope Series:
Environmental Kaleidoscope #1 16" x 16"
Cotton mounted on stretcher
bars
Technique:: Fabric Insertion, Folding and Manipulation, Machine
piecing and stitching
"The "X's", squares, triangles and narrow contrasting
lines and borders are fabric elements
(sometimes folded
or otherwise
manipulated) that have been inserted into the seams to add texture and
interest to the designs."
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Environmental Kaleidoscope #3 14 1/2" x 14 1/8"
Cotton mounted on
stretcher bars
Techniques: Fabric Insertion, Machine pieced and stitched
"The brown
inner corner accents are fabric inserted into
the seams to add texture and
interest to the design."
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Environmental Kaleidoscope #4 13 1/2" x 13 1/2"
Cotton mounted on
stretcher bars
Techniques: Fabric insertion, Machine pieced and stitched
"The puffed
squares, narrow borders and inner corner flaps are
fabric
insertions into
the seams to add texture and interest to the design."
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Environmental Kaleidoscope #5 14 7/8" x 14 7/8"
Cotton mounted on
stretcher bars
Techniques: Fabric insertion, Machine pieced and stitched
"The square
puffs, inner narrow border, triangular flaps and inner circular ruffle
are fabric insertions into the seams to add texture and interest to the
design."
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Environmental Kaleidoscope #7 19 1/2" x 20 1/8"
Cotton mounted on
stretcher bars
Techniques: Fabric insertion, Machine pieced and stitched
"The
puffed squares, arrows, center knot and narrow borders are
fabric insertions into the seams to add texture and interest to the design".
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Environmental Kaleidoscope #10 18" x 18"
Cotton mounted on stretcher
bars
Techniques: Fabric insertion, Machine pieced and stitched
"The red
center fabric knots, puffed squares, triangles, inner corner accents and
red line highlights
are fabric inserted into the seams to add texture and
interest to the design. Each corner also
has a trapunto-like raised
trumpet shape formed by the insertion of extra batting in those areas."
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Environmental Kaleidoscope #11 20" x 20"
Cotton mounted on stretcher
bars
Techniques: Fabric insertion, Machine pieced and stitched
"The red
puffed squares, triangle accents and narrow red and gray borders
are fabric
insertions into the seams to add texture and interest to the design."
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Tribute to Busby Berkeley's Hollywood 8.5 X 11 inches
Cotton, Metallic Lace, Glass Beads
Techniques include: "Shark's Tooth" folded triangle and tiny border fabric
insertions, beaded embellishment
"Tribute to Busby Berkeley's Hollywood evokes his uniquely choreographed
1930's
black and white film extravaganzas that filmed dancers from above.
The dimensional Shark's Tooth dancers are spinning out from a
center
point staircase. Each stylized dancer has a glitzy crown,
metallic lace
and beaded belt. Glass beads accentuate the spiral
and add sparkle to the
piece. For texture, quilting stitches echo the design
and add circular
movement to the dancers."
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Reflections 14" X 14"
Cotton, glass beads, thread. Mounted on Artist's Canvas
Techniques: Inserted fabric, Free-motion stitching, Beaded embellishment
"Reflections
incorporates a central, inserted, horizontal flange to
represent a riverbank on a sunny,
spring day with Free-motion stitched
flowers growing along it that are reflected in the river below."
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Straight Laced 8 ½" X 11"
Cotton, glass beads, ribbon
Techniques: Fabric insertion, hand-beading, Free-motion machine stitching
"Straight Laced was created for a Challenge as a play on words.
I wrote
the
word Straight in a very controlled, uptight-looking font and the word
Laced in flowing script and inserted a laced up mini-corset in-between."
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By a Whisker
Cotton, thread
Techniques: Slashing fabric, Fabric insertion, Free-motion machine stitching
"By a Whisker was an experiment in slashing a fabric rectangle at angles
and piecing colored triangles
of fabric into those cuts to suggest kitty
cat faces, inserting folded fabric sharks teeth into the seams
to
simulate ears and finally, top-stitching whiskers in heavy thread." (Privately Owned)
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In the Garden
Cotton, Thread
In the Garden is a small, 6" dimensional piece created for the annual
Arts Benicia Mosaic Project.
"'All 140 or more are displayed together as a
Gallery showpiece during
Benicia's Artists' Open Studios.
This piece has a thread-sketched Praying Mantis crawling along a
free-motion, thread-sketched background."
(Privately Owned)
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Napa Valley Spring: Wild Mustard 56" X 56"
Cotton, thread, cotton floss
Techniques: Traditional Piecing, Fabric folding, insertion and knotting,
Quilt stitching, French knots
"Napa Valley Spring: Wild Mustard was created for competition in the 2007
"$100,000.00 Quilt Challenge" Magazine's annual competition. It did not
win but considering I had not sewn a thing for a number of years prior I
was gratified that it made the semi-final round. It was a chance to bring all my
dimensional techniques together in one piece. It was also a self-imposed
challenge to use (and keep interesting) only two colors, lemon yellow and
yellow green to emulate the fields of mustard that grow in the vineyards of
the Napa Valley every year. I inserted, puffed, folded, twisted, knotted
and stitched the fabric, made hundreds of French knots, inserted fabric
strips and knots in many areas (making "x's" and dimensional accents in the
design and twisted and stitched folded insertions around the central area)
as well as folded, pleated, tucked and stitched dimensional details around
the border. The piece grew from an original central triangle (the one with
the"x's) in an unpredictable design-as-you-go process out to the finished
border." This dimensional quilt was also juried into the Pacific International Quilt
Show and Competition in 2007 and received an Honorable Mention at the 2008
Mustard Festival Fine Art Competition in Napa Valley, CA
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Red Hearts #1 15" x 18 ½"
Red Hearts #2 21 ½" x 21 ½"
Materials: Cotton, Thread
Techniques: Traditional piecing, Fabric insertion, Machine quilting
"These Wall Hangings have fabric components that were pieced
together prior to insertion and stuffed so they would puff out after the
final piecing. Using highly contrasting colors, the puffs resemble hearts
against the background. Traditional machine echo quilt stitching
accentuates the designs." (Privately owned)
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MicroQuilts: "Small Works" Pink Puffs 4" x 6" Gold Pinwheels 5" x 7" Tiny Star 3" x 4 ½" Materials: Cotton, Gold lame, Thread
Techniques: Traditional piecing, Fabric insertion, Foundation/paper
piecing, Machine stitching
"My experimental "MicroQuilts" use a combination of traditional
and non-traditional techniques to create tiny quilts not
more than 5" x 7".
It is a challenge to work with such small pieces but foundation/paper
piecing does help make tiny pointed stars."
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