New logo?

Yes. This one reflects my way of thinking (Think outside the box) and it is not "quilty" like the other one was.

What happened to all the quilter's resources, such as patterns and instructions, that were on your web site?

I feel that there are so many better resources online for quilters, not to mention books and publications. I wanted my site to be more about me, as an artist, than as an educator. It was also very time consuming to keep coming up with new additions, time I would much rather spend in the studio than in front of the computer.

Do you still paint and sell your fabrics (Artistic Fabrics ® ) ?

Yes I still create my own hand-painted fabrics, using Setacolor fabric paints, for my own use and that of friends. However I do not have the time nor desire to produce any for sale other than special commissions. I'd rather be making my own artwork.

Why have you stopped teaching?

Well, I stopped flying, I don't want to do all the traveling, and the quilt industry (from my view) is predominately geared towards high-end machine work which I no longer do. However, I wouldn't say I put on the breaks hard and firm as I am always open to share what I do. I still have others in my studio regularly.

Do you still go to the major quilt shows?

No. Another national quilt teacher once asked me how long I was going to do "this" - referring to the quilt circuit. I replied, "As long as it is fun." I enjoyed the students, and visiting with the other instructors I had become friends with on the road, but the business of the industry was getting in the way of my enjoyment. It is much more fun to stay in the studio and play than it is to do otherwise. I no longer follow "whats happening" in the quilt world but I do review each issue of Quilting Arts Magazine.

Have you really stopped using sewing machines all together?

Yes (well almost). As a former spokesperson for Pfaff, I still like their wonderful machines, but have watched the industry in general make so many advancements that I see a change in skill happening. It seems to me skill isn't in who can do what themselves but what their machines can do for them - or worse, who can afford the top-of-the-lines and who can't. I mean do we really need machines that cut the thread automatically? I was getting so wrapped up in software and automation I felt I was losing the simple joy of creating with fabric and thread. I see this is as a loss in the basic traditional art / craft of quilting. I saw the sewing machine as a tool but with automation it seems we are the tool for the sewing machine. However, I do happen to enjoy handwork, I know many don't. I will occasionally open up my mother's old Kenmore, which resides in a cabinet acting as a plant table most often time, when general mending is needed or it is time to sew a binding on.

Are your quilt books still available? Will you write more?

Generally, no. Again, the business of quilting was getting in the way of actual studio time so I stopped supplying distributors with my books. I will occasionally sell or give some away but I doubt you will find many left in any stores. No I don't see myself writing any more, at least not quilt related. When I see a new quilt book I often think. "Do we really need another book on that?"

How come you have removed so many of your quilts from this web site?

That is easy to answer. I was tired of looking at them. Actually I have been slowly, if you have been watching regularly, changing the web site to reflect what I am now doing. I have yet to create too many pages of my new creations, mostly until I build a better representational body of work, but I have let some "teasers" creep in as I removed quilts. I thought it best just to show some selected samples of quilts, what I like the most I guess.

What is the difference between a studio artist and a regular artist?

An artist is an artist, period. The term "studio artist" refers to someone who has a place or room dedicated to making art - a studio. This usually means that creating art is a full-time endeavor, as opposed to a hobbyist. It also infers the studio artist is interested in exhibiting and selling his/her work. It does NOT infer that the hobbyist is any less skilled or receives less joy from creating art.

Where do you live now?

I am very happily planted on the western slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Although I am "a mile high" I am actually in a valley surrounded by - mountains rising up to 14,000 feet which snow can be found on year-round, as well as crystal clear lakes; a plateau untouched by civilization; canyons of red and black stone studded with petroglyphs, Indian relics and dinosaur bones; and land were cows roam freely and have the "right of way," and where deer in your backyard is a common occurrence. But the best is... no humidity, no extreme temperatures, no snow shoveling, the majority of days are sunny, long growing season, friendly neighbors and where you often forget to lock your door when you leave the house.

What else do you do besides art?

I read, A LOT ! I devour books, all kinds... stories I can lose myself in and books I can learn from. I love to learn. I can read 2 or 3 novels a week and that is between other books I am studying. I have a lot more time to do so than most since I do not have a family to raise nor do I watch television (well DVD's occasionally). Also, I sleep a lot less than the average person. I discovered the resources of interlibrary loans, alibis.com, and the local used book stores so I have greatly increased the volume of books calling out to me nowadays. I enjoy gardening and spend many hours a day with my dogs who are completely abnormally overly obsessed with playing ball. Can you say "spoiled?"

Where do you get your creative ideas? Inspiration?

Oh that's easy - everywhere and in everything. I am never at want for inspiration. I see interesting colors, textures, designs, and such in everyday objects we most often take for granted, in Nature (especially where I live), in other's Art (not to copy but another's art moves me to think, "Okay but what if he/she did it this way?" for instance.) I "work" very closing with another artist who shares in my studio space and we often challenge each other indirectly, play off one another's ideas, and often just go "exploring" whether that be in the city, the local wilderness, in books, exhibits... and sometimes we get a new product and ask ourselves, "Okay lets see what we can each come up with to do with this (only then do we bother to read the directions or instructions). It helps I am willing to experiment. Just because it is "always done this way" or the product is meant for this or that, well that doesn't mean we have to adhere to this. It might be easier to take art lessons but I rather enjoy stumbling along without direction, that way I find my own path.

What advice can you share with a beginning artist?

Play, experiment, read, share thoughts and ideas, explore resources and other's art, dive right in, try new products, and by all means don't fret about getting messy. Take a class if you lack direction or fear starting out from scratch - get out with others playing too. Be fearless in sharing your goofs, you might be surprised what comes of it.

If it stains, wear gloves. If it says, "Do not inhale" do not take that as a challenge. If it warns to keep away from a heat source, at least go outside when you try to torch it to see what happens (and have water nearby, trust me on that).

You will learn more by studying the pictures than reading the text. Directions are loose guidelines and are not Rules. If at first you don't succeed, Laugh.

Give yourself "your space" even if that is a closet with a table in it or you announce, "The kitchen table is MY space right now so everyone (kids, spouse, etc.) get away! Pretend I am invisible and solve your own problems for the next hour."

Open your mind / heart to God, the muse, the little artist within (whatever) to take you away (creatively) to someplace you might not have ventured otherwise, even if you go screaming and kicking, just go along.

Oh and please... Think Outside The Box, you aren't cereal.

What kind of paints do you use?

I am a firm believer in using quality products. So, I prefer Golden and Liquitex professional (artist grade) acrylic paints and mediums. Although I like to support local businesses, I purchase my supplies from dickblick.com - shipping costs (if any) is cheaper than filling my car's gas tank to drive the hour down to the city. Also, their prices are much lower than suggested retail and I can shop 24/7/365. I pretty much use the paints right out of the tube so I like to have, right at hand, a selection of everything.

Why isn't your email address on your web site?

Well that is because of all the software robots (bots) roaming the web collecting email addresses for the evil people / companies who want to thrust (spam) advertisements in my face in an effort to try to entice me to buy things I don't need or want, or to convince me I should donate or contribute to their cause or scam. So, I have created the form on this site (see CONTACT on the menu bar at the bottom of your screen) where you can email me, which does not contain my real email address in the form script that makes it work. Sure when/if I reply you will then have my address but then again you aren't trying to sell me real estate, Viagra, bonds from a third world country... need I say more?

You used to give other artists free web pages on your server. Do you still do that ?

No, occasionally yes, but very rarely now-a-days. When I come across an artist who absolutely has to get a site up to share work I think is incredible, I step in. But otherwise no I do not do that any longer - only because I try to spend as little time in front of a computer as possible. Well, not counting when I am surfing for my own pleasure or doing research but even then I limit myself. I think the Internet is the next best thing to chocolate but don't want to lose myself in it as so many young people are today. However, I do still have the easy, simple, web page tutorial I wrote on this site to aid the totally clueless (and that isn't a bad thing) in creating their own web pages without having to hire someone or buy expensive, needless software.

Are you religious?

I am spiritual and do believe in a higher "power" - whatever you want to call that. Some say God, Buddha, Mohammed, Zeus, what or whom ever. But no, I do not follow any religion. I believe the Bible is a collection of politically (Goggle "Constantine") altered, misstranslated, edited, inconsistent stories in an effort to take control of Man's thinking to structure societies into submission.

There is too much violence and contradiction in the Bible, and any related religion, to make me have Faith in it. Tell an ancient Egyptian his religion (thousands of years longer than Christianity) will one day be thought of as false and he will laugh at you. I think Christianity will one day be thought of in such a way. As far as non-Christian religions, I see good things in them just as I do Christianity, but not enough to think this is the one true religion.

I think, the Creator (for the lack of a specific name), is so much more than Man can even imagine, not even mankind-like in any way. However, mankind desperately needs to believe there is life after death, and seems to always need a means to make others conform to his way of thinking, so there will always be religions. I just wish mankind would treat everyone equally, with respect, love, freedom, and acceptance of differences... religions preach this but don't follow through. Until then, I direct my prayers to the cosmos.

Do I think religions should be avoided or that they are a bad thing? Yes and no... it all depends on what you do with it.