Working with her to arrange her upcoming workshops has been delightful and I want others to get to know her, too.

What interested you in teaching quilting techniques? It’s simple, I absolutely love teaching! I enjoyed my career teaching Architecture, and I enjoy working with students who want to explore my way of thinking and working with fiber art. It’s a wonderful way for me to assess my way of working and reaching some clarity in terms of my process and design goals.

How long does it take to complete a quilt, from start to finish? That’s a tricky question to answer. It all depends on what other things I have going on such as teaching workshops or family commitments. I would say if I had concentrated time available, it might take me about 6 to 8 weeks to complete one piece.

What is your process for designing your quilts? What tools do you use? My process is not baked in. Sometimes I start with a definitive idea and a sketch. At other times, I just start making and responding to the materials, processes, and interests that inspire me in the moment. I like to say that inspiration is everywhere and that one must be receptive to the world around them. One of my favorite sayings is: “One must have eyes that can ‘see’.” I try to keep my eyes open and soak in the visual world around me.

Do you quilt your own quilts? Usually I do, but in some of my latest pieces I have asked another quilter to do some of the hand stitching. I’ve done this because I have problems with my shoulders, and it allows me to bemore productive.

Of all the steps to complete a quilt, what is your favorite? At heart, I am a designer. I love the process of design, thinking, iteration, and just exploring all the different directions an idea might take me. I also enjoy working with the materials and seeing what the materials can do.

Have you won awards with your quilts? I have won many awards and have been in many prestigious exhibits. One of my first quilts was accepted at Paducah. Recently, I won The Quilt Japan Prize at the Quilt National exhibit, but there are many others listed on my resume.

Is there anything else you would like for us to know about? My maternal grandmother, a home economics teacher, gave me a love of sewing. In the 1960s, I remember learning to sew during hot and humid summers while on vacation at my grandmother’s home in Tuscumbia, Alabama. I learned to make simple clothes for myself and my three sisters. Mama Steele would show me quilts made by an elderly cousin who lived in thehousehold. She was a prolific quilter and made many, many quilts that family members cherish to this day. I like to think that the DNA of these two great women influence and guide me.

I am intrigued by some of the latest cutting-edge technology. Currently, I use a laser cutter to create patterns and designs by cutting into fabric. This process allows me to create fiber art that is lace-like and intricate while incorporating a variety of less technical stitched-art techniques.

Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you? When an architect (artist) is asked what his best building (work of art) is, he (she) usually answers, “The next one.” – Emilio Ambasz