I began sewing at a very young age and as I grew up, fell in love with art. I was an art major in collage and pursued a career as a commercial illustrator at first and later fine art. I bought my first embroidery machine and accompanying software in 1998. My goal was to create my art in the form of machine embroidery while including my love of sewing as wearable art.
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I entered my new medium, wearable art, in the Sulky Challenge in 2000. Sulky is an embroidery thread company and being a participant in their Challenge was something to be proud of. I entered as a professional from the very beginning because I already was a profession artist having sold hundreds of painting in my long career. I sold my first painting when I was twelve year old. I received two honorable mentions in the Sulky Challenge before I won my first major award in 2002.
Sulky Challenge Second Place Winner for Wearable Art in 2002
Both of the last top two awards included embroidery machines among other prizes. Sadly, 2004 was the last year of the Sulky Challenge.
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By this time I was teaching embroidery software for three sewing machine companies. Viking, Babylock and later Bernina. I was also contributing to publications like Sew News and Designs in Machine Embroidery where my work was featured on two covers.
Sulky Challenge Grand Prize Winner
for the Professional Division 2003
Sulky Challenge First Place Winner for Wearable Art in 2004
Volume 40
Volume 46
From 2006 to 2008 I worked with a computer programmer and created nine programs for the Babylock Sewing Machine company called Interactives. Volume 40 of Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine features those programs.
In 2004 I suffered a shocking loss and crippling grief when my dear friend Ann Silva, of Ann Silva's Sewing Center in Albuquerque fame, challenged me to enter another contest. Her challenge was to enter a wearable art creation at Bernina University. This is the Bernina Sewing Machine company's annual convention in America. The grand prize would be a top of the line Bernina embroidery machine.
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The Goddess Aurora
The Warrior Goddess
These garments were photographed by a professional photographer and worn by professional models for the Bernina Wearable Art Fashion Show 2005 and 2007.
Winning the Grand Prize at Bernina University might include an invitation to the Bernina Wearable Art Fashion Show and exhibit at the International Quilt Market in Houston. At first, I didn't think I could do it but finally at her insistence, I had to pull myself together and get started. I finished The Goddess Aurora just in time to enter the contest and win. Subsequently, I did receive an invitation to show the Goddess Aurora in the prestigious Bernina Fashion Show. The show traveled for two years and went to France where a Bernina Wearable Art Fashion Show was held in Lyon. I was invited to participate two more years before the show ended in 2008.
Santa's Reindeer was featured in Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine Volume 65 in 2010. It was sold by Amazing Designs and was their best seller that year.
The free standing lace designs and instructions are still available from me for $20.00. Upon receipt of a payment the design will be sent to you attached to an email.
Volume 65
Download instructions for Reindeer