• AQS 2004 National Show - Nashville, TN
• Published on AQS website as header for website
• Published in AQS promotional flyers
• Published in 2005 AQS Yearly Calendar by Klaudeen Hansen, September Page
• 2004 Friendship Star Quilt Show, Montgomery County, MD
• 2004 Faithful Circle Quilters Show, Columbia, MD
• 2008 Greenbelt Courthouse Art Quilt Show, Washington, D.C.

Fish
2003 - 72" x 90" finished size

"Fish" was my first attempt at a large art quilt. I was inspired by the stripe fabric in the center fish, a striped print by the fabric designer Laurel Burch. I loved the multicolored stripe. My youngest son at the time was 5 years old and loved the children's story "Rainbow Fish". I took out a pad and started sketching a fish of my own. I made the fish and had some great "water" fabric which he could live in. I thought that might be the end of the quilt and I decided to add a saw tooth border. Once the saw tooth was on I thought it needed more brightness - so I added the acid green corners to the on point hanging. That was good, but the green areas were VERY green and needed to be broken up a bit. I love coral and decided to add some coral. The coral needed some more life, hence the addition of fish and seahorses. The small fish were cut on my Sizzex die cut machine. I was happy with the way things were shaping up - so it was time for the final border - or so I thought! I added the blue/purple squares as the border. Once I added the border I thought the quilt was very "square". I added purple across the top and bottom getting me to a more pleasing rectangular overall shape. Of course the purple looked quite plain so out with the sketchbook and dancing fish appeared with some dark purple waves. That was nice but the sides looked a bit dull. The seaweed grew up the side and I found a school of orange fish waundering among the tall flowing leaves. Almost done - but not quite. I made a few mariners compasses and cut them apart to embellish the center saw tooth border on point. One last thought before the two final borders - an arch at the top and an arched coral reef at the bottom. The quilt was getting really big - so two last borders and I would call it quits. Most of the quilt is raw edge appliqué except for the compasses that were paper pieced and the borders and large corners were traditionally pieced. It was sewn with mostly metallic Madiera super twist threads. The back is a beautiful marbled teal flannel. This quilt was my first national entry. Since "Fish" I have learned how to make crisp corners and I have raised the bar on sewing techniques. It is a happy quilt. I really enjoyed this quilt then and still like it 5 years later.