The Quilted Heart

A Few Words About Me…

One of my earliest memories is arriving at my Appalachian grandparents' house “in the holler” after a long car trip. It was night and I was only about four years old, so I was put to bed immediately. The next morning I woke up between my aunt and my cousin, as we lay under a handmade quilt with hundreds of tiny scraps of color being illuminated by the morning sun. This is my first memory of a quilt, and it still evokes feelings of beauty, wonder, comfort, safety, and warm family connection. I knew that one day I would make quilts, too.

My whole life, I have been fortunate to sleep under beloved family quilts. As soon as I graduated from college, I began learning from my two Appalachian grandmothers and reading every quilt book in the library. Those were the days before rotary cutters, see-through rulers, and template plastic, and I loved the process of doing everything by hand. My taste is eclectic, so I've explored a variety of techniques since then, always keeping at least one hand project going. Color is my joy! I call myself a “Quilt Evangelist” because I love to make quilt converts. Every quilt I make honors my mountain heritage; teaching is a way to carry the craft into the future.

I live with my husband and biggest fan, Dave. When not quilting or teaching, I enjoy family and friends, reading, writing, photography, travel, singing, walking, museums, gardens, decorating, and hospitality. I have been writing a Christian devotional blog, The Weekly Encourager, since 2000. Most of my quilts have symbolic meaning connected to my personal experience and faith journey.