I began quilting in 1984 when I found a pattern for a log cabin quilt in a McCall’s pattern book. I made a king-size quilt as my very first quilt! Needless to say, it was not made very well. I had been making my own clothes since I was 12 in 1962. My mother bought a new Singer sewing machine and had me take sewing lessons. Then I had to teach her everything I learned. She sewed my two sisters’ clothes, but I had to sew all of mine!

I had tried every art and craft out there—stained glass, oil painting, watercolor painting, crochet, macrame, etc. But once I began quilting, I was hooked. I was working as a medical laboratory scientist at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center with Nan Franks and Mary Mitchell (both now deceased). One day Nan said that she read that a new quilt guild had been formed in Shreveport-Bossier and would I like to go with her. We went to our first meeting in 1986 or 1987 when RRQ was meeting on Shreveport-Barksdale Boulevard. We both joined and I have been a member ever since. I became active helping with the Quilt Show when Nona Sale was chairman. We frequently traveled to quilt shows in Paduka, Dallas, and the International Quilt Show in Houston. I have also been a long-time member of Fraid Knots, a quilt retreat group.

I have made many different types of quilts. My first very successful quilt was “Gateway: A Green Quilt” made in 1994. Shreveport hosted a Green Quilt Show at the Convention Center, and this landscape quilt designed in the watercolor technique was made to be shown in that. It was chosen as “Best of Show” in our RRQ show the next year, which was actually a Viewer’s Choice Award because we did not have a judge. It was also accepted in the Houston show and displayed there.

I love applique’ quilting because it can be so very artistic and realistic. My favorite was “Floral Applique’ II.” It was judged “Best of Show” in 2003. It still hangs on my bedroom wall. I took a class in Houston at the quilt show on miniature landscape quilts. These are small landscapes that fit in a frame and sit on a table. I have taught workshops on small landscapes several times at RRQ, Ruston, and Monroe. Recently, I have primarily been making pieced quilts.

I have been active in RRQ guild since the early 1990s.  I served as Quilt Show Chairman in 1995 and have served in several positions on the Board of Directors and was Quilt Show Chairman again in 2025. I love Red River Quilters Guild, its members, and charitable activities. It is my greatest honor to be invited to be the Featured Quilter this year. I hope you enjoy seeing my quilts.