A bit about the Artist

Current Affiliations:

I'm quite active in all the above groups. I have also had studio time with the following artists:

Personal Information/Previous Interests

An Invitation I was born and raised on the North Shore of Long Island and still reside about 7 miles from where I was born; a direct descendant of Richard "Bull" Smith, the founder of Smithtown and my great-grandfather published the first newspaper in Smithtown.

My art comes from my soul. I like to share my artistic vision through my work.

My mother, was very creative and artistic, as is my brother. I have inherited my creativity from them. I get my love of tools and mechanical things from my father, a second generation ace auto mechanic back before cars had computers.

When I am working in my saw-dust coated garage, I dress in dusty jeans, a sweat shirt and a dust mask.

Up until 2000 my focus was on contemporary art quilts. Twenty years ago I did everything by hand and won many awards for it. Then I discovered computerized sewing machines and put my quilting in the fast lane. These also won many awards in the national circuits.

"An Invitation."

An Invitation - detail Based on a photo I saw of an arched doorway in an Italian university. I created an "inviting" garden outside that is even 'reflected' in the open door. You can see the 'reflection' in this detail shot:

"An Invitation" is now in the private collection of Charles & Shirley Bishop, Leesburg, Florida.

At about the time I completed this piece my back began its descent into degenerative spinal disease. After being bed ridden for 6 months I had surgery. Things were OK for a while and I began thoughts for my next "big" piece.

I spent several months in the planning stages as this next piece would be a large wall piece. More time was spent finding the optimal fabrics and generating the story board I would work from. I had learned my basic techniques from an amazing artist, Esterita Austin. She really helped in my pursuit of creating a life-like piece with depth.

"Shimmer Bay"

"Shimmer Bay" was almost complete when I was contacted by Cindy Walter, of Snippet Sensations fame. She was working on a new book called "Contemporary Quilting" and had seen pictures of An Invitation and some in-progress shots of "Shimmer Bay" and wanted to know if I could finish "Shimmer Bay" in time to be included in her book.

The heat was on! I had 6 weeks to finish and ship my quilt, and Murphy saw to it that my fancy sewing machine had a stroke right in the middle of the mayhem. It didn't help that the dealer was in Queens and failed to fix it the first time.

In the mad dash to the deadline my back decided that it did not want to play anymore. There is a great deal of stress involved in expertly 'driving' a large quilt through a small hole in a sewing machine, even more so when you are in a hurry and dealing with delicate fabrics.

Staggering across the finish line I completed my quilt and sent it off to the publisher. "Shimmer Bay" came home to me 6 weeks later and remained in its shipping box for about a year, unseen by anyone other than my husband and a friend who helped me across the finish line.

Shimmer Bay detail The shot above was a truly rare treat! (click for larger) My father and step-mom decided to drive up to Long Island for a late summer visit. I was able to get my son and grandson to drive up from Maryland as well. Sitting in front of Shimmer Bay is four generations. (L to R: The artist; my son Patrick; my grandson, Kelly; and my dad, Charlie).

Nothing creative escaped my soul for several months as I came to the realization that my future as a professional quilt artist was was over just as I was published. I was devastated and felt empty. I now literally have a room full of fabrics that I will never use.

A friend pushed me to pick up some knitting needles and I blazed through several projects. But, I found that I was not satisfied with commercial yarns, they just seemed to lack any spirit. While I mulled over my distaste of commercial yarns the calendar reminded me that my father's 80th birthday was approaching.

In cahoots with my step-mom I planned a surprise visit to celebrate my dad's birthday. I decided to venture down the quilt path on last time before I gave it up.

"Honor Thy Father"

Honor Thy Father My father is a proud WWII veteran. He was "D Day + 30" landing on the shores of Normandy. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was wounded 3 times as he fought back the Germans and still has shrapnel and pain from his injuries.

My brother and I played with his medals, as many kids do. I wore his Army jacket with all the medals on it during my "hippy" rebellious teen years. Things happen, people move, items are lost. For whatever reason, my father's ribbons and medals went to the Great Lost & Found.

I got a copy of his discharge papers and found all the medals he was awarded listed there. Enter, eBay. I replaced every medal he was entitled to and my brother found my dad's dog tags and silver ID bracelet his parents gave him as he went off to war. My step-mom emailed me pictures my dad had from the war and I printed them on fabric. I researched his troop (35th Infantry) and created this piece.

My dad was speechless and had tears in his eyes as he held and examined his quilt. My job was done. Happy Birthday Dad. By the time I reached home I knew my days of quilting were over. A few months later I was sporting a shiny new titanium plate to hold my neck together.

Spinning, Turning, what's the difference?

shawl I took up spinning fiber as a creative outlet and then used the yarn with antique lace table cloth patterns I collected and converted into shawls.

I still like to spin and enjoy interacting with fibers, but when the woodturning bug hit me hard again in January of 2006 I welcomed it freely. My first attempt at turning ten years ago died due to lack of tools and skills. This time I did my research, got quality tools and instruction on forging my own, got some hands-on experience and haven't looked back.

I have my husband to thank for the push to setup a site and sell my turnings. He seems truly proud of my work. He didn't show much interest in the fiber, but he is my biggest fan and supporter with the woodturning. Thanks, Sanjay!

Truffuls<sup>©</sup> headquarters I'll leave you with a picture of Truffuls^™ headquarters: my corner of our drafty, un insulated garage. I have fantasies of doubling the size of our house so I can have a massive basement workshop with heat and light and storage, a photo booth, Internet connection, and more. Alternative dreams are of a massive "shed" delivered via helicopter, again with heat, Internet, power, a fridge.... I'd never leave! :-)