Roseville, CA, USA
Welcome to showquilts.com
My Story
For decades, my career was a global tapestry of fabric and theater. From the storied stages of
Holland, Spain, and Austria, I honed my craft as a costume designer, learning the language of movement and the architecture of garments across Europe.
Seeking a new challenge, I transitioned to New York City, where I established myself as a self-employed costume maker for the vibrant world of drag queens. In that arena, I learned that "enough" is never enough; I mastered the art of structural integrity, bold aesthetics, and the meticulous detail required to transform a performer into an icon.
In April 2018, my journey took a quieter, more personal turn when I moved to Roseville, California. It was here that I traded the spotlight for the sewing room and discovered quilting. My background in high-stakes costume design naturally translated into a mastery of hand appliqué, where my obsession with detail could truly flourish. This dedication has since been recognized with multiple first-place awards and Best in Show honors.
Today, my evolution is complete: I have transitioned from making art for the stage to judging it as a trained quilt judge, bringing a lifetime of international design experience to every stitch I evaluate.
My purpose
In the quiet hum of the judging room, I am the final word. My eyes, sharpened by decades of blind hems and fussy-cutting, don't just see a quilt; they see the heartbeat of the maker.
I run my finger along a curved seam, feeling for the slightest ripple in the tension. To others, the floral spray is a masterpiece of color; to me, it is a technical feat where every appliqué point is sharp enough to prick a finger and every inner corner is clipped to perfection, showing no hint of a fray.
I lean in, with my glasses catching the light. I appreciate the "hidden" artistry—the way the thread color shifts subtly to match the fabric, making the stitches practically invisible."The tension is divine," I whisper to my scribe, "but look at the batting loft." I pause, appreciating how the quilter navigated a difficult Y-seam.
In a world of fast-fashion and machine-speed, I am the guardian of the slow, the meticulous, and the masterful. This quilt isn't just winning a ribbon; it’s passing the ultimate test of my discerning eye.
I stand before the first entry in the Art Quilt category. While others see a landscape, I see the value and contrast that give it depth. My fingers trace the edge of a tiny hand-appliquéd leaf. I'm not just checking if it’s attached; I am hunting for "shadowing," the dark ghost of a seam allowance showing through a light fabric. I gaze shifts to the piecing.
When i move to Wearable Art, i don’t just look at the exterior textile manipulation; i inspect the inside of the garment. I check the tension of the stitches and the finish of the seams, knowing that true mastery in wearable fiber art means the "wrong" side must be as impeccable as the "right".
"The technique is original,"I murmur to my scribe, noting the mixed media and the way the silk #100 thread makes the hand-quilting stitches virtually disappear. In this room, where ribbons are won by a fraction of a point, i am the final arbiter of excellence, ensuring that only the most disciplined hands earn the title of "Best in Show."