This woodland scene started with a 3 x 5 photograph. I use freezer paper for templates, but not in the traditional sense. The freezer paper stays on while I am sewing and I sew next to the freezer paper, not through it. Every piece is color numbered. There is no guessing about which color to use during actual construction.

The quilt is machine pieced, however, some of the trees in the foreground were pieced and then appliquéd on. Other details such as a few rocks in the water and the yellow triangles on the small tree were also appliquéd. I primarily used cotton fabrics; organzas and satins were used in the water. This quilt took about six months to make and has over 8,000 pieces in it.

The national attention I received for this quilt led to so many requests for patterns and information that I created the small floral patterns to teach the picture-piecing technique and thus England Design was born.

I have three children who are interested in "hide and seek" books, so I decided to use pre-printed fabrics and "hide" two animals in the quilt: a deer and a wolf. They are both located near the horizon line. The wolf is in the center, at the water's edge, drinking.

Named as one of "The Twentieth Century's Best American Quilts", 2000. See the Piece and Quiet gallery page for more details about this prestigious award.
Best of Show and Award of Excellence, AIQA, TX, 1993
Best of Show, Pride of Dallas, 1st, Dallas Quilt Celebration, 1994
1st Place and Viewer's Choice Wall Quilt, AQS, KY, 1994
Best of Show, 1st Place, People's Choice, Fabric of Our Cultures Show, Victoria, TX 1994
1st Place, Quilter's Heritage Celebration, PA, 1995
Juror's Choice, Tactile Architecture, Washington, D.C., 1994