About Me

Although not formally trained in art and graphic design, my high school education at Vasa Svenska Flicklyceum always included art and art history, drawing, sculpting, sewing, museum visits, and art
lectures by visiting artist teachers. The wonderful creativity by Finnish designers (Iittala glass, Hackman tableware, Marimekko fabrics) surrounded me in my daily life and now I can truly appreciate their
artistic expressions.

I have been sewing all my life, making my own clothes as I grew up in Finland. Over the years I've
always made my own home dec items, curtains, pillows, tablecloths, etc. My collection of wall hangings keeps growing and I keep trying new techniques as my creativity grows and flows. I have always loved textures so for the past year I've been doing a fair amount of beadwork as well.

Recently, I've started to do some fabric painting with acrylic paints, special metallic paints and regular fabric paints. I just love the abstract designs that come from the large brushstrokes overlapping,
creating a true watercolor effect. Of course, these paints are heatset so they're permanent and can be used in special surface design pieces, for beading and embellishment backgrounds, art cards, whatever you can imagine. I can also see many of these fabrics used just as they are, framed in a simple frame
or stretchframe (stapled on the back). Sort of like we used to do with the large Marimekko graphics
years ago. Very effective! And, with original hand-painted fabrics you will have original art on your
walls! Go to the Fabric page to take a quick look!

ART EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND:

1966 Graduated from high school in Vasa, Finland. Extensive art education for 10 years, involving everything from sewing by hand and on a machine, sewing from clothes patterns, embroidery, knitting, and tatting. Lots of exposure to art via museum excursions, guest artist/teachers, and classes in
drawing, sculpting, watercolor and other media.

1970-1972 Various design classes at San Diego State University, including fashion design draping. Also volunteered in hanging art shows for the Center for Women’s Studies.

SELECTED EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH ART:

1970-1981 Set up and worked hands-on with husband in Pottery Studio; mixed glazes, applied designs, loaded kilns for firing pottery; sold various pottery items at regular art shows throughout the year.

1970-1973 Began studying weaving on a loom with a Guild Member; continued for several years.

1981-1985 Worked independently for various art galleries in San Diego, providing corporations and business with various art pieces for lobbies and offices.

1998 –2002 Began creating and producing art quilts at home.

2003 – current Rented studio space, continued producing art quilts and utilizing my designs for wall hangings as well as functional items.

SHOWS AND AWARDS:

2003 Oceana Arts League Annual Show Received 2nd place ribbon

2004 Oceana Arts League Annual Show Received Honorable Mention

El Camino Quilters’ Annual Show Received 2nd and 3rd place ribbons

Oceana Arts League Annual Show Received Best of Show ribbon

2004 One-woman exhibit of 17 wall hangings at Cut Loose Fashion Boutique, Solana Beach, CA.

2005 Quilts am Hori, Germany, international show (Beads N' Whiskers & Steps to Enlightenment)

2005 Sacred Threads, Reynoldsburg, OH, national show (Steps to Enlightenment)

2005 World Council for the Arts Multi-media show, San Francisco, CA. (African Savanna)

2005 El Camino Quilters' Annual Show

2005 Oceana Arts League Annual Show Received 1st place ribbon (Steps to Enlightenment)

2006 Oceana Arts League Annual Show, 2nd place (Purple Creatures)

ORGANIZATIONS:

Vasa Konstklubb, Vasa, Finland

2004 Joined El Camino Quilters Guild, Oceanside, CA.

2004 Joined Studio Art Quilters Association, Santa Fe, NM.

2004 Joined QuiltVisions Art Association, San Diego, CA.

2004-current Volunteer Docent at the Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA.