Fashion and Surface Pattern Design

My great grandfather was a tailor, my mom and aunts exceptional seamstresses. They crafted handsome clothing from what they had, skirts from their father’s old ties. My sisters and I learned early how to sew clothing, and spent hours browsing fabrics and patterns in Penny’s basement. In college, I first learned to screen print, then later tried my hand with stencils and dying, my available options for fabric design. When, Spoonflower began to offer custom print-on-demand digital fabric printing in 2008, a new world opened. Recently, I took an online class in surface pattern design which enabled me to expand my experimentation with fabric design.

Below are some examples of my surface pattern designs made into garments and furniture. Also included are hand felted scarves, stenciled wall, handpainted floor and a handpainted garment. I enjoy making myself part of the environment, almost camouflaged - poppies in poppies, clouds over river, flowers in a field.

Sometimes, I just amuse myself.

Around the age of 30, I enjoyed a wonderful interlude at Savannah College of Art and Design, where I “found” myself after feeling lost for a long time. There, an incredible group of people encouraged me to be who I am, to do what I do. Here are some examples of that very special time.