ARTIST STATEMENT: Having a day job in the real world where mail passed over my desk and time was spent on the phone, led my wandering eye at first to catch the color, line and design possibilities in the American flag stamp. Further working with that stamp, cutting and rearranging it, led me on to explore the designs and colors of the security envelopes on which the stamps were affixed. This use of materials which others might just toss aside was a good fit for my natural thriftiness.

The traditional quilt format is the current context within which I use these materials. As women in the past sewed their quilts from leftover fabric and worn-out clothes, I have assembled and sewn my quilts from discards and leftover. I am interested in how elements can echo each other, how they can be ordered into strong designs. The patterns and colors of security envelopes as well as stamp arrangements mimic fabric and I use them as such.

I enjoy the surprise of the viewer as they inspect and then discover the raw material of the quilts. I see it as a serious look at not so serious material in our very serious world.