My interest in fiber has been life-long. As far back as I can remember I have been sewing and creating. I began by “designing” new clothing for my paper dolls by cutting up my older sister's Seventeen magazine. As I cut and pasted I could sense how each garment might hang and feel. Today I paint, appliqué, stitch and bead to create one-of-a-kind and limited edition garments. I often incorporate vintage kimono and other ethnic fabrics into my designs. One of my most unique and satisfying techniques is the Japanese method of “sashiko.” This running stitch technique is used to re-create traditional – and not so traditional – patterns on many of my garments.

I look to nature, architecture, history and travel for inspirations for my surface designs My Toad Hollow Designs are soft and flowing to flatter most every figure. The Asian-inspired designs are season-less, timeless and ageless. Each garment is individually cut, sewn and hand embellished. Fabrics include Irish linens, Japanese kimono fabrics, Indonesian ikats, Indian Dupioni silk and fine imported cottons.

After graduating with a degree in fine arts from the University of Massachusetts, I became Director of the Lafayette Arts Center (Lafayette, Indiana). Upon moving to Ohio I became involved in the field of historic preservation and acquired a Master's of Fine Arts in Architectural History. I subsequently spent several years in historic preservation and arts consulting.

Throughout my life I have designed and created my own garments but didn't actually pursue clothing design until moving to Virginia in 1995. Since then I have explored many surface design techniques to add color and texture to fabric surfaces. I founded Toad Hollow Designs ten years ago. Besides showing my work in Studio Fiber Arts at the Workhouse Arts Center, my designs can be found at commercial galleries in Virginia and Massachusetts.