I love working on this series, which I call kinetic quilts. These double-sided quilts are meant to be hung away from the wall so that both sides of the quilts can be seen. The pieces in the center are suspended on fishing lure swivels so that they move freely in the breeze.

How did I think of using fishing lure swivels? My dad was a fisherman and when we needed presents for him when we were young, we'd often buy fishing lure swivels.  Swivels are tied in between the lure and the fishing line, so that the baits rotate when pulled through the water.  They come in a couple of finishes and many sizes and prices.  I had always wanted to make a quilt using them to get mobile-like effects.

The first kinetic quilt I made was a millennium challenge quilt, called Whirligigs 2000.  I cut out the mini quilts (the parts that swivel) and inserted Mylar to keep them stiff.  The background also needed to be stabilized, so I sewed wires around all the openings.  That quilt hasn't held up well shape-wise.  When Timtex and Peltex were introduced, they could be used as a batting and stabilizer; those quilts are wearing well.  Now I use Timtex or Peltex in my kinetic quilts, but the quilt gets a a permanent crease if bent and I'm restricted in size by what I can fit under my home sewing machine to machine quilt without folding or bending the quilt.

I offer workshops in handpainting fabric and kinetic quilts.