Batik quilt, 2011

I've been ruminating over my personal style and approach to quilt design, and I think my quilts tend to fall into three basic, sometimes overlapping, categories. First, I have an interest in single block designs, particularly blocks that interact to create larger visual effects. Second, I've been working recently in a much more improvisatory style, one that explores colour, visual texture, and motion through the more spontaneous placement of design elements. Third, I love Japanese fabrics, and many of my quilts concentrate on showcasing their beauty.

Perhaps the simplest single block design is the basic repeated square. Here's an example in a batik quilt that I completed last year:

I made this quilt for "Quilts for Japan," a volunteer project based in Alberta that launched a drive to send quilts to the victims of the terrible earthquake and tsunami that took place in March. As someone who works with and admires Japanese textiles so immensely, I felt a special responsibility to contribute. I hope the quilt made someone's life just a little bit easier, even if only for a moment.