Artist Statement: Fresh Picked means to me picking the veggies myself, right out of the garden. I composed the veggies in my piece where I envision them in my garden—waiting to be picked in their full glory. I selected veggies where both the roots and leaves are edible, so I wanted to show them both above and below ground. Last fall is the first year I had a successful harvest of beets, so I have a special interest in this vegetable at the moment. There are still a few hanging on for dear life through the winter.

Materials & Techniques: The vegetables are all created as separate pieces using hand and machine embroidery. Some are quilted to the background, while others are only attached in a few places, giving them dimension. The background is built up by needle felting with a machine embellisher using layers of felt and cotton fabric. Finally, beads and hand embroidery are added for highlights and detail.

Dimensions: 12"W x 12"H

Honors: Selected by Quilting Arts Magazine to represent the month of June in their 2010 Calendar with the theme "Fresh Picked"