It’s all about the journey.

For me, quilting is a lot like life. It’s not just about arriving at the ultimate destination or that final stitch to complete a project, it’s really about the path you take to get there. When I design, it’s about an idea or inspiration that leads to a collection of sketches…that leads to an adventure in color and fabric…that leads to a project…that in the end, might end up as a gift for someone special or perhaps as a pattern that might find its way to your sewing machine. It’s about the thrill of working with fabric and color and producing something that gives others as much pleasure as the design process gives me. It’s about the joy of creating.

My journey with fabrics and design began at a very young age with a pair of my mothers sewing shears and an old bed sheet. The creation was a wedding gown for my Barbie doll, and through the eyes of a 10 year-old, it was stunning. Thankfully, my sewing and design skills improved a bit since then and I moved beyond the bed linens to a slightly more sophisticated selection of fabrics! A degree in textiles and merchandising continued to feed my love of fabrics and my passion for stitching grew to include apparel, home decorating and quilting.

An unexpected adventure along the way took me to the far east, where my husband, children and I spent a number of years living and travelling in Asia. From the batiks in Malaysia to the silks in Thailand and China, the fabrics were a feast for the eyes as well as the fingertips with their spectacular colors and textures. The markets in Seoul were my “box of chocolates”. With city blocks full of fabric, zippers, buttons and everything you can imagine related to this industry, I never tired of exploring the back alleys and fabric stalls hunting for new treasures awaiting my discovery.

In 2007, after returning to Michigan from Korea, I designed and sold a quilt called “The Silk Road To Hope” to support my participation in the Breast Cancer 3-Day event. I walked in memory of my brother, who died from breast cancer. From the sale of that quilt, my company was born. The inspiration for the name “Silk Road Creations” comes specifically from my time spent in the far east and represents life’s exciting and unpredictable journey.

I design what I love. I am inspired every day by things as simple as the pattern on a leaf and the colors in my garden, to the places I’ve been and the many friends I’ve been blessed to meet along the way. Patterns that are clearly written, generously illustrated and fun to make are the benchmarks I always strive to reach whenever I design. So, welcome to Silk Road Creations! I hope you find a design that sparks your creativity and leads you on a journey of your own!