I am fortunate to live in Hawaii and am compelled to capture my love affair with the Islands through the art of quilt making.

I love to share my passion for quilting and offer design, sashiko and appliqué workshops, retreats, lectures and trunk shows in Hawaii and on the mainland. Check out my workshops and teaching schedule.

Many of my quilts use Japanese Sashiko, a running stitch of thick white cotton thread as background surface embellishment. Sashiko adds a dramatic element behind appliquéd flowers when echoing foliage or used as an overall geometric design.  Big Island Birds won a first place at Pacific International Quilt Festival 2007.

Some of my quilts use simple embroidery stitches to give flowers, birds or fish more detail and dimension. I am inspired by the elaborately embroidered Tahitian and Cook Island quilts called Tivaevae and use their techniques in some of my quilts.

My greatest influence and mentor is my mother, Kitty Pippen, a well known quilter and author of Quilting with Japanese Fabrics. We co-authored a second book, Asian Elegance Quilting with Japanese Fabrics and More in 2003. We often travel together on the West Coast, giving workshops and lectures.

My sister, Nancy Pippen, creates the perfect gift, “Little People” for that special quilter. Sculpted in exquisite detail from Fimo clay, they are only 1” high!