Artist Statement: Diatoms are microscopic single-celled plants that live in water. These tiny, beautiful plants produce much of the world's oxygen and sequester excess carbon dioxide. We need them to breathe; they need us to keep their environment healthy.

Materials & Techniques: Holes were cut through the top layer of hand dyed cotton fabric. This was stitched to felt with satin stitching, and holes were then cut through the felt. The bottom layer is a separate quilt sandwich (two layers of commercial cotton with batting in the middle) that was free motion quilted. The two layers were machine quilted together.

Dimensions: 27"W x 22"H

Photographer: 2007 Carla Stehr