Artist Statement: Diatoms are aquatic, single-celled plants that are so small they can only be seen with a microscope. Each species has a uniquely beautiful, multi-layered cell surface. This is part of a series inspired by images I photographed with a scanning electron microscope during my previous career as a Marine Biologist.

Materials & Techniques: Two quilted layers were used to represent the multiple layers found in diatom cell walls.  To make the top quilt layer, openings were cut through felt.  Fabric was fused to the felt, and then trimmed and folded under to face each opening.  For the bottom quilt, commercial fabric was fussy cut and raw edge appliquéd with free motion quilting so the circular pattern would line up under each opening of the top quilt.  The two layers were free motion stitched together and then several layers of fabric paint were applied to the dampened quilt surface.

Dimensions: 32"W x 22"H