Artist Statement: Diatoms are microscopic single-celled aquatic plants. Their multi-layered cell walls made of silica have amazing patterns when seen with a scanning electron microscope.

Materials & Techniques: Painted Pellon 830 (a nonwoven pattern-making material), orange cotton fabric and wool batting were quilted with a trapunto technique. Inspired by a scanning electron microscope photo taken by the artist of a microscopic diatom surface pattern.

Dimensions: 30 x 22 x 0

Photographer: Carla Stehr