Wright’s father taught the children how to silkscreen print and her mother enjoyed handwork such as sewing and quilting. Wright said she sewed her own clothes and recalls having the choice of piano lessons or private art lessons while in high school. The art lessons won hands down.
She studied studio art at Morehead State University in Kentucky, from which she holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She worked in university publications at Morehead, adding to skills such graphic design.
After the brave attempt at the elaborate quilt while still in high school, Wright she turned to projects such as comforters with squares tied together and baby quilts for friends. When she and her husband moved to Colorado in 1988 for his job and their love of the outdoors, she answered a job ad for someone with a graphic design background and sewing experience.
Two skills came together for a job with the Quilters’ Newsletter, where she has worked for more than 20 years. During that time, she’s witnessed the design of quilts progress from patterns on boards to computerized methods.
She also returned to her personal interest in quilts, participating during the past decade in the growing quilts as art arena as wall quilts created for viewing versus functional quilt uses became more popular. She enjoys quilt challenges in which participants follow a theme or parameters set by a coordinator.
Many of her quilts have been done for nonprofits and auctioned for their benefit. Wright said her quilts often include themes from nature and can take months from the initial idea to the final piece.
Her quilts have been exhibited at the International Quilt Association Show in Houston and at the Aullwood Nature Center’s Art Quilt Show.
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