Patricia Di Palma

Patricia Di Palma (b. 1955, Michigan, USA) moved to Taos, New Mexico, in 2015, having fallen in love with the state while honeymooning here thirty-five years ago with her husband, Allan Packer. Both Patricia's maternal and paternal grandmothers were well-versed in traditional domestic art techniques, including handwork, having grown up in a time when women were expected to know how to embroider, crochet, and quilt. Patricia was inspired by her maternal grandmother's crochet lace and by her paternal grandmother's crazy quilts. She feels fortunate to have spent childhood summers with her mother's mother and her paternal Aunt Phyllis, who taught her how to make sugar-starched baskets, comb cotton, stitch designs on aprons and pillowcases, and create patterns by sight. Patricia learned to honor traditional techniques and fell in love with needle arts. Upon early retirement from a career in university finances, Patricia was able to focus her energy on creating art with her hands. In 2015 she was introduced to colcha embroidery by Connie Fernández and became "hooked" after her very first lesson. Patricia believes no rules exist for colcha embroidery beyond the basic technique. Her colcha embroidery pieces are based on traditional themes such as nature and botanicals, yet she sometimes allows the yarn to guide her in a different direction from her initial intention. Patricia particularly enjoys turning a home's necessary items, such as tea towels, napkins, and tablecloths, into a personal expression through her handwork. Patricia enjoys participating in the monthly gatherings of colcha embroiderers at Martinez Hacienda in Taos.  She and her husband have one daughter, Morgan, who lives and works in Paris, France.

(photo by Rebecca Abrams, October, 2020)