Creating art quilts utilizing her own hand dyed, discharged, and hand painted fabrics is the ultimate self expression for Cynthia.

Cynthia is a fourth generation Montanan with roots in the ranching lifestyle. She grew up riding horseback, wrangling sheep, and branding cattle as well as cultivating practical domestic skills through the 4-H program.

As a single parent, in a high stress profession, fiber art provided a personal therapeutic outlet for many years. Then, in 2001, Cynthia remarried, relocated, and found herself empowered to walk away from a draining profession in education and establish a business based on her passion. Big Sky Dyes offers a broad range of richly textured sumptuous hand dyed cottons and silks including pole wrapped shibori, multi-colored, rust dyed, and discharged pieces.

For a truly one of a kind creative experience, come to an Artist Retreat at Cynthia’s home studio in the Montana pines. This is a one of a kind opportunity for immersion in fiber work through painting, dyeing, surface design, threadplay, and working with interesting embellishments such as Tyvek® and Angelina fibers. Enjoy long walks in the woods, have a glass of wine while you watch the sunset, and savor home cooked gourmet meals.

Cynthia’s work has been shown in the following venues:

International Quilt Festival 2004 – Houston, TX
Finalist – Wearable Division
Cash prize – Small Art Quilt Division

Women of Artistic Vision Bridge Creek Backcountry Kitchen Gallery, Red Lodge, MT
October 1- November 30, 2004

Yellowstone Quilt Fest, Cody, WY – September 2004
Best of Show, First Place, Second Place – Art Quilt division

Pacific Northwest Quilt Fest, Seattle, WA – August 2004
Third Place Wearable Division

Proverbial Challenge – Riddle Me This – touring 2004 - 2006

Quilts for Change – Cincinnati, OH – August 2004

National Quilt Association 35th Anniversary Show – June 2004, Peoria, IL - Wearable Division

Considering Quilts, New Smyrna Beach, FL April, 2004

Fine Focus 2004 – touring 2004 - 2007

Small Wonders by Quilts, Inc. – Spring Quilt Festival, Rosemont, II , March 2004, International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX , November 2004

Mid-Atlantic Wearable Art Competition X, Williamsburg, VA, February 2004
Honorable Mention

23rd Annual Dallas Quilt Celebration – Dallas, TX, March 2004

Old Masters/New Masters – Patchwork and Quilt Expo, Den Haag, Netherlands, April 29-May 2, 2004 and
International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX

Husquvarna/Viking Fashion Show – International Patchwork and Quilt Expo, Den Haag, Netherlands April 29 – May 2, 2004

Fiber Art Show, Sheridan, WY - October 2003

Quilting Arts Magazine, Spring 2004 – Wearables challenge