This quilt began with a couple of small sketches made in 1989, shortly after returning from Australia and the Great Barrier Reef for the first time. I used the sketch for a small quilt (Fish Tales) in 1990. I kept the sketch for 12 years, and finally began this quilt in the winter of 2001 after snorkeling in Kauai among brilliant rainbow colored parrot and angel fish. 

The fabrics were hand dyed in variegated gradations to create the soft focus effects of an underwater scene.The quilting was done with many different colors of polyester thread. I ran two colors of thread at a time through the needle to emphasize the quilting lines, and create a blending of colors.