Catherine Maxey's artwork tells the unique stories  of her own journeys, both physical and spiritual. The Marion-based artist spoke about her hand-dyed textiles at the Mattapoisett Library on Friday, where her work has been on display.

Maxey's colorful images, often based on Hindu and Catholic images, go through a long process before becoming quilts.

After sketching an image, she dyes the fabric, which must be done in a humid, warm environment and takes several steps. Once the image is ready, Maxey sews the final piece together. Sometimes a quilt must also travel with Maxey before it can be completed.

Maxey brought a quilt-in-progress with her when she and her husband moved to India for two years, not finishing it until she returned to the U.S. She also brought a panel with the image of a girl and a horse with her on a 100-mile hike along the El Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage in Spain.

Maxey prayed the prayers of different religions throughout the hike and later sewed prayer beads she'd used on the journey into the quilt.

“I want all my quilts to have a story...a sense it has been somewhere,” Maxey said.

A retired nurse, Maxey began quilting after moving to Iowa with her family. Maxey said she often took art classes, but was looking for a medium that would be safe to have around small kids.

She found fabric "forgiving to a mother's lifestyle. I wanted art you could touch and feel," said Maxey.

Maxey also focuses on maternal images with her quilts.

"I want to try to have images of comfort in my quilts," said Maxey.

Along with quilting, Maxey is an illustrator and author. Her work can be seen at catherinemariecreations.com.