Material Obsession

Denyse Schmidt

I was standing at the grocery store check out with my mom.  Oscar was 18 months old and I was about to return to Sydney after a 3 month visit with my parents in Ohio and I saw it...this yellow dresser.  It caught my eye as we had a dresser with the same handles in our family home and I thought how beautiful it would be painted such a happy color.  I picked up the magazine and had a leaf through the pages with growing interest.  Back in those days I had just discovered quilting as a stay at home mom living in a new country, Australia.  I had never heard of Martha Stewart but immediately fell in love with the photographs and ideas in the magazine.  And then, I saw it...the story on Denyse Schmidt.  Call it a massive girl crush but I immediately thought she was just about the coolest gal I had ever seen.  There she stood with her bits of fabric, the iron and some funky off kilter blocks.  I was hypnotized by what I saw and I can say now that I was forever changed as an artist.   What she was doing made perfect sense to me even though I had no idea what it was...I just knew I connected with the crooked lines, I got that!  Hot contrasting colors...well that was way more interesting than blending pink roses!  Further images in the story revealed buckets of fabric scraps organized by color.   A simple dip into the bucket took the maker half way to the destination with surprise and discovery built into every step of the way.  This was new...it was interesting and it had to be devoured!

Eventually I tore out the pages of the magazine and pinned them to my design wall.  All I knew was that some day I wanted to grow to be a quilter like the magic woman with so much vision I could see in the photo....move over Madonna...I had a new idol!  Back in those days I don't even think I had a computer.  The idea of google images was soon to come but I had to stare at the same photo for years before I could learn more about what I was seeing.  I kept the story on my wall for years to remind me to be brave...be different.

I have to ask myself if any of us would be where we are today without the vision of this artist?  The sophisticated designs allowed us to consider line in a new way void of light, medium and dark. The minimalist nature of the works allowed us to break free from structure and form into space all the while without loosing the sense of traditional style we all loved.  This contemporary approach to interpreting tradition resonated with me and so many others. We collectively fell in love with Denyse and all she did.

Her fabric ranges have been driving people wild year after year. 
The books bring the designs home and more.

Drunk Love wasn't just the name of a quilt...it was the beginning of a movement. 

 The quilt designs were one thing but as a shop owner I have grown to depend on Denyse to deliver fabric ranges that are useful as well as creative.  They speak to me on level that can't be denied.  My personal tendency is to go for a mix of designer fabrics when making quilts and am happiest starting with large scale poly chromatic prints and build a palette from there.  However, I always find that the sensible, emotive nature of Denyse Schmidt ranges means I am happy to work within the restrictions of a range. My mind always wanders when working with her fabrics to places I want to be.  For example, my Sunburst quilt from Making Quilts was a path to images of my grandmothers home.

So, fast forward a few decades and many quilts and ranges to now.  I am so happy to say that Denyse Schmidt will be coming to Australia!  This is a special event and one that we are thrilled to be able to share with The Creative Retreats in Canberra and Amitie Textiles in Melbourne.  Details will be released soon but we can say we will be hosting Denyse at Material Obsession 7-10 September 2017 and we have a special secret built in as well!  Stay tuned for more details.  We have set up a list of expressions of interest until we finalize the details but this is an event you won't want to miss! 

mental attitude

We looked at each other the other day and thought...two months of 2017 gone...poof!  What the heck!  There is always so much to do and so many things to talk about. 

 Where to start? First I am really excited to show this bag!!!  A few years ago I picked up a rose tapestry at our local op shop.  I drew the bird from my Wandering Mind fabric range over the roses and got busy doing my first ever tapestry.  It was soon buried under urgent projects but periodically I got it out and working on it until one day I realized it was almost finished.  At that point I powered on it until it was finished.  Of course it was all wonky and out of shape so...I had to learn how to stretch it to be square which was something I never thought I'd do!  Interestingly, learning to do something new takes concentration and I found myself avoiding the task.  Eventually I simply forced myself to do it NOW.  Learning new things is so easy now with all the on line videos and soon the tapestry was stretched and I was on to making the bag!

Again, I haven't made a lot of bags so I thought about it for a long time. (read procrastinated) Selecting the companion fabrics was easy but actually cutting into the pieces was really frightening!  What if I messed it up?  After years of work it would be a disaster to make a mistake but in the end, what good is it in a pile of things to do?  Happy to say a lot of decisions are behind me!  It was fun making the bag and I learned a lot at each step.

This year I am back teaching at Material Obsession.  In my Taking Shapes we are working with shapes and considering how to achieve personal color palettes.  We were so busy all day that I didn't take many photos!  The first class was on the Mariner's Compass block using the Fat Robin ruler...one I have fallen madly in love with.

I met the designer, Robin Ruth in Sisters at The Quilters Affair last year and she gave me one to play with.  Again, time gets in the way as I thought this would have a lot of concentrated learning involved.  Yes, I had to concentrate but the result was fantastic fun!  The ruler and instructions are easy to understand with both visual and written clues. 

I used several of my favorite stash fabrics in making the quilt.  Robin then made my design into a free pattern so we include it in the purchase of the rulers!  Of course you can make your own fabric choices!!

 

Sometimes it is fun not to make any choices.  You know the feeling, come home from work feeling drained and at the same time needing a bit of creative time.  I have fallen in love with our block of the month program for just those nights and over the last few years have made lots of other people's projects as samples. 

All my Paradise of Birds by Irene Blank are finished and it is time for the sashing.  I am a bit concerned at how many tiny squares there are.  I have already decided I am going to throw perfection out the window and aim solely to get it finished without stress.  In a few weeks time I am going away with Quilt NSW to the Country Meeting in Tamworth.  I figure a few hours on the bus and in the hotel and I can get a number of these strips done!  Its all about the mental attitude!

Sometime the best way to get something done is to get someone else to do it!  We picked up this Star Storm pattern by Victoria Findlay Wolfe last year at market with great intentions.  At last, after a quick pull from the glorious shelves of the shop we made up a sample.  This is a lot of fun and Helena did a wonderful job making it.  We have a few kits as seen if you love it as much as us!

This is birthday month at MO!  Last week Carolyn, Wendy and I all celebrated birthdays.  Sooo much cake but it is a nice ritual to share among friends.

As a family are just about to finish our third  yearly round of 21st birthday parties.  It has been fun watching all the theme costumes like this one, Retro Workout Gear!  Sam, usually quiet and somewhat reserved came out of his shell dressed in day glo tights and leg warmers!

 

There are many things to love about being a quilter.  Not the least is how it takes us out of our routine to a place where we can try new things.  It is said that one way to avoid feeling old is to keep learning and I think that is my goal in life.  It doesn't come naturally.  I'd really like to sit down and rest my weary brain some days.  I don't really want to always be brave and out there but the rewards are many and in truth, too tempting to ignore.  A challenge taken on always gives us something back win or loose.

Enjoy your process! k