For many years now I have been so lucky to be affiliated with Janome America. As a Janome Artisan for over 15 years I have been thrilled to be able to sew on some of the best machines in the world. When they asked if I would make something special for this year’s Dealer Convention (later this month) I was thrilled to say yes! I ended up making not one, not two, but THREE insanely densely quilted 20 x 20 inch quilts…in about seven weeks!
The mischief makers: Yoda, Widgeon and Boo
Here’s what I wrote as my official “blurb” about Yoda’s quilt:
“At last my superiority, dignity and rank have been recognized appropriately! The Chief Minion has done an acceptable job at capturing my likeness and the essence of my wonderfulness. I have given her permission to scritch my chin. She has also captured the spirit of my Beloved, the Dog, who is my one true love. For this, the Chief Minion may pet my tummy. The Usurper shall be dealt with appropriately for thinking that he stands a chance—he is so foolish that he does not understand an Emperor always outranks a King. I shall seek out my Beloved for his love, comfort and as a comrade in fur.” (Yoda is about 5 years old, Himalayan from the shelter.)
I started out with the idea of two quilts: Yoda and our pug as my muses, then for a local group challenge next year added a self-portrait. Luckily, I veered off and ditched the idea of the selfie and did out other cat, Boo. I’ll share the process for each of these quilts over the next few days just in time for the start of the convention.
These are the two photos I took to use as my reference images.
The fusing process–as always using Mistyfuse which is BY FAR my favorite and only fusible!–began in early July. I was so worried about getting finished in time actually took Widgeon’s quilt with me while on a teaching trip, took my iron, fused stash and worked on the hotel room ironing board!
This collage shows how I created a design for fur (lower left), then made a thermofax screen to print over the collaged fabric to add depth and complexity. I mixed a couple colors of cream–I’m actually going to teach a workshop on this and other techniques with paint at ProChemical and Dye in Fall River, Mass. in August 2020–hope you might join me! Anyway, if you look at the upper left and lower right photos you can see the difference between the painted and unpainted areas. There’s a reason why I call him His Immensitude…there’s a lot of meat (and flub) under that fur and dignity. Plus he makes me LAUGH!Quilting on His Immensitude on my Janome 9450–LOVE the new FMQ foot.For me, this is relatively few colors of thread! That golden circle that you see under his chin, by the say, is his St. Francis medallion and name tag. The pale white chalk lines will be the finished edge of the quilt.A view of the quilting done on my Janome 9450. The design was inspired by a photo of ironwork on a door that is on my Designs board on Pinterest (follow me! Links at the top of every page on my site).Mr. DeMille, Emperor Yoda is ready for his close up….
Check back in a couple days for the story about Widgeon’s quilt, then a couple days after that for Boo’s quilt. See you soon!
In a rather astonishing development last May, an earlier inquiry about teaching and exhibiting turned into an invitation to have a solo exhibit, The Art of Sarah Ann Smith … so far, at the Mancuso Brothers World QuiltNew England Show tin Springfield, Massachusetts (this is the one that used to be in Manchester, NH). I hope you’ll enjoy this preview peek, if you’re in the vicinity can visit, and on Saturday I hope to post a Facebook Live or other video of the exhibit. I should arrive about noon (it’s a long drive from Maine). Click on this link to get info and directions to the show. If you can’t make the show, my book has a lot of what is there plus lots of other good stuff.
Sarah Ann Smith’s solo exhibit at 2019 World Quilt New England This exhibit begins in 1998, when I made Happy 80th Birthday Mama. At that point I never thought I’d ever be published, exhibit nationally, teach nationally, have a book and all the zillion other wonderful things since I decided to “make a go of it” in art quilting in 2004. That’s why I’m so proud that this quilt was in Karey Bresenhan’s 2003 I Remember Mama exhibit and book: it taught me that I was good enough to indeed try to make it in this industry.
The exhibit has its roots in my 2017 Rising Stars exhibit at the International Quilt Festival in Houston. I had been invited to submit a proposal for a solo exhibit. Karey liked what I suggested and how I would market it to our mutual benefit, and ended up creating the Rising Stars exhibit (which recurs every year now) to showcase two or more quilters. This exhibit is slightly different, as some of those quilts sold, and this one has new work.
Alms, Kyoto 1996 is on the far left, and started with my photo (taken in 1996 on a trip with my mother) and a workshop with Hollis Chatelain to learn how to dye paint. It was my first quilt ever juried in to Festival/Houston, and it took another six YEARS before I had another quilt juried in to the judged show, though I was lucky to have work in special exhibits in Houston. I think Bijagos Warrior, on the back wall, is one of my best quilts ever. Made in 2004, , it was declined by Houston (Sob, still), but he finally got to hang in Houston in 2017 Rising Stars. It was while working on Bijagos Warrior that I realized my sewing machine wasn’t helping me; I researched and came upon Janome machines. I couldn’t afford a soda fountain cola in those days, so I approached them to see if they had a loaner program. To my utter astonishment Janome America took me on. I have since late 2003 been a part of what is now the Janome Artisan program, and I am forever grateful for their support and sponsorship. Yes, I get free loaners, but I’d say all the wonderful things about their awesome machines if I paid full MSRP!
The exhibit runs in chronological order (though within a given “bay” of quilts they may be slightly out of order so we got a nicer looking display) from 1998 to 2019. Gosh….I just realized this is two DECADES of my work and evolution…and that I can now, with a bit of a gulp, call myself an artist.
The quilt on the left Earth & Turquoise, almost never travels to shows because of the sticks, stones and feathers, but since I drove to deliver and hang the quilts, it was able to go! I’m thrilled! And the back wall, let’s just call that a Mother and Child Reunion. This was the time when I was first invited to be in the Dinner@8 exhibits. See more about them below. During the middle of this century’s first decade, I was learning my craft, refining my voice, improving my technical and design skills.These quilts range from 2013-2015 or thereabouts. Insalata, the ginormous tomatoes on the back (about the size of a beach ball) is the most recent of this batch, but otherwise these are in order.
The Dinner@8 exhibits were such a phenomenal opportunity and formative experience. For years, I have thought this 10-year run of special exhibits presented one of the best exhibits in Houston, which is saying a lot. To be able to be in them for eight years just amazes me, that I made the cut. But my best work by far was made for these exhibits. The level of excellence rose each year, and like the rising tide that floats all boats, I think ALL of us who were fortunate to be in the exhibits grew immensely in our abilities. Conceived by Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison, they were juried invitationals. That means you were invited to participate–it wasn’t an open call to the public. You then made a quilt to the specific theme and size, entered it, and waited to see if it was accepted. I am so grateful for the chance to be a part of this group of strong women, and feel a bit adrift that the series has come to an end with the 2018 exhibit. BUT, that meant I had to look forward and come up with my own ideas, not be dependent on Jamie and Leslie, and I’m excited to move forward with my own plans.
Amaryllis toured extensively in Australia and New Zealand in Brenda Gael Smith’s Living Colour Textiles exhibit. Eli, Cross Country 2013 is my other son and one of my favorite of his sports. Descended From the Stars on the back wall, is another favorite of my quilts because it covers so much of my life, from my high school to imagery related to my children to calligraphy and more. Peony is on the right. 2017 to 2018: I can’t say that I have achieved mastery–there will always be more to learn and explore. But I think I have finally achieved competence, and certain techniques have become integral to my art: dyeing, painting, fused collage, representational imagery. From left to right: Stand Up, Speak Out; Pink Oyster Mushrooms; Lupine. My work now focuses very much on my work–my days traveling the world as a US Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) are ancient history and I have now spent more time as a quilter and artist than I did as a diplomat! And the view from the present to the beginning of my art quilt journey…so far! There’s more coming!
Thanks so much for sticking with me! I’ll post a few more shots after I get to see the exhibit with the show open on Saturday!
Trying to figure out something delightful to do in mid August? I’d like to invite you to see my solo exhibit of twenty-three art quilts at the Mancuso show, World Quilt New England, in Springfield, Mass. The exhibit will feature many of the artworks that were in my Houston Quilt Festival exhibit in 2017, where I was one of two artists in the debut of the Rising Stars exhibit, but includes new works as well. I plan on being there Saturday afternoon giving informal gallery tours–I hope to see you!
Rose Hip by Sarah Ann Smith, features Artist dyed fabric, commercial batiks, hand dyed fabric by Lisa Walton, screen printing, textile painting, and intense quilting; 36 x 36 inches.
All of the 2017 and earlier works are featured in my Blurb book of the same name, along with bits about my past, other works, and hints and tips about my creative process.
Back and front cover of my book, which is available here. It is available in both print or pdf editions.
Springfield is in central Massachusetts, which makes it a day trip for a whole lot of the Northeast (albeit a long day). Directions to the venue are here. I hope to see you!
WOOT! The International Quilt Festival Houston catalog is starting to ship and online registration–yes, ONLINE, with instant knowing if you got into the class, goes live in July (I’ll post when it does). If you’d like to take a workshop with me, now’s your chance because I’m teaching a ton of my favorite workshops. For more detail on any of these classes, please visit the Classes/workshops page of my website and scroll down to the individual class–you’ll find a supply list PDF and sometimes links to blogposts about previous workshops sharing student work. Here’s the list including class numbers:
To look at MY classes, head to the link for all classes and search by day or by name. The classes are listed in numerical order: #100 series are on Monday, #200 on Tuesday and so on, with the exception that Friday is #500, Friday EVENING is #600, and then Saturday is #700. That way you can find what classes are available on the day(s) you are at Festival.
Collage the Garden workshop: Inspired by a wild tiger lily on the roadside in Maine–learn to create a fused collage by creating your own pattern (several ways to the same goal), then create a top to finish at home
I’m thrilled that Quilts Inc. booked both days of my Quilting the Garden workshops! On Tuesday, learn my Collage the Garden process for creating fused quilts. You’ll learn how to create a working plan/pattern from photos and fuse an 11×14 collaged quilt of a flower, but the process can be applied to anything including people, animals, landscapes, you name it.
Thread Coloring the Garden is on Wednesday: enjoy an easy prep with this kitted class where you learn how to add depth, dimension and detail to your art quilts.
On Wednesday, Thread Coloring the Garden is all about the machine quilting and learning how I select and use thread to color and bring the quilt top to live To eliminate the stress of worrying about messing up that gorgeous top you’ve worked so hard to create, we work with a photo of a day lily printed on cloth (class has a kit [fee] with flower, thread, etc.) so that you gain confidence learning the quilting before you tackle your own masterpiece.
At the Machine Quilting Forum I’ll talk about using metallic, holographic, heavy and other so-called (not-so) fussy threads. If you’d like to take the full workshop, you CAN–on Friday (keep reading!)
Thursday is a busy day. In the Morning I’ll be presenting at the Machine Quilting Forum, where I’ll share some of my current work and share some tricks for working with what some folks think are fussy fiddly threads but really aren’t so fussy or fiddly!. In the afternoon, it’s a TOTALLY FUN half day class making my patented Easy-Peasy Inside-Out Bag–they’re like potato chips, you can’t stop with just one!
Easy-Peasy Inside-Out Bag workshop with Sarah Ann Smith: Once you learn the basic process, these are easy to adapt into card carryers and book or sketchbook covers! Friday it is the full workshop for Tame Fussy Fiddly Threads. You’ll need black fabric and batting, the paint, supplies and decorative threads are supplied.
Friday Evening I’ll be part of the Date Night Sampler, where I’ll show using paint on cloth to work smarter, not harder! And if you’d like an immersive paint on cloth workshop with me, stay tuned–good news for a 3-day class in August 2020…will be able to share in September.
Saturday you can learn my approach to Hawaiian style Applique by Machine: we use my freezer paper technique for creating TWO fused blocks to appliqué by machine. You will try a small block to get the hang of it, then start on your 18″ block.
Hawaiian Style Applique by Machine is on for my final teaching day. Though I am known for my art quilting, I love ALL types of quilting, and my love for Hawaiian style quilts launched my career in quilting, and I love it to this day. Come for a day of fun and learning!
I hope to see you in Houston, especially in my classes! I might even still be coherent (?) by Saturday evening, though I think a Margarita may be on the menu once the teaching is complete!
Hi all! I’m delighted to share my newest major piece: Coach’s Clipboard: Win by Fall, which has just been selected for the traveling exhibit of A Better World, curated by Susan Brubaker Knapp and Lyric Kinard. The exhibit will debut at International Quilt Market and Festival in Houston this October/November 2019, then travel to various venues. Big thanks to eQuilter and PAQA-South for sponsoring the exhibit!
A father and son reunion: my husband Paul is the coach. And of course the one in red is Eli, our younger son doing what he did so well throughout high school: pin his opponent.
Once the website is live with all the entries, not just the ones in the traveling exhibit, I’ll share a link. Find out more now on Facebook here.
The concept behind the exhibit is to feature someone that has helped to make a better world. Here is what I wrote for my entry:
Coach’s Clipboard: Win By Fall
From world class cities to the smallest villages and towns on every continent, there are coaches who give their time, skills and knowledge to the children of the world. Their names may not be instantly recognizable the way many of our heroes are, they may not receive the appreciation our first responders do, but they are appreciated nonetheless. A top high school wrester, my husband Paul volunteered for 11 years as a wrestling coach, starting when our eldest signed up for wrestling in sixth grade through our younger son’s final high school year. He was the clipboard guy, keeping notes on what the wrestlers did well, what needed practice in the coming week, their scores in meets and the team scores. Win By Fall, for those not familiar with wrestling, is what you want: to win by pinning your opponent. Luckily, that was a fairly frequent occurrence in Eli’s high school career.
This quilt is a father and son moment, but it also represents the generosity of Eli’s coaches in other sports gave to him as well as coaches around the world who work, one kid at a time, to make them better people which in turns makes it a better world. Thanks to Eli’s middle school coaches including Jim Morse (Cross Country, Track and Field); True Bragg and Paul, and when Eli visited the high school Levi Rollins (Wrestling), and assorted soccer coaches. In high school, thanks to Becky Flanagan and Helen Bonzi (Cross Country); Patrick Kelly, Perry Goodspeed, Jack Kelly and Paul and all the alumni wrestlers who came to help the team; and Sarah Mismash (Track and Field).
Detail 1, Coach’s Clipboard: Win by FallDetail 2, Coach’s Clipboard: Win by Fall
This completes the family quilts–Paul is notorious for scowling at any camera, but I finally got him! The others, in the order they were made:
Joshua, at age 16, made in 2010 A self portrait with no natural colors, made in 2011
Eli, Cross Country 2013 was made the following January and February 2014. His coach saw it and said “I’d recognize that hair anywhere.” Now, finally, there is also a quilt for his primary sport of wrestling.
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