FreeSpirit designer Denyse Schmidt, hailed as the mother of modern quilting, is our featured designer this month.
Denyse grew up in central Massachusetts around many old textile mill towns, a setting that is embedded in her inspiration today. Her parents were both makers, with her mother sewing clothing for four kids and her father making furniture; this spirit is embedded in her and Denyse started making things when she was little and has never stopped.
A former graphic designer and graduate of Rhode Island
School of Design, Denyse Schmidt has helped to change the way we think about
quilts. Intrigued by the rich historical nature of quilts and inspired by
beauty born of necessity, Denyse adds her distinctive aesthetic sensibility –
clean, spare lines, rich colour and bold graphics – to this rich art form.
Though
firmly rooted in the techniques of American quilt-making, Denyse Schmidt is
renowned for her fresh, offbeat approach to design and colour and has won
acclaim from the worlds of art, design and craft. As author of Denyse Schmidt
Quilts (Chronicle Books, 2005) and Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration (STC
Craft, 2012); fabric designer for FreeSpirit and Fabric Traditions; and teacher
of a series of popular improvisational patchwork piecing workshops; Denyse
continues to inspire with her witty take on tradition. Denyse’s studio is
located in a historic factory building in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
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| View from the second story of the historic factory building where Denyse's studio is located. |
Keep an eye on the blog and our Facebook and Instagram pages for great content from Denyse all month long. And be sure to watch out for giveaways as well!
And if you want to see more from Denyse herself, be sure to follow her on her social accounts!
Instagram - https://instagram.com/dsquilts
Facebook - www.facebook.com/DenyseSchmidtQuilts
Website - http://dsquilts.com/
