ICFF 2006: Denyse Schmidt Quilts

Denyse Schmidt Quilts has been in business for ten years, operating out of the old American Fabrics Company factory in Bridgeport, CT, but seems to have arrived this year at the "sweet spot" where an individual's designs match flush with the market's demands. Denyse's designs seemed to me to sound the tone of this year's ICFF: a chord made up of machine-made modernism, bold color, and the humanism of hand-crafted work.

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Denyse designs textiles and has a line of paper goods, but quilts are her bread and butter. She uses a few different production models: Amish ladies hand-quilt for her 'Couture Quilts,' a woman-owned Indian company produces the Sarita Handa line from her designs, and the Works quilts are machine-sticthed in the Bridgeport factory.

The Works quilts are my favorites, with big blocks of color that provide a field of calm, and inlays of stitched fabric for visual interest. If they're to your taste too, now's the time to buy: Denyse is celebrating her tenth anniversary by donating 10% of profits to The National Marfan Foundation and The Alzheimer’s Association.

Comments (5)

These look very similar to the quilts made by the women of Gee's Bend. Fascinating documentary available about them.
www.quiltsofgeesbend.com

posted by Flannery on 2006-05-22 11:53:13

Denyse has also published a beautiful how-to book for any quiltmakers (or aspiring quiltmakers) interested in working with her contemporary approach.

posted by JenDC on 2006-05-22 14:01:47

these are really beautiful, thanks for sharing this information. i especially love the ivory one with the inlet of colorful fabric. really nice.

posted by christina on 2006-05-22 09:56:52

As a quilter, I am very impressed.

I agree about the Gee's Bend quilters doc. It's tremendously touching.

It's interesting that when an art form is female-dominated it's considered a craft and somehow less. And that's a shame.

Quilting is wonderful. I can't recommend it too highly, if you are considering taking it up. It's CREATIVE! You choose the fabrics, the pattern, the quilting.

It's FORGIVING. Make a mistake and fixing it only makes the quilt better.

It's MEDITATIVE. Quilting is pretty mindless, the stitching anyway. The planning, the choosing engages one's mind. But the actual stitching is sublimely meditative.

It's USEFUL! Warm, soft and cuddly. You can sleep under them. Or hang them on your walls for art.

GREAT GIFTS!! Wow! You put in all that time and effort to make this beautiful gift for ME?? They will say.

And quilts embody the spirit of recycling. They were born from the need and desire to not waste fabric. I love that. And many quilt patterns have historical significance.

I love quilts and I love quilting.

posted by Holly in Yorkville on 2006-05-23 09:12:56

I have a thing for quilts also, and especially for those who can take the whole spirit and idea of quilting -- from its utilitarian aspects to its art and creativity -- and put it altogether like this. I love the colors and Amish-inspired pieces and also the one on the bed with its asymmetrical blocks.

Thanks for sharing this, Shannon! ~ Margaret

posted by Margaret on 2006-05-23 09:51:22