Podcast Episode # 27: Denyse Schmidt

Here is my improv quilting challenge surprise! I am sneaking in one more podcast!

When I think of improvisational quilting, Denyse Schmidt is one of the first quilters that comes to mind. Her Single Girl quilt pattern is one of my favorites and I have a box of hoarded Katie Jump Rope fabrics. As you may recall, I was determined to use my Katie Jump Rope in my Scrappy Improv class with Jacquie Gering (my class review can be found here) and I used Katie Jump Rope for my Double Heart Love Quilt (the quilt made for a book review can be found here). I just love it!

[threecol_one]

photo by Purl Soho

[/threecol_one] [threecol_one]

[/threecol_one] [threecol_one_last]

Double Heart Love

[/threecol_one_last] Preparing for the podcast, I listened to/watched/read everything I could about Denyse. I watched her explain her fabric design process during the Creative Bug class on Fabric Design and her video series on Free Spirit Fabrics showed me her latest work and insight into her sewing space. Reading through her book, Denyse Schmidt Quilts: 30 Colorful Quilt and Patchwork Projects,
excited me and I felt I was prepared for the interview. But Denyse surprised me.

We started talking about her creative journey. She grew up in a creative and practical family with three siblings. Her older sister inspired her when she went off to art school and exposed Denyse to a whole new world. We delve into her fabric and quilt design process and talk about how she teaches improvisational patchwork. I knew of her love for vintage fabrics and feedsack design. What surprised me is the connection she makes between all of these seemingly disparate things. Her love of shopping at the fabric stores with her mother is brought back to life when she is designing fabric. Feed sacks inspire her not only for their color but also their role as practical goods during American history. By combining all of her loves and passions, her story comes together full circle. All of her experiences and loves are brought together into her work. I love the connection she makes. Her stories have imparted those feelings in me when I see her fabrics and quilt designs. I hope you have a similar experience when you listen to the podcast.

To listen to the podcast, you can click on the graphic at the beginning of this post, hit play on the player below, download and save the episode with the link or subscribe to all of my podcast episodes via iTunes or Stitcher.

Download this episode (right click and save)

Here are links to topics discussed during the show:

Tula Pink

Anna Maria Horner

If you would like to support my podcasts, you can donate here. Thank you for listening!

Comments 15

nonniequiltingdreams

September 7, 2015 at 5:38 am

Interesting podcast and I enjoyed it a lot. I did have issues when I listened ( tried on two different computers) there was a lot of echoing and reverberation

nonniequiltingdreams

September 7, 2015 at 5:57 am

having trouble leaving comments … start okay but half way thru wordpress stops the typing so can not get a complete though out … happens whenever i use right click to correct spelling or use copy and paste

Post
Author

Sandi
September 8, 2015 at 10:17 am

Nonnie,

I am so sorry you were having trouble leaving a comment. I wonder if WordPress was trying to take a Labor Day break. 🙂 Regarding the sound quality, it is unfortunate you heard echoing and reverberation. We try very hard to edit the podcast to make them as clear as possible. Sometimes my guests need to call in using their cell phones, which can make the call harder to hear. Thank you for your understanding and I hope you enjoyed the podcast.

Reply

Pingback: Monday Motivation | Sweet Carolanne

Post
Author

Sandi
September 15, 2015 at 9:08 am

Thank you for sharing!

Reply

cindy-liveacolorfullife

September 16, 2015 at 10:05 am

Enjoyed this podcast. I have been making a millefiori quilt (BOM by Katja Marek who wrote The New Hexagon), using only Denyse Schmidt fabric. My two completed rosettes so far were in one of the Free Spirit videos. I nearly fainted!