Catherine Whall Smith

SMITHSTITICH STUDIO – will be open one more day – Sunday, November 28th,  from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  (Closed December 4th & 5th)

Thank you  again to all who stopped by to chat and view my work today – great questions that allowed me to reflect on my art and verbalize how I plan to proceed in 2011.

FEATURED IMAGE – “Rolling .  .  . in the Hay” CWSmith 2010 All rights . reserved – Size 34 x 44 in. ( 86 x 112 cm.) Solid cottons, prints, batiks, artist photo transfers w/ slash lines – Hand quilted in 3/4 inch squares across the entire surface.

Quilt on display – “HAY IN HEAT” (46″ x 50″) – CWSmith. All rights reserved 2010

“Thank you to all who stopped by to view and purchase quilts at my SMITHSTITCH STUDIO yesterday – I’ll be open for two more days at 44 Chaplin Street, Chaplin, CT – Saturday, November 27th, and Sunday November 28th – 10 – 5 each day.  Feel free to contact me via email smith.catherine62@gmail.com or call me at  (860) 455-0270 if you prefer to stop by  another time. 

Link to my portfolio page https://catherinewhallsmith.com/portfolio/

Is it big ENOUGH .  .  .  the turkey .  .  .  my ART – the dilemma – does size matter? Is the Thanksgiving turkey big enough – – – is the piece that I am working on big enough to complete my statement about the hay bale images?  A continuing goal of mine – (and one that is on the top of the 2011 goals list) is to create at least one very large piece.  So, is 8 feet-10 feet-12 feet-BIG ENOUGH!! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING – may your turkey be “big enough”!

The PROCESS begins on the newest piece in the Hay Bale Series – lots of lines, dots, and circular shapes make up this quilt – titled “Hay is for Horses”.  Vintage yardage of large horses will be used on the back side to reinforce the horses theme – looking forward to quilting this piece.

Responses to “Circular Shapes” seem to be encouraging more exploration – GREAT! So the process needs to begin. For me that means a considerable amount of internal time. Back & forth, back & forth, until finally the time, the space, the thoughts, and the fabric become one. I’m usually always engaged in this process – but time for reflection on past work also needs to be a part of this process.  – – I was fortunate to be invited to be interviewed on a local tv station called; “Artists & Authors” – yesterday I viewed the 30 minute interview –  and was pleased that I did have a clear vision of my work and my process. So now back to those circular hay bale ideas to work through and process to completion. The process IS the best part – what do you think?  (For info on that interview with S. Summers go to; https://catherinewhallsmith.com/portfolio/juried-shows-and-publications/  )

I just posted a picture of hay bales that inspire my fiberart.  Last week on the way to one of my favorite fabric stores – I came across this open field of rolled hay, I assumed drying and getting ready to be wrapped in white plastic – (when they are in plastic I call these images my “marshmallows”).  These round pleasing circular shapes made me think about my pieces and how dotted fabrics and circular shapes are definitely my preference as I work through designing a quilt.   So, my question is should I break away from this comfort zone, or embrace it and continue to follow the path of circular shapes?

The SAQA Journal – Fall 2010 – Vol 20, No.4 has a great article on Web publishing strategies by Cynthia Long – well written and inspiring and a quick read.  It outlines seven points to follow to   get on track.  Cynthia is an active SAQA member and a branding strategist.     Her art quilt website is cynsartquilts.com – contact, cyn@cynworks.com – add yourself to her mailing list !!!!!

A moment in time – how to capture and how to replicate that moment – are two ideas that I am presently trying to record in my art.  To relive a feeling based on an image taken months ago impacts my fiberart.  The urge to process these ideas drives me to the designing and completion of my quilts.