Catherine Whall Smith . . . says “THANKS”

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

Besides being fully vaccinated this Thanksgiving, I have one more thing to be thankful for – as I just received my order of Treasures Printable fabrics – a total of 3 packets  = 22 sheets.  I found them on-line from Beehive Bargains LLC, 199 Shunpike Road, Cromwell, CT .  Now I can continue working on printing family photos on fabric to complete  more of my 16Hx12Wx1.5D Figure Ground Studies.  

BondingWithBooks_(16HX12WX1.5D)_FULL.MountedOnCanvasjpg

Shown above “Bonding With Books”,  incorporates a photo taken at the Manchester Public Library in Manchester New Hampshire during the early 1950’s.  I think I may have been around 7 years old, my brother Tom about 10 years old.  A true “Bonding Experience” . . . So what are your family bonding experiences?  Maybe the yearly Thanksgiving Meal and Get Together.  Let’s hope this year will be different than last years Covid-19 Thanksgiving – when most stayed home, or delivered food to family and friends.  Like last year I will be cooking – how about you?

Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving 2021!

Stay Safe , , , Wear a Mask . . . Smith Stitch Studio

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . from ONE come MANY!!

Posted on November 10, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

Working in a series creates MANY. Right now I have MANY pots filled with blooming cactus plants. All but one of the pots shown below were a part of a single large cactus plant. Recently divided up they now reinforce the idea of ONE can become MANY! In my studio, I usually work in a series and let one piece inform the next to create MANY.

Or I may take a “PART” of a larger piece and come up with a new look. Below left I am pointing to an image that I have used in several pieces.This original piece incorporates one of my photo images of a near by farm, my screen dyed “hand” print, and a lot of slashing with my rotary cutter. NOTE: “Studio Recordings” on “Grab and Go #2” – “Because the original piece had my graphic hand screen print, I need to have some more movement on #2. I decided to use a beautiful black & brown fabric that has a lot of movement in it. This is the point in developing that I start to really like it and get excited about the piece . . . as I “see” where I am going with it.

“Grab and Go” (36H x 40W)
“Grab and Go #2” (26H x 25W)

UP-DATE: Artist Open Studio https://www.aosct.org/artist.htm?id=KN5uDokT I plan to hang some of my pieces in my “She Shed” at 44 Chaplin Street, Chaplin, Connecticut. Visit during the second week-end December 4th – 5th, 2021. Or by appointment (860) 455-0270.

Stay Safe! Wear a Mask! Get that Booster! Smith Stitch Studio!

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . took out the “Orange Peels”.

Posted on October 30, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

During my constant task to reorganize Studio Storage, I decided to take out and hang “Orange Peels”.

It will be available FOR SALE at the 2021 ARTIST OPEN STUDIO OF Northeast CT. Check out the details; https://www.aosct.org/register.htm .

“Orange Peels” detail

Right now it is hanging on a wall so that I can study it’s details and fabric choices. It will eventually hang in my ‘She Shed’ during Open Studio, and maybe find a new home. Machine Pieced, and Hand Quilted it measures 47H x 50W inches – so it will fill a large space.

Time to start thinking about Day Light Saving on November 7th, 2021. “Fall Back” means I will gain an hour of time to continue the Smith Stitch Studio reorganization plans. Or, maybe I’ll revisit the “Seven Sisters Sewing” Fiber art Exhibit at the West Hartford Art League. On view October 21st – November 14th, 2021. Featuring works by Diane Cadrain, Linda Martin, Judy Ross, Sandy Schrader, Anna Tufankjian, Susan Vassallo, and Carol Vinick. Gallery hours: Thursday thru Sunday 1 – 4 p.m. Go See.

Happy Halloween!! Don’t forget your mask.
Stay Safe Smith Stitch Studio! – https://catherinewhallsmith.com/

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . thinks one is over and one not yet!

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

The SAQA Benefit Auction is over and so far they have raised $83,050. Hopefully you were able to purchase your favorite, but there are still more in the SAQA Store. The remaining 72 pieces are available for $100. Check them out at https://events.handbid.com/auctions/2021-saqa-benefit-auction/items AND click on Available Artwork.

If you are in Connecticut during the long Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples’ Day) week-end and need a destination, the ARTicles store in Danielson will be open Friday, and Saturday. – – Fiber Artist Joan Blade Johnson and I have filled one of the ARTicles rooms with our art AT: https://www.facebook.com/lynnsarticles/posts/1945872942254833 AND: https://www.facebook.com/lynnsarticles/posts/1940875786087882

The show will end on Saturday, October 9th, 2021. Enjoy! Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio https://catherinewhallsmith.com/

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . is pleased with the numbers!

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

Though I think we all will agree that we are not pleased with the Covid vaccination numbers as the infection rate and numbers rise – but, there are some numbers that are worth sharing. The price of Art Quilts that were SOLD at Quilt National 2021. Here they are; $2,500, $6,000, $4,500, $3,000, $2,900, $4,000, $3,800, $4,700, $1,800, $3,000, $2,500, $7,000, $2,800, $3,800, $4,500, 5,500, $3,700, $1,500, $4,500, $2,500, $3,000, $8,500, $2,025, $30,000, $4,000, $2500, and 4 pieces SOLD as PURCHASE PRIZE awards. CONGRATS! to the artists.

If you are looking for something smaller (12H x 12W) in an Art Quilt why not check out the SAQA 2021 Benefit Auction. The biggest fundraiser every year for SAQA is also a great opportunity to pick up small quilts (12 inches square) by exciting art quilters at reasonable prices. The auction runs September 10 to October 3. Go here to see the 470 quilts and register to bid. For Section #1 – Go to https://www.saqa.com/auction-section1 . One of my favorites in section#1 is shown below.

#189 By Susan Polansky “Heart and Hand”

So what are you waiting for – CHECK OUT the SAQA Auction.

TIME is Running Out!

Stay Safe . . . Get Vaccinated . . . Wear A Mask!

Smith Stitch Studio http://www.catherinewhallsmith.com

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . is getting ready for the online SAQA 2021 Benefit Auction – September 10 – October 3, 2021

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

IT’S BACK!! – The annual Benefit Auction is Studio Art Quilt Associate’s premiere fundraising event! All proceeds help support SAQA’s exhibition programs, publications, and education outreach. Plus, your purchase helps increase the recognition for art quilts and the artists who make them. You make your purchases on line – no need for a mask.

The biggest fundraiser every year for SAQA is also a great opportunity to pick up small quilts (12 inches square) by exciting art quilters at reasonable prices. The auction runs September 10 to October 3. Go here to see the 470 quilts and register to bid. The quilts are divided into 3 groups. For each group, bidding starts at $750 and drops every day after, down to $100. Not to confuse you, but any quilt in the bunch can be snapped up preemptively on September 10 for $1,000. (You don’t have to be a SAQA member to bid.) Check out Susan Allen’s “Echoes of the Past” #283 (below) up for bid during the first week.

NOTE: September is National Sewing Month!

WHO KNEW! On September 21, 1982 at the request of the American Home Sewing & Craft Association, an industry and trade association supporting the sewing and craft industries, President Ronald Reagan, proclaimed September as National Sewing Month “In recognition of the importance of home sewing to our Nation.” For more information, visit https://www.nationalsewingmonth.org/ .

Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio!

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . invites you to the opening of the 2021 CWA Annual National Open Juried Exhibition

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

EXHIBITION DATES: Saturday, August 21 – Friday, September 10, 2021

LOCATION: Arts Center East, 709 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon, CT 06066

OPENING RECEPTION AND AWARDS: Saturday, August 21st 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

NOTE: All visitors, staff, and volunteers are required to wear masks when inside the building. Thank you for helping keep the community safe! . . . Smith Stitch Studio

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . is getting ready for the Friday, August 6th Quilt National 21 Artist Lineup.

Posted on August 4, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

It’s always important to share one’s artistic journey. On Friday, August 6th, Diane Melms, Pat Pauly, Kit Vincent, and Catherine Smith will share just that. These four artists have pieces in the Quilt National 2021 show. Since June 25th twenty Quilt National artists have shared their thoughts, studio, and expertise.

CHECK OUT THIS LINK https://dairybarn.org/quilt-national-21-artist-talks-qa/ TO REGISTER for this FREE EVENT. Fridays 11 am – 12:30 pm EDT.

Hope to “see” you there. Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio

https://catherinewhallsmith.com/ smith.catherine62@gmail.com

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . is Celebrating the “Fourth of July 2021” by being THANKFUL!

Posted on July 2, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

If you check my Shows & Publication link https://catherinewhallsmith.com/portfolio/juried-shows-and-publications/ you will see that I have been in a lot of Art shows since 1983 when I started to record my journey in Fiber Art. BUT, I have to say that Quilt National is a venue that I must thank as they are doing an amazing job of getting the word out there. A recent Newsletter post by Meg Cox “Quilt Journalist Tells ALL June 2021” shared a little more about this prestigious show.

“Quilts are only eligible for entry into the prestigious biannual Quilt National show if they have not been previously exhibited, which means that when the show opens, there is always a genuine sense of excitement. In addition, work must be recently done. As a result, the 2021 show feels not only new but also current, with many of the pieces directly or indirectly inspired by the past year of Covid and chaos. (You’ll find photos in this list of winners for the show, HERE: https://dairybarn.org/quilt-national-21-prize-winners/ . There were 747 quilts submitted for the 2021 show by 388 artists from 6 continents. The 84 chosen quilts were made by quilters from 25 states and 13 foreign countries. Nearly a third of the artists were voted by jurors into the QN show for the first time, another way to keep the show feeling fresh. (So grab that special drink), relax and check out link to a slideshow from the Quilt National website that takes you through the entire exhibition, so you can see each piece as it is displayed.” Meg Cox

In addition, this Summer the folks at the Dairy Barn are also offering virtual artist talks every Friday from 11 am to 12:30 pm EST, with 4 artists spotlighted for each session and plenty of time for questions. Go here to see the line-up and register for the free talks. which will run through August. This is definitely one of the silver linings of the pandemic, having fresh opportunities to see art and interact with makers. Join me, Diane Melms, Pat Pauly, and Kit Vincent on FRIDAY, August 6th at 11:00 a.m.

Sitting and Studying my Design Wall
Happy Fourth of July Week-end 2021 . . . Stay Safe Smith Stitch Studio!

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Catherine Whall Smith. . . thinks Steve did a great job!

Posted on June 19, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

There is a lot to celebrate today – it’s Connecticut’s “Hang-A-Quilt” Day; and Juneteenth is now a Federal holiday – the annual celebration commemorating the day when the last enslaved African-Americans were informed that they were free.

Below is a picture of my husband Steve hanging my two pieces. LEFT is “Heating Up the Hay” (c. 2010) and on RIGHT is “Where the Red Moon Rises’ (c. 1991). I think the color of both pieces looks great, even though they are over 10 – 30 years old. So which quilt will you be hanging today? Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio

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