Flaunt

June/July 1999
Jocelyn Meinster

"rising talents break and remake tradition in modern furnishings"

"When you think of quilt, think again. Designer Denyse Schmidt shakes up the image of the classic American quilt with her offbeat, modernist designs. Hand-quilted by Amish women, made of prewashed cotton, and constructed in the traditional way, Schmidt’s quilts stray in their skewed composition, unexpected color palettes, and reliance on not-so-straight lines. The result is loads of personality and a hint of misbehavior. The fun began when the professional seamstress, once employed making ecclesiastical garments for Trappist monks, got a degree in graphic design from Rhode Island School of Design and eventually returned to sewing with a great idea and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Denyse Schmidt Quilts was formed and a sensation was created."