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| Jane Sassaman addressing the GLHQ |
This month I visited the Great Lakes Heritage Quilters guild to see Jane Sassaman. I have admired her work for many years.
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| Jane Sassaman Moth and Moons |
Jane described her journey as an artist from 1960s psychedelic and pop art influences to
Gloria Vanderbilt's use of quilts, to William Morris and the Pre-Raphealites, to Nancy Crow's innovative art. Along the way, she included folk art, Marimekko, and the mid-century revival of the needle arts in embellishing counter culture 'hippie' clothing.
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Sassaman was influenced by GloriaVanderbilt's quilted decor
which appeared in Vogue magazine in 1970 |
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A William Morris wallpaper design
You can see the influence on Sassaman's work |
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Forgotten Garden by Sassaman
shows her thematic use of thorns |
Here is my Finnish exchange student sister wearing a Marimekko print in 1970, an oversized poppy.
She talked about the themes she uses in her art, including 'dangerious' insects, the Day of the Dead, skeletons and skulls.
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| A spider appears at the bottom of Sassaman's quilt Life Totem |
Sassman designed a fabric line for Free Spirit. Quilters don't have to applique the milleflores borders Jane loves, they can use the fabric!
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| Sassaman designs for Free Spirit |
Simplified, small sized patterns based on Jane's art were available for purchase along with packs of fabric.
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Jane Sassaman's patterns include Summer, right,
a simplified version of her award winning quilt Willow. |
I bought a daffodil design and a fabric pack with pussy willows. The prices were very reasonable.
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| Jane Sassaman easy applique pattern |
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| Sassaman fabrics from Free Spirit |
There was a nice turn out.
Jane is leading several workshops this weekend including one on Broderie Perse using printed fabric to create quilts like the one below--
and a class teaching how to observe plants and visually 'dissect' them to create original designs like Jane's Jack-in-the-Pulpit below--
The Free Spirit fabric line can also be used in pieced quilts as seen in the examples following:
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| Jane Sassman quilt using her Free Spirit fabric line |
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| Jane Sassman quilt using her Free Spirit Line |
She is a true artist and a wonderful inspiration!
The guild has a free table and I found this wonderful book!
I have completed the top of the pattern I bought.
The central motif is fused then finished with machine satin stitching.
The fabric kit was generous so there is enough for backing and binding.
