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I'm thrilled to continue our series, *Sewn Stories*, where each episode explores the garments or textiles that have played significant roles in people's lives—whether handmade by themselves or someone else. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Denyse Schmidt. Many of you might recognize her name from her stunning art quilts, her popular fabric collections, and her quilting patterns (available in the Oliver + S shop) along with her inspiring books. Denyse, a former graphic designer who graduated from Rhode Island School of Design, began creating quilts back in 1996. Fascinated by the deep history embedded in quilting and inspired by functional beauty, she infused her unique aesthetic—clean lines, vivid colors, and bold graphics—into this art form, earning recognition across the realms of art, design, and craftsmanship. Denyse’s studio resides in a historic textile building in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Let’s hear from her now.
For me, sewing will always be intertwined with my mother. It was a shared experience, a way for us to connect and understand the world together. My mom taught me to sew when I was about seven or eight years old. Growing up in Central Massachusetts, surrounded by textile mills with some even having retail spaces onsite, remains one of my fondest memories. We'd go fabric shopping in these old stores, with their creaky wooden floors and endless rows of fabrics stacked high on tables. It felt like a treasure hunt, searching for the perfect material to transform into a new outfit or coat for school or a special event.
Even though my mom worked full-time as an administrator and teacher at a school for troubled youth, she still found time to sew clothes for my siblings and me when we were younger. Here's a picture of us at one of her graduation ceremonies (yes, another one). I cherished those beautiful bottle-blue tops she made for my older sister and me, combining shiny taffeta with cotton lace—a real treat. They were so special, and I loved being her little sister's twin.
My mom learned to sew from her grandmother Josephine, who used a treadle machine, and her Aunt Blanche. Her mother, Mae, supported the family during the Great Depression by selling items door-to-door. Later, she earned a nursing degree and became a registered nurse, despite having no formal education as an orphan. Mae didn't sew and wasn't particularly domestic, but she had this incredible, sprawling urban garden where she grew vegetables and flowers using homemade compost. On the flip side, my mom had a notorious lack of gardening talent—what we call a "black thumb." Isn't it fascinating how different interests and skills flow through families?
Josephine crafted clothes for my mom and her two brothers, including underwear, since their family struggled financially during the Depression. As a kid, I remember hearing about this and thinking it sounded uncomfortable, but my perspective has shifted thanks to the current trend of making one's own intimate garments. Why not create everything if you have the time?
Mom sewed quite a bit during her teenage years too. Before leaving for a year on scholarship at Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, MA, her grandmother and aunt helped her buy enough fabric to create a wardrobe consisting of two skirts, two shirts, and a jacket. She mentioned that the other girls came from wealthier families, and this wardrobe helped her fit in during her transition.
I adore these old black-and-white pictures of my parents in their early married years. The faded images evoke a soft, nostalgic haze, making everything seem simpler, clearer, and slower-paced—how else could she have achieved so much daily? I’m grateful she had the chance to celebrate my professional achievements. She was incredibly proud of my success and took joy in knowing I made a living from sewing. Of course, this wouldn't have been possible without my parents' support through college and beyond. Recently, I rediscovered this Polaroid of my parents standing in front of the first quilt blocks I ever made for an upcoming home-furnishing show. Those blocks eventually became part of three samples that launched what must have seemed like a crazy idea. Yet there they are, smiling and looking so happy, even as I faced potential disaster just months later. It was both thrilling and terrifying.
Today, when I teach workshops, I tell my students how I once spent a fortune on Polaroid photos of my work-in-progress. I imagine I sound like a relic from another era, marveling at how technology has advanced so rapidly within my own lifetime. I feel incredibly fortunate that my students get to benefit from these digital wonders!
The journey to quilting wasn't straightforward. I worked various sewing jobs, transitioning from theater studies and half-heartedly pursuing acting gigs in New York to returning to school and reinventing my career. One such job was with a small atelier near my hometown. James Hogan crafted clothing for society ladies, and I thoroughly enjoyed working alongside him and his team. I improved significantly in garment sewing, and before leaving for art school, James generously allowed me to use his patterns to create outfits for my mom. One was a Chanel-style wool bouclé suit, and the other was an orange silk dress she wore often. Here she is with two of her nephews; it was the early to mid-1980s, the era of oversized shoulder pads!
I owe so much to my mom, but the love and skill of sewing have provided me with comfort, cherished memories, and ultimately, a fulfilling career.
We hope you're enjoying this series. If you'd like to contribute your own *Sewn Story*, here's how you can participate. Don't forget to share your story on Instagram using #sewnstories.
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I hope you find this version engaging and reflective of a personal narrative. Let me know if you need any further adjustments!
June 03, 2025