Textile artist Katherine Schumacher in her studio
For textile artist, Katherine Schumacher the physical practice of hand sewing is an act of personal reflection and meditation with each perfect and immaculate stitch a silent and calming affirmation. Ms. Schumacher is a Dundas based textile artist and creates quilts, pillows, hand linens and wall hangings in a variety of natural fabrics. In October she will be featured as a new artist studio location on the annual Dundas Studio Tour which runs Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd.
A social worker by training and now specializing in dementia care, Ms. Schumacher started to work with textiles when she became a Mother and looked for a quilt for her newborn baby daughter.
“I looked at all kinds of baby covers but saw nothing that I liked that was made from 100% organic materials and which, importantly, used organic, safe dyes so I started to make my own quilts and pillows, and have done so ever since,” she says.
Ms. Schumacher continues, “I’m drawn to muted palettes and make my own patterns. The materials I use must be natural, such as 100% pure natural linens, natural dyes, and 100% organic cotton backings. Much of the stitching is hand stitching, although I do now own a sewing machine which I use as well on some of the items.”
For the upcoming Studio Tour, Ms. Schumacher is creating a series of quilts, throws and pillows. The throws will range in size from 60” x 90” to small baby coverlets. She is also sewing a variety of bags and welcome baby baskets containing layettes in a variety of gender neutral colours and patterns.
Also showing with Katherine Schumacher during the Dundas Studio Tour at her Livingston Drive Studio are fine artist, Barb TenEycke, jeweller, Tamara Warren, and potter, Fiona Wheelband.
The Dundas Studio Tour runs on Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd from 10 am to 5 pm daily, and features thirty-two artists at eight different artist studios. The Tour theme for the 2016 Dundas Studio Tour is Metamorphosis.
Admission to the Dundas Studio Tour is free and each studio offers a draw for a special prize. For more information about the Dundas Studio Tour, visit the website at www.dundasstudiotour.ca.