Rising Stars!

This year the International Quilt Festival – Houston introduced a new exhibition, “Rising Stars.” It is to be held annually, so people can submit to be considered. If you don’t think you are quite in the “rising star” category, encourage someone you know to submit for next year. This year two artists were selected and given a special showcase.

Sarah Ann Smith, doesn’t consider herself a natural born artist. However, looking at her quilts it is hard for me to agree with that statement. Granted it may have taken years to learn the tools of the trade, but she is definitely an artist.

Her artistic legacy is reflected in a couple of different ways. First showing and appreciating the beauty of nature. Second, a fun and quirky sense of humor in her story telling quilts. All of her quilts show her attention to detail and precise quilting.

Karlyn Bue Lohrenz started quilting to assuage the deep grief of the death of her daughter in 1989. Her sister-in-law suggested that she take quilting classes. It was through quilting she found a way to turn “those lonely quiet nights full of tears and pain” into beautiful works of quilt art. During her quilting journey, she realized she had progressed through the stages of grief.

The next stage of her quilting journey was to start entering competitions. It wasn’t long before she was winning awards for her pictorial quilts. Now, her journey has led to her being chosen as a “Rising Star” at the 2017 Houston Quilt Festival. It will be interesting to see more of her journey. Also it will be interesting to see who will be the rising star for next year. Will it be you?