Pat
Smith
Pat was born in Detroit and raised in Southfield Township. She and her
husband of 58 years raised two girls and six boys in Livonia and after
they retired they moved to a small town in ‘rural’ Michigan
where Pat finally got her own studio.
In 1979 Pat earned her BFA at the University of Michigan. From there on
she tried many things, including designing and making wood puzzles and
toys, but when she learned to quilt she had found her real calling. Quilt
shows and quilt shops took top priority. Long hours in her studio became
the norm. From traditional quilt patterns she quickly moved into designing
quilts that were uniquely her own. Then quite by accident she ‘stumbled’ into
beading.
A
gift of a box of antique buttons, lead her
on a journey into beads, and what a journey!
She began by using beads to enhance the buttons,
but it didn’t take long for her to realize
that the beads didn’t always need the
buttons. The appliqué of beads onto
fabric gave her a whole new dimension and quite
naturally the beads found their way onto her
quilted work. From small pieces of jewelry
to some of the larger pieces you see here she
creates as she goes. It is always a surprise
to see the final results.
