ABOUT

Tobacco silks are unique relics from the late 1800s–early 1900s that were included in tobacco products to entice smokers and create brand loyalty. Printed on silk-like fabric, they featured illustrations of all manner of curious subjects, reproduced in fine detail and vivid color. Beyond their dubious role in the tobacco industry, tobacco silks became sought after collectors’ items and are still in demand nearly a century after their manufacture ceased. Women were among the most avid collectors, often sewing them into quilts and other household items. My fascination with tobacco silks and their particular appeal to women became the basis for this series of quilts.

The quilts are made with combinations of silk taffeta and dupioni, vintage sari and kimono fabrics, hand-dyed silk ribbon, glass beads, and rayon embroidery floss. I start with a general layout of the tobacco silks and fabrics and choose the color palette and materials to best complement each series of silks. The design unfolds as I work and is often influenced by the character of the illustrations. Each piece is stitched entirely by hand, embroidered, and lightly quilted, allowing me to preserve the integrity of the tobacco silks. Evidence of their age adds to their rich history, which I am delighted to re-imagine today as art.