Sandy Malamed

I need to be busy and have always felt that the best use of my time is creating something. I am a student of observation and enjoy interpreting what I see in my everyday world into something beautiful and hand made. The things that I see and experiences that I have are translated into little stories that make great subject matter for my picture quilts and also for pottery. I collect phrases, stories, and words that give me immediate inspiration for either a quilt or sculpture and turn to my list when working on a new piece. My husband , our two daughters, and I enjoy a peaceful life in the countryside of Chester County Pennsylvania. As a result, farm animals and country life are favorite subjects and recurring themes in my work.

When creating my textile pictures I am minimally concerned with straight lines and precise measurements. It is these aspects of traditional quilting techniques and styles that I find too confining. I choose to focus completely on the visual impact of the finished project which I believe gives my work a folk art appeal. The work is primarily composed of cotton fabrics and batting. Occasionally vintage linen, buttons, beads, and Mexican milagritos are added. All of the pictures are hand appliquéd and quilted. They are sold framed.

My pottery is hand built, although I have begun experimenting with wheel-thrown pottery. My current work focuses on a series of bird sculptures that are carved and painted after nature. The pieces are mounted on a variety of wooden architectural salvage pieces including artifacts from the old Phoenixville Iron Foundry. Functional pieces are often constructed in what I call “quilted pieced pots.” Small individual elements are created and then combined to form the finished piece in a matter not too different from designing a pieced quilt.

Visit Sandy’s website at www.cityfolkhandwork.com.