Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Smith.
Hi Laura, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started hand sewing by my mother’s side. From what I remember, I started on the sewing machine sometime between 7 to 9 years of age. My first paid job was helping my sister make raggedy Ann dolls. I did sewing in high school ond took a class in college. To my surprise, I learned what a surgery was in college and fell in love with sewing all over again. I have always enjoyed creating things with my hands and my brain. When in high school I didn’t do well in algebra, but the geometry was easy for me. When I was expecting my first child, I wanted to make her a quilt. We were poor students at the time so I got two pieces of fabric. One fabric had a small pint about the size of a silver dollar. I thought that would get the quilting bug out of me. It did until my second was on the way. From then on, Quilting has been a passion of mine. I was able to get my first sewing machine around the same time my first child was born. I was then able to earn money sewing for others to get me my first surgery. Continued sewing and quilting for others while raising 4 children. Taught classes and one on one classes. With the desire to create, I started doing boutiques at Junction City in Ogden, UT and at the school, I was working at. Eventually, I brought everything to my home. I am also teaching classes with the community Ed in my area.
I would not be able to do all of this without the support of my family, especially my daughter.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Juggling family responsibilities and my personal desires can be a little tricky. Me feeling my house is to full of stuff…mostly fabric! And not feeling comfortable with technology.! My daughter is my right-hand person for help with organizing and technology.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am known for my quilting. I love to hand quilt after doing a pieced top. I like to quilt on my lap. I do not like using frames. I have done so many quilts, from doll to king-sized quilts. One of my favorites, but brain taxing, is one I did for my son. I wanted to do something for earning his eagle in boy scouts. I was doing a small cross stitch of an eagle holding onto a ribbon with wings spread. It was about a 3-4 inch size when done. He saw me working on it and became interested in doing one so I let him. Unbeknownst to him I did three to his one, and started working on a quilt based on the cross stitch. Each square on the quilt matches each square of the cross stitch. When done the was basically a twin-size quilt.
I am also known for getting the job done…people bring me projects they only half finished and need to be completed or things with a tight turnaround. I get it done for them.
Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of custom quilts, including memory quilts. Customers give me things like clothing and I make them into a quilt, often getting to mix in hand-stitched squares with quilted ones, which I really enjoy.
In addition to making things for others, sometimes I make something special for myself, like the purple hibiscus quilt I made for my bed, I loved every minute, from cutting the fabric strips to quilting the basic patchwork squares to stitching each flower to quilting between every square and especially putting it on and admiring it on my bed.
I also love teaching others to sew, including summer camp 2022 making owls, teaching my oldest granddaughter to use a sewing machine and my oldest grandson to stuff the octopus toy I sewed for him.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I have always enjoyed nature. The flowers, mountains, wind in the trees, thunderstorms. I remember always picking up rocks. I still do pick up rocks from different places I go. I have rock areas in my yard. I even have a piece of pebble fabric in my fabric stash.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quiltsandmorebylaura/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuiltsandMoreByLaura
Image Credits
Main photo by Kenneth Smith
Additional photos by Laura Smith, Claude Smith, and Nicole Smith
