Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/867410
60 August 31 • 2017 jn f a i r s & f e s t i v a l s arts&life A maker of colorful quilts displays her work at Art & Apples — plus our annual roundup of Labor Day fairs. I n her Farmington Hills basement, Beth Rosenfeld has been working at her four sewing machines plus a rented long-arm quilting machine to get ready for the Art & Apples Festival in Rochester. Rosenfeld, an artist who has worked with many kinds of textiles, specializes in one-of- a-kind quilts for infants and children and will have 400 ready to sell as the event runs Sept. 8-10 in the Rochester Municipal Park. This will be the first fair for the artist, who mostly sells to people she knows and people referred by others. The only times she has joined with vari- ous artists before now have been for the Temple Israel Sisterhood Spring Boutiques and a fundraiser for Project HOPE. "'Go big or go home' is my motto," jokes Rosenfeld, who also has a part-time career as a dental hygienist with skills learned at the University of Detroit after she turned 30. "I will be showing quilted blankets, throws and wraps. I actually have five different kinds of projects — receiving blankets, stroller blankets, play mats, quilts and wall hangings. I do freehand sewing so that each one is different." Rosenfeld describes her work as having traditional, geometric block patterns made from contemporary materials, mostly cotton and polyester. She uses lots of color, and each item is machine washable. "I've been running my own 'sweatshop' for nine months to get ready for Art & Apples," quips Rosenfeld, who ulti- mately finds satisfaction in being creative with each piece and experiences the total process as therapeutic. "I decided to do quilts for infants and children because I prefer working on smaller items. I describe my style as colorful and playful." Rosenfeld's projects will join the work of 300 artists from across the country. Artists new to the fair and those return- ing will showcase a variety of media, including ceramics, digital designs, glass, print- making, jewelry, metal, mixed SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Quilts, Apple Pie And Fun details The Art & Apples Festival runs Sept. 8-10 at the Rochester Municipal Park in downtown Rochester. $5 donation requested. (248) 651-4110; pccart.org. LEFT: An offering from Ford Arts, Beats & Eats