Liz Petraska

A native New-Englander, Liz Petraska is strongly influenced by the Folk Art of old and classic fabric patterns of plaids, checks, and colors inspired from nature. She enjoys working with various textiles and fabrics to create useful household and personal items. Some of the fabrics she uses have been saved from the dust bin or found at estate sales, garage sales or her personal favorite: church rummage sales! Haunting thrift and consignment shops all over the country is a great pastime of hers. Some of her pieces used to be a tablecloth or a curtain, or even a coat!! “You eventually develop a keen eye for things that are old perhaps, but of the excellent quality of a bygone era. I love the thrill of the hunt, but it’s not for everybody!” Her older sister recently brought her some fabric she had tucked away that was their grandmother’s, who was born in 1900.

Over the years Liz has tried her hand at many things. Currently she is displaying fabric- covered rope creations, trivets, bowls, baskets large and small also called “soft pottery.”She also creates handmade zipper bags and large tote bags that have structure, for hands-free filling: “There is nothing more annoying than a floppy tote bag!”

The sewing started after finding a used 32 year old sewing machine at an estate sale for $40 just before the pandemic. “My mother urged me to learn early in life but I was always resistant. So I learned how to use it, it was an old one but a work horse built with metal parts and very sturdy. But recently I caved and bought a new and much more modern and easier to use machine.”

Liz’s interests are diverse: photography, finding and refinishing small furniture pieces using chalk paint techniques or natural finishes and some stenciling. Her personal journey has included a detour from Vermont to Florida for a few years as a result of her husband’s job. Now back in Vermont, she is really happy to be back in her element, and close to her kids and grandkids. Crafting has been a hobby whilst working for 30 plus years in the beauty industry as a hairdresser/ stylist/ esthetician. She now wants to to focus on creating beauty in her fabric art. She works out of her home studio in Bennington Vt.