A love of language and word forms combine with a strong sense of social justice to drive the Pixeladies (Kris Sazaki and Deb Cashatt) to make art out of headlines. Their dramatic imagery is formed from collages painstakingly cut and composed from the headlines featured in a wide array of publications. The Pixeladies then scan the collages into the computer and have the final version printed onto fabric. The resulting whole-cloth quilt is densely quilted by machine or by hand. Each political statement is laced with humor, making the experience of Pixeladies’ artwork unforgettable.
Martha Sielman, Executive Director, Studio Art Quilt Associates
Deb and Kris teach online Photoshop classes and give presentations on their work. They met in college – German Club to be exact. Since they were both artsy and liked to travel, they got along well. They moved around after graduation, Deb managing fabric stores and Kris teaching college. While Kris was battling the slings and arrows in academia, Deb would tell her to “just come home, and we’ll start a business.” Well, Kris finally came home, and the Pixeladies were born in 2003. Their studio consists of three computers, two printers, four sewing machines, and a serger. The cats are not allowed inside. Yes, they collaborate on their Pixeladies projects because they like the challenge of coming up with a single artistic vision from two distracted minds! The Pixeladies’ artwork has been published and juried into national and international exhibitions.
Deb and Kris are retiring the Pixeladies brand in October 2023. Kris will be turning her attention to writing, but Deb will continue to produce fiber art. Check out her website at www.debcashatt.com
DEB CASHATT is an Air Force brat. Daughter of a retired navigator (which is why Deb thinks she has a genetic right to tell people where to go) and a very creative mother (who thinks Deb is uppity for keeping her own last name), Deb has been playing with fabric for as long as she can remember. She lives in Cameron Park, CA with her husband Dave. Sewing garments, quilting, and passing on the joy of creating to her grandkids are some of her passions. Deb really, really likes to travel and is fortunate to have friends who move to exotic places just so she can visit them. She thinks the world would be a better place if people wore boas and drove cars with fins. Deb was Studio Art Quilt Associates Volunteer of the Year in 2016.
KRIS SAZAKI is an Army brat. She inherited the gift of gab from her dad and a sense of adventure from her mom. Sewing she learned from her sister, Noni, and knitting from her sister-in-law, Vicki, and she spent a few teenage years making items to sell at Christmas craft fairs. Her best sewing memories are of the Halloween costumes she made for her son. Before becoming an artist, Kris was a German professor, living in some exotic cities where Deb visited her. She lives in Sacramento, CA with her husband and mother-in-law, Jane. She thinks most problems can be solved after eating chocolate or gelato. Kris is past President of Studio Art Quilt Associates.