Challenge Quilts

A little while ago Nancy from the Primitive Folk art Quilting Yahoo group asked me to draw up a tree for a challenge piece for her group. She challenged them to be creative and make the piece into something they would love to own. I am sure you will agree they all did a fabulous job!

The winner - Betty's - Bower Bird Tree is embellished with stitchery and beads. She won this neat little book that Nancy stitched.


Lynn's tote made from wool. Embellished with rick rack, buttons and embroidery.

Juliann's fun tree. I love the funky piecing that surrounds this piece.

Dorothy's is covered with charms, happy flowers and fun birds.

Denise's Backyard Friends. Doesn't this make you want to spend time in Denise's backyard! I love all the different birds.

Debbie's is really fun. I am so into owls and just find her interpretation of these wonderful birds really appealing. I love her use of beads and ribbons as well.

Sandy's Tote is very appealing. Wouldn't you love to put a small knitting project in this one. She has embellished the back as well as the front of her tote.

Well done to each of you! I hope to be a part of another challenge in the future.

Keep stitching
Sue

New Web Posting

I have just posted new threads and yummy fabrics. These hand dyed #8 Valdani threads are my favorite for stitching on wool as they are so smooth to stitch and variegate gradually.

They are available in 15 different color packs. http://www.suespargo.com/threads.html#valdani

I also add so different heishi bead packs as well as new ribbons. http://www.suespargo.com/embellishments.html

If you have not tried these 24wt 100% silk threads to embellish with you are missing out. They are fabulous and add just enough luster to add wonderful interest to your pieces.

I am also very excited as we have the whole line of Denyse Schmidt's NEW fabric line 'Hope Valley' we are offering them as fat and 1/2 yard bundles as well as individually. The colors are fresh and work well with our wool colors. http://www.suespargo.com/fabricCOTTON.html

Who can resist these great owl fabrics by Alexander Henry! Aimee and I have already made a great book bag for her to use at college and plan to make an apron this holiday break.


We also offer many kits, hand made jewelry and gift certificates for those on your Christmas list.
Keep Stitching and keep creating
Sue

Ali Strebel Designs Workshop

My last workshop for the year was for my good friend Alice in Dayton, Ohio. I taught my Altered Texture Class. I was amazed at the wonderful results. Many of my friends who attend our 'Workt by Hand' workshop were in the class.

We used many new fibers making unique flowers adding texture and dimension to each piece.

We also used many different stitches to add texture around the edges.

This covered button was a really fun idea for the center of a flower.

Some also used antique fabrics to made a fun flower base.

Also different fabrics and stitches were used to embellish leaves. I love these variegated threads that change color when you stitch. They do the work for you!

Here is the bullion stitch and fly stitch using different threads.

I also love the layering of fabrics on this leaf to add dimension.

One of my favorite fabrics to applique with are our hand dyed silk velvets dyed by my sister Wendy. We have 38 colors on the website to choose from. www.suespargo.com. They add a luxurious texture when appliqued on wool.

Many of the students had fun making wonderful stems. Some used mini pom pom ribbons, wool with stitches over them, velvet rick rack and patterned ribbons.

I always get so excited to see what my students come up with. I get many new ideas to work into my own designs. I am so looking forward to starting new projects in 2010. I wish my fingers could stitch as quickly as my mind works!

We have had such a mild fall here in North East Ohio but I think this week things are about to change. They are predicting a large winter storm here later this week so I can't wait to curl up in my chair and stitch. This is my favorite thing to do!

Take care

Sue

Class in my Studio

One Saturday in November a group of enthusiastic quilters came to do a private workshop in my studio. What a creative day we had sewing and creating. Each student picked a project from one of my kits and busily got to work putting their own touch on their piece.

Some did large pincushions and others worked on smaller pieces. I was amazed at how much each student accomplished.

The Good Wives Pineapple Pin Keeper and the Blackbird Pin keeper are finished with hand made tin pieces which are made by a local tinsmith. These definitely add a fun touch to these pieces.

We filled these with lavender and play sand.

The Saffron Needle Roll is also fun to do with a mixture of fabrics and embellishments.

This piece is the Sew Your Seeds needle Roll which was in the October Issue of American patchwork and Quilting. It incorporated couching, beading and the use of textural fabrics.

All these projects are available as patterns or kits on my website. They make wonderful gifts as well as quick and easy projects to do with friends. www.suespargo.com

We have just received lots of new fabrics which will be posted on the website shortly. I can definitely see a new project in my future.

Take care
Keep Stitching
Sue

Happy Thanksgiving - Teaching in Harlingen, TX

I am so thankful for all the wonderful people I have met over the passed few years and for the life building opportunities that have come my way. Traveling this wonderful planet has really opened my eyes and enriched my life. I am also thankful for all our loyal customers. Special thanks to family and friends and a huge big thanks to Michelle and Cathy.
I recently spent a few days in Harlingen, TX teaching. I taught an embellishment class which was filled with enthusiastic stitchers. Each chose a small project and we covered basic wool applique and embellishments.
They enjoyed learning about using hand dyed velvet and couching threads.
Many did my ever popular 'Early Pincushion' pattern which covers beading and couching as well as great finishing techniques.
We used many different fibers to couch then added stitchery and beads.

I also encourage my students to use my patterns as a starting point for their own creativity. Here one of the students changed the dog to look like her own and added roving by needle felting to add texture.
I stayed with Jan. She made me feel very at home and we spent one day at the Gulf coast. We sampled great fresh seafood and she also drove me around town to show me these wonderful murals. Harlingen has many murals in town I especially loved these which were all painted with dots. What a fabulous quilt this would make!

Today our house will be filled creatively with good company, fine food, wine and handwork. Enjoy this wonderful day with your family and friends.

Take care
Sue

Student Creations

As I have travelled around this fall I have been over whelmed with the finished projects from my patterns that my students have brought to share with me. I have always considered my patterns a starting point for each one of you to create your own project that is a reflection of yourself. Here are a few I would like to share which are available as patterns or books on my website. www.suespargo.comThistledown Table Rug by Barb Wigmer of MI.I love the golds and oranges that she used in her applique.
Kenyan tote by BJ Kelly of Ohio. This is one of my favorite totes as it has leather handles and is very spacious for all my sewing and knitting projects.
The Savannah Satchel by Robin Wallace from Maryland.
The Savannah Satchel by Amy Lobsiger from MI. This pattern is from my 'Urban Sacs' book which included four different totes.
The Journey Tote made by Judy Edenborough from Australia.
The Journey Tote by Judi Daud from Chiloquin, OR. This bag is in the 'Urban Sacs' book.

When I was in Sisters, OR in October Debbie Potter from Vancouver, WA shared her tote with me. She made the block for the needle case which I had in the October American Patchwork and Quilting. Instead of making the needle case she put it on the from of her bag. It looked fabulous!
Betty Holmes from Klamath Falls, OR made my Elizabeth Sewing kit using some of the blocks from the Folklore book.
Tracy Brown from LaCenter, WA made the Elizabeth using a wonderful selection of wools and fabrics.
Tracy Brown also made her version of the 'Sew Your Seeds' needle case. I love the colors she used.

I am in Houston traveling home. I had a great time in Harlingen and will be sharing the class once I have downloaded the pictures.

Keep creating

Sue

Skinny Quilts II

Just released a new book by Eleanor Levie, 'Skinny Quilts and Table Runners II' published by That Patchwork Place. I was delighted to be asked to design a table runner for this book. I used a combination of wool and matka silk for the background and then appliqued with cottons, taffetta silk, hand dyed velvet and wool. It is embellished with rickrack and heishi beads.
We have just finished putting together kits for my 'Four o'clock' table runner. These are available on my website www.suespargo.com

I am in Houston on my way to Harlingen to teach. I will be posting more student work in a few days. It is sunny here in Texas so I will soak up a little sunshine before returning to the east on Tuesday. I have many small projects to stitch on for an upcoming book so I shall get to work. I don't know what I would do with out handwork and my laptop while spending all these hours through airports.

Creative Stitching

Sue

Peacocks and Plumage - Quilts Down Under

This new quilt was a collaboration with my good friend Sarah Fielke from Sydney, Australia. The pattern has been published in the current issue of the Australian magazine 'Quilts Down Under' issue #137.
www.downunderquilts.com.au/

I designed the center and Sarah designed the borders. We are delighted with the results! Wendy has now dyed all the hand dyed wool and velvet for this irresistible kit we have just put together. The kit includes all the wool, cotton, velvet, embellishments, backing , binding and label for this 56" x 60" quilt. If you are looking for a new winter project why not try this one!
http://www.suespargo.com/kits.html#quilts

Creative stitching
Sue

Stitchin'Post Sisters, Oregon

I just spent a fabulous 5 days in Sisters, Oregon. The weather was great and I always love the smell of the pine trees which radiates the outdoors. The hotel upgraded me to a suite, so I had a great spacious room with a comfy leather chair to sew. What more could a girl want!

I taught 2 two day classes with very enthusiastic students and also did a trunk show for their guild night out. The first class was 'Red Clover' a small wall hanging pattern. Most of the students worked on the star block as they were wanting to learn some embellishment stitches on the second day. We placed all there blocks together on the wall so we could all enjoy the different embellishments each person experimented with and decided it would make a wonderful quilt. Unfortunately for me they did not want to part with them.

We used ribbons for stems and stitched with Genziana wool thread. www.suespargo.com

Used seagrass which is one of my favorite embellishment threads right now.

I taught them how to make roving balls and bullion knots.

They also used beads and fine yarns to couch.

The second class was the 'Altered Texture'. Each making a unique piece of their own.

Some students fussy cut flowers and beaded them.

Many did all sorts of fabulous stems.

They also made unique trims for their vases.

Learnt many stitches.

Rushing hand dyed silk ribbon.

Appliqued with my hand dyed velvets.

Used a combination of different techniques in their flowers.

The last night I had dinner with Jean and spent a little time at her sewing machine stitching together strips using her technique from her new book 'Intuitive Color and Design'. What fun, I can now see a new quilt in my future!

Sisters is one of my favorite places to teach. It is so well organized and I want to thank Jean, Valori and Jackie for making me feel so welcome.

Creative Stitching

Sue

Sandy Jones - Flowerbed Class

Sandy Jones taught my 'Flowerbed' Quilt at Tiger Lily Quilt Co. in Utica, NY. They all did a fabulous job using a combination of wool and cottons and then embellished them with wonderful fibers and stitches.
Lisa Schultz
Marie Miglin
Theresa Gallagher

The group has been together for almost 15 years now. They meet once a month and have 13 members. Each year they try and pick some project to do together which most of them complete. They all enjoy their get togethers and have a fun evening.

Sandy told me that she thinks that Flowerbed was the one that the most people actually finished. Each month everyone drew a number and that number was the block that they did. It was fun to see how different each one came out and it was fun to get new thoughts on each block.

Sharon Nassamoss

Rose Degni

Lyn Doring

Pat Boak

Donna Sperling

Susan Schering was a long distance member. Sandy drew her block number each month and she sent pictures to her. Everyone had fun anticipating how Susan would do each one keeping with her Halloween theme. They were all hoping that she would send her finished piece up but she hasn't yet. Sandy said she was so grateful that many of her students send pictures of their finished projects. They are so creative and I love the way they make a one-of-a-kind piece using the Flowerbed design as the inspiration.

This design is available on my website in the 'Flowerbed' book and is also available as a complete kit. www.suespargo.com As you can see makes a wonderful Block of the Month program. The blocks are 6" each so it is a doable project. If you have not worked in wool this is an ideal project to start with.

Keep stitching
Sue