Preview of Creations

I am so excited I have finished my first queen size quilt that will be published in my new book this spring. 'Robin Run the Hedge.' I created the center as a BOM a couple of years ago then went on to add a fabulous polka dot border then a 16" appliqued border. My wonderful friend and machine quilter Carol Rickard finished quilting it this week. I have now bound and labeled it and it is ready to ship to my dad for photography. An added bonus was receiving the first draft of the book from my dad this morning. It feels so good to be almost ready to send the book to the printer. As I am off to Barcelona and then to Nantes, France to teach in April we wanted the book at the printer before we left. It feels so good to be on target.

I have also been working on my projects for Primitives of the Midwest in July. I will be teaching three classes. Above is a glimpse of my Pomegranate Table Rug.

I have also finished the third in a series of projects using my CD Folk-art Dreams from the Electric Quilt Company. This Nifty Notes Journal will be posted on my website as a kit for March. It incorporates stitchery and beading.

Well my two girls Kelly and Aimee are becoming wonderful knitters. Here is Kelly's first pair of socks. Didn't she do a great job!

You may have noticed that I have add a few more creative blogs to my favorites list. The one is my son Jason's jasonspargo.blogspot.com who is unbelievably creative. He is taking his first drawing class at Central Washington State and would love you to view his work.

This weekend I am off to NEORQC in NE Ohio to teach. We will be working on the Altered Texture class. I promise to take lots of photographs to inspire you all.

It is snowing here in Ohio again. I can't wait for spring!

Keep stitching

Sue

Happy Valentines Day

I can't believe it is already February 14. Happy Valentine's Day! It is still snow covered and very cold here in NE Ohio. It just doesn't seem fair that my sister in Spokane has temperatures in the 40 and 50 with signs of spring in the air and we are still knee deep in snow. The only thing I can say it is great weather to sit and stitch and that is what I have been doing for weeks now.

It has been really good to have a break in my travel schedule and catch up with many projects here at home. I am also working ahead as I will be away from home a great deal in the next few months.

With my students here at home we have been experimenting with new metallic threads as well as many new stitches and beads.

We have also used a variety of colors of our hand dyed silk velvet. I just love the texture the velvet gives to each piece.

Wendy dyed use a large assortment of rick racks and braids which we have had fun working with. We are sad as this is the last lot we will get from her as it is too time consuming to dye in small quantities.

It has also be challenging as we have been working on light backgrounds for a change and using all our new bright fabrics. Our new quilt has a combination of hand dyed wool, Japanese fabrics and fun cottons. Many of the blocks are pieced and incorporate velvet and silk ribbons and rick racks.

It has been challenging to work with a new color palette but I must say I am really enjoying the results. I am loving the combination of gray, taupe and cream. They say gray is the new black!

Keep stitching

Sue