Empty Spools - Monterey CA

I just spent a glorious week in Monterey, Ca teaching a 5 day workshop at Empty Spools Seminars. There were 10 teachers including my friends Gwen Marston and Freddy Moran. I was able to spend a little time with them drinking early morning coffee and dinning at a couple of wonderful seafood restaurants in town.

Judy's Greenbrier blocks.

I had 18 very enthusiastic students who worked on projects either inspired by my designs or designed my themselves using textural fabrics and hand dyed wools. It was fabulous to have the full 5 days to work through the design process, pick colors and then go on to add texture using embellishments. I have been dying to teach more than one or two day classes as my design process warrants more time. This week made me realize this was were I need to put my energy as we were able to accomplish much more in this time. I am excited I will be teaching more 5 day classes in the next couple of years. I have a full workshop in Orvieto, Italy on May then at the Madeline Island School of the Arts on WI www.madelineschool.com in September.

You can also check out my schedule page on my website for other teaching engagements www.suespargo.com/schedule.html

When I returned home I realized I did not have pictures of all my students work. I am so sorry please if you don't see your piece here send me a picture as my intent was to show case everyones work. As each one of you continues to work on your piece please send me photo's.

Phyllis worked on a small piece using wonderful imagery in her circles and plans to fill it with birds and butterflies. I think we have here hooked on wool now!

I love the layering effect she is achieving on her flowers.

Stacey came with her idea of creating love birds. She pieced a wonderful blue background using different textural wools then used silk and wool in her birds. She also added flowers, a sun and leaves through out the week.

Ellen's piece is going to be so much fiun with this large dragonfly and basket of flowers. She started to pick great colors to work on her background.

Jayne worked on my house block form 'Folklore' and stitched on a leaf sampler using many different threads and stitches.

Charlene worked on 'Folklore' adding her own touch. I love the fun elements in this quilt.

Judy started with making a miniature version of 'Robin Run the Hedge' and worked on embellishing her Greenbrier blocks.

Barbara worked on her version of a block from 'Folklore'. I love the ostrich and these Bullion knots!

Eileen dyed here own wool and designed this tree sampler with fruit and birds. I love the textural braid on the bottom.

Linda worked on this delightful Guinea Hen quilt. She will be adding small chicks and lots of embellishment to the leaves in the border.

This was Gayle's first experience working with wool. I know she loved it and plans to add her own imagery to my 'Folklore' pattern.

Debbie decided to work on a small piece as she really wanted to concentrate on the embellishment. She combined imagery from different quilts of mine and used a combination of textural threads in her stitching adding ribbons and braid.

Tina pieced a great background and then decided to fill it with flounders and leaves. I can't wait to see these embellished.

Helen and Nancy worked on these wonderful pieces first piecing a wool and cotton background then adding a tree and wildlife. These are going to be great embellished.

Deanne designed this quilt using hand dyed wool and cotton fabrics. She is going to have so much fun embellishing the cactus using spiky stitching.

Pat worked with great textural fabrics adding monkeys, flowers and leaves to her design. I can't wait to see what she does with this piece.

Susan started on a very ambitious wall hanging. She pieced a deep and textural background then filled it with this magical pot filled with oversized flowers.

I hope your creative juices are flowing now! These are all going to be spectacular quilts.

Thanks to all my students for a wonderful week in Monterey.

Keep Stitching

Sue