Spokane with Family

 I have just returned from spending a week with my family in Spokane. It was great as Jason was visiting as well as he is waiting to start Culinary School in Portland. While visiting he managed to make us another few sets of hand stamped words for the website.

 I took a few pictures to show each stage he goes through to achieve the words we all love. He cuts the strips of copper, hand stamps each letter and drills and files the holes for attachment.

 He then patinas them, buffers them, hand cuts the strips into individual words then hand files each piece so they are nice and smooth.

 Quiet a lot of work for one word! They are unique and I feel anything handmade is worth the wait. I am hoping he can make us a little stash before he returns to school as I know we will not see anymore for a long time.

 Jason treated us to home made pizza as well. He loves to cook and experiment!

 Wendy has been very busy in her studio dyeing new colors for next years Block of the Month. I am really excited as once again it will be very different. Here is a sneak peek of the start of the color palette.

 I have been longing to sew with my sister Wendy. For a long time she has been saving the off cuts and double dye scraps from her dye pots. On Wednesday we snuck into her studio, dumped out all the wool and spent the whole day cutting and sewing all the pieces back together. She had just ordered a new Juki sewing machine which we set up. What an amazing machine, I could not believe how wonderfully it sewed on wool. I will be ordering myself one as soon as I am home for a few days.

 All I can say is I know I will be playing around with this idea a little more.

 My family lives in a more rural area of Spokane. I love the view they have overlooking the valley. They have an amazing vegetable garden as well as perennial gardens which surround the house. It is so peaceful here. I always feel very refreshed when I return home.

 I am now home for a couple of days preparing for Sisters. I am co teaching a Folk-art Retreat this weekend with Tonye Phillips. I am really excited as our styles are very different but complement each other. I know the students will be in for a treat.
Happy Stitching
Sue

Buggy Barn Outdoor Show

On Saturday morning my mom and my youngest son Jason joined me at the Buggy Barn Outdoor Quilt Show. There were about 200 quilts displayed all over the farm hanging from all the buildings, along the fences and on clothes lines.

The store was very busy with many quilters buying fabric, patterns and books.

It was a really fun day surrounded by everything I love. Thanks to Pam, Janet and all their family for making the week so much fun.  As my family lives in Spokane I am staying a few extra days visiting. I hope to be of help to Jason as he plans his move to Portland.
Keep Stitching
Sue

Teaching at Buggy Barn - Spokane WA

This week I taught 2 two day classes on a sewing envelope I designed especially to teach at the Buggy Barn outdoor show. It was full of great techniques, lots of color and many pockets and compartments to hold all your special sewing supplies. I had about 25 students in each class and they worked hard all two days assembling and embellishing. It has been a long time since I taught a machine and appliqué class. The pace was much faster than my embellishment classes but everyone kept up and I was amazed how much each one got done.

The classes were held at the Grange with great catered lunches including wonderful deserts.

I was delighted as many students brought their quilts to share with me.
Manya from Tucson enlarged my Flowerbed quilt and made it out of all cotton fabrics. It was so bright and cheery.

Gayle took a class from me at Empty Spools in Asilomar, CA earlier this year and started her Folklore Quilt. She had personalize many blocks with images from her own travels. It was wonderful and we decided that she needed to border it with chartreuse wool.

Karen from Canada finished and framed her Flowerpot quilt from a previous class. It was wonderfully embellished. She also brought her Robin Run the Hedge quilt to share.

 Susan also shared her Bluebird Needle Keeper.

Pam and Janet did an amazing job organizing everything for this week long event. Every detail was carefully thought out with wonderful touches. The weather was perfect. No humidity so I was in heaven! As it was the 15th Anniversary they hosted a 'Garden Party' on Thursday evening. It was in Janet's garden at the farm. It was the perfect spot, the food was great and the entertainment entertaining.

Jennifer Keltner the editor from American Patchwork and Quilting took in a little shade at the Tiki Bar prior to her lecture.

She entertained us with a peek preview of quilts from the new 'Quilt Sampler' magazine as we were served these scrumptious strawberries for desert.

We also were treated to a very entertaining 15 year history of the Buggy Barn by Janet and Pam overlooking the wheat fields.

Once class was over on Friday Jennifer had organized for Ron Pam's husband to take her out on the Combine as it is harvest time. I tootled along having never had that experience either. We laughter a lot as the city girls experienced a little farm life. It was an amazing experience! Ron harvests 3000 acres in Readon, WA and he was a wealth of knowledge about something I know nothing about.

 The view was spectacular as the wheat just glowed in the sunshine. We could see for miles.

What an incredible machine we learnt lots and it was a neat experience.

We finished the evening around the pool having margaritas and visiting with Pam, Ron, Janet, Tom and their friends.

What a wonderful ending to a very busy week!
I also was fortunate to be able to stay for the outdoor quilt show. Mom and Jason joined me on Saturday morning. I will be blogging about the show tomorrow.
Take care
Sue

Student Work

I was delighted to receive this note and photos in my email last week.

"Hi Sue

Just a note to say I had a great weekend at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England. I won first prize in the contemporary section with my version of 'Dear Jane' I called mine - "Dear Jane, Welcome to the 21st century" made from 100% Spargo felt - so thank you for your great shop, inspiration and ideas, thanks to Wendy for her fabulous wools and Cathy and the girls for sending wonderful selections of colors. The only down side is I won't get my quilt back for a year while it tours around bit. Anyway, I have the block of the month to keep me going.

All my best

Valerie Mullally

Ireland"

 

Well done Valerie! I love what you created and even better a wool quilt won at Birmingham. We love our wools as well. I agree Wendy is an amazing dyer.

I have received many wonderful photos from my students showcasing their work as well as many who have shared their pieces in my classes. Her are a few to inspire you.

Gabrielle attends my Monday evening group and brought her wonderful Flowerbed quilt to share. I think she loves Bullion Knots as much as I do!

Edith from Renaissance ribbons sent me this photo showcasing our ribbons.

Another wonderful piece from Gabrielle.

Carol for our Monday morning group shared this quilt she made using a colorful floral Japanese print she bought from our store.

Ellen shared her Robin Run the Hedge quilt with me at Sisters. 

Estelle from Brittany France sent me these lovely pictures of her Greta Needle Roll and a tree using my leaf technique. It is wonderful to receive pictures from my international customers.

Susan finished her 'Altered Texture' piece from a recent workshop and made it into a pillow.

Keep up the great work and keep sending photos.

Take care

Sue