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

Teaching at Rabbits Lair and Yellowbird

During September and early October I was fortunate to teach at Rabbits Lair in Rogers, AR and at Yellowbird Art in Lansing, Iowa. I taught the Altered Texture class at both stores and was very happy to see all the embellishment techniques the students tried out. Rabbits Lair is also teaching my Flowerbed Quilt as a block of a month. I love the sample above which they had stitched to promote the class. We learned rushing and many different ways to make stems as well as using hand dyed velvet for the leaves. Here is a wonderful flower using a striped ribbon and crocheted flower center. These students at Yellowbird had two full days to create. What wonderful ideas they came up with. I love teaching this class as every flower is interpenetrated differently. Well done to all and thanks for making me feel so welcome. Creative stitching Sue