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

Winter in Ohio

It has been a while since I blogged. I have been really caught up in paperwork and new projects and programs for the website. I have also made a few new projects for my book which Quiltmania is publishing in English and French. Now I am finishing up a quilt for my new book for spring market. During the last few weeks it has been snowy and cold. Really good weather to snuggle up at home. I have not been traveling to teach but have had a couple of my classes here at home. We are working on a new project with more piecing with special attention to embellishment. Each month we learn a new stitch and then challenge each other to use it in a unique way. It is such fun to see what each student comes up with. It is amazing to me how much fun you can have with a few unique threads, ribbons and beads. Here is another wonderful way to embellish a printer fabric. This touches make each piece uniquely yours. I am so looking forward to traveling and teaching in 2010 as I feel I have so much to share and love to see the creative pieces my students produce. Keep Stitching Sue

Hot off the Press - New Needle Point Designs

I am so excited Patty Bommarito from www.PattyPaints.net has just introduced the first eight of my designs in a series of hand painted needlepoint canvases. I am thrill with the way she has interpreted my designs but still been able to give them her own spin. It makes me want to take up needlepoint! This Pineapple Fish scissor Fob is so fun with its polka dot tail. How did she know I love polka dots. Many of these designs were originally pincushions and small wall hangings but Patty has designed them as pictures, small pillows and even a scissor fob. Polka dots again! The Rabbit is shown here as a canvas and also stitched. I hope these inspire you all to keep stitching. Keep warm Sue

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to All from a cold and snowy North East Ohio. I hope that each one of you are blessed in 2010. Sue

Family Time - Potato cakes

I always love the time of year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most of the family visit and we do some fun activities. As a child I remember my mom making my grandmothers recipe for piping hot potato cakes for my sister Wendy and I dripping with butter and just the right amount of salt. While my mom and dad were visiting they made Kelly, Aimee and I the same wonderful treat. We gorged ourselves on a mound of potato cakes and it was worth every calorie. Potato Cakes 4oz self raising flour 1 pound cold mash potatoes 2oz butter 1 tsp salt 1 egg yolk Mix all ingredients together. Beat until a firm ball is formed. Roll out 1/2" thick and cut into round cakes. Place on floured board before cooking on a hot plate. Brown on both sides. Serve warm with butter. Cherish special times with family and friends Sue

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas! I hope each one of you a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year. Take care Sue

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