Houston Quilt Market

I am just returning form a few days in Houston where I visited Quilt Market. Wendy my sister joined me and we shared a room with our friend Susan Day from Portland. It was great to spend time with both of them. The weather was wonderful and each day we left the convention center the trees and telephone wires were filled with black birds. It was a great sight.

We had many great meals down town. I loved this tree sculpture on the side of a building we passed many times. My Australian friend Sarah Fielke and her husband Damien where also at market. Sarah launched her new fabric line 'From Little Things' with Lecien. I loved the quilt she made to show case the line. We also had a wonderful meal with them on Sunday night.

As usual I love what the Japanese produce. Seven Islands is one of my favorite fabric companies. Their display as well as their fabrics are wonderful.

Wendy and I spent Monday afternoon wondering through the quilt exhibit. Here is a sneak preview of the quilts that caught my eye.

'Innocence' Hollis Chatelain from Hillsborough, North Carolina

'The Double Wedding Ring' by Keiko Goke of Miyagi, Japan

'The White Garden' by Akiko Kawata of Osaka, Japan

'Earth Trees, Earth Flowers' by Yoko Kosaka of Misato, Saitama-Ken, Japan

'Sparkling Waters' by Masae Utsunomiya of Kitasohma, Ibagaki-ken, Japan.

'The Wonder of Birds II' by Pamela Allen of Kingston, Ontario

'Grace' by Shin-hee Chin of McPherson, Kansas.

At the end of the show we were all very tired. It was good to walk the show instead of having a booth. I did not find much new and I felt the show was a little slow. I am sure we will be seeing some big changes in the quilting business in the future especially the fabrics.

I have one more teaching trip to prepare for this year then I will be home for a couple of months over the holidays.

Take care

Sue

Teaching in October

Sunday at Sue's

I have a wonderful group of friends Carol, Joyce, Kim and Cathy and we have been meeting to sew once a month for years. Many of my quilt and sewing project designs where started in this group. This has been a busy year for all of us and we have not meet as many times as we would have liked. Last Sunday was a good catch up day. We missed Kim but the rest of us had a lot of fun playing around making these fun little owls out of wool.

Private Class at Home

10 ladies joined me in my home for an embellishment class. Fun was had by all as they worked on their own pieces. We had fun working with fibers and stitches.

Olive Juice - Onalaska, WI

I had a wonderful weekend teaching at Olive Grace. I taught my Thistledown Table rug and an embellishment class. They have an amazing classroom and provided a wonderful sit down lunch. Many thanks Diane and Monica for making me feel so welcome.

Calico Cutters, Undercover and Brandywine Valley Quilt Guilds, PA

Cathy travelled with me to Pennsylvania. I taught a class using one of my small kits working on wool appliqué and a little embellishment. I had a wonderful group of enthusiastic stitchers. I also gave three lectures at the guilds. The weather was perfect and the fall colors were magnificent on our drive over.

TQGIBT Alliance, OH

I gave a lecture at the guilds annual luncheon. My friend Gabriel shared her colorful 'Ginger Grove' quilt she had just finished.

I am on my way to Quilt Market in Houston. Will post 'Whats New' soon

Take care

Sue

2011 BOM - Imperial Blooms

We have been inundated with emails waiting for the release of the 2011 BOM. Here it is 'Imperial Blooms'. Wendy is in the process of dyeing new colors of wool for me to drool over as I make my final choices for the background and applique. I am very excite to start this quilt as it will have a little different slant. It is going to be filled with 44 stitches, 4 a month using wonderful embellishment fibers. In the first 36 hours we have received 200 sign ups. We will be closing it at 300 so don't hesitate if you are thinking about participating. www.suespargo.com

Here is a sneak preview of partial of the 2010 BOM which is drawing to a close. I have a couple more hours applique to do then it will be completed. I have thoroughly enjoyed stitching this quilt.

Hopefully it will be done for the holiday season.

I am blogging from Detroit airport as I am traveling to WI to teach this weekend.

Have a great weekend.

Take care

Sue

Quilt Story

Today Heather and Megan at Quilt Story have featured my 'Robin Run the Hedge' Quilt. Please visit their fun blog at quiltstory.blogspot.com Thanks so much for such a great write up.

On the down side we are running a little late with the newsletter this month due to all my traveling. Then yesterday our computer crashed and as of right now we have lost everything back to December 2008. Very frustrating but we are all handing in there. Lots of extra work to do!

Take care

Sue

Rabbits Lair- Rogers, AR

Mary and Clarice have moved their store the 'Rabbits Lair' to a wonderful new location here in the historical district of Rogers, AR. It is bright, with wonderful light and very inviting. Their new class room is upstairs and overlooks the whole store. To my delight they have added some yarn and Clarice is the new yarn expert. The students were great many new as well as familiar faces. I was also delighted to see Julie, Patti and Diane who came down from Missouri.

We worked on embellishing leaves for two days using lots of great fibers, beads and silk threads.

The other class was the small bird project. I love Westminster fabrics and we spent time fussy cutting them to layer our leaves and berries.

Jane West brought her little zipper bag which she complete from last years class. I love the colors and buttons she used.

Biddy Pyle from Bella Vista, AR is working on my Flowerbed Quilt. Is this not fun appliqued on all taffeta silk backgrounds!

I am sitting in Chicago now on my way home. First thing in the morning I will be finishing up the October newsletter which will include the new 2011 BOM. Look out for it later this week. I am very excited as I think it is going to be so much fun to stitch.

Take care

Sue