Road to CA - Flowerbed Quilt Class -Day 1&2

 I have been teaching at Road to CA in Ontario CA. My first class was a two day appliqué and embellishment working on blocks from my Flowerbed Quilt. I had 20 really enthusiastic students who did amazing work.

We worked with hand dyed wools and cottons adding stitches for texture.

I also taught them to add beads using the Coral Stitch which I love.

It was a wonderful group of international ladies including Caroline from Belgium, Brigit from Germany and Claudia from Mexico and many ladies from different states in the USA.

I hope you all have fun continuing to embellish and work on your blocks for your quilt.
Take care and safe travels to all
Sue

Snowy Weekend in Ohio

I have met so many wonderful people in the last few years. Many who have a special place in my heart. I taught for a few consecutive years for Amy and Angela at 'Yellow Bird Art' in Iowa. I loved visiting and was very sad when the store closed. I spoke to Angela this week and she shared with me that she was writing this year on her blog about people who have inspired her. I was very flattered to be the first entry.
http://www.SummerKitchenQuilts.blogspot.com/

This weekend has been cold and snowy here in Ohio. Perfect weather to catch up! I have cleared my desk worked on my new Block of the Month 'Earth & Twig', cleaned the house and gathering my thoughts for Road to CA where I am teaching this week.

I feel more in control and ready for a busy week. It always amazes me how much better I feel when I keep on top of things.

Hope each one of you did a little something for yourself this weekend.

Take care

Sue

Cumberland Valley Quilt Guild - Nashville TN

I have been a little quiet I know. I promise I have been creating and working very hard catching up before hitting 2012 in full swing. Happy New Year to everyone may I wish you all a very fulfilling, healthy and creative 2012.

I am returning home today after teaching in Tennessee. I am so pumped up! My classes and lecture were very well received and I was surrounded by such enthusiastic students for two full days. All creating and stitching using mounds of luscious fibers and of cause great hand dyed wool and velvets. Thank you Wendy for your amazing dyeing!

I love handwork classes the creativity is endless each student sharing and interacting makes the classes even more fun. Everyone interprets stitches differently and we all learn form each other. Most of my students are looking to be creative so they are all able to take some risk. The best part of teaching is I keep learning myself. It just makes my journey even more fulfilling.

We spent two days stitching and layering fabrics, velvets and wool. Each piece was unique.

 

Tammy participated in my BOM last year and decided to do another version of the quilt by digitizing the design. She brought her blocks to share with me. I love what she did! It is always fun to see how my patterns are interpreted.

What a wonderful way to do my patterns by machine especially if you do not favor handwork.

She also uses my Folk Art Dreams CD by Electric Quilt and made a smaller version of the center of my Uniontown Square quilt. This fun CD has my first 5 books (about 190 blocks) on it and has endless ways you can create quilts and blocks in all different sizes. It is available on my website  www.suespargo.com/books.html

Many thanks to all at Cumberland Valley who made me feel so welcome. I hope the classes opened many doors for enjoying and exploring stitchery.
Creative Stitching
Sue

Embellishment Pack Give Away

Visit us on Facebook to win this NEW exclusive hand dyed fiber embellishing pack.
http://www.facebook.com/SueSpargoFolkartQuilts

Happy Stitching
Sue

Merry Christmas

I wish you all a very Special Holiday Season surrounded by family and friends. I am delighted to be spending mind with Kelly, Jason and Aimee.

Best wishes to all
Sue

Portland, OR

I have been in Portland visiting my son Jason who started school at the Oregon Culinary Institute in late October. As Jason was in school during the day I caught up with two friends here in Portland, visiting fun shopping areas and eating at wonderful local restraunts.

Betty and I go back many years. I taught for her here in Portland 12 years ago when she owner her own quilting store. She has since retired and now teaches many classes at Pioneer Quilts www.pioneerquiltshop.com
It so happened that this Saturday was 'Spargonian Play Day' and she ask me to make a quick visit to her class. I was delighted to see all the students working on one or more of my projects. The classroom was full of color!

They were so enthusiastic stitching away on bags, pincushions and many on my Flowerbed Quilt. The store also has a wonderful display of my patterns and many finished projects.

I love the many versions of my Victoria Tote each of the students had made. Some bright and cheerful and others made from ethnic fabrics.

One day Betty and I also visited Shipwreck beads in WA and found a few treasures there to add to our quilts.

I was amazed at how many of my quilts Betty had made. The store was just an array of color.

Jason and I also spent some fun time with my friend Susan visiting a wonderful Asian market, great bead and furniture store and eating at fun restaurants.

Many thanks Betty and Susan for taking such good care of me while Jason was in school. I love Portland and I am so happy that I now have an excuse to visit.
Jason is doing well and it makes me happier now that I know where he is living and that he is loving school. The added bonus was that I got to sample a couple of good meals that he cook for me in his little studio apartment.
I am flying home tonight and need to now focus on the holidays.
I just can't believe how fast life is passing by!
Take care
Sue