It’s in the Details: My Studio
For much of my life, my creative space has been an appendage, an after-thought, a space co-opted from existing living space. You know what I mean. There was the craft … Read More
Author: Susan
Quilt Stories: There’s Somethin’ Fishy Going On
The Fish Lady For a while, early on in my career, I could have been known as the Fish Lady. Fabric collage quilts of fish were some of the first … Read More
Sort It Out: Organizing Fabric
Of course the biggest benefit of my career is the guilt-free indulgence of buying all the fabric I need (or want!). Each new project requires a different “palette” of fabrics. … Read More
From Photo to Fabric: Choose the Best Shot
Listen up. Time for some tough love. That picture of your laughing grandchild, that snapshot of your beloved bulldog, the antique photo of your great-grandmother: what wonderful memories they elicit! … Read More
Quilt Stories: Dain and the Piece of Fabric that Changed My Life
“Dain,” an early portrait of my father-in-law, influenced my quilting in several important ways. One piece of plaid fabric especially changed how I pieced quilts forever.
A Christmas Gift that Keeps on Giving
We all have projects that just never seem to get finished. Quilters sometimes call them UFOs–Un-Finished Objects–and these projects are almost always the source of guilt and self-criticism. It’s bad … Read More
“From Insects to Elephants” (and Crocs)
A visit to the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts where my quilt “Crocodylus Smylus” is having its premier with over 100 other animal quilts.
Why Color Is Irrelevant
In a comment on a previous blog, a follower asked if I would describe how I inject vibrant, non-realistic color into my pieces. You may never look at your fabric stash the same.
“Bird by Bird”: How I Use a Book on Writing to Teach Fabric Collage
Inspiration comes from many unexpected sources. I’ve found a book on writing by Anne Lamott to be both useful and entertaining when I or my students need a boost.
Making a 20-Foot Crocodile Quilt: Part 3 of 3
In the final installment of making “Crocodylus Smylus” I reflect on getting help and how it feels now that the quilt is done and living a life beyond my studio walls.