Woodlanders Retreat at Shake Rag Alley, July, 2025

 I attended the Woodlanders Retreat in Mineral Point again this year.  Shake Rag Alley brings the best instructors/workshops to this event every year!. I signed up for "Handsewn Leather Boho Bag", taught by Jim Kern. We were able to pick from various hides to use for our bags.  I was drawn to the combo of light and dark.  Students chose from one of three basic bag patterns.  Of course, you could "make it your own" if your vision was different than the samples presented.  That's what I did!  While not required, I had brought a few supplies along with me.  I ended up using my (fake) sinew AND the painted coconut shell button I had with me. The button was a Joann Fabrics find. Lots of hole-punching and hand stitching was involved, along with the generous use of glue.  Jim, and his wife, were very helpful with some of the tasks that required physical strength!  The bag I made in class is shown in the photos below.

 

 

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Closing of Joann Fabrics, May 2025

The rumors had been circulating for several years.  Bankruptcy had been filed . . . more than once.  The sad reality was that Joann Fabrics was going out of business.  Mistakes were made at the corporate level.  Joann’s was at one time, an efficient, and affordable, option for many.  It was one of my favorite stores. To those business owners who publicly trashed Joann Fabrics, guess who looks bad?  Not Joann Fabrics.  

Yes, I purchased a lot of goods and fixtures from Joann’s before they closed permanently. I made some longterm friends among the employees there over the years.  I’m hopeful that those who wanted to continue working, found jobs.

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Urban Sketching Retreat in Racine, WI

What fun it was!  Attending my first urban sketching retreat was a joy.  This retreat was held in late February/early March at Taylor Hall, part of the character-filled DeKoven Center complex in Racine. Fortunately the weather was exceptionally nice for winter travel.  Sponsored by the Racine Urban Sketchers group, the event was open to all enthusiasts of any ability.  I’m a newbie to urban sketching and I still have a lot to learn about it.  I was warmly welcomed and accepted.  The multi-day retreat fee included lodging, 3 classes, and most meals.  There were approx. 30 attendees, with a number of them from other states.  

I stopped at several businesses while enroute from Madison to Racine.  Schoolhouse Antiques, in Sturtevant was my first stop.  Found some buttons, buckles, and other curiosities there.  From there, I headed east, to Sew & Save in Racine.  I bought two pieces of Riley Blake calico. I’m making blouses out of each of those fabrics.  I’m embellishing the bubblegum pink blouse with vintage lace.

If you like to sew and you visit Racine, WI, you must stop at this store!  Friendly owner and staff!

Taylor Hall, part of the DeKoven Center complex.  Built in the late 1800's, this building housed retreat attendees.  Wonderful meals cooked onsite added to a festive atmosphere.

All of the sleeping rooms have names/labels.  My room was labeled "Abundance".

This room served as a classroom and meeting spot.

Several of the "throwdowns" during our retreat.  This is when everyone displays their sketches.  It's a fun, non-judgemental event!

Beautiful Lake Michigan is a short walk from Taylor Hall.

Pretty view on the DeKoven campus.

Meeting up with my friend, Denise Zingg was enjoyable.  Denise and I attended the same high school here in Madison.  I hadn't seen Denise in 50+ years,when I discovered she founded, and directs, the Spectrum School of the Arts in Racine.  Spectrum is on DeKoven Center property!

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Mindful Mixed Media Art Quilts

I enjoyed my first visit to Woodland Ridge Retreat in Downsville, WI.  This venue, owned by my friend Chris Daly, is in a pretty rural area not far from Menomonie,WI.  I was there to take Deborah Fell’s workshop on art quilts.  Class dates were September 10 - 14.  This was an enjoyable class, with a great teacher, classmates, and retreat owner!  The meals were excellent, as well.  Update: Deborah, our teacher, was quite ill at the time of the workshop.  Sadly, she passed away the following spring.

Below: my workstation and some of the pieces I made in class.

Below: students and teacher (Deborah is in the front row,wearing a green shirt. I'm nearby,wearing a purple quilt show shirt.  Photo by Chris Daly.

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Woodlanders Retreat at Shake Rag Alley, July, 2024

I love taking workshops at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point, WI.  Woodlanders Retreat is an annual event at Shake Rag. It’s held in mid-July.  This year I signed up for “Silk Scarf Dyeing and Painting”, taught by Nancy Welch of Madison.  The class was held July 13, 2024.  Nancy has taught the class a number of years and it typically sells out.  Some classmates were repeat students.

We used “Spectra Bleeding Art Tissue” to add color to our silk scarf blanks. Nancy taught us her method and we all left the class with colorful scarves!

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Watercolor at the Peninsula School of Art

I enrolled in “Illustrating Nature in Watercolor” at the Peninsula School of Art in June, 2024.  This workshop was taught by Becca Jabs.  The school is located in Fish Creek,WI.  This was my first visit to the Peninsula School of Art.  I enjoyed my time there and I hope to return for another class.

Students and teacher.  Becca, our teacher is the second from the left.  I'm the fourth from the left.

I drove through nearby Peninsula State Park one evening.  It's as pretty as I remembered it from my childhood days.

North to Alaska!

Note: after a long absence from updating this blog, I’m now adding a number of new posts. Many have been backdated (I’m adding them months later).  Hope you enjoy them!

We had the great pleasure of visiting Alaska again.  We have been there many times, but never in winter!  Our trip, a Holiday Vacations tour, was scheduled in  mid-March, giving us a chance to see the Northern Lights from the Last Frontier.

The tour started in Anchorage, a beautiful city in a beautiful setting!  It was cold and icy, with record snowfall on the ground.  We were well prepared with down coats, long underwear, and snow boots.  We spent several nights in Anchorage, before being bussed to Talkeetna. Talkeetna has a quilt shop these days!  And, the world’s best pizza at Mountain High Pizza. Oh, and the Mayor is a cat!!  With very limited time, I visited the quilt shop and was unable to meet Mr. Mayor.  Some members of the tour group met him . . . said he was quite friendly.  I purchased some Alaska-themed fat quarters at the quilt shop.

 

 

 

 

Anchorage, as seen from the 14th floor of the Hilton Hotel.  This view is looking east towards the Chugach Mountain.

 

 

 Couldn't pass up a visit to the Musk Ox Producers Co-Operative.  It's a six block walk from the Hilton Hotel.  Record snowfall in Anchorage meant big piles of snow everywhere.

 

 

View from our bus, while traveling north from Anchorage to Talkeetna.  This view is looking westward towards the Alaska Range. 

 

 

Following a bus ride to Talkeetna for lunch, we visited the Dallas Seavey Kennels.  Dallas was racing in the Iditarod at the time, so we did not get to meet him (he later won the race).  Visiting the kennels and being pulled by a dog sled was one of the highlights of our trip.  Jim served as a musher for our sled.

 

 

 

After our sled adventure we cuddled with our lead dog.  

 

 

 

We spent one night at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge.  The lodge is slightly southeast of the town of Talkeetna.  Added note: we saw 3 moose IN Talkeetna as we were leaving to head for the lodge.

Lots of snow in this area!  Really nice hotel! 

Watching the northbound train pull in at the Talkeetna Depot.  The Alaska Railroad calls this train the 'Aurora Train" in winter.  Our destination was Fairbanks.

 

 

 

The train made a brief stop at the Denali Park Depot.  I've been here in the summer when there are hundreds of passengers waiting for the train.  Nobody waiting this time.  Passengers were allowed to get off the train and stretch their legs.  Second photo below: Jim and I, with the train's conductor. He spent some time chopping ice of the stairways to the train during this stop. 

 

 

 

       

Another highlight of the trip: Northern Lights viewing at the Aurora Pointe Activity Center.  This venue is approx. 12 miles northeast of Fairbanks.  Our group had reservations for 3 night in a row.  The center is open from 10 p.m. til 2 a.m.   These first two photos were taken on the first night.  The lights were not seen the next two nights.  The last photo was taken in Fairbanks at the Westmark Hotel just before our tour group was taken to the airport for the overnight flights home.

   

    

  

 

     

 

 

 

 

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto