Gallery of Eye Candy

 Greetings,

This will be my only post this month.

I've decided to feature some of the work I've done over the years.
I've posted 5 photos so far. I will be adding more photos to this post!

"Twinkling Vesta Fiesta" (2005)

"Jacque-ette Cousteau"

Untitled

" Sew Suzanne"

 "Night of the Living Thread"

"Shaggy Raggy Baggy"

"Truly Tealy Vibrant Vest"

"Garden of Heartfelt Love"

"Who Will Sing for Me?"

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Beginning Seminole Patchwork Workshop

"Beginning Seminole Patchwork" is a workshop I enjoy teaching!  Students use simple sewing
and rotary cutting-techniques to create complex-looking designs.  Students will make three
different samples.  This class is geared toward beginners.  A bit of experience using a straight stitch sewing machine is  needed.  If you haven't used a rotary cutter, I can show you how.

Contact me if you'd like me to teach this class in your area!


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Student work from a previous class:

Shown below:  Seminole piecing I later used for
a quilt, "Seminole Surprise" (shown at bottom).  Note,
I am using my Singer Featherweight to do the piecing.

I made the vest shown below in 2005.
"Twinkling Vesta Fiesta" features some
simple Seminole checkerboard piecing.

I pieced some strawberry prints, along with a few
other fabrics, to include in a vest.  See more on this
vest in my May 31, 2018 post.

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Strawberry Fields Forever

It all started with this . . . assorted strawberry-themed fabrics. A few tone-on-tone fabrics
in related colors were added to the pile. I like strawberries because they’re so pretty! And,
they taste good! I decided to make a vest from these fabrics.  My vest is not yet finished,
but you can see what I've done so far, by continuing down the page.

I made some Seminole patchwork strips while at an art retreat in early April. These strips
will be incorporated into my vest.



Once I cut pattern pieces out of the batting, in this case, cotton flannel, I started playing with
layout ideas.

This is a “rough” layout of the vest back.



I moved pieces around on the  front sections of the vest. I tried two different layouts. Note, some of the fabrics have traded places!

I liked the second layout (below) best.


When I reach the point of having the entire vest pieced, I’ll start adding some

embellishments. Typically I’ll start by choosing some novelty threads and yarns to be

hand-couched atop the patchwork. Photo below shows what I’ve chosen to use on my

strawberry-themed vest, so far!


Decorative strands are hand-couched in random arrangements. Using regular sewing thread, I pull needle and thread from the batting side to the pieced side. I then stitch over the strand about every1/4 to 3/8  inch. I give a slight tug to each stitch to create added texture. I will continue to add many
more pieces of yarn and decorative trims.





The two detail shots below show my hand-couched trims.  More progress will be shown on a
future post!

Seminole Patchwork Apron

I made this apron several years ago.  I used a thin cotton

batting in the heart-shaped bodice. I added Seminole

patchwork to the bodice. Decorative threads were couched

onto the bodice before it was lined.  Vintage lace enhances

both the pockets and the bodice. I used a Simplicity

pattern (shown) for my apron. While the pattern is now

out-of-print, it can still  be found on secondary market sites. 

The pink, white, and tan featured fabric is one I designed, 

based on a digital photo of a mixed media collage I made in 2010.  

Update: this fabric is a design I used to sell on Spoonflower at the time

this post was published.  I no longer sell on that site.

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