2024 Wall Quilt Show, Portage, WI

I have a quilt in the current Wall Quilt Show at the Portage Center for the Arts!  See my photos.

My quilt is titled “In the Shade of the Old Cupcake Tree”.  It was originally made as an entry in a Great Wisconsin Quilt Show challenge.  The challenge theme was “baking”.  P.S. The vest I’m wearing was made for a different challenge, in a different show, 20+ years ago.

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Fit for a Prince

The 2018 Cherrywood (fabrics) challenge contest featured purple fabrics.

The theme focused on the late singer, Prince.  I purchased the challenge packet

in November of last year.  The entry submission deadline was 11:59 p.m.,

July 2nd.

I made a last minute decision to create an entry and submit it for

consideration.  How last minute?  I started my entry on June 30th, 

two days before the deadline.

The four Cherrywood hand-dyed Challenge fabrics are shown below.

 

 Photos below show my quilt in progress. I pieced a top out of various cuts of 

the challenge fabric.  I cut paisley shapes out of lavender lace and applied them 

to the quilt top using decorative machine stitching.  I added streaks of bronze

Jacquard (brand) Lumiere paint. A few lavender and white flowers were

randomly placed and hand stitched to the quilt top. The quilt has a thin, mostly

cotton batting.  I machine quilted the top before I added the binding.

My finished quilt is shown near the bottom of these photos..  I titled it
"Free-spirited Flamboyance: Raining Purple Paisleys".  It is 20" x 20", the
required finished size. While my quilt did not make the final cut, I enjoyed
creating it!

Quilt Expo 2018 Bake Off Challenge

I spent a good chunk of time this month working on my entry for

the Quilt Expo “Bake Off” challenge.  Entries are to feature a baking

or baked goods theme. Completed quilt must be 30” wide x 40” high.

I started hunting for fabric in early spring this year. I found an attractive
cupcake print at Joann Fabrics. I  purchased both the turquoise/white fabric, and the
yellow (cooking terms) fabric, at Blue Bar Quilts. I didn't know at the time how
I'd use those two fabrics. In the end, I used one for the background, and the
other for the "cabin"and for the quilt backing! Fabrics from my stash were used
for the tree and grass.  I came up with my design while watching a P. Allen Smith
garden/home show on Wisconsin Public Television.

I used raw edge applique and free motion quilting techniques to create my
quilt!  The cupcakes were cut from the print I found at Joann Fabrics. I used
the same fabric to bind the quilt. My quilt was enhanced by the use of brightly
colored rick rack, vintage tatting, and heat set crystals. The end result was an
only-in-my dreams cupcake tree!

My finished challenge entry, “In the Shade of the Old Cupcake Tree”, is
pictured below.  I submitted my entry about ten days ahead of the June
30th deadline!

Hoffman Challenge Entries

The Hoffman Challenge will celebrate 30 years in 2018!  Each year, the 

company designs a challenge fabric. Sometimes the fabric is offered in a 

choice of two colorways! Entrants can use one, or both, colorways in their 

entries. There are rules to follow and different categories (i.e. quilts, clothing)
to select. I have submitted entries in this contest four times. I submitted my 

first entry in 2000. At that time, entries were shipped to a curator before
they were judged (entries are now submitted online).  I waited anxiously
for news about my first entry. A few weeks later, my entry was
unceremoniously sent back to me. Obviously my vest was not selected
to go on tour. That entry is shown in the first photo below.

“Quilter Gone Bonkers”, ©️2000 Suzanne Myers Otto. I used raw edge

crazy quilting to compose the front of this vest. I collect mother-of-pearl
buttons and I incorporated a number of them into this vest. Pre-washed flannel

was used for the batting in this vest.

Vest back (below) is made of the 2000 challenge fabric. Note the decorative
machine stitching I used to quilt the vest. The stitching was done BEFORE the
lining was added.

Not to be deterred, I entered the Hoffman challenge again, in 2003. The challenge
fabric is the cherry print on a black background. This time I was successful, as
“Cherry Folkfest Vest” was chosen to go on tour. Yay!

©️2003 Suzanne Myers Otto

I often add hand-couched novelty threads/yarns to my garments. They introduce
additional color and texture to the piece. They are sewn on through the patchwork
layer and the batting (before I add a lining). Pretty Bavarian embroidered trim
adds to the folksy theme of my vest!





Ten years after submitting my 2003 entry, I got into the groove again and submitted
another entry. My 2013 entry (shown below) was selected to go on tour. I especially
liked the challenge fabric in 2013, as it my favorite color, turquoise. I used
a tool called “Flip Flop” to create the zig zag piecing on the vest front. Additional
strip piecing and vintage trims enhance this vest.

“Spirit of Valley Ridge”, ©️2013, Suzanne Myers Otto








Vest back view (below). The 2013 challenge print is featured. Vintage

lace adds interest.



I decided to enter a quilt in the 2016 Hoffman Challenge. The navy blue challenge print

focused on butterflies of many colors. I didn’t know what to do with the print!

Ultimately, I ironed fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric, then cut out

some of the butterflies. After creating a tree, I appliqued the butterflies, along with some 

“leaves”, to my tree and sky background. The leaves were cut from various green fabrics

in my stash. I painted the leaf edges with Jacquard metallic paint. All of the

applique on this quilt is done with raw edges. The coneflowers were painted on with

textile paint. This quilt was selected to go on tour. Hoffman Challenge entries chosen

for exhibition are usually on tour for one year.

Fritillary Fantasyland”, ©️2016, Suzanne Myers Otto

The 2018 challenge print is shown below. Light and dark backgrounds are available.

Entrants can use one, or both, prints. I plan to submit an entry! How ‘bout YOU?

A Few of My Favorite Things!

My love of sewing will become obvious to you as you continue to follow my blog.

Watch for additional colorful project photos.

Quilt-in-Progress (started in 2017)

Mixed Media Collage Quilt ©️2018 Suzanne Myers Otto

This piece was started in a class taught by Maday Delgado in late March.

“Touched by Turquoise” Vest ©️2001 Suzanne Myers Otto

Originally made for a Minnesota Quilters challenge contest.

I hand-quilted this with Sulky “Sliver” metallic thread.

I love all of the jewel tone colors.  Turquoise is my favorite color.