Irreverent Embroidey

Offered in May of 2026, the title and description drew me into this workshop.  Given the current political situation in this country, most of us understood the assignment.  While most supplies were provided, I decided it was time to embroider the pinafore style apron I’d purchased from Dick Blick.  Sorry, my photos aren’t great, but you get the idea.  I used my favorite embroidery stitch, Raised Chain Band, for most of the lettering.  I added a running stitch in black around each letter to make the words more visible.

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Trunk Show of Totes!

Greetings!

I have made many bags over the years!  I’m including photos of some of those bags.  I hope you'll enjoy looking at my photos! 

 

The tote bag shown below is made from one of my all-time favorite fabrics, found while I was in Joann Fabrics with my (visiting) sister.  Another customer was having some of this "Hudson 43" home decor fabric cut.  My sister and I both loved the chicken fabric, but didn't buy any at that time.  I went back the next day and scoured the store to find this fabric.  Once I found it, I bought a piece, later sharing it with my sister.  Since that time, both of us have "collected" more of this print!  Good thing, as it's now been discontinued.  

The tote bag has no batting in it.  It is lined with mattress ticking.  I sewed the top edge with a decorative machine stitch.  I also added a few black/white polka dotted buttons as trim.

 

The next tote pictured is one I call "Strip-pieced Whopper Shopper.  This large tote bag was a way for me to use up some smaller pieces of fabric.  The tote is made of bright, jewel-toned fabrics.   My favorite!  Strips of patchwork pieces were strip-pieced atop quilt batting.  I used strips in 3 different widths to add visual interest.  The bag was lined AFTER the body and straps were sewn together.  My design, 2018.

 

The next bag was inspired by a Boro (stitching) class I took in 2018  I've made, or started a number of totes using this stitching technique.  The bag has a crazy quilt appearance

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I made this colorful bag in the late 1990's.  I used Benartex fabrics purchased at the AQS show in Paducah, KY.  I used a commercial sewing pattern for this one.  McCall's 7567 is the pattern I used.  The bag wasn't shown in patchwork but I figured "why not try it?"

 

"Shaggy Raggy Baggy" was made for a Kaufman Fabrics purse challenge contest years ago.  The bag traveled around the country as part of the contest exhibit.  There is no pattern:  I made it up!  The bottom section of the bag is made of fabric strips knotted together, then knitted.

The small necklace purse shown below was made for an exhibit at the Madison Art Glass and Bead Show in 2015.  Participants purchased a special handmade featured "show" bead, then used it in their entries.  Some entries were jewelry creations, but it wasn't a requirement.  I chose to make a small purse.  The first photo shows the back of the purse, the second, the front of the purse.

 

"Alaska Evening Bag" features a bag enhanced with metallic threads, tatting, and mother of pearl buttons.  This small bag was part of a purse display by a no-longer-in-business local quilt shop.  I didn't have a pattern for this bag.  I basically cut a shape out of a grocery bag and used that to design  my purse.  The bag closes with the miracle of Velcro.

A few more bags, just to look at!

Another bag featuring Boro stitching.  I incorporated some vintage embroidered pieces in this bag.

Sometimes I'll make tote bag handles out of two different fabrics!

I call this pink/black bag "Whatever" only 'cause I couldn't think of a name for it!  I wanted to use up some pieced squares that were a combo of pink and a tropical print.  I'd originally made the squares as class samples.  I dug through my stash and found some black fabric with bright polka dots to tie the pieces together.  I used black webbing for the handles.  I made plenty of mistakes in this mismatched, machined-quilted bag, but I still like it!  This bag was made in 2022.  No pattern.

Another Boro stitched bag below.  I love blue and decided to feature it in this bag.

The panel on the front of the bag below is an ad for my favorite local quilt shop.  Customers could incorporate the printed panel into a bag.  In return, a discount is offered at the end of the month if you carry in your bag!

I love chocolate and I love Halloween!  The bag below is another rendition of the "Strip-pieced Whopper Shopper" shown earlier in this post.  Most of the fabrics used were purchased while on a trip in 2021.  I made the bag in 2022.

The Making of a Valentine

I belong to a group of artists.  We all have a connection to the now-closed Valley Ridge Art Studio.  We stay in touch and hold art retreats twice a year.  One member recently set up a Valentine’s postcard exchange.  Names were drawn electronically.  My recipient happens to own a cute Westie named Lulu. I decided my Valentine would feature some reference to Lulu.

Thinking outside the box, I decided to use an 8” x 10” canvas for my “postcard”.  I had all of the

supplies on hand to create a valentine (no surprise there, as Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday).

I started with a white canvas, then mixed some acrylic paint and painted the canvas pink.

I then searched online and located a silhouette of a Westie.  I sized it down, literally

using my fingers on my iPad.  I then very lightly traced the outline onto a 

piece of printer paper. I cut out the shape, then outlined it onto heavy paper.

That served as my pattern.  I fused interfacing onto some pretty dark pink fabric,

And cut the shape from that.  From there, I stitched the dog shape onto my background

of antique alencon lace.

The pictures that follow show how I tested different arrangements and trims.

Once I declared the surface finished, I wrapped the excess lace around to the

back.  I used glue on the back (also underneath the dog appliqué and in a few

other, discreet spots).  I glued scrapbook paper to the backside of the canvas.

Here is a photo of my completed valentine.  I titled it “Lulu Love”.  Hope you

like it!

 

Online Workshop Taken

Happy New Year!

I recently had the pleasure of taking my first-ever online workshop.  The class, offered through Jeanne Oliver (dot com) was a mixed-media class titled “The Bookmaker”.  It was taught by Roxanne Evans Stout.  Students created a “book”, starting with a vintage or contemporary tin. Various techniques were learned and our books soon started to take shape.  I thoroughly enjoyed the class!

Not owning a vintage tin, I purchased a new tin online.  My tin measured 5” x 7” x 1”.  Because my tin was new, and lacking the character of an older tin, I pretty much covered the entire surface.  “Pages” were made from watercolor paper torn to size.

While many students incorporated rusted nails, washers, etc. in their books, I took my own path.  I made use of my large collections of fabric, buttons, and lace!

Please view my photos: