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

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

Projects Completed in a Strange Year

Like many others, I've spent a lot of time at home this year due to the COVID pandemic. 

I’ve finished a number of projects this year and I continue to work on others.  

Shown below:  Fleece throws made for two friends.  Our belated holiday lunch

was postponed first, due to bad weather, then, due to COVID.  I STILL haven't

given these to the friends.  Maybe next year!

Brasstown Boho Skirt.  My own design and a prototype for a possible

future class.

I was attracted to these wood/metal containers at Marshall's due to the Double

Wedding Ring pattern of the metal panels.  I decided that paint was in order.

I like how the boxes turned out!





A few of the masks I’ve made.  Many were distributed to friends and

neighbors.  No pattern.


This was made from a pattern called “Floor Tote”.  The outer fabric (roosters)

is perhaps, my favorite Home Dec fabric ever.  I've made a number of

accessories from this fabric purchased at Joann Fabrics.

Batik carryalls, from an out-of-print pattern, "Great Big Bags".




I used up some extra fabric to make slipcases for the two matching rugs I purchased

from the Agrace Thrift Home Store here in Madison.  I bought the smaller rug first, 

then decided I couldn’t live without matching, larger rug a week later.  You'll have to 

wait to see the rugs.

This is my submission to the 25 Million Stitches Project, a worldwide effort

to bring attention to the plight of migrants.  My piece has been sent to the project

headquarters in California.  The opening exhibit date was moved back a year.

It will take place in the summer of 2021.

Studio Furnishings: The IKEA RASKOG Cart

I love these carts.  They are sold at IKEA and have long been a favorite
of artists working in any medium.  The price has come down over the
years.  Colors are changed from time to time.  If you love a certain color,
snap it up now, before it is replaced by something else!  I was lucky to
acquire three of the turquoise carts before IKEA dropped them in 2016.

IKEA markets these as kitchen "utility" carts.  They should be called
"art carts", simple as that!  Sure, you can use them in your kitchen,
office, or bedroom.  But they really belong in your studio!  They will work
hard for you, never giving you grief about the art you create!

I’ve added “BYGEL” hooked cups to the sides of several of my carts. These

cups can hold markers, scissors, and other art supplies. IKEA sells BYGEL 

cups only in stores; they are not sold on IKEA’s website.

Photo: blue cart (left) and turquoise cart. The blue is close to teal in color.

It is a recently added color.

.
All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

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.

I

Making a Quilted Vest

I enjoy making garments and I often employ quilting techniques in their construction.

If using a sewing pattern, I look for one that has clean, simple lines.

When deciding to sew a garment, I’ll typically choose a “main”, or “ focus”,

fabric first.  The focus fabric in the (unfinished) vest shown is the purple/yellow/green

floral print. That fabric was a vacation souvenir, purchased in Bozeman, MT.

Once I’ve chosen my main fabric, I’ll look through my stash of fabric to pick 

additional prints/colors that might be worked into the project. I often make 

pieced strips ahead of time, so I can work them into my garment.

  

Note the fabrics I chose to add to the featured floral print. Some are prints,

others are tone-on-tone. I used a basic, commercial classic vest pattern for

this vest.  I typically cut my pattern pieces out from the batting, in this case, 

flannel.  I start strip piecing each front piece from the center outward. 

Sometimes I do designs that are mirror images of each other. My work

is always spontaneous. I love to play with fabric and see which pieces

work well together! This vest has an asymmetrical design, which I find 

visually appealing.

Up close and personal!  Once I have strip pieced my vest front pieces, I

love to add vintage and/or contemporary trims. I usually do this by hand.

Buttons and beads may be added for additional interest and texture. I am

careful to stay away from seam lines.  My embellishments are almost

always added before I line my garments. I then quilt the garment by hand,

or, with decorative machine stitching (as I did on this vest).

If I’m not featuring piecing on the back, I frequently use my main fabric

(shown) for the entire back.  Photo shows a portion of the vest back.

There is flannel batting underneath. I have used decorative machine stitches

and randomly sewn over the entire surface. I used yellow, green, and lavender

thread.  

This is what the inside looks like before I add a lining and complete

the vest.  The lining will provide a clean finish!