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

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  It was originally made as an entry in a Great Wisconsin Quilt Show challenge.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

Stops Along the Way: Part 1

I drove from Wisconsin to North Carolina at the end of May.  I was headed to the John C. Campbell Folk School where I would be teaching two classes!  I planned out the long drive to North Carolina ahead of time, noting points of interest along the way.  Points of interest, at least for me, include quilting-related venues and shops, yarn shops, and antiques stores.

Aware that there was an exhibition in Peoria, IL of some of the quilts owned by Ken Burns, I knew I needed to detour west on the first day of my drive through Illinois.  Ken Burns is someone I’ve actually met!  The photo directly below was taken at the Denali National Park train depot in August of 2016.  Ken was there as a guest of the National Park Service.  As it happens, he was staying at the same lodge as my husband and I.  How cool is THAT?

The quilt exhibit was being held at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.  This exhibit

will be on display at the upcoming Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, here in Madison!

Once I was done viewing the Ken Burns quilt collection exhibit, I walked over 

to a yarn shop LESS than a block away!  I didn't even have to move my car.

After spending money at the yarn shop, I hopped in my car and worked my way

South, to Effingham, IL.  This would be my first overnight stop. When choosing 

a hotel prior to starting my trip, I discovered one that was within five blocks of 

a quilt shop!  Oh my! 

Photos below are from the Wooden Spool, in Effingham, IL.







Stops Along the Way:  Part 2 will be published next month!  Stay tuned!

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

Quilt Expo 2018, Madison WI

Another Quilt Expo has wrapped up. Started in 2005, the expo continues to

draw large crowds!  I have been a presenter at Quilt Expo thirteen times.

Photo below shows yours truly posing in front of the official 

Quilt Expo photo board. Photo taken Saturday, Sept. 8th, the final 

Day of the three day event.  I made my colorful outfit in 2014. Not 

having shoes to match, I found some sandals at a thrift store. I painted 

the sandals, using Jacquard textile paints.

I visited my Bake Off challenge quilt, “In the Shade of the Old Cupcake

Tree”, on display at Quilt Expo. I was hopeful I’d get a ribbon . . .that 

was not to be.  The quilt is now on a two year tour.  Perhaps you'll see
it at a show in your area.

These recently completed vests were part of the “Vibrant Vests” trunk 

show I presented at Quilt Expo. I was lucky to have pleasant and 

good-humored attendees!

Vest trunk show set up in my basement . . . ready to go to Quilt Expo!

UW Health is a sponsor of Quilt Expo. They were giving out bags and

other items. The bags were popular and there were none left by

Saturday.

Nancy’s Notions has, in recent years, given out clever shopping bags with

a minimum purchase of $50.



Another purchase, another bag from Nancy’s Notions!

This purple shirt was available for purchase.

I had the great pleasure of knowing Nancy Zieman  for sixteen years.  She was 
one of the most kind people I've ever met. A new book by Rich Zieman, Nancy’s
husband, has just been published.  The book is very touching.

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!