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

Urban Sketching Retreat in Racine, WI

What fun it was!  Attending my first urban sketching retreat was a joy.  This retreat was held in late February/early March at Taylor Hall, part of the character-filled DeKoven Center complex in Racine. Fortunately the weather was exceptionally nice for winter travel.  Sponsored by the Racine Urban Sketchers group, the event was open to all enthusiasts of any ability.  I’m a newbie to urban sketching and I still have a lot to learn about it.  I was warmly welcomed and accepted.  The multi-day retreat fee included lodging, 3 classes, and most meals.  There were approx. 30 attendees, with a number of them from other states.  

I stopped at several businesses while enroute from Madison to Racine.  Schoolhouse Antiques, in Sturtevant was my first stop.  Found some buttons, buckles, and other curiosities there.  From there, I headed east, to Sew & Save in Racine.  I bought two pieces of Riley Blake calico. I’m making blouses out of each of those fabrics.  I’m embellishing the bubblegum pink blouse with vintage lace.

If you like to sew and you visit Racine, WI, you must stop at this store!  Friendly owner and staff!

Taylor Hall, part of the DeKoven Center complex.  Built in the late 1800's, this building housed retreat attendees.  Wonderful meals cooked onsite added to a festive atmosphere.

All of the sleeping rooms have names/labels.  My room was labeled "Abundance".

This room served as a classroom and meeting spot.

Several of the "throwdowns" during our retreat.  This is when everyone displays their sketches.  It's a fun, non-judgemental event!

Beautiful Lake Michigan is a short walk from Taylor Hall.

Pretty view on the DeKoven campus.

Meeting up with my friend, Denise Zingg was enjoyable.  Denise and I attended the same high school here in Madison.  I hadn't seen Denise in 50+ years,when I discovered she founded, and directs, the Spectrum School of the Arts in Racine.  Spectrum is on DeKoven Center property!

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Return to North House Folk School

I last took a workshop at North House Folk School in 2019.  The school, located in Grand Marais, MN, is a special place.  I was thrilled to take another class there in November!  Grand Marais is about 430 miles north of my home.  I made some stops along the way and stayed over in Duluth for one night before the final push to Grand Marais.

Busy Bobbin Quilt Shop, Rice Lake, WI

Yarn Harbor, my favorite yarn store in the Duluth area. 

One Old Loon Quilt Shop, Two Harbors, MN.  This was my first visit to this shop.  Loved it!

Gooseberry Falls State Park.  North of Two Harbors, MN.  Fellow visitors took my photo.  I returned the favor.

Split Rock Light House.  I love this view of it from an overlook on MN Highway 61.

View of Lake Superior out my motel window.  Outpost Motel, Grand Marais, MN

  Time & Again Antiques, Chetek WI.  I visited this store while enroute to Duluth. 

North House Folk School, Grand Marais, MN.  You'll be happy to hear that the weather improved markedly while I was there.  The school is on the shore of Lake Superior.

The workshop I was enrolled in was called "Making Hide and Canvas Boots".  It was taught by Jo Wood, a very knowledgeable and likeable teacher.  I'd been wanting to take this class for YEARS!  If you ever get the chance, sign up for this class!  You will love it!

Working in pairs, we each wrapped a foot with a plastic bag, then taped Duct tape all around it.  The "foot" mold was the cut apart to make a pattern for the boots.

Students chose leather from a selection of hides.  My choice was elk hide.  The leather is used to make the bottom/foot section of the boots.  Cotton canvas is used for the boot upper.  Felt boot liners were added at the very end, once the boots were sewn together.  The liners were purchased by students in advance of the workshop.  Most of us ordered those through Steger Moccasins, in Ely, MN.

Our classroom at North House Folk School.

There were breaks during the workshop.  Taking in the scenery was relaxing.

I collect embroidered trims.  I brought a selection of them with me to Grand Marais.

While cotton canvas was included in the class supply fee, I chose to purchase my own ahead to time.  I picked Hunter green as I love the color.  The boots are sewn almost entirely by hand.  Sewing machines were used to construct the canvas upper sections.  I sewed my trim on by hand.

Ta da!  The finished project!  Photo taken after I returned home.

 

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

September Happenings

Calling all fiber artists!  If you’re available September 7th - 10th, consider attending one, or both, of these events!

The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show and the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival have overlapping dates.  Both are excellent events offering classroom instruction, exhibits, and massive vendor malls!

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.