Paper & Book Camp 2.0, Shake Rag Alley, April 2026

This multi-day workshop was held April 24th - 26th at beautiful Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point, WI.  I take many classes there.  I'm also a volunteer at Shake Rag.  Karen Robison, our instructor (and a friend) is a wonderful teacher.  She is very knowledgeable and down-to-earth! 

Most workshop supplies were provided.  Students were invited to bring additional items from home if desired.  I brought lace, in addition to paper. Lots of lace!

We learned many interesting techniques!  Among them tea dyeing, cyanotype, layering, masking, and more!  Some students choose to bind their papers into books.  Karen showed several binding techniques. Other students are using their dyed/manipulated paper/fiber creations for collage projects.  

 

 

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

Woodlanders Retreat at Shake Rag Alley, July, 2024

I love taking workshops at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point, WI.  Woodlanders Retreat is an annual event at Shake Rag. It’s held in mid-July.  This year I signed up for “Silk Scarf Dyeing and Painting”, taught by Nancy Welch of Madison.  The class was held July 13, 2024.  Nancy has taught the class a number of years and it typically sells out.  Some classmates were repeat students.

We used “Spectra Bleeding Art Tissue” to add color to our silk scarf blanks. Nancy taught us her method and we all left the class with colorful scarves!

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

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