The merry month of May!

New posts coming soon!  Stay tuned!
Photo: a hen turkey strolling by my house recently.

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival

These two vests have been selected to be shown at the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival.

The festival takes place in Hampton, VA, February 28 - March 3, 2019.

If you're at the festival, stop by and see my vests!

Top: “ Stunning Strawberries”, bottom: “ Five Year Plan”.  And yes, Five Year Plan
took five years to complete!  I started it in 2013 and finished it in 2018.

The Beauty of Boro: Perfectly Imperfect

If you're into fiber arts, you're likely aware of a resurgence in interest about boro,
traditionally known as a Japanese mending technique. Boro is sometimes called
"slow stitching". Other cultures, i.e. India, use similar stitching methods but have
different names for them. While originally a functional use of hand stitching,
boro can also be seen as an art form.  Today, artists are using the technique to
refurbish and embellish clothing. In addition, boro can be seen in quilts and
other pieces of artwork.

Boro involves the use of simple, long "running" stitches.  It is similar to hand
quilting, but has a more rustic and primitive look.  Geometric pieces are often
employed in boro.

There are many ways to learn the boro/big stitch technique.  I've taken in-person
classes, watched online tutorials, and consulted books on related topics i.e. big
stitching, slow stitching, surface embellishment, etc. I've also put in many hours
of practice!  I still have a lot to learn.  A local shop, Blue Bar Quilts, offers
related classes. Maday Delgado is an especially great teacher at Blue Bar! 

View my photos: perhaps you'll be inspired to experience
the beauty of boro!  Feel free to go down your own road and develop your
own version of boro.  No two people will come up with the same thing.
Vary your stitch sizes, fabrics, and threads.  Check online . . . you'll see
that these stitching techniques have been done for years, and, you'll
find many examples to study.

I knew that my first project would be a tote bag.  The bag pattern is my design.
I call it "Marketplace Tote".  I used a cotton batting as a foundation.
One can use a piece offabric, garment, etc. as a foundation.  Pieces are
overlapped. Knots and thread ends sit atop the surface, not underneath,
as in traditional sewing. 
.
Boro was originally done by using pieces of denim or remnants of other utility
fabrics. Traditional boro projects feature blue fabrics. 

Many types of thread can be used for boro stitching.  Sashiko thread and perle
cotton are two threads commonly used for the technique.  Ito (brand) "Gima"
lace knitting yarn is also fun to try.  It is a flat cotton "yarn". Embroidery
floss works too!  Needles used for stitching are sharp needles with large eyes.
.

Scroll down to see my tote bag in progress, as well as the finished tote.  I incorporated 

some pieces of vintage embroidery into my bag.  I also added an unfinished cross
stitch piece (woman), found at a local thrift shop.  Note, I decided to use a different
fabric for each handle.  While the running stitch was done by hand, I used a
sewing machine to assemble the bag, lining, and handles.  Thin quilt batting
adds some body and serves as a foundation for piecing. 
 

 

I also made and designed the bags shown below.  They're smaller

than the tote shown above.  The bag on the right  is the one I call "Perfectly Imperfect Boro Bag".  It has a "crazy quilt" 
arrangement.  While my pieces all have raw edges, you CAN
choose to turn the edges under.  I like the carefree, rustic
raw edge look!  I have done machine-stitched versions of this 
for years . . . influenced by the 1997 book,  On the Surface 
(author: Wendy Hill).
 
I have also decorated some clothing with boro.  Contact m eif you'd like me
to teach in your location.

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.

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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.

Fit for a Prince

The 2018 Cherrywood (fabrics) challenge contest featured purple fabrics.

The theme focused on the late singer, Prince.  I purchased the challenge packet

in November of last year.  The entry submission deadline was 11:59 p.m.,

July 2nd.

I made a last minute decision to create an entry and submit it for

consideration.  How last minute?  I started my entry on June 30th, 

two days before the deadline.

The four Cherrywood hand-dyed Challenge fabrics are shown below.

 

 Photos below show my quilt in progress. I pieced a top out of various cuts of 

the challenge fabric.  I cut paisley shapes out of lavender lace and applied them 

to the quilt top using decorative machine stitching.  I added streaks of bronze

Jacquard (brand) Lumiere paint. A few lavender and white flowers were

randomly placed and hand stitched to the quilt top. The quilt has a thin, mostly

cotton batting.  I machine quilted the top before I added the binding.

My finished quilt is shown near the bottom of these photos..  I titled it
"Free-spirited Flamboyance: Raining Purple Paisleys".  It is 20" x 20", the
required finished size. While my quilt did not make the final cut, I enjoyed
creating it!

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!