Road Trip to Northeastern Minnesota

This is a long overdue post!  I took a trip from my home in Madison, WI, to 

Grand Marais, MN in late November, 2019.

  

I made some stops along the way and they are pictured in this post. I was heading to 

the North House Folk School to take a "Blanket Coat" workshop Nov. 21 -24th.

The workshop was taught by Carol Colburn of Duluth.

First stop:  Busy Bobbin Quilt Shop, Rice Lake, WI, Nov. 19, 2019.
I ALWAYS stop here if I'm anywhere near Rice Lake!  I did not leave empty-handed!

I stayed overnight in Superior, WI.

Photo below:  killing time before stores opened in Duluth, MN.  Parked in Canal

Park, an area I love.  Wed. Nov. 20, 2019,

First shopping stop on my Duluth Docket!  Hannah Johnson Fabrics, located in

the Lester Park neighborhood of NE Duluth.  The owner has Madison connections

. . .  her daughter attended U.W. Madison.

Located a few blocks north, and on the same street as Hannah Johnson Fabrics,

is Yarn Harbor. A wonderful and cozy shop.  I found some hand-dyed yarn here.  

Oh, and a few knitting needles too.

A trip up the North Shore always involves a photo op at Split Rock Lighthouse.

The lighthouse was not open to the public at this time . . .my husband and I 

have been in it on previous Minnesota trips.

Quilt Corner, in Beaver Bay MN, is always on my list when I'm in the area!

Lots of north woods looking fabrics and a friendly owner.  With a winter storm

warning issued for NE Minnesota, I worked fast!  I made it to Grand Marais ahead

of the storm.   I stayed at the Best Western in Grand Marais.

Lots of snow and ice overnight!  Glad I got there a day ahead of my class start

date.

Beautiful Grand Marais, MN harbor, as seen from the North House Folk School.
Photo taken Thurs. eve Nov. 21, 2019.

The Blanket Coat class was being held in the "Boat House" at the North House

Folk School.  This photo was taken before the class began on Thurs. night.

We sure had a great view!



We used wool blankets for our coats.  I purchased a vintage wool blanket on etsy 

several months before the workshop.  This is my worktable (while it was still

neat).




These are muslin samples, made by our instructor.  They are used to determine 

what size pattern we wanted.  Students tried on different sizes to see which best 

suited their personal wearing style.  The coat pattern we used was designed by

the instructor, Carol Colburn.

My pattern pieces have been cut out.


Icy weather in Grand Marais!  North House Folk School grounds.


Teacher’s demo table.


Sunday, Nov. 24th was the last day of class and a beautiful day it was.  One student 

needed to leave the day before for a travel commitment, so he isn’t pictured.

Our teacher, Carol Colburn, is the lady holding the white Hudson's Bay coat.

We did not finish our coats in class, but we had good instructions for completing

them at home.  Needless to say, my coat still isn't done.  Finishing it will be a

wintertime project!   I loved the workshop!  I drove back to Superior, WI on

the 24th.  Stayed overnight there, then returned to Madison on the 25th.  I put

900 miles on my car during this Minnesota trip!

Beautiful Batiks

Batik fabrics make wonderful garments!  Tightly woven, batiks come in an endless
variety of colors.  The color lover in me enjoys combining different batiks in a single
garment.

"Regal Batik" is a 2009 creation.  The two

main fabrics in this outfit were purchased at
Mill House Quilts, Waunakee, WI

Below:  "Autumn Allure" (detail).
Vest, made in 2009.

Below:  Not yet named skirt-in-progress.  February, 2020

Update: later named "Brasstown Boho Skirt".

Learn Boro in North Carolina!

April 2020 update:  due to COVID-19, Folk School classes have been (temporarily)
cancelled.  

2020 is the year for you to learn a new skill!  Sign up now for my upcoming "Perfectly Imperfect Boro Bag" workshop.  You'll use some boro stitching to embellish a unique tote bag  The class is scheduled for May 10th - 15th, in beautiful Brasstown, North Carolina!

Information about registration, lodging, travel, etc. is on the John C. Campbell Folk School website. There is a link to the site at the bottom of this page.

 You will start, and possibly finish, this bag in class.

Registration is open now for this class, being held at the John C. Campbell Folk School!  The scenery is gorgeous!  Everyone involved with the school is friendly.  You'll meet like-minded creative types during your stay at the school.

Visit: https://www.folkschool.org/ for information about workshops, housing, meals, etc.!  Once you sign up, you'll be sent a class supply list. Please contact me if you have an questions about the "Perfectly Imperfect Boro Bag" workshop.


All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Seasons's Greetings!

 Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Serging Ahead!

I recently completed a four-session serger class.  The
class was taught by Trish Pulvermacher.  I learned
a LOT in this comprehensive class offered through
Madison College.

I purchased my Brother 1034D serger several years
ago.  So glad I've finally learned how to use it!

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Going, Going, Gone!

I made a boro bag as a donation to a fundraising auction.
The auction benefits the John C. Campbell Folk School
and is scheduled for Nov. 2nd.

Finished bag shown below:

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

A Visit to Isle Royale National Park and Michigan's Upper Peninsula

My husband and I recently were able to check another item off of our joint bucket list!
We both have long wanted to visit Isle Royale National Park and our chance came this
year.  We signed up for a tour to the park, sponsored by the Natural Resources Foundation
of Wisconsin.

Our tour officially commenced on Sept. 2nd.  We worked our way up to Michigan's
Upper Peninsula several days ahead of time.  We wanted to explore the U.P,
including Michigan Tech University and the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Believe it or not, I was quick to find a quilt shop in the Houghton, MI area.  I
found heaps of batiks at the Portage Quilt House, just a few miles down the road
from Michigan Tech.

Photo below:  Wood 'n Spoon, Mohawk, MI
I knew that I might find some handspun yarn at this
store.

Sure enough, yarn was found and purchased at the Wood 'n Spoon.
Photo below (taken after I returned home) shows a hat-in-progress.
















Now, for the heart of the story!  Our Isle Royale tour group
met up for the first time on Monday night, Sept. 2nd.
Once there, we were informed that our planned Tuesday
sailing to Isle Royale had to be delayed a day . . . this,
due to gale warnings on Lake Superior.

The Ranger III, a National Park Service boat, was rescheduled
to sail on Sept. 4th, a spectacularly beautiful day!  The Ranger III
sails from Houghton, MI to Rock Harbor, MI several times a week
during the warmer months.  The trip takes 6 hours.
The boat is shown as it's being loaded prior to our Sept. 4th trip.

After a slow ride through the no-wake Portage Lake Ship Canal,
we reach  Lake Superior.  The lighthouse shown below is at
McClain State Park,

 

Arriving at Rock Harbor (Isle Royale).

We quickly fell in love with the beauty of Isle Royale National Park.
The following photos show some of the scenery in the park.
A magical place, that's for sure!

 

 

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto