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

Gallery of Eye Candy

 Greetings,

This will be my only post this month.

I've decided to feature some of the work I've done over the years.
I've posted 5 photos so far. I will be adding more photos to this post!

"Twinkling Vesta Fiesta" (2005)

"Jacque-ette Cousteau"

Untitled

" Sew Suzanne"

 "Night of the Living Thread"

"Shaggy Raggy Baggy"

"Truly Tealy Vibrant Vest"

"Garden of Heartfelt Love"

"Who Will Sing for Me?"

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto

Perfectly Imperfect Boro Bag

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be teaching a multi-day workshop in which students will
start, and possibly complete, their own versions of my Perfectly Imperfect Boro Bag.
This class is all about big, boro-like stitching, in an easy-going and beautiful environment.

The class will be held at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC.  Dates are
May 10 - 15, 2020.  Signup opens today!!    https://www.folkschool.org/

We'll make a small sample at the start of class.  The sample can then be used throughout
the week for you to try out different threads before deciding to use them on your bag.  

Bring a sense of humor and enjoy this low-pressure class. You might finish the
bag in class, you might not!  Roll with the flow!   Finishing instructions will be provided.
Registrants will be sent a supply list.  Note: I intend to have some threads, ie Gima,
available for purchase during the class.  I'll also bring lots of fabric scraps to share.
Contact me if you have questions:  fiberotto <at> gmail <dot> com



Shown below: a finished tote bag.  The bag is approx. 14" x 14" (+ handles).
Underneath that photo are photos of each side of the bag before it was assembled.
Note the variety of fabric scraps and thread types/colors.  Lining and handles are added
by machine after the hand stitching is done.

Thin quilt batting is cut for the next bag.  Rectangle will be
the base of the body, strips will provide cushioning in the handles.

A bag in progress (see below):

I love to incorporate map prints and other prints featuring
designs with text.

This bag in progress features a lot of blue prints:

All text and images ©️Suzanne Myers Otto