Just before leaving Arizona, I had the opportunity to attend the American Sewing Guild, Tucson Chapter, Demo Day at the Quail Creek Community Center in Green Valley. What fun to spend the day learning and fellowshipping with over 100 people who love to sew and quilt and embroider!

The demos were excellent and there was quite a variety. Fringe and velvet embroidery ( I love it!), Chicken Bun Basket (based on a vintage project), Care of Your Sewing Machine (taught by a key serviceman from Cathey’s Sew and Vac in Tucson—he did a great job), Double Diamond Ruler (really neat—can’t wait to make something), Quilted Tote for your sewing machine extension table—as seen on America Sews) Fun!!. The Fashion Show was great but I “sew” enjoyed seeing all the great garments members were wearing! Love this hemstitched blouse.

Kaye Wood and friends drove down from Sun City and joined us afterward at our new home for a great supper of pizza on the patio.

Packing up in Arizona was a real test of my organization as we did not want to bring back things however I needed to pack for the program at Nancy’s Sewing Weekend and Sew and Quilt Events. We will be at Neal’s Vacuum and Sewing in Muscatine, Iowa on September 5, 2012. Call 563-263-4543 for more info.

Our travels in September will take us to Quilting Around Chautaqua at the Chautaqua Institution in New York, Sepember 28-30. I’ll be teaching the Mondo Bag “hands on” on Friday. Call 814-866-8227 or go to www.quiltingaroundchautauqua.com for details.

We had quite a trip driving back to Ohio. First stop in LA where we had lunch on Balboa Pier waiting for granddaughter Britta’s afternoon break at work at the 24 Hour Fitness center in Costa Mesa so she could try on the Bodybuilding competition outfit I was making for her. After making notes of revisions, measurements, etc we were on our way out of LA and on to San Jose for Easter with son Bob, and his family. Their pastor, Chip Ingram at Venture Church gave a wonderful Easter Message! Look for it at: http://www.venturechristian.org/sermons/2012/share-the-love-part-4/

We so enjoyed our visit with Bob and Lori, Lyndi, Bret and Britton and celebrated Bob’s and Herb’s birthdays and colored eggs. Missed seeing Lexi as she was on a mission trip in Honduras with her school, BIOLA University.

Sewing Tip: Had a little sewing project for Bob. He had reached into the oven and burned his favorite jacket (and his arm) and wondered if I could repair the melted nylon hole in the sleeve of his jacket. No extra fabric anywhere so I cut out the label at the back neck and turned it into a “brand patch” on the arm by appliqueing it over the hole.

We also visited the Lacis Museum in Berkley. We are looking for a home for my lace, quilt and vintage garment collection and plan to send some to different museums that are interested.

From San Jose we drove south to Pismo Beach to spend a few days with son Bruce and family. It was cold an raining most of the time but Herb and I packed a picnic lunch the first day and enjoyed it at the beach with our three youngest grandchildren while mom and dad were out. Grandpa assembled a really cute plastic playhouse with their help!? Once the lower frame was in place, they all got inside and Herb built it around them. Fun! While I was sewing the last version of Britta’s competition suit, the little girls wanted to sew. Each of them made a little purse including the strap and putting in a zipper. I helped them some but they are amazing at the sewing machine including the four year old!

At the end of the week we drove back to LA for Britta’s competition in Culver City. Britta put the suit on for a final fitting in our hotel room so I could make the straps the right length and add the clips. Then we spend the rest of the day adding hot fix crystals. This whole outfit was quite the project as there are no patterns, Britta was in LA and I was in AZ. It started with three triangle measurements sent to me by Britta, lots of pictures from bodybuilding websites and several “prototypes”. My Fasturn tool was fabulous to make the tiny straps and pull elastic into them! So glad I took it to AZ. The good news in she is planning to do this again and now I have made a pattern!

Britta’s family, our oldest son, Herb, and wife, Janet flew in for the event on Saturday night and it was really fun to be with them. Since this was Britta’s first competition, she was in the last group. We arrived at 6pm and she came on stage just before midnight. Then we went to dinner. I don’t remember the last time Herb and I were still up at 2am. Next day we visited Britta and Kris and met their pets—several very friendly birds. They went on to a dinner hosted by Kris. It was a joy to meet his grandparents and family.

We took the northern route ease and left Sunday night and drove north of Las Vegas. The next day, we drove Interstate 70 through the Rocky Mountains. What a beautiful drive in the good weather. We were lucky there was no precipitation as the temperature got down to 26 degrees in places and Herb pointed out if there was, it would not be rain but snow.

Once back in Ohio we drove to Columbus for the weekend to visit Herb and Janet and attend Micah’s concert. He is really doing well playing the bass.

Back home we got ready to drive to WI for Nancy’s Sewing Weekend in Beaver Dam where I taught Tips and Techniques for Fabulous Sewing, Quick Gifts to Make, and Make it Reversible.

We had a demo area in the Nancy’s Notions warehouse and “sew” enjoyed visiting with many sewers and quilters from all over the country. Beaver Dam is a lovely area. My classes were held on stage in the high school and everyone was so helpful. Great audio visual set up too. Herb is usually my av guy and says he “works for food” so he was concerned whether he would eat on this trip.

We are enjoying the beautiful spring weather in Westlake. The beautiful dogwood tree right outside our kitchen window has been in bloom since we returned. We will keep busy this summer but also hope to visit some of the wonderful sites in Ohio. I’ll be sharing these with you.

Until next time!

Happy Sewing!
Sue and Herb

Even in Arizona, it feels as spring is upon us! The trees and cacti are blooming, sun is shining. We hear the Midwest is enjoying a great surge of warm weather too.

It has been a busy February and March! Joyce and Fred Drexler, our Sulky friends came to visit and we all went to the Tubac Festival of Arts. Tubac is a small town just south of us where many artists live and have small shops. Highlight of our day in Tubac was the first stop to see our friend Nancy Geddes. If you love beautiful glass jewelry, you may know Nancy. She has had a booth at Quilt Festival, Puyallup and many other shows for years. Nancy and her husband have moved to Tubac and she has opened a studio in one of the Artist Galleries. It is filled with her beautiful jewelry of course but she is painting and combining her incredible glass work with her art. This picture is the piece we have in our entryway.

Joyce and Fred, Herb and I hiked in Madiera Canyon and enjoyed a picnic lunch.

The weather was beautiful while they were here and we had a great time visiting. We went to Tucson one day to visit all the Quilt Shops. Joyce and Herb loved the lunch (and dessert) at Culver’s.

On my birthday, we went to the Cactus Quilter’s Show at Rincon West RV Park. I presented a class on fun ways to quilt and create and over 150 people attended. The guild presented me with a very yummy birthday cupcake and the whole group sang Happy Birthday!

In the midst of all this we were working on redoing the kitchen in our new home in Sahuarita. One thing sure leads to another! We were only going to put in new countertops but ended up with new stove and microwave too so they would work with the countertop and back splash. I love our new kitchen.! Now all we (Herb) needs to do is put the beautiful new hardware on the cabinets. The new stove has two ovens—the small oven on top that can also be a warming oven is perfect for us. In the distance in this picture you see my sewing room. It is really full!

A sewing friend from Flagstaff, AZ was visiting Green Valley to spend the afternoon Majestic Hooping! I met Ginny when we presented a Sew and Quilt with Sue program for Odegaard’s Sewing Machines in Flagstaff last year and we had dinner with Ginny and her husband at a special restaurant known for the “live entertainment” presented by local college students.  These young people sure could sing and play the piano and we “sew” enjoyed the evening of music, mostly show tunes from our era. Fun!

Ginny asked for some help with a few things on her new Designer Diamond deluxe and we enjoyed the afternoon of embroidery. My tips for the very large turnable hoops: 1.Use the hoop clips as they help to prevent the fabric movement—pulling as the first side is stitched. 2. After turning hoop, use the positioning feature to check and adjust as needed before beginning to stitch. 3. Of course, use ample stabilizer for the type of fabric you are embroidering.  (Tip: Easy way to remove hoop clips once the embroidery is finished: Turn the hoop upside down over a counter or table and push the inner hoop out of the outer hoop. The clips drop out too.)

At the end of February we traveled first to New Orleans to attend the VDTA/SDTA Trade Show (Vacuum Dealers Trade Association/Sewing Dealers Trade Association). I taught a class on Sulky Stabilizers and worked in the Sulky Booth. Highlight was the Sunday evening event where I was inducted into the Sewing Machine Dealers Hall Of Fame. What a privilege and an honor to be a part of this group!

Herb’s encouragement and support through the years have made this possible.

From New Orleans we flew to Seattle to teach at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup. What a joy to see all our Pacific Northwest sewing and quilting friends as well as from all across the country. I taught for Husqvarna Viking in the hands on classroom on Wednesday and then lecture demo classes the rest of the days. My Quick Gifts to Make class in one of the tent classrooms was full every day! Kaye Wood was the teacher before me and had a “full house” too.

I am always so busy teaching I forget to get pictures of the event!

I had the opportunity to work in the Husqvarna Viking booth and to meet many wonderful owners and to send home a few new machines with happy new owners.

Highlight of the show was the Sunday Morning Community Service Event sponsored by Coats and Clark. Many of the teachers at Sewing and Stitchery Expo had been asked to mentor a young sewer. Most of them were from 4-H clubs across the state of Washington. I had the opportunity to meet this young lady as she modeled her first sewing project, a ruffled tiered skirt and knit top made from a Simplicity pattern.  She is holding one of the thousands of pillowcases made for community service by many attending the show.

What a joy to see all these young people with their wonderful projects!

After the show we visited my niece Tracie and her family in Sammamish, a suburb of Seattle, then took the ferry and visited friends and my niece Robyn and her daughter Kristin in Poulsbo. Driving and ferrying back to the airport was on a glorious day in the Pacific Northwest. We could see the mountain ranges all around us. The pictures do not do justice to the Olympic mountains and Mt. Rainier doesn’t really show in the picture but it was there and beautiful looking across the water and even from the freeway.

We were only home in Sahuarita for two days then flew to London to work with VSM Software, a division of SVP Worldwide on videos. I can’t say more but hope you will be watching for them on the VSM Software Learning Center! Many of you know I am not an Embroidery Software Expert but I love to embroider and love to quilt so if it can be easy I’m onto it!! Hope you have watched the videos in the Software Learning Center on the 5D Cardshop program.

My latest project has been a Bodybuilder’s Competition Suit for our 26 year old granddaughter Britta. She will compete the first part of April and asked me to make her costume. Wow, this was a challenge. There are no patterns for these suits. Lots of websites to see them and to see fabrics but the websites don’t sell the fabric. They make the costumes. She sent “measurements” for the “triangles” so the top was pretty easy however the bottom was a real challenge as the “triangle measurements” really did not tell me much about how to make the narrowing “strap” that goes up over her hip and loops into the “ties” (thank goodness for Fasturn!) from the top. I sent off the first try and am waiting to hear from her. Actually there were two first try bottoms as one was my reject but sent it anyway for size comparison. I’ll keep you posted!

We’ve been enjoying Arizona however the Javelinas (large animals that look something like a pig-pronounced Havealena) have been eating our plants. Herb is “fit to be tied”. In Ohio he sprays the plants so the deer won’t eat them! In AZ he is trying to spray the plants so the Javelina won’t eat them. I took these pictures right outside our back door early one morning just before telling them enough is enough—to get out of our yard!

Herb loves birds and his desk is at a window looking into the back yard. He is amazed how many birds there are here and they are not afraid of us. We sit on the patio right next to the quail, finches, cardinals, sparrows, and so many more. And on our front entry light, this dove has hatched three little babies.

We are off next week to head back to Westlake, Ohio where we will put our home there up for sale. Our trip will take us via California with first stop at Britta’s in LA to “test out” the competition costume, then on to San Jose to spend Easter with son, Bob and his family, then on to Pismo Beach to spend a few days with son, Bruce and his family, then back to LA for Britta’s Bodybuilding Competition. Her mom and dad, our oldest son, Herb will fly out for the competition. Then we drive across the country to Ohio.

We plan to visit two Lace Museums in the San Jose area. I have quite a collection of bobbin lace and other laces and vintage garments and am looking for a home for them. I’d like to have them in a place where others can enjoy them as much as I have.

Wishing you all a very blessed Easter season and remembering what Easter means to us. It is because of Christ’s sacrifice that we can know Him as our Savior and enjoy the peace and joy He brings to our lives.

Easter Blessings!
Sue and Herb

We set up my sewing room in the den/bedroom off the front hall. I thought all the sewing books would fit into the two bookcases we brought but should have known better. It is a little tight in this room. My big antique desk, two bookcases, table for machines, a couple of chests full of sewing supplies, ironing board and iron, a daybed for extra overnight guests, and three office chairs. But it works. Of course there are other sewing areas in our home. We have set up half of the two car garage as a sewing area. Fortunately the back of the garage has cabinets floor to ceiling and Herb let me fill them with my tubs of fabric! Then his big ladders are along the window wall in the garage, then my big cutting table, 12 suitcases of samples, ironing board, hanging rack, dress form, 8 three drawer units with thread and sewing supplies, plus very large tubs that divide the sewing side of the garage from Herb’s “man cave”. His little ‘93 Honda Del Sol is in the middle, three workbenches, many tools and “stuff”, a big vice, drill press—and more. But it works!! The climate is so fabulous we can work out there just about any time of day or night. We’ll see what happens when summer comes!

My sister came for a week to go to the Tucson Quilt Guild Fiesta Quilt Show where I was the guest speaker. This is a wonderful show and the 100th birthday of the state of Arizona made it extra special this year. Many Arizona quilts absolutely beautiful. My sister, Gini and I did quite a bit of sewing too. We both made Mondo Bags, a pattern from Quilt Smart. What fun these are to make and to carry. Of course we set up our cutting, pressing and sewing stations along the kitchen counter and into the family room. Herb said, “It’s not enough you have one bedroom and half the garage, now you’re taking over the rest of the house”. Only my sewing and quilting friends would understand.

We taught at a special event in Tucson for Cathey’s Sew and Vac. One day I taught the Mondo Bag hands on. It was a great success and everyone loved the project. The different fabric combinations and colors were amazing. The room looked like a technicolor dream. Pam Damour was the other speaker at this event and she and her little dog Chrissie stayed with us. Fun!

We are redoing the kitchen. I’ll take pictures and tell you more once it is complete.

Until next time,

Happy Sewing! 

Our trips began with the towing of a UHaul to our daughter Nadya’s new home in Minneapolis. Herb and I loaded the trailer with furniture, boxes of dishes and other “stuff” we thought she would enjoy. What fun to be with her and help with some little projects. We polished my mom’s (her grandma, Nanny) silver service and put it with other family pieces into the 1890’s china cabinet that came from her great grandparents. Herb put in a new dryer vent while we sewed curtains for the kitchen and pantry from a beautiful batik that went with the chocolate brown walls.  The weather was crisp but we left just in time to miss the snow!

Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, the moving van loaded almost 600 pieces. Over 300 of them boxes that Herb and I had packed. It rained the whole day so loads of mud and wet and cold as the doors had to be open. The next day we were in the car ready to leave and it would not start. We’ve had lots of problems this fall and finally found out the replacement windshield was not put in correctly so water was leaking into the fuse block and shorting it out. Never a dull minute!

Early the next morning we finally left and drove to son Herb’s home in Columbus, Ohio to celebrate Thanksgiving with them. What a great day. We are so Thankful for the blessing of family, good health and so many opportunities!

Then off to drive to California “on the way” to Arizona. We presented a program at Luella’s Quilt Basket in Redondo Beach and had a great time with about 80 ladies. Luella is retiring at the end of the year so it was a celebration of her many years in business.

The next day was our granddaughters 9th birthday celebration with us. Her class did a great job coloring the nativity ornaments on the log cabin quilt project. We helped get ready for her big party on Sunday when 14 friends would make Christmas Gingerbread Houses!

We missed the big party as had to leave for Arizona to meet the moving van which was delayed a day and arrived on Tuesday. Unfortunately it was a cold day in Sahuarita as we were outside most of the day checking in the pieces. Several of the antique pieces needed repair so that kept Herb busy the next few days and I was unpacking boxes and making some gifts. One of the first things set up was my sewing machine!

We set up for the Cathey’s Sew with Sue event on Thursday and 36 ladies sewed like crazy on Friday and Saturday. Almost all finished their 8 projects and we had a great time doing it. Many embroidered a lovely card created in 5D Card Shop as well. I plan to get a couple of the very quick cute ones posted soon. Sunday almost 60 people attended as we presented more gift ideas, ate lots of great food, learned about new notions, and “sew” much more.

For some reason I thought I had a week and a half before we would leave for our California families. On Wednesday night, I was organizing my desk and looked closely at my datebook and almost panicked! I had lost a week! We were leaving for California on Friday morning—a day away!! There was a time I would not have been able to do this. I wanted to have much more unpacked and organized before we left, but it will all be waiting for us when we get back.

Somehow we worked in buying a new refrigerator and having the windshield replaced on Thursday and off we went to our first stop back in Simi Valley to celebrate Christmas with our youngest grandchildren. What a joy they are! Now we are in San Jose with our second son and family. Their girls are 21 and 19 and sons 17 and 13 so the activities are totally different. We are enjoying every minute.

We will be teaching at the Quilt Show in Tucson, AZ January 20-22 and then another program with the Cathey’s January 29-31. I’ll do a program for the Quilters of Rincon County February 18 then on to the Sewing Expo in Puyallup February 29- March 4. We missed getting to the Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup last year so are especially looking forward to seeing all our Friends in the Pacific Northwest.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday week and very Happy New Year!

Until next time,

Sue and Herb

We had a great day with Luke’s Sewing Center in Cincinnatti yesterday! Over 100 people attended the event and I presented trunk shows from QuiltSmart and from Loralie. Both these companies have such fabulous projects, embroideries, ideas and more! Herb and I brought some of our newest projects and techniques too. A great day.

Now back home to continue packing with a trip to Minneapolis towing a trailer of furniture and family “stuff” for our daughter there.

The letter below is mainly for our friends in Arizona but thought you might like to see what we will be up to in December. (In addition to moving and unpacking and enjoying Christmas with our family!)

- - -

Herb and I are very excited to be moving to Sahuarita, AZ this month! Actually we are more than a bit overwhelmed with the packing and purging!

One thing is for sure! We are “sew” eager to spend time with you at the Cathey’s Sewing event in Tucson, the first week in December! I’m calling it “Sew for the Season with Sue and Herb”.

When Cathey’s asked us to come and teach Sit ‘n Sew projects, my mind started racing with ideas. You may remember my Quick, Quicker, Quickest holiday projects from the past and this is the way I love to sew, especially in December!

We will make (and finish!) eight projects perfect for your gift giving and one project to be given away to brighten the holidays for some of the people needing some cheer in their lives. I just finished all the projects and sent this picture to Janice at Cathey’s.

My goal is for you to learn and stitch new techniques, experiment with new timesaving tools, complete 9 projects (3 Quick, 3 Quicker, 3 Quickest) on Friday and Saturday and to have fun doing it!

On Sunday afternoon we will share the Fellowship, Food, and Joy of the Season. Enjoy round-robin sewing clinics, a trunk show of more quick gift ideas and some sewing and quilting ideas for the new year. I will share the story of my first trip to Sweden for Husqvarna Viking which was in December and maybe some music too!

Plan to join us at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel, 1900 East Speedway, Tucson 85719, for all three days. Call the Cathey’s Sewing and Vacuum today, 520-721-4000 for more info and to register!

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

——-Until then——-
Happy Sewing!
Sue and Herb H

Greetings! my goal is to bring you news once a month and today I realized it is the last day of October! Happy Halloween. Once your kids grow up and grandchildren are far away, this “holiday” loses much of its luster!

Our trips to Michigan and the Northeast were terrific! We saw many sewing and quilting friends at the American Stitches Show in Novi and the next week at the Country Stitches stores in East Lansing and Jackson!

Then on to the Northeast with stops in Watertown, Cobleskill, and Bayside, New York and Portland, Maine. We have not traveled much in the Northeast so we met many new friends and enjoyed every minute of our trip except when we had car problems twice—but that is another story—too long for this blog!

We enjoyed a stop visit with free-lance Educator Deb Yedziniak in Manlius, NY where Deb took us to all the great sewing stores and more. Fortunately this is where our car died the first time. Deb is the educator known for developing the stitches for machine smocking that were first on the Husqvarna Viking and now can be found on many machines. Deb is a talented hand and machine sewer, lace, doll, antique and more collector. (Sound familiar? I share all those loves!) We met all her “girls”. These are her dolls arranged in seasonal vignettes. I wish I had pictures to show you! Next time!

From Deb’s we went to the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, MA. What a wonderful museum!! We spend almost a day viewing the exhibits, watching the films and enjoying the textiles. I especially enjoyed the “Harwood Stieger Exhibit”. This textile artist from Tubac, Arizona designed and screen printed fabrics mostly with Southwestern prints. My grandmother took me to the store in Tubac, AZ in the 50’s and I remember making “shifts” and “shirtwaist dresses” for my grandma, my mom and me from his fabrics. I’m looking for a home for my personal textile and lace collection and plan to contact them about it.

Last stop was a program for Mainely Sewing in Portland, Maine. Owner Jean Libbey has been a friend for many years so I was excited to be able to get to her store this year. The hotel was lovely (this was a good thing as we were stuck extra days thanks to the car issues) and even put America Sews on the outside billboard. Here you see Jean’s customers gathering and sharing the joy of sewing. Herb enjoyed a Maine lobster dinner!

It has been fun to show the new Embroidery Software program 5D Card Shop. I had the opportunity to make some videos and demonstrate some fun projects for this new 5D program that can be added to any 5D Embroidery Software. Go to http://www.5dlearningcenter.com/ watch the videos and learn about this new fun software. I love that it is “sew” easy! Just a few clicks through the wizard and the card is finished and ready to embroidery. Special cards for special people. I enjoyed making a 4 sided card into a Get Well card plant bag and stitching a “potato bag” from a 2 sided card. The videos tell the story!

Once home my project was to embroidery redwork nativity ornaments. I took a nativity embroidery collection and in my 5D Editor rmoved the fill stitches so stitching the outlines only created the redwork. Our granddaughter and her classmates will color these and add them to a Log Cabin Christmas Tree Quilt to be auctioned at their school.

These next couple of weeks we are packing, packing, packing! The hardest part is deciding what to keep and what not to! We hope to get the majority of our “stuff” moved the end of November. I had cataract surgery on my left eye last week and am doing great, however no lifting so when I get a box full, Herb has to come move it. We will drive to Minneapolis, MN the third week in November and tow a trailer of furniture and more for our daughter. Nadya. She just bought a house and we will celebrate her birthday with her that week.

Our next program will be for Luke’s Sewing in Cinncinnatti, OH, on Thursday, November 10. This will be the third year we have presented a program for their annual big event and we are looking forward to seeing many of our Cinncinnatti friends! Then we will be at Luella’s Quilt Basket in Redondo Beach, CA on Wednesday, November 30. These will be all day programs. We would love to see you if you are in the area!

Our final event for the year will be Sew for the Season at the Cathey’s in Tucson, AZ Dec 9, 10 and 11. We will be sewing hands on Friday and Saturday and you will make several projects and a charity project for the holidays. Sunday will be a demo and fun day.

Life has been as busy as ever and we love it that way! We were in Westlake most of August packing boxes and deciding what to keep and what to give away. So many years of accumulation! I have mailed almost 100 boxes of samples to guests on America Sews through the years. It has been expecially fun to hear from them and many share surprise at receiving the package and tell me they have fond memories of coming to America Sews to share their project. Our guests and their great techniques and projects were the key to the long life America Sews enjoyed on Public Television. I understand there are repeats airing all over the country. Go to the America Sews and America Quilts creatively websites americasews.com and americaquiltscreatively.com for loads of ideas and projects.

We enjoyed a trip West driving Herb’s little red car—a 1992 Honda Del Sol (he calls it his mid-life crisis, I say certainly better than another woman!) to our new home in Arizona. A little cramped but smooth ride even through the heat of Texas and New Mexico! Then flew to our son’s in Southern California and joined them for a Labor Day Weekend at Pismo Beach. Such fun to be with our youngest grandgirls ages 8, 6, and 3.

Back to Westlake for more packing. We haven’t decided when to list the house but are getting moving quotes to move everything. We plan a trip to Minneapolis in November to take some furniture and “stuff” to our daughter there. She just bought a house so great timing!

Tomorrow we leave for Michigan for the American Sewing Expo in Novi this weekend. I hope to see many of you there! Then next week we will be presenting a new program at Country Stitches on Tuesday, Sept 27, in East Lansing and Thursday, Sept 29, in Jackson. Back home for a day then on to bromg the Sew and Quilt with Sue program to the Northeast! Oct 4 in Watertown, NY, Oct 8 in Cobleskill, NY, Oct 10 & 11 in Bayside Hills, NY, and Oct 15 in Portland, Maine. Click on Where’s Sue, Current Schedule, and then click the location for more information. We always enjoy meeting our sewing and quilting friends and also hope to enjoy the beautiful autumn color.

I’ll be sure to take pictures and post some when we get back.

Until then,
Happy Sewing!

We hope you and your family are enjoying a wonderful summer and taking time to sew and quilt some special items. The second half of July we enjoyed a drive to Chautauqua, NY to visit our friend Margo and to pick up grandson Micah, at Mission Meadows Camp.

Spent the weekend in Pickerington, OH with our oldest son Herb, wife Janet and Micah then on to Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion in Huntsville, AL to teach with Peggy Dilbone and celebrate the joy of sewing with a wonderful group of Martha Pullen students. Highlight of the week was the surprize 30th Anniversary Celebration for Martha at the banquet on Friday night. The following week we presented our Sew and Quilt with Sue event for S & R Sewing with about 90 avid sewers and quilters spending the day with us! What fun!

Now we are back in Westlake and I am working on the huge task of going through all my sewing “stuff” and fabric packing and getting ready to move it to Arizona. It is amazing what I am finding! I thought I had organized a great deal last summer however that was just a start. I know this will get done but it is certainly overwhelming to look at it now.

This has been a month of learning sad news about several of our friends and friends of friends. So much illness and loss. We continue to pray for all of them. This certainly puts the day-to-day challenges of life into perspective. We give thanks for every day and the joy it brings to our lives.

Until next time,
Happy Sewing!

Farm Museum in GermanyHerb and I just returned from a two week trip. The first few days we visited his family Lahr and Hausach, Germany. Our son, Bob and granddaughter, Lexi joined us as we visited several sites in the Black Forest (Schwarzwald) area.

Grandpa and Lexi in GermanyWe visited the Freilichtmuseum Vogtsbauernhof where we stepped into a history of the Black Forest. This Black Forest Open Air Museum features unique farmhouses in their original state dating from 1599 to 1819.

Grandma and Lexi London Phone BoothOur next stop was London, England, where we walked all over the city and enjoyed seeing Buckingham Palace, (Lexi posed with the guard) Westminster Abby, Big Ben and Parliment buildings, beautiful parks and much more. I loved the “Bird Keeper’s Cottage” in one of the parks. The next day we took the “marathon” tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehedge, and Oxford. 

Lexi and Bob - Big Ben Herb and I went on to join Janie Lantz from SVP Worldwide USA and Lena Kantis from SVP Worldwide Sweden to work on a special project. I can’t tell you any more yet but am very excited about it and will let you know all about it just as soon as I can.

Lexi and GuardThis week we are getting ready to drive to Huntsville, AL (by way of Lake Chautauqua, NY to visit friend Margo Stuart and pick up grandson Micah from Mission Meadows camp) for the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion next week and a Sew and Quilt with Sue event in Huntsville the following week.Visiting Windsor Castle

Hope our paths will cross in person soon!

Until then, Happy Sewing!

~Sue~

Bird Keeper’s Cottage

Kimberly is known for her quilting techniques and has three books with AQS. She taught Precut Pizzazz making a neat flying geese quilt. I taught machine quilting techniques and students made a small wall hanging to display their sewing and quilting pins. On the second day they made the Dresden Plate Table Mat. This is one of my favorite projects to teach because everyone finishes it and it makes a wonderful gift. I’m going to add pictures soon.

We spent a couple of extra days with Kimberly and Kent and enjoyed a boat ride every evening. They live on a canal connected to Lake Tarpon, a really big lake with little channels into the parks. Felt like we were on the jungle ride in  Disneyworld. We all had lunch in Tarpon Springs with one of the Pastors from their church and his wife. They used to be at our church in Ohio and are such great people. What a small world. We really enjoyed their church on Sunday.

Then on to the keys to visit Emma and Al Seabrooke. Emma and Al  travel to many sewing shows and stores teaching tips and techniques for sewing with knits.Their company is SewKeys.  Emma and I sewed up a storm while Herb and Al went fishing. I made two pair of slacks, a skirt, three jackets and five shirts. Emma has the most wonderful and unique knit fabrics I’ve ever seen and the best stay tapes and patterns and notions for great results.

We stopped in Lake Placid on our way home to visit with our good friends and Viking store owners Nancy and Paul Vasilchik. Nancy brough a number of programs to the Quick, Quicker, Quickest Gifts to Make programs we used to create. She is a very talented lady and has designed patterns, embroidery designs and “sew much more”. I was great to spend time with them to “catch up”.

Now back home in Ohio, the last few days I’ve been working on a project I can’t tell you about now but will be sure to share with you soon. We will present two Sew and Quilt with Sue programs in Indiana next week . Hoping some of you will be there!

Until next time!
~Happy Sewing~

A quick note from the elves…

During Sue’s last trip, she took some time to think about the products she uses on a daily basis and to recommend a few of them that everyone might enjoy.  So without further ado, here are some favorites from Sue:

1) Havel’s Sewing - havelssewing.com

2) Sulky of America - sulky.com

3) The Warm Company - warmcompany.com