Finished! So much fun.

I finished the project that I started in Sue Spargo's workshop.  What fun it was.  I just love this bag.  Sue is a brilliant designer.

I couldn't stop with the front, so I created my own design for the back.

The berries are hand dyed silk velvet.  They are just luscious.

And I fell in love with this thread.  It's half wool and half acrylic from Italy.

Sue Spargo Workshop

Our quilt guild's speaker for the month of October was Sue Spargo.  She does amazingly gorgeous wool and cotton applique quilts.  I love wool applique.  It is so soothing and forgiving.  I signed up to take the workshop with her to learn more about her technique and how she chooses her bright and cheerful colors. My son's girlfriend came as my guest.  After raising 2 boys, I have been waiting and waiting for someone to share my interests.  (Thanks Loren.)

Sorry Sue - you're a little blurry.

Sue, who is from Ohio, is originally from South Africa.  She is lovely, patient and full of information and has a charming accent.  She came with an SUV-ful of wonderful goodies displayed beautifully in antique suitcases.  It was an amazing amount of eye candy. There were tons of her kits and books, wonderful threads and luscious hand dyed wool and silk velvets, just to name my favorite things.

The wool is all hand dyed by Sue's sister.

It was really hard to pick a project.

This was the project that I finally chose. And so did Loren.

My friend Kelly picked a needlecase kit.  You can read about her experience at www.pinkadotquilts.blogspot.com

The quilts Sue shared during her lecture were the epitome of folk art.  The combination of wool, cotton, hand applique and machine quilting were unlike any other quilts that I have seen.  Inspiring!