Sue Spargo Day & Clamshells

I had the BEST day on Sunday!  It was Sue Spargo Day!

This was our project - the Greta Needle Roll.  This is a picture of Sue's.  I was blown away when I saw it in the flesh.  The detailing just doesn't show up well enough in photos.

I spent the whole day on Saturday gathering up all my requirements.  I was very worried that I didn't have enough stuff but by the end of the day, I really had to cull what I had packed, you would think I was making a queen sized quilt with the amount of fabrics I had packed.  Did I really need fat quarters of three different green wools to make two leaves???

We learnt all about embellishing our applique with different types of thread and fabrics.  I purchased these beautiful silk threads, along with some velvet ribbon and this beautiful green velvet that I am going to use on top of my wool leaves.

This is as far as I got on the day.  The flower on the right is what I would have normally done and think how clever I was to use wool with fabric.  The flower on the left is what Sue taught me with embellishing. 

I learnt how to sew seed beads and do those wonderful stamens.  I am still amazed at the difference a little embellishing can make to something and I am now looking at all my applique pieces around the house thinking if I just outlined this petal here or that leaf there, how would it look?

This is the outside of my sewing roll.  I did have another piece in the centre but late in the day I spotted this beautiful piece of linen with dogs printed all over it and just had to have it.

If you ever get the chance to go to one of Sue's classes, I thoroughly recommend it.  I received lots of individual tuition from her and she is the lovliest person.  Sue's friend, Melissa showed us how to make roving balls and helped us throughout the day too.  Her needle roll was to die for too!  Above is the label I am going to sew onto my needle roll - Sue wrote it for me!!!!

I also purchased Sue's latest book and love it.  It is jam packed with lots of projects in it and I also got it signed by her.

I was so focused in the class that I really didn't buy much fabric or take lots of photos of what other students were doing (slack of me I know) and I didn't even take photos of Sue's quilts because no photo would be able to do justice to them.  They are amazing and I have come away full of new inspiration and a mind that is switching from one idea to the next at double time!!!

Thank you Sue and Melissa for the best day!!!!

Also, the class was held at Amitie Textiles in Melbourne.  Jenny was a wonderful hostess and made us feel very very welcome and looked after us all day.  Amitie is definately going to be on my "must visit" list next time I am in Melbourne.

Today is Clamshell Day.  I have now completed 8 rows of clamshells and have nearly run out of prepped ones so it will be back to the cutting board for me.  I am really liking how it is turning out and have decided to really mix up the fabrics with some darks and brights as well as the pastels that I seemed to have prepared first.  It has been a bit hard for me to get a decent photo of the whole width.

I hope everyone has a great week and now I will be counting down the days until Sue returns to Australia in two year's time.

Sue-Anne xxx