Asheville Quilt Guild May 2019

Our meeting of the Asheville Quilt Guild met last week where we hosted national quilting personality Susan Cleveland. Susan presented a fabulous lecture followed by a workshop the following day before heading over to our next door neighbor - the Western N. Carolina Quilt Guild in Hendersonville.

Our heads were spinning as Susan presented her many quilts. Using a camera on a stand, she was able to show us closeups of her techniques displayed on a very large screen. She shared so many wonderful details with us that I want to share with you. The "red arrow" and "circles" will lead you to what I'm referring to. Her daisy on top has detail lines using 12 weight cotton double gassed thread. The red circle above is showcased little "lazy daisy" embroidery stitches.

Susan makes it very clear that she doesn't like or feels comfortable doing free motion quilting. She prefers to stitch by hand (below) or use a large machine stitch and a heavier thread to machine quilt.

She is known for her very tiny piping and has a tool to make it happen (I bought it at the meeting and can't wait to use it). The red arrow points to the yellow and red piping.

 I think what I loved the most is her attention to detail...as in above with the small blue felt circle also embroidered. The quilt below on the right has piping with embroidery on it....so clever.

The flowers below have a piece of cheese cloth as an insert with tiny little sequins sewn here and there (red circle) and rick rack!!!....Do you love it! I have always been a lover of rick rack...have used it for almost as long as I've been on this earth...first on my own doll clothes, then my clothes, then my daughter's clothes and now quilts. It's so retro and wonderful and great to see on this quilt. Also take notice of the red arrow to see what Susan calls her Morse Code stitching....with the dots (french knots) and dashes...love it. Also notice the beautiful buttonhole stitching around the edges of the petals done in a contrasting color and heavier thread.

Some beautiful details all together.

I loved this small piece, the Prairie Points and little felt balls hanging on the point along with the beautiful little squares pieced into the strip...yes, they are sewn in.

Her Prairie Points are not just your run of the mill, ordinary Prairie Points....they have been embroidered first before folding them into the shape.

I love the machine quilting (above left) and the little beads (red circle) sewn here and there. On the right, love everything but the unusual shape of the outer edge is wonderful.

 And in this piece, the extra little xxxxs in the yellow area...such a nice touch.

Susan shared her latest love with us, the Dresdan Plate done in such a unique manner....hmmmmm....wonder if we can look forward to a book on this wonderful technique.?

And last but not even close to the least, her use of beads....here on the binding. Her threads - Spagetti is a 12 weight, 100% cotton Egyptian cotton doubled gassed which apparently gives the thread a very clean finish...of course I had to buy some. The Piping Hot Binding tool makes that very teeny, tiny binding you saw throughout her pieces....anxious to try it.

So Susan had a free afternoon and Barbara and I had the fun of giving her a small tour of Asheville - below the Grove Arcade....and then onto...

the Battery Park Champagne Bar for some sipping and sharing...a Great day, great fun with a great and very talented gal....See more of Susan's work on her website
On another note, my friend Marene and I ...after seeing the lecture decided to challenge each other to make a small piece using Prairie Points and Susan's binding technique...to be revealed at our next PTA meeting...so stay tuned for some progress on my piece...but no reveals just in case Marene is reading this....( - :