June 3, 2015

Sue Spargo was born in Zambia, and later lived in England. The stark contrasts between the arid beige-browns of the African bushveld and the lush greens of the rolling hills of Southern England has been the inspiration for many of her designs, and continue to be a vast source of ideas.

 

In 1989 Sue moved to the United States. She now teaches workshops around the US, as well as internationally. We are thrilled that Sue Spargo will return to the Hudson River Valley Fiber Art Workshops this year, teaching a five day Workshop, Contemporary Folk Art: Travel Journals from November 8 to 14, 2015. This very popular 2015 Workshop is already Wait List only, but not to worry, Sue will return to teach another Workshop for us November 5 to 11, 2017.

 

How long have you been teaching and what got you started teaching?

I have been teaching for 20 years. I have 4 children and when they were young, sharing my love of quilting was a way for me to meet new people and be able to have a little creative time. I started to teach from home first, then at a local quilt store.

 

What is your favorite part about teaching?

Sharing my passion for folk-art and embellishment and helping develop the creative path of each of my students through design, color and thread.

 

What would you tell your prospective students are the best reasons for taking a workshop?

There are no rules in my classes. 

 

My classes are creative.

 

We have a lot of fun working with color and texture and learn many creative techniques. I encourage my students to look at appliqué in a different way by incorporating embroidery stitches using textural thread to give each element in their quilt a textural character of its own.

 

There is always a lovely tone in my classroom which is due to the satisfaction of doing handwork. There is much sharing between students, and each student gets a great deal of individual, hands-on creative time from me.

 

What are you currently working on in your own art?

I am always experimenting with new techniques to incorporate in my quilts. Wool is an amazing medium to work with; I have found the possibilities are endless.

 

Where is your art currently being exhibited?

Last year 30 pieces of my work were exhibited at the La Conner Museum in WA. Currently, they are in my suitcase to share with my students.

 

Is your work represented in galleries?

No. I do not sell my work – I use them as inspiration for my students.

 

Do you sell your work in any online gallery?

No. Each of my quilts are very personal and have a story. I make them as samples for my books, and for teaching purposes. I hope these will be treasured by my children one day.

 

 

What is your favorite art quote?

“Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.” ? Pablo Picasso, Pablo Picasso: Metamorphoses of the Human Form: Graphic Works, 1895-1972

 

Describe your studio.

As I am writing this we are moving my business into a much larger newly designed space where I will have a lovely new studio and well-equipped dye room. We will have the web business here, as well as a space to teach classes in the future.

 

Name five of your “can’t do without” tools/products.

Freezer paper

Wool punches

Genziana wool thread

Milliners Needles in all sizes

Embellishment Fibers