Hey, quilters!

Susan’s enthusiasm for quilting is said to be contagious! In classes, she works toward keeping an upbeat setting, providing well-written instructions, and attending to each student with personalized coaching. Her quilts have received many awards in international competitions since 1997 where judges comment on fine workmanship and original style. With unique designs she’s thrilled to include charming, unexpected elements such as specialty threads, prairie points, piping, and great binding techniques. She invented the Groovin’ Piping Trimming Tool which is used to trim piping seam allowances and the Prairie Pointer pressing tool. In 2010 Susan was delighted to be named Minnesota Quilter of the Year! 

Susan lives in Colorado and has family in Iowa, Wisconsin and Tennessee.

Thanks for visiting!

Quilt on!

  • (IQF = International Quilt Festival, AQS = American Quilter’s Society, NQA = National Quilting Association, MQ = Minnesota Quilters)

    Flowered & Feathered Frenzy: first place AQS Paducah 2017, first place IQF Houston 2016, second place MQ 2016

    Psychedelic Big Bang: third place IQF 2010 Houston, second place AQS show - Paducah, several awards at NQA show Columbus 2011 (first place small quilt mixed techniques, Best Use of Embellishment, Best of Show Small Quilt)

    Hidden Tikis: finalist AQS 2007, finalist IQF Houston 2007

    Bouncin': first place IQF 2005, best of show-wall quilt MQ 2005, third place AQS 2005

    Carnival Star: finalist IQF 2003, second place AQS 2004, first place MQ 2004, first place Quilting on the Waterfront 2004, third place NQA 2005

    Kauai Chicken Star: finalist AQS 2004

    Spangled Star Banner: second place IQF 2002, second place MQ 2002, third place AQS 2003, first place NQA 2004

    Twirling Tassels: first place IQF 2001, Second place MQ 2001, finalist AQS 2002, first place Quilt America! 2002

    Party of Three: Best of Show Wall Quilt MQ 2000, first place IQF 2000, first place AQS 2001

    Pretty Flaky: first place IQF 1999, finalist AQS 2000, third place MQ 1999

    Opposites Complement: third place MQ 1998, finalist IQF 2001

    Celestial Chocolate: first place MQ 1997

    Darin’s Slitherin’ Snakes: Teacher’s Choice Award and Judge’s Choice Award MQ 1997, finalist AQS 1998

    Erica’s Candy Quilt: finalist AQS 1998

    Star Obsession: second place MQ 1996, Minnesota State Fair Sweepstakes winner 1996, finalist AQS 1997

  • Lead group of quilters on tour of Japan with Opulent Quilt Journeys in April 2023

    Published booklet, Stitch by Stitch, 2023

    American Quilter magazine featured Susan as “I Am AQS” in the May 2021 issue.

    The podcast, Quilt & Tell, featured Susan in March of 2021.

    Susan’s quilt, Hippie Daisies, is featured in a Wonderfil Specialty Threads advertisement on the inside back cover of Quilt Mania #134 (November-December 2019.

    In October of 2019 Susan began her 2-year term on the board of the International Quilt Association.

    TheQuiltShow.com launched Susan’s newest Dresden show (#2510) in November of 2019. This show details the varieties of Dresdens that can be created with a bit of ingenuity.

    In October of 2019, Susan published her 96-page book Dynamic Dresdens. Susan coordinated the work of 14 testers to make every effort to publish an accurate and easy-to-understand book.

    In October of 2019 two Dynamic Dresdens Rulers (18 and 30 degrees) were launched. The rulers are manufactured by RNK and designed by Susan.

    TheQuiltShow.com episode #2308, It’s Hip to be a Modern Dresden, featuring contemporary Dresdens and Secrets of Impeccable Piecing launched in October 2018.

    Flowered & Feathered Frenzy was featured in QuiltMania magazine #126 (summer 2018) on the inside front cover in a WonderFil Threads ad.

    Craftsy.com launched "Creative Quilting: Alternatives to Free Motion" online class in August of 2016.

    Craftsy.com launched "How to Bind a Quilt" online class in June of 2015. (In the first year over 5000 students enrolled and the average review is 5 of 5 stars!)

    Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine, summer 2013 issue features Binding with Pizzazz

    Patent awarded for Prairie Pointer Tool, March 2013

    American Quilter magazine October/November 2012 issue features Ditch Quilting ~ The Unsung Hero

    Quilters Newsletter magazine included the Prairie Pointer Tool as a staff pick

    www.TheQuiltShow.com episode #1001 showcases demonstrations of Marvelous Miters and making embellished prairie points, available January of 2012

    Nominated for 2010 Professional Quilt Teacher of the Year as awarded by the International Association of Professional Quilters

    Psychedelic Big Bang featured in Spring 2011 issue of The Professional Quilter magazine announcing winner and nominees

    American Quilter magazine March 2011 issue featured Psychedelic Big Bang on the cover

    American Quilter magazine March 2011 issue published article, Bold Threads Big Impact

    Bouncin' Trio exhibited in "Star Power" at Minnetonka Center for the Arts in October and November of 2010

    Wonderfil Thread of Canada released a line of 12wt cotton thread, Spagetti, in 20 colors designed by Susan in April of 2010. ...more colors to come!

    Named 2010 Minnesota Quilter of the Year

    McCall's Quilting magazine August 2010 published Prairie Pointer pillow project

    Vogue Patterns magazine June/July 2010 features Marvelous Miters in New Products - Editor's Choice column

    Hidden Tikis quilt exibited in TheQuiltShow.com special exhibit, A Twist on Tradition, at 2010 Road to California Show

    Prairie Pointer pressing tool released April 2009

    Marvelous Miters book published April 2009

    Groovin' Piping Trimming Tool GRANDE released May 2008

    2008 Professional Quilt Teacher of the Year nominee as awarded by the International Association of Professional Quilters

    Featured artist in Fall 2007 Journal of the International Quilt Association

    Piping Hot Curves released May 2007 ~ This 96-page book includes quilts designed by Susan and was written, designed, and published by Susan.

    www.TheQuiltShow.com episode #109, Piping Hot Curves

    www.NowSewing.net Behind the Seams show "Love Those Curves"

    Piping Adds Pizzazz aired on HGTV's Simply Quilts episode #1136 in December 2005

    American Quilter magazine Winter 2005 features Binding Pizzazz, an article on piped bindings

    Carnival Star appears in Judy Mathieson's Mariner's Compass Quilts - Setting a New Course and in American Quilter magazine Summer 2004.

    HGTV’s Simply Quilts episode #1012, Easier Attic Windows.

    Party of Three was used in American Quilters Society advertising for “The All-American Quilter” summer 2003 and to advertise AQS published books spring 2002

    Spangled Star Banner and Nine-patch Medallion were used in magazine ads and posters for Pfaff Sewing Machines

    Twirling Tassels appeared on the cover of The Journal of the IQA, Spring 2002.

    Lucy Fazely’s coffee table book, Quilt Style, includes Opposites Complement, Pretty Flaky, Party of Three, Darin’s Slitherin’ Snakes, and Twirling Tassels.

    Groovin’ Piping Trimming Tool, invented by Susan and her husband has a patent pending

    Slides of Susan’s quilts have appeared in programs by Libby Lehman, Maurine Noble, and Elsie Campbell.

    Party of Three appeared in American Quilter, Fall 2001; Quilting Today, issue 86; Journal of the International Quilter Association, Fall 2001; Lone Star Quilts and Beyond by Jan Krentz.

    Pretty Flaky appeared in The IQA Journal, Spring 2000 and in Quilters Newsletter magazine, December 2001.

    BYOP--Build Your Own Plaid was pictured in an article by Libby Lehman in Quilting Today magazine issue 83

    Rochester Women magazine published a cover story on Susan and her quilting, winter 2001

    American Quilter magazine Winter 2000 features article about the making of Pretty Flaky