| Photo of the Month | 
I'm lost! "Gigi" by Caryn Axcell, was lost in Dulles Airport in October. If you ever see it in person or online, please let me know! Thanks. |
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Auburn, ME
Feb. 8, Mar. 15, Apr. 19
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February 16-28
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Harpswell, ME
May 9-10
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Harpswell, ME
July 22-25
Harpswell, ME
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November 18-21
2015
Pacific Grove, CA
March 22-April 1
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susancarlson.com
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 Serendipity Quilts | |
by Susan Carlson
Signed by the Author
8.5 x 11 inches, 96 pages
$27.95 plus S&H
Click Here to Order
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The Given Land is a novel written by my husband, which was inspired by our family's trip to New Zealand. When predators invade their island home, the bird heroes of the Given Land are forced to fight for their existence. Geared to young adult readers (aka our son, Sam), it will appeal to adults as well.
For more information, visit the website:
tomallenbooks.com
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New Year Good Luck Gecko
Happy New Year! Hope the upcoming rotation around our local star is your best ever.
To start the New Year off right, I've decided to give away a free pattern. Consider it a thank you to you, my newsletter subscribers. Below is a quilt sample that the pattern is based on and a link to download the pattern to your computer. This will only be available to those who receive the newsletter, but feel free to forward it to anyone you wish. Enjoy! I'd love to see any resulting creations, maybe even to include in future newsletters?
As the year progresses, I hope to make more patterns available to newsletter subscribers. I also resolve to actually get a monthly newsletter out every month! We'll see how I do with that resolution!
Otherwise, life here in Maine has been colder and snowier than we've experienced for a while. We certainly had a White Christmas! A few days ago, the snow was "right" and the cold not so biting for some cross-country skiing straight out from our door. That's always fun. So, we're staying healthy and warm so far. Hope you're doing the same. Take it easy--Susan |
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Newsletter Archives Now Available
Miss a previous issue of News from Susan Carlson? Are you a new subscriber? Now you can catch up on all you've missed. Visit my newsletter archives by following the link below.
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Dates for 2104 Harpswell Retreats
May 9-10, 2014
July 22-25, 2014
October 12-15, 2014
 | | Students hard at work during the October 2013 Leaf Peeper's Quilt Retreat. |
2014 will be my fourth year offering retreats at the historic Harpswell Inn, a classic B&B, in my hometown of Harpswell, ME. I've settled into either 2 or 4 day offerings. The shorter retreat is on the Friday and Saturday prior to Mother's Day in May. It's great as an introduction to my approach to fabric collage, since subject matter is kept simple and fun with fish, butterflies, or bugs. However, it's also been popular to returning students who want to get a nice jump-start on their next project.
 | | Welcome to the Inn. |
The four-day retreat is, of course, lovely in that there's time to get thouroughly involved in a larger project of the individual's choosing. It also provides time for the class to bond in great ways, starting with an opening night sea-side lobster dinner the evening before class begins.
What both offerings have in common is that I only take 12 students per retreat to give everyone plenty of guidance and workspace. The workroom (in the same building as most lodging) is open 'round the clock for both early birds and night owls to get in as much work time as desired. The innkeeper will even put on a fresh pot of coffee, though wine is often the beverage of choice!
 | | From the 2013 Mother's Day Quilt Retreat. A fresh fish by Jean Savalchak from our fine state of Maine. |
Our creative days are broken up by tea and coffee breaks, and relaxing chair or hand massage given by massage therapist extraordinaire, my sister Heidi. This is not nepotism, she is truly an artist with a healing touch. Walking down to the shore from the Inn is a quick and relaxing break during the day as well.
 | | From the 2013 Summer Solstice Quilt Retreat. A portrait of her grandson by Rit Verhoeven. (All the way from Belgium!) |
One of the evenings we walk or drive the 1/2 mile to my (new!) studio to see how I have it set-up and for a showing of slides and quilts. Here's a nice article about Harpswell, that highlights our own Lookout Point Road, where both our home and the Inn are located. My former yurt studio is mentioned, now replaced with a red-roofed barn-like studio.
 | | From the 2013 October Leaf Peeper's Retreat. A colorful bird by Linda Baar of Colorado. |
Finally, to cap it all off, we include healthy and yummy foods for lunches and dinners (breakfast is included with lodging at the Inn). Part of my own cancer recovery plan has been to make careful choices in what I eat. Starting with last year's retreats, I've chosen menus that I can indulge in and enjoy along with everyone else. Dick, the innkeeper (also former restaurant owner and chef), then puts them together in delicious ways. The food has received rave reviews and many recipes are requested and sent home along with quilts and great memories.
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