| Photo of the Month | 
Milkweed may have a bad rap in some places, but I love the fragrance! Plus it is the primary food for monarch butterflies. |
susancarlson.com
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Harpswell, ME July 22-25 Houston, TX September 16-18 Harpswell, ME October 12-15 Charlton, MA October 22-23 Columbus, OH November 18-19 & November 20-21 2015 Pacific Grove, CA March 22-27 & March 27-April 1 Harpswell, ME May 7-8 Kerrville, TX May 17-20 Harpswell, ME June 9-12 Kalispell, MT July 8-12 Downsville, WI September 14-18 Harpswell, ME October 11-14 2016 Gilbert, AZ January 25-29 Pacific Grove, CA Feb. 28-March 9 More Classes |
 Serendipity Quilts | |
by Susan Carlson
Signed by the Author
8.5 x 11 inches, 96 pages
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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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Inspired by Libby
I'm proud to be a member of the community of quilters. It's a supportive, caring group that often responds as an extended family would when there's a crisis.
Such a crisis struck quilter, teacher, author, artist Libby Lehman last year. Though she is struggling with multiple medical issues, her personality and sense of humor is leading her way to recovery.
Last fall, invitations were sent to award winning quilters and teachers to create a 30 x 30 inch quilt inspired by one of Libby's quilts, to be auctioned off to aid her family with the medical bills.
This collection of over 30 quilts will be displayed at the International Quilt Show in Houston in October, and then at the American Quilter's Society's Paducah Show next April. The quilts will also be up for an online auction for everyone to bid on. This information will be announced on thequiltshow.com in September.
I'm honored to be a part of this group. My donation, one of the five unfinished quilts I mentioned in a previous newsletter, is now completed and off on it's own path. It's based on a pattern I developed for my Serendipity Quilts book and Celestial Portraits class.  | | Radius, a quilt created for the Inspired by Libby fundraiser. |
In this quilt, I wanted to reflect Libby's radiant personality and ready smile. I have to say I was inspired as much by Libby herself as her stunning quilts. There's a bit of yellow rose in the cheeks, a wave to her home state of Texas. Libby is known, among other things, for her Radiant Circles quilts and those of multi-colored undulating leaves. I happen to love both circles and leaves, representing cycles of life and growth, and both have been employed liberally throughout this quilt. The background is filled with spirals, a symbol of new beginnings, which Libby is facing with courage and determination.
Stay tuned for more information about the show, I'll pass it on as I find out myself.
Continuing my year of thank-you's to my own loyal supporters, I have another free download for you. This summer season's selection is a butterfly entitled Sinuous Swallowtail. The link is below. Feel free to forward this newsletter to any who might be interested.
And in honor of those creeping, crawling, and fluttering creatures so active this time of year, there are more new bug and butterfly patterns available for purchase on my website. Just follow this link.
Happy creations and wishes for a summer filled with sunshine, Susan |
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Retreat Dates for 2015: Update!
Please note that due to next year's HS Senior Prom date, my Mother's Day Quilt Retreat has been changed to the Thursday and Friday preceding this important weekend. This will leave my Saturday free in case I need to dote on (and no doubt annoy) my son, Sam. An appropriate activity for the evening before Mother's Day!
May 7-8, 2015 June 9-12, 2015 October 11-14, 2015
Don't forget, there are still 2 more retreats this year--July and October--those dates and retreat descriptions are below.
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Free Pattern for July 2014
 | Sinuous Swallowtail
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The butterflies have landed! Monarchs may be struggling (though I'm doing all I can to help them by letting milkweed grow), but you can create your own winged beauty with this pattern. This is my thank you to you, my newsletter subscribers. Periodically, I will make make more patterns available. At right is a quilt sample that the pattern is based on. Below is 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? |
Where in the World is Susan Carlson?
Teaching Schedule Preview:
After a very busy June, I have a couple months off from traveling. After my Summer Vacation Quilt Retreat (July 22-25) held here in my hometown of Harpswell, Maine, my next teaching gig is in September, when I travel to the Quilt Guild of Greater Houston to teach a two-day class and give a lecture.
Last Month:
 | | A scenic lunch with Joan Hodgeboom, owner of The Quilt Gallery in Kalispell, MT |
My travel usually involves flying from my rural home in Harpswell, Maine, to an urban or suburban location. The change is sometimes quite extreme, going from woods and open fields to high rises and asphalt parking lots. Last month I visited both London, Ontario and Kalispell, Montana, two very different locations.
A favorite subject of mine grazing outside the London Museum.
London is a lovely tree-infused and approachable city located on the Thames River (of course) nestled in Ontario between three of the Great Lakes. The five-day class was held at a university art department classroom filled with light and much talent.
I often find myself getting inspired with the ideas, thoughts, and directions my students bring to their work. These Canadian ladies were no exception!
The long summer days were perfect for after class window shopping in the gallery district and sampling vegan fare at the restaurants. I even took in three theatrical performances at London's Fringe Festival!
The second half of June was spent in the northwest corner of Montana, home of bison and bears, eagles and mountain goats--along with more talented quilters. The area around Kalispell isn't just rural, it's wilderness.
 | Elk antlers at the Visitor's Center at the Bison Range.
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Kalispell is near Glacier National Park and I had thought to visit there during the two days off I had between two weeks of classes. Unfortunately, even though it was late June, the famous Road to the Sun was still snowed in with avalanche and mud slide warnings. So instead, Joan took me on a lovely drive south to the Bison Range where we saw mule deer, pronghorn antelope, whitetail deer, magpies, a coyote, amazing mountains, and yes, bison (albeit from a distance).
 | My Kalispell students were not only from MT, but also Idaho, California, Washington, and Canada!
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I have been asked to return to The Quilt Gallery in July 2015 for another 5 day class (and another chance to visit Glacier Nat'l Park!). If you are interested, contact them soon at the link above since the class is already almost full with returning students!
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2014 Harpswell, Maine Retreats The July quilt retreat starts today(!) with an opening night dinner at a classic Maine lobster stand - a local favorite that sits at the edge of the lobster pound's wharf. The weather forecast for the week is lovely, and I look forward to greeting a few returning students and meeting new ones. I wonder what creations will come to life this week!
October's quilt retreat is now full with 12 students, though if you are interested I will put you on a waiting list.
Otherwise, the information below also pertains to my 2015 retreats (dates are above). Sign up early if you are interested! Contact me with any questions.
July 22-25, 2014
October 12-15, 2014
 | | 2014 Mother's Day Retreat show-and-tell of previous collage projects: (clockwise from upper left) Julia Anderson, Sara Crocker, Christina Blais, and Lisa Eaton. |
2014 is my fourth year offering retreats at the historic Harpswell Inn, a classic B&B, in my hometown of Harpswell, ME.
 | | Welcome to the Inn. |
The Summer Vacation Quilt Retreat and Leaf Peeper's Quilt Retreat are four-days long, giving 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.
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!
 | | Dayle Gruder's gecko from my free pattern (offered in April's newsletter, see archive box above). |
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.
 | New student Kandace Eaton's Billowing Butterfly. One of the new butterfly and bug patterns offered on my website.
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One of the evenings we walk or drive the 1/2 mile to my 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.
 | | Returning student Julia Anderson's super cool Wavelength. |
Finally, to cap it all off, we include healthy and yummy foods for lunches and dinners (a hearty home cooked 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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