How long I've been quilting...  I made my first quilt when I was 17. I quilted a little when my kids were young, but about 20 years ago quilting became a real passion of mine.

I began quilting because... My Mom taught me to sew garments, so I knew how to sew at a young age. I saw a quilt in a magazine and decided I wanted to try and make a quilt. There were no fast piecing techniques, rotary cutters, or rulers back then. I drew out my quilt pattern on graph paper, cut a 2” square from sandpaper, drew out all my pieces on fabric and cut each one separately. I sewed them together one square at a time. A few years later I found out the pattern was called a Trip Around the World. Instead of taking over a year to make, today it could be done a lot faster with quick piecing techniques. I have plans to someday remake this quilt.

People who inspired me... My Mom taught my sisters and me to sew at a young age. At that time I didn’t appreciate her perfectionism; however, having gone on to quilting, I certainly look back on those years and am grateful for the attention to detail she instilled in me. I am also inspired by my Dad, who taught me to pursue my passion. He taught me the importance of integrity, which I take to heart with my business.

I draw my inspiration from... At lot of times my inspiration comes from the fabric. A beautiful floral border print or a great paisley can get my mind going.

My Favorite techniques... I love fast flying geese (1 large square, 4 small squares), oversizing blocks and trimming down to get as close to be as accurate as I can, and other fast piecing techniques.

Colors or fabrics I'm attracted to... I love red fabric. My red fabric collection has a special place in my studio and I always hesitate if someone wants to use a piece from my reds.

My fabric stash... Out of control. I try to keep fabric together for projects, but when the quilt is finished I sort the leftovers into drawers by color. I do keep certain types of fabric together. A friend of mine has a great polka dot collection. I thought what a great idea, I love using dots whenever I can.

My quilting community... I belong to the Monona Quilters Group; they meet every Monday morning to work on projects.  It’s a wonderful group of ladies and has made hundreds of charity quilts.  Mad City Quilters Guild meets twice a month and has a guest speaker present a program at each meeting.  I also belong to the International Machine Quilters Association, which is an association for longarm quilters.  I was a board member and helped produce a trade show, Machine Quilter’s Showcase. 

My other hobbies and interests... I like to read and bake.  

I entered Quilt Design Star™ 2012 because... When I saw the article in McCall’s Magazine about this challenge, I thought why not?  I love a challenge.

What you should know about me… I have been a longarm quilter for 18 years. My business is called Quilting Memories, stitching your dreams into reality. I love being able to help others finish their quilts. I have met a lot of wonderful people throughout the years. 

I would also like to share... My faith and my family are the most important pieces of my life. My family is very supportive of my business and hobby. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

Basket Quilt (below) is Sue's Quilt Design Star™ 2012 Amateur Category entry quilt.

Cherish (below) is Sue's Quilt Design Star™ 2012 Amateur Category Challenge 1 quilt top.

Shake Your Tail Feather (below) is Sue's Quilt Design Star™ 2012 Amateur Category Challenge 2 quilt top.