Sue Spargo’s latest book – Folk-Tails is a breathtaking example of everything we love about her work. Her quirky, whimsical style inspired by her childhood in Africa speaks to us all.
When I read Sue’s description of this book, it brought tears to my eyes so I will let her take over from here….
Africa is deeply embedded in my soul. Childhood memories continually fill my mind… the beauty of the land that is rich with wildlife and wild land. I can feel the hot African sun and dry breeze on my skin, the warm, rough sand beneath my bare feet, the smell of the bushveld — dusty and dry and filled with the scent of the animals that live there. I can see the sky so clear and so blue. Nightfall brings a massive river of shimmering stars that span the sky. The land is spotted with dense clusters of trees; the bare branches of the Baobab look like roots extending to the sky. Masses of tall grasses camouflage the seemingly endless numbers of animals that live there. I hear the songs of a thousand birds during the day and the silence of a pitch black night is at times broken by the roar of a lion which shakes my body and cuts straight through my soul…
For years I have wanted to make a quilt filled with these memories but when I put pen to paper each sketch fell short. It was important to me that this piece encompassed each and every memory, and that once finished, it was a vast canvas that told my story without a single word needing to be expressed.
Along with the design I wanted to incorporate everything I have come to love as a designer of 12 years. My love of bright vibrant colors, hand dyed wools, creating dimension with layering of velvets and textural fabrics along with my new found love for creative embroidery.
Consumed with this need in October of 2014 I sat down with pen and paper and sketched, Folk-tails, a piece of my soul.
This quilt measures 37 1/2″ x 43 1/2″ – a perfect conversation starter! To learn how to do the embroidery stitches showcased in this piece, you need her Creative Stitching guide.
This is the type of book and companion that quilters buy as a gift for THEMSELVES. They are not going to wait for someone to buy it for them – it is that good!
