A fresh start this Easter… and something exciting ahead ✨

🌿What's Inside This Week

• Recovering from Texas (and the flu!)
• What’s coming up inside Ahead of the Curve
• A little nudge if you’ve been thinking about trying (or revisiting) appliqué
• A quick update on some frustrating tech hiccups behind the scenes

🌿News from Sue's Studio


Hey Reader,

I’m sitting in a quiet moment right now… and it feels a little like the pause before the starting line of a marathon.

I just got back from Texas after a really special visit with my family—and then, well… the flu decided to come home with me. Not exactly part of the plan 😅

But in a strange way, it gave me one more reason to slow down.

And this week, that feels especially meaningful.

We are in the Easter season—a time of deep meaning and reflection for me.

As we approach this weekend’s celebration, I’ve been more aware of the quiet signs of renewal all around us—the softening light, the changing air, the first buds on the trees.

Easter has always been a reminder of new life, fresh beginnings, and hope… and it feels especially meaningful to pause and take that in before life speeds up again.

My time in Texas filled my cup in the best way. Time with my mom, my siblings, old stories, lots of laughter… the kind of moments that stay with you.

And now, I’m home… holding onto just a bit of that calm before things pick up speed again.

Because starting Monday, it really does feel like a marathon.

Inside Ahead of the Curve, I’ll be hosting Design Club as we continue exploring unusual flower petal shapes—this time creating another Hawaiian flower together. I can’t wait to see what everyone does with this one.

And then Tuesday brings a brand new session of Appliqué School, where I’ll be announcing the reopening of Ahead of the Curve—finally open again to new members.

And here at home, I’m deep in preparation for something that’s been a long time coming—our Marathon Quilters Quilt Show.

This week will be all about finalizing the layout, helping with setup, and getting ready for preview night… followed by a full weekend of quilting, community, and yes—vending at the show.

But for today… I’m holding onto this quieter moment.

A little reflection. A little gratitude. And a deep breath before the starting line.

Happy Easter!

P.S. If you’re a New England quilter, I would absolutely love to see you there. This show includes the big reveal of the Marathon Quilt Panel Project that I’ve been sharing with you over the past year—and it’s something really special.


🌿 What’s Happening Inside Ahead of the Curve

April is here—and we are officially welcoming new members into Ahead of the Curve! 🎉 There’s a fresh energy in the community right now, and it’s one of my favorite times of the year to jump in—whether you’re brand new or returning for a fresh start. Here’s what’s coming up:

April 6 — Appliqué Design Club
We’re keeping the tropical inspiration going! This month’s Hawaiian flower features a fun, unexpected shape—perfect for seeing how Rotary Cut Appliqué simplifies complex designs. Have a design question? Bring it along—this is where ideas come to life.

April 17 — CreativiTEA
Join us for a relaxed, all-day sit & sew. Work on any project, pop in when you can, and enjoy stitching alongside a supportive, creative community.
Come for a bit… or stay all day.

April 28 — Member Orientation
If you’re joining us this month—welcome! This session will help you feel right at home inside AOTC. I’ll show you around, help you find what you need, and answer your questions so you can jump in with confidence.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, this is a beautiful time to begin. Doors open on April 7th!

April workshops and the link to join in are listed below.

Anniversary Rings

June 10: 2026 @ 1pm-5pm (ET)

Double Clamshell

June 22 — 11am-3pm (ET)


⚙️ A Quick Tech Update (and Good News!)

A few of our Ahead of the Curve waitlist members ran into some hiccups when trying to join early—and I know that was frustrating.

The good news? It’s all fixed.

If you were on the waitlist, your private link is now working and ready to go—no extra steps, just a direct path to join the fun.

And because you’ve been so patient, I’ve added a little something extra 💛
If your name was on the waitlist, you’ll receive a special bonus when you join.

I’m so excited to finally welcome you in!


🌿One more Demo Day is Coming: June 16, 6-7:30 pm Eastern

We’ll be hosting one more Demo Day and Intro to Rotary Cut Appliqué session on June 16, 2026!

During this free demonstration, we’ll reinforce the Standard Leaves and Circles we covered during our last session, while also focusing on stitching options for your appliqué quilts. If you’ve been wanting more confidence with appliqué stitching, this session is for you.

Reply and let me know:

• Which appliqué shapes do you use most in your quilts?
• What appliqué questions would you like me to answer during Demo Day?


Register below to have the Zoom link delivered to your inbox. I hope you’ll join us!

🌿Sewing in Slippers with Sue

🧦 Watch Sewing in Slippers with Sue
Every Tuesday Morning at 11AM on the Sue Pelland Design's Facebook Page

Please note there will be no Sewing in Slippers episodes on May 26 or June 2 while I’m away in Italy.

Last week on Sewing in Slippers with Sue I demonstratied how to free-motion embroider names for tmy stocking project. We used my standard sewing machine, not a fancy embroidery macihne!

This week, I'll be blanket stitching around the applique...and this will be agood one, becaue the points on the holly leaves are really pointy! So I'll show you some tricks to get nice blanket stitches, even though the points are so curvy

Then there are those pesky 1" circles to stitch. Let's tackle those too! See you Tuesday, May 19 at 11am on the Sue Pelland Designs Facebook page.


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Sue Pelland Designs

I help quilters discover a simpler, more confident way to appliqué — no scissors required. Through practical techniques and weekly studio inspiration, I help you turn quilt dreams into finished quilts.