🌿What's Inside This Week

• A powerful quilt exhibit that stayed with me
• Beach finds turning into new appliqué ideas
• AOTC creativity: Bird of Paradise + working in a series
• Demo Days tips you can use immediately
• Sewing in Slippers goes coastal

🌿News from Sue

This newsletter is finding me freshly home from South Carolina — where I managed to miss the Blizzard of 2026 entirely. I stayed in constant contact with my kids and family back in Massachusetts, and I know parts of Cape Cod and Rhode Island are still digging out. I hope this note finds you safe, warm, and feeling creative!

Even while traveling, quilting has a way of finding me.

One highlight from the trip was visiting an art museum in Myrtle Beach, where I encountered the powerful textile work of fiber artist Jo-Ann Morgan, called The Mourning After.

Morgan creates quilted wall hangings she calls fabric memorials — each honoring victims of violence. Using layered cotton fabrics and appliqué, she transforms grief into work that is both beautiful and deeply thought-provoking. Her pieces resemble comforting quilts while opening space for reflection around difficult subjects.

The quilts honoring victims of the Uvalde school shooting were especially emotional. The exhibit was stunning to see — and not easy to process — but it reminded me how powerful quilts can be as both a voice and a source of comfort in the face of tragedy.

If you happen to be near Myrtle Beach before April 5, it’s worth seeing in person. And if not, you can still explore her work online through the museum’s website.
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After the museum, Jeff and I walked the beach behind it — and I found my very first Pawley’s Island clam shell. You might remember I played with turning that shape into an appliqué during a Sewing in Slippers episode. Now I’ve found not one but two shells… which feels like a sign.

So next week on Sewing in Slippers, I’ll use that clamshell inspiration to show how clamshell quilting can enhance your next quilt — a simple, approachable lesson in walking foot quilting.

Travel feeds creativity in the most wonderful ways.

Until next week, keep stitching up a storm!

Sue 💛🧵

Neveah, Uvalde, Texas ​2023 stitched fabric Neveah Alyssa Bravo's first name spelled backwards is "Heaven". Neveah's cousin Emily, called her a princess and said, "now she flies with the angels." ​ ​A note from the artist: ​ “Perhaps there is no way to stop these events from happening, but I can – and believe it is important to – keep us aware that they’re going on.”

Amerie, Uvalde, Texas ​2023 stitched fabric Amerie Jo Garza repeatedly called 911 on her new phone she had received for her birthday. Help did not come. She was posthumously awarded the Bronze Cross by Girl Scouts of USA> This highest honor is given for saving or attempting to save a life at the risk of the girl scout's own. ​ Visit the Exhibit Page

🌿Ahead of the Curve Update

The Ahead of the Curve community is currently closed to new members as we settle into our 2026 workshop schedule and dive into our UFO BINGO challenge.
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Our next two workshops — Four Seasons Trees and the Simple Daisy Block — are starting soon (details below, along with registration links).
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March 2 — Appliqué Design Club ​
Let’s play with tropical blooms inspired by Hawaii — starting with the bold and beautiful Bird of Paradise. How will we design the petals and leaves? Can Rotary Cut Appliqué simplify the process? Let’s explore and see what unfolds..
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March 20 — CreativiTEA | 11 AM–4 PM Eastern​
Open sew • Community • Creativity
Come for relaxed stitching, conversation, and connection.

🌿 Applique Demo Days: March 3 and 5, 6pm EST

In these live sessions, you’ll see how fusible appliqué really works — from choosing shapes and fabrics to clean cutting, smooth fusing, and stitching that looks polished without stress. You’ll pick up practical tips you can use right away, whether you’re brand new to appliqué or looking for a smoother, more confident process.

Seats are limited for live interaction, so grab your spot now and come watch it all come together step by step.
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If you’ve attended before and invested in the tools that make this process easier, Demo Days is where the whole system finally clicks — turning curiosity into excitement and giving you the confidence to start using Rotary Cut Appliqué right away.

🌿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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