Meet One of Our Members!
There were no quilters in Sue Damitz’s family, so when the Wheaton Park District offered a class around 1987, she was there. The class was before rotary cutters, when patterns were created from recycled cardboard. Sue and friend, Lyn Kmiecik, took more classes and even bought machines together in 1989. To begin with, she used the softer colors that were more commonly used at that time. Although she claims not be a precision piecer, Sue later developed her own style of making bright-colored quilts for her family’s enjoyment and to give away. Her daughter loves her cat and oriental motifs. When her husband brought the quilt artistry of Caryl Bryer Fallert to her attention, she was grateful to him for opening up a world of new design and quilting possibilities.
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Although she has a dedicated sewing space at home, she says that it’s too far away from the family - she feels disconnected when she works there, so more often than not, she chooses a work area closer to the family action. Right now she is busy improving her quilting skills. She finds the website of Leah Day - www.leahday.com - to be especially helpful as she tackles free-motion quilting.
Born in La Crescent, Minnesota, about ten minutes from La Crosse, Wisconsin, Sue later worked for Bell Laboratories in Naperville where she knew many of the quilters involved in the formation of Riverwalk Quilters Guild, which she joined as a charter member. Since then she has served as philanthropy chair, newsletter editor, and president. Currently she remains on the board as the guild’s webmaster.
A recent challenge from her Fabric Fondlers Bee to add complementary borders to a center block turned out to be a serious challenge for Sue Damitz. Having always worked from a pattern, she didn’t know how to proceed. "But," she adds, "I like that about bees and especially about our guild - there is always a different idea to try, whether you’re willing or not. There is always a chance to learn something new."
A recent challenge from her Fabric Fondlers Bee to add complementary borders to a center block turned out to be a serious challenge for Sue Damitz. Having always worked from a pattern, she didn’t know how to proceed. "But," she adds, "I like that about bees and especially about our guild - there is always a different idea to try, whether you’re willing or not. There is always a chance to learn something new."
Thanks, Sue!
January 24, 2015
January 24, 2015