13. What other
hobbies, interests, do you have?
I love making jams, preserves and relishes. I give most of
it away to friends and family. (I have a standing request from our son’s best
friend for shipments, especially the Brandied Peach Jam.) There’s something
about seeing all of those gorgeous, colorful jars stacked up in my pantry just
waiting to be enjoyed! I also do a lot of gardening because we have a very big
yard with “old forest” trees, some well over 100 years old. I sing in our
church choir and occasionally do solos, and have always participated in choirs
wherever we were stationed. And I read: history, autobiographies, biographies,
embroidery and sewing books and magazines…anything to keep my mind active and
learning.
14. How often do you
travel to teach?
I travel about 4-6 times a year to teach. I enjoy travel
(after all that we did during my husband’s Army career, and after living
overseas for nine years). But when I get home, I take a day to recuperate.
15. Have you a
favourite location where you most enjoy teaching?
I very much enjoy wherever I teach. It’s always fascinating
to meet new people and see their town (city, etc.) from their own perspective.
I always learn so much. So many Guilds/Chapters have wonderful venues where
they arrange the workshops. And of course, there is the food: interesting
restaurants, great potlucks….you can’t stitch on an empty stomach! And I’ve
always been hosted by kind, wonderful, talented and interesting ladies who
don’t mind showing their sewing rooms. I’ve picked up quite a few ideas from
their sewing spaces.
16. Where can we see
your projects?
My classes are posted on my website, www.berryhillheirlooms.com. My
blog showcases many other projects, techniques and ideas (along with a few
recipes) at http://berryhillheirlooms.blogspot.com
More of my ideas are posted on my Berryhill Heirlooms Pinterest board. I’ve
been published in Creative Needle, Sew Beautiful, Classic Sewing and our own
wonderful SAGANews.
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| Susie's Doll Opera Cape featured in SAGANews, Volume 36 Issue 2 |
17. What do you do
with your completed projects?
Most of my completed projects I have to keep because they
are samples for classes. My grandchildren are too old now for me to sew
clothing for them, and they live in Dallas: too far for me to do regular
fittings. I give some items away as hostess gifts, and others go to friends.
18. Do you have
favourite colors that you tend to use more than others?
I tend to use more of the warmer colors for clothing that I
make for myself. A favorite color is a warm red, which is the color of the Army
Field Artillery, my husband’s initial Army Branch. When I’m designing I try to
keep in mind what other people might prefer and will work with the cooler
colors.
19. Have you had
another type of career other than in the sewing area?
I have always worked (for pay) in some way or other. But it
was difficult “having a career” with my husband’s military career. Someone had
to be home to run the house and raise the children because he worked extremely
long hours, and was often gone for long periods of time. From 1981 to 1985 I taught
heirloom arts (smocking, shadow work, fine embroidery) and construction
classes. When we shipped overseas the first time in ’85, spouses were not
allowed to have a home business because the government paid for the living
quarters one way or another. Spouses were also not allowed to use the Military
Postal System to ship business items. And you definitely could not use the
German Bundespost for business…that was verboten. So I signed up with Civil
Service and worked at various jobs for several years. My most enjoyable CS job
was as Food Service Manager of five Day Care Centers in Germany. I had to
completely revamp the entire menu, kitchens, train the cooks and also work with
the Family Day Care providers. Our Division won an award as the best in Europe,
but I was not there to receive it because we had shipped back to the
States…story of my life!
20. How do you see
the future of your sewing career?
I plan to continue designing and teaching as long as possible.
I love the challenge, which keeps me young. I would love to publish a book of
some of my designs and projects, but I’m too busy to put it all down on paper
right now. Submitting projects to magazines is always fun because I don’t
necessarily have to design to be a teachable class.
Teaching workshops will definitely recharge me because I see
other sewing rooms, new ideas, different items people have made, and
participate in sewing discussions when on the job. Browsing through my sewing
and embroidery books will get my mind going, as does the internet. Sometimes
the best way for me to recharge is to clean up my sewing room after finishing a
big project or deadline, and just sit at the table with a cup of coffee or tea
and dream about the next thing(s) I want to make.
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| Susie teaching at a SAGA Convention |
22. What technique still can’t you get the hang of….
Most of the techniques I learn I figure out pretty quickly.
But the one that really stops me are those darned “twisted” bullions with
umpteen wraps that Kari Mecca taught years ago…still can’t get that!
23. What
accomplishments are you most proud of?
Well, where do I start? I guess #1 is surviving my husband’s
27-year Army career and we’re still married! We did 17 moves in 26 years...not
easy. And today’s young military careerists have it even worse: my prayers go
out to them and their families. #2 are our children. They learned so much from
the different places we lived, became fluent in German, love to travel the
world, have successful careers and both are married to wonderful spouses. #3
are the grand children who are precious and way too full of energy and
enthusiasm! #4 is my sewing and designing career and business, something I
wanted to do for a very long time and is now a reality.
24. What is the
biggest enemy to your creativity?
Me, plain and simple. I can get distracted too easily so I
set specific goals for each day. I even set timers on my phone to limit certain
chores or projects so I don’t ‘go down the rabbit hole’ spending too much time
on one thing. I’m much happier and creative if I know I’m getting everything
done, or at least working a little on each sewing/stitching project, every day.
And don’t even begin to mention the house chores….that shuts the creative
juices down way too easily.
Thank you so much for this interview, Susie! See you in Winston-Salem!
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