Sue Bleiweiss
fiber artist & wildlife photographer
Buildings, botanicals and most recently birds are some of favorite subjects to work with because they’re easily distorted to create a feeling of whimsy and fantasy while still appearing recognizable. I dye most of the fabric that I use in my work myself, even the black, because it allows me to control the quality of the fabric weave as well as maintain a consistent color palette from quilt to quilt. This creates a sense of cohesion and unity across the body of my work even when I am only using small amounts of color.
Each piece I create begins in the pages of my sketchbook where I make several small rough sketches of the imagery that I want to work with. My small sketches are re-drawn into full size cartoons that allow me to adjust the scale of the images before the actual construction of the piece in fabric begins. The lines in these full sized drawings are then transferred to a large piece of white fabric and used as a guide for the quilting stitches. Once the piece is quilted, the details are added with strips of black fabric and bits of color here and there. Depending on the size and complexity of the piece this part of the construction process can take anywhere from several days to several weeks or longer. My only goal with the finished piece is that it brings a smile to the face of the person who views it.
Books
Modern Art Quilts: Design, Fuse & Quilt-As-You-Go
Easy Fabric Dyeing: solids & tone on tone
Color it! buildings, neighborhoods & skylines
Color it! nature & animals
Colorful Fabric Collage: sketch, fuse, quilt
The Sketchbook Challenge: Techniques, Prompts and Inspiration for Achieving your Creative Goals
Creative Ways with Books and Journals
Creative Ways with Fibre&Stitch
Television & DVD
The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims - episode 1608
Quilting Arts TV 2 episodes in series 1200
Quilting Arts Workshop DVD: Coloring Book Fabric Collage - released 9/2013
Magazine Articles
Quilting Arts magazine February/March 2019
Quilting Arts magazine October/November 2018
Quilting Arts magazine June/July 2018
Machine Quilting Unlimited July 2017
Quilting Arts magazine June/July 2017
Machine Quilting Unlimited July/August 2017
Art Quilting Studio Winter 2016
Quilting Arts magazine April/May 2016
Quilting Arts magazine December 2015/January 2016
Quilting Arts magazine June/July 2015
Quilting Arts magazine February/March 2015
International Quilt Festival Quilt Scene Magazine 2013/2014 issue
Quilting Arts magazine December 2013/January 2014
Quilting Arts magazine October/November 2013
Quilting Arts magazine April/May 2013
Cloth Paper Scissors Studios Magazine, Summer 2010, Fall 2010, Winter 2010, Fall 2011
Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine Nov/Dec 2010
Altered Couture, Winter 2008 & Nov 2006
Belle Armoire, May/Jun 2008 & May/Jun 2007
Bound & Lettered, Winter 2010
The Crafts Report, Sept 2006 & Oct 2004
Crafts N Things, Jan 2010 & July 2009
Get Creative, April 2009
Handwoven Magazine, Sept/Oct 2007 (2 articles) & Jan/Feb 2007
Quilting Arts Gifts, Nov 2007
The Quilting Quarterly, Spring 2009
Sew Somerset, Winter 2009, Jun 2008 & Feb 2007
Somerset Studio, Jul/Aug 2008
Somerset Wedding, Feb 2007
Interviews
Textile Art Coaching with Clara Nartey
International Quilt Association Journal Spring 2014
Art&Soul Radio interview with Lesley Riley
Artist Spotlight interview with Lyric Kinard
Tap-in interview with Susan Tuttle
Artistically Speaking Blog Talk Radio
Featured Artist on the Artsy Shark Blog
Curatorial projects
Threads of Resistance - founder and curator
Currents, The Brush Art Gallery, Lowell MA
Art as Quilt, Highfield Hall and Gardens, Falmouth MA
Solo Exhibits
2023: The Gardens at Newbury Court, Concord MA
2019: Eversource Corporate Headquarters, Manchester NH
2015: Outlines: the whimsical world of Sue Bleiweiss, Lawrence Library Rotunda Gallery, Pepperell MA
Juried Exhibits
2022
Iowa Quilt Museum - Winterset IO - - Deeds Not Words exhibit
Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Arts Museum - La Conner WA - Deeds Not Words exhibit
2021
Texas Quilt Museum - La Grange Texas - Deeds Not Words exhibit
Visions Art Museum - San Diego CA - Deeds Not Words exhibit
Virginia Quilt Museum - Harrisonburg VA - Deeds Not Words exhibit
The Quilters Hall of Fame - Marion, IA - Deeds Not Words exhibit
2020
National Quilt Museum - Paducah Kentucky - Deeds Not Words exhibit
New England Quilt Museum - Lowell MA - Deeds Not Words exhibit
International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas - Deeds Not Words exhibit
2019
American Quilters Society QuiltWeek, Daytona Beach FL
World of Beauty, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
2018
The Best of D@8 Artists: Celebrating 10 year, Dinner At Eight - IQF Market & Festival Houston Texas
World of Beauty, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas - 2nd place art whimsical category
Explorations: Journey in Creativity, The Quilt Artist’s Studio - New England Quilt Museum
The Power of Women, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
Interplay, Whistler House Museum - Lowell MA
Thread of Resistance, Traveling exhibit 2017-2018 (curator and exhibitor)
2017
QuiltCon East, Savanah GA - 1st place winner Applique category
Gems of the Ocean Art Quilt Show Yachats Commons, Yachats Oregon
International Quilt Invitational Exhibition - Brigham City Museum, Brigham City UT
Personal Iconography, Dinner At Eight - IQF Market & Festival Houston Texas
Thread of Resistance, Traveling exhibit 2017-2018 (curator and exhibitor)
Little Black Dress, Brush Art Gallery Lowell MA
2016
Currents, The Brush Art Gallery, Lowell MA
Art as Quilt, Highfield Hall and Gardens, Falmouth MA
World of Beauty, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
Patterns, Dinner At Eight - IQF Market & Festival Houston Texas
Tactile Architecture, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
In Full Bloom, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
2015
World of Beauty, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
3rd Place winner for Tutti Frutti Alleyway in the art whimsical category
Affinity, Dinner At Eight - IQF Market & Festival Houston Texas
Tactile Architecture, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
Art as Quilt, Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton MA
2014
How Does Your Garden Grow, Whistler House Museum of Art, Lowell Mass
Reflections, Dinner At Eight - IQF Market & Festival Houston Texas
World of Beauty, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
2nd place winner for Tutti Frutti City Skyline in the art whimsical category
2013
Exquisite Moments, Dinner At Eight - IQF Long Beach, IQF Market & Festival Houston Texas
World of Beauty, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
Honorable mention winner for Tutti Frutti Main Street in the art whimsical category
It’s raining cats and dogs, Festival awareness project, IQF Market & Festival Houston Texas
2012
World of Beauty, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
Honorable mention winner for Tutti Frutti Village in the art whimsical category
Tactile Architecture, International Quilt Festival Houston, Texas
Rituals, Dinner At Eight - IQF Long Beach, IQF Market & Festival Houston Texas
Off the Hanger: Form and Surface - View Arts, Old Forge NY October 2012- December 2012
2011
Infinity Art Gallery Fiber Arts Show, Jurors: Diane Chaudiere, Jae McDonald, Hilde Morin
Fantastic Fibers, Jurors: Freda Fairchild, Caryl Bryer Fallert, Judy Schwender
One Passion, Many Voices, Juror: Jane Dunnewold - February 2011, Artworks, New Bedford MA
Volusia Wrapped in Fiber, Juror: Pamela Allen - March 2010 Gateway Center for the Arts, Florida
Images, The Best of Today's Traditional and Contemporary Quilts - Lowell Quilt Festival 2010
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