Exciting news today in my crazy quilt world!!! In our local Lewiston Library I have an opportunity to showcase 49 pieces of my artwork! It not only happens to be the year of the Library's 125th year, but America's 250th Anniversary!!!  Earlier this year, Lynn the director at the library suggested I should do a piece on the 250th....and of course I couldn't resist!!! The fabric tabs at the top, is called Starts and Stripes!

 

This is the back panel!

When I did the presentation last summer, we were targeting April, but it would be only two months. Then earlier this year, Lynn said let's move it to the summer months, for three months!!!!

Sandy helped me take in four suitcases and a couple tote bags to layout on their tables. Their were two gentlemen who immediately started pulling from the tables what they wanted where. Instead of keeping themes together they went with playing colors off each other. One of the men is an art teacher!

Enclosed in an glass case, are some smaller items.

Some of the smaller pieces, were stood up against a bookend, above the shelves out of reach of young hands!

My first pictures posted on Facebook, didn't have the identifier tags, but they did get listed.

Titles, dates when made and mixed media, crazy quilted.

My very first Under the Sea (UTS) that I learned to do in Judith Baker Montano's class in her home studio.

 A total of 49 pieces of artwork are on display...98% are all ribboned from one fair or another over the 29 years!

I will be doing a presentation on July 29th...and Sandy has talked me into describing my 2020 Challenge!

"HIS LOVE STORY IN THE STARS"

Started on this project, as a challenge from Sharon Boggon in June of 2017!

I will do part of my presentation on how I made this quilt. If you still would like a copy of the Crazy Quilt Magazine about this piece: it is a print on demand, Just click on the highlight above.

I will have 2 or 3 projects in the Lewiston fair in September again. You will have to wait for the post on those! And I also will be doing a trunk show for our local Seaport Guild in late September!!

So Excited....so Grateful!!!

As always Happy Stitching...and be sure to check out my Flickr site too for more pictures, up close!

BJ Sandusky

 

 

Well, I don't know about you, but it's hard to believe that another New Year is really here!!! I thought I would do a blog on the past years accomplishments/projects. For last years ribbons you can scroll down to the last post, September 25, 2025. Some of those projects, entered in 4 different fairs around my area, were older projects never entered in anything before. 

So here is what I worked on year 2025, not necessarily in the order that I made them. 

I did a lot of experimenting this year. One was working on small projects, on canvas. 

These were fun to do, and have collected more canvas boards to try more.

I was featured in the Inspiration magazine. One artist I followed this year, was Jennifer Clouston. I just love watching her videos and seeing how she uses stitches in different ways. The bottom right two were practice pieces from learning her stitches. 

Then I tried a small piece, no title! but I loved the look, so I framed it, and put it in the fair in September!

Then I did a themed piece, called "Jesus spoke to Apostle Paul why don't we listen?" This one was a joy to make, and also to win a First Place ribbon in September!

Also inspired by Jennifer Clouston, I did this spool as a logo piece for my passion.

Called, Sew Crazy For you!

Another artist I followed this year, is Nichole Vogelsinger

Both of these projects were fun and challenging to do. Will put them in the fair this year!

I also made a stocking for Sandy this year...another ribbon in September!!!! Hangs in his office!

Probably my pride and joy, was this piece. One of the most challenging and difficult pieces to put together, which makes it's First Place ribbon really appreciated. 

My mother was an artist from childhood herself, and she did many different mediums like oils, acrylics and water colors. But when we were stationed in Japan, 1957-1961, she learned Charcoal drawings from an old Japanese man. I am thankful to have about 11 of them, my sisters have the rest. Since they are quite big, 11 by 14", I can't hang them all....so the next best thing was to put them in the quilt above....

Here's one of them up close! 

I took a class late September, locally at a quilt store. It was a landscape quilting class.

Though the class finished their projects with traditional quilting, I finished mine more with crazy quilting in mind. The teacher did feature an artist I have followed, Karen Eckmeier, which I have several of her books. In fact, two of my works had already been featured in Fairs. 

I call this one, "Autumn in the Palouse" and it got a ribbon in 2023.

And this one, "Summer in the Palouse" also got a ribbon in 2023.

And last, but not least....a gift for a special friend. We hired Sean for work in the house a couple years ago. He totally remodeled our kitchen laundry room, and 3 bathrooms.

Then this year, he helped with putting in a fire pit in back yard...

And then added steps and railing to our front yard. 

So Sandy suggested I make him and his family a gift. He had a couple pictures in his phone when Sean and family had been in Hawaii...

so...Beach landscapes another favorite of mine...

Well, I hope I didn't leave anything out. There is a quilt on my table, ready for backing, but I took the month of December off from sewing. So it will be my first finished piece in 2026!!! But there's already another quilt in mind to follow that one. Unlike some quilters, I only work on one project at a time. So I collect ideas, pictures, fabrics in a file to remind me what the next piece will be....so stay tuned for those this year!!!

Happy New Year to all who follow me....

and as always, 

Happy Stitching

BJ Sandusky 

My Flickr site

 

 September 22, 2025

Happy Harvest as we go into Autumn!!!

Well, it has been a fun and successful year for my craft!

I started entering in local fairs in Asotin, Washington, just across the river from us, in April! It's actually the first fair of our area each year!

I had never entered in their fair before, so I chose just 4 items, to kind of test the waters!!!

This first one is my St. Patrick's Day piece.

And here are the other 3: Left is "April Showers", Right is "We Will Never Forget", and bottom is the stocking I made Sandy!

Then in August Sandy surprised me by setting up some road trips to specifically time them with fairs in Coeur d'Alene, which is the Northwest Idaho State Fair. When we lived down in Pocatello, Blackfoot had the Northeastern State Fair.

So here are the five that I had entered:

 Mom and Dad's 50th Anniversary, yes, I made it in 1999!

Top and Bottom, are one year's challenge: "Pretty as a Peacock", turned out too big for one quilt, and somehow the blocks changed sizes on me during the year, so I made two quilts.

Never gave this one a name up top, but the back fabric I bought at a Hancock's fabrics years ago, and the colors just inspired me. 

"Dusty Rose" designed for a class I was teaching. 

After dropping off the items, we took a drive up into Canada, had lunch and then drove home. We got a kick out of the guy at the gate to get into Canada. He asked all the usual questions, but when he asked if we had any weapons, we said no. He was startled, and said, "you don't open carry?" Guess we might be one of the few in Idaho that don't!!!!

My items were all home in late August, and then September 2nd we had to go to Spokane, Washington Fair, which is called a Interstate County Fair, because of being so close to Idaho. 

So here are the 6 items I entered into Spokane's fair: 

"Victorian Elegance"

"Under the Sea-quadrupled!"

Also use this as a class demonstration of several techniques.

"Lots of Knots"

"Arizona Memories"

After dropping off the items, we took a drive over to Glacier National Park, had always been on our want to do list. Sadly, the many fires in Canada had the northern states covered in smoke skies, so we couldn't see as well as normal, so we will have to go back again!

But we were able to time our way back to Spokane for the opening day of the fair, and see how my projects did!

Then on to home from there, that being a Monday, with Friday being the drop-off day for the Lewiston County Fair!

"Treasure the Bees"

"Tribute to Jennifer Clouston!"

"Beach Thereapy" The center is a painting done by my mom.

"Jesus spoke to Paul, why don't we listen?"

Santa's head was an ornament I bought at Mervyn's many years ago. Then I decided to make him a coat of many colors. The boots and gloves, and eye glasses were found in a thrift store. Sandy found a doll club in town, and Susan Lawson, the president, made his body for me so he would stand up on his own!!! Here's back view:

"Japanese Memories" with my mother's charcoal drawings. Here's a better view. Can also be seen on my Flickr site, as with all the pictures here.

"Trees are the Lungs of the Earth"

This is the tree art I saw that inspired me to make this quilt.

Most of these got great ratings and comments, and even though my "Trees are the Lungs of the Earth" got some great remarks, still only placed 3rd. My tree was purposely made a little "wonky" with a technique I learned from Judith Baker Montano, the commenter felt it should have been a solid piece of green fabric! And she didn't like the "wonky" feather stitch I did, though she called it a blanket stitch!!! Oh, well, it is one of my favorite pieces. I have learned this year, that the judges are looking at "traditional quilting" methods, and not the artistic creativity of what I am portraying. So that's ok!!!!

So four fairs, 22 items, 15 first place, 5 second place, and 2 third place. So not bad, and I am happy!!!

I also wish to say thanks to so many of you on Crazy Quilt Divas Facebook page. You have been over-whelming supportive of my work, and it is highly appreciated! I do not take it lightly! 

So Happy Stitching, and be sure to check out my Flickr site:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60882932@N06/

Thanks for visiting....if you are not able to leave comments here, you can in my email: Greenfields2@msn.com