April 2025

Susanne Miller Jones

The Artist:

Needles, thread, and fabric have been in my hands most of my life. My grandmother taught me to sew when I was about five. In 2010, I began to quilt in preparation for retirement from teaching elementary school. I thought I would be a traditional quilter and was surprised and delighted to discover my inner fiber artist. Skills learned from a lifetime of needlework have come into play, and I enjoy combining them in my art.

This has been quite a journey. I made my first art quilt, Seeing Our Stories Clearly, with 20/20 Hindsight, in 2013 for the Quilt Alliance TWENTY contest. I was thrilled when it won a Judge’s Choice from Marianne Fons. In 2014, Resurrection, made for the Quilt Alliance “Inspired By” contest, won a Member’s Choice. Art quilting became my passion.

I am the curator of Fly Me to the Moon, a collection of art quilts made by artists from 8 countries. It premiered at the International Quilt Festival in Houston in 2016. My next collection, HERstory: A Celebration of Strong Women, premiered there in 2017, followed by OURstory: Human Rights Stories in Fabric in 2018 and THEIRstory: A Celebration of the Human Spirit in 2019.

My artwork is highly textured and realistic. I use a wide variety of fabrics to create textural matches to the original item I’m making. Two of my favorite pieces are We’re Still Here from OURstory and Sit Under Your Own Fig Tree, Unafraid now traveling with the Sacred Threads preview show.

As a lifelong learner, I’m always adding skills to my toolbox. My latest adventure is making shoes! I offer classes in making Snazzy Sneakers: high tops, classics, and low tops. Now, I’m inventing my own patterns! Let me show you how to make some one-of-a-kind, comfy sneakers.

Guild Meeting/Program: How Long Did It Take You to Make That?

How many times have you been asked, “How long did it take you to make that?” Do you have a ready answer? Join Susanne Miller Jones as she explores how long it takes. Perhaps you will have a ready answer by the end of the presentation.

Date/Time: April 12, 2025 10:30 AM (following Guild meeting)

Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854

Mini Workshop: Snazzy Sneakers – The Prequel

Do you need a little help making your quilt sandwich for your sneakers, some instruction in applying binding, or just a refresher in general? Join Susanne for instruction in the skills necessary to make those Snazzy Sneakers. We will stitch the quilt sandwich so you are ready for the main workshop.

Date/Time: April 12, 2024 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854

Mini Workshop Fee: Members: $35.00 Non-Members: $50.00

Student’s Materials Fee: $10.00 for interfacing and foam

Student supply list:

• 2 fat quarters of cotton fabric (a fat quarter is 18″ x 22″) for the outside of your shoe and the tongue
• 1 fat quarter of contrasting cotton fabric for the binding
• Matching thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine and feet
• Cord
• Pins

Extended Workshop: Snazzy Sneakers

Make your own quilted sneakers. We start with soles and add our personal touches, creating one-of-a-kind footwear! You choose the shoe uppers, tongues, and binding fabrics.

Day 1: Cut out your uppers and tongues. Bind them. Select grommets from Susanne’s collection of colors and attach them to the uppers. Begin to stitch your shoe tops to the soles.

Day 2: Finish sewing your shoes together and plan your next pair. Susanne will show you other options and invite you to play.

Date/Time: April 13 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM & April 14 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Location: PFAG Studio: 11810 Parklawn Dr Suite 204, Studio 11, Rockville, MD 20852

Workshop Fee: Members: $180.00 Non-Members: $220.00

Student’s Materials Fee: $60 for the soles — Students will need to supply soles sizes a month before class. Email reminders will be sent. 

In addition, instructor will provide a free bag for each student that contains:

• Inserts for the shoes
• Printed patterns
• Pokey thingy
• Thimble
• Needle
• Waxed Thread

Also included but selected by the students:

• Grommets
• Shoelaces

Student supply list:

• Soles (must be ordered 1 month ahead of time from Susanne so she can order them and ensure they arrive in time)
• Quilted Sandwich—The top and inside of the shoe fabric should be pre-quilted. This can be used both for the outside and, if you want to turn it over, as the tongue of your shoe. (ADVICE – make sure one side of your sandwich is light in color – it will make marking much easier)
• Fabric for binding – This must be cut on a bias. If you don’t know how to do it, don’t worry. Susanne will teach everyone how to sew and cut it in class.
• Sewing machine, all cords and pedals, needles, and any feet you might need.
• Coordinating thread
• Small power strip
• Paper and Sewing scissors
  • You will need to cut out your paper template and then also cut out your shoes using the template so you will want the right scissors for the job.
• Marking pencil – Make sure you have a color that will show up on your fabric. You don’t want a dark pen if you have dark fabric. This can be a regular pen for part of the marking, as you will punch holes on the mark.
• Small needle-nose pliers or a solution to help you grip the needle when sewing your shoes to the soles.
• Straight pins