Guest Corner is a space for you to find out all about what the Sewing World’s designers, authors, quilters, dressmakers, print makers, softie sewers and bag decorators are all up to! Get the very latest in info and gossip about all your favourites right here. 

If you have a favourite Sewer you would like to see profiled, or if you are interested in being profiled yourself, please send us an email at info@sewn.eu

SUE BENNER

Sue Benner lives in Dallas, Texas. When the European Patchwork Meeting was looking for a second Master class teacher, Linda Colsh and Katie Pasquini strongly recommended Sue Benner. Once contacted, EPM realised that it will be very interesting to show also her work at the same venue as Katie’s. They are very good friends and were very happy to be in France together.

Sue has a degree in molecular biology and while pursuing her masters’ degree in biomedical illustration, she created her vision of the microscopic universe in quilts. As early as in 1980, she becomes one of the first studio artist, before even the word “Art Quilt” was made popular.

She always liked to paint and quilt her textile constructions. She loves to create original dyed and painted fabrics that she combines with recycled textiles, forming beautiful structured patterns.

As far as she remembers, Sue always loved fabrics; her mother, who made her first clothes, taught her the exact hue, fiber content and weave of all the textiles she was using. Later she also taught her to sew but in a very creative and careful way. Her father had always a pencil in his hand or behind his ear, drawing in napkins in restaurants and painting on the weekends. He has strongly encouraged Sue in her artistic career. 

Sue works currently on 5 to 10 quilts at a time, often in two different series where ideas overlap, playing off one another. Sue has won many prizes and exhibited in very prestigious places. Her quilts are also in many collectors houses, exactly like Katie’s.

She is a wonderful teacher, helping students to find their own way; she always encourages them in their creative process. Her classes at the EPM were all full so was also her Master class after the EPM.

We asked her if she would like to write a book about her work, but didn’t get a precise answer, so we will just have to guess and wait! www.suebenner.com