We are thrilled to announce Sue Spargo and Jen Kingwell as MISA’s newest dynamic duo! Join us in the vibrant heart of Santa Fe for an unforgettable week immersed in creativity, color, and craftsmanship, guided by two masters of hand-piecing, embroidery, and folk-inspired design.

This six-day retreat offers a rare opportunity to explore your creative voice through the distinct yet complementary approaches of Sue and Jen. With their combined expertise, you’ll dive into hand-piecing, wool appliqué, multi-medium layering, and embellishment—all set against the inspiring backdrop of Santa Fe’s rich artistic culture.

Start the week at the Museum of International Folk Art
This retreat includes a special afternoon at the Museum of International Folk Art, home to over 130,000 objects from 100+ countries—the world’s largest collection of its kind. Here, surrounded by global folk art, you’ll gather inspiration and ideas to infuse into your own original creation.

Folk Art Flowers with Sue Spargo
Begin by learning Sue’s innovative hand-piecing techniques, then design and construct background elements and blocks that set the stage for storytelling through cloth. Using her signature wool appliqué, you’ll build layers of narrative and texture. As the week unfolds, you’ll explore how to enhance each element with multi-medium layering and finish your piece with hand embroidery, infusing it with texture, dimension, and life.

Color, Composition & Hand Piecing with Jen Kingwell
While Sue focuses on layering and embellishment, Jen Kingwell will guide you through her intuitive approach to color, pattern, and hand-piecing. Known for her intricate quilt designs and playful fabric combinations, Jen will show you how to create dynamic compositions using her unique piecing methods. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just discovering your patchwork voice, Jen’s process-driven teaching style will spark new ideas and confidence in your work.

Together, Sue and Jen create a vibrant, complementary teaching experience. Sue’s rich textures and embroidery techniques beautifully intersect with Jen’s love of piecing and bold design. You’ll benefit from both perspectives—learning how to blend intricate construction with artistic vibrancy. 

Santa Fe’s rich textures, colors, and traditions will guide your design journey. From color theory to composition, Sue and Jen will walk you through their creative processes, helping you transform inspiration into expressive, meaningful textile work. You’ll leave not only with a beautiful project, but with the skills and inspiration to keep creating long after the workshop ends.

Tuition includes all instruction, as well as admission to the Museum of International Folk Art.

Spaces are limited—join us for six-days of folk art bliss in Santa Fe!