Piecing together a new career

Sue Hart spent her work life in Northern Virginia as an elementary teacher and then as a financial analyst for George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In her free time and on weekends she relaxed by quilting.

"I started sewing as a girl - doll clothes," said Hart, a Brunswick Plantation resident since 2002.

After many years of making clothing for dolls, children and adults, Hart turned to quilting.

"No need for fitting or alterations with quilts," she said.

When Hart and her husband, Dave, moved to Calabash, Hart looked for a group of quilters to join to help her to continue with her hobby. At that time she did not think about making it into a business.

"I joined the Grand Strand Quilters and the Brunswick Quilters in Shallotte," she said.

As she made friends in these groups, people noticed her expertise and asked her to teach. She began to give classes.

"Those quilting classes were a place for me to share my passion for quilting with other people and help them get started," Hart said.

In October 2003, Hart decided to try to sell some of her work at the Brunswick Plantation Craft Fair. In addition to her quilts she broadened her line into purses, placemats, bags and ornaments.

"The other items allow me to incorporate some non-traditional bits into the work. For example, I often add my sister's crochet work to purses," Hart said.

Her success at that fair - people bought her quilt craft items and wanted to know more about making and ordering large quilts - sealed the deal for transforming her quilting hobby into a business.

"I discovered that people appreciated and would pay for my work," she said. After that fair, she started giving lessons at Brunswick Plantation, and after a few classes, many of her pupils were inspired enough to support the founding of another quilting club.

"The Guild here at Brunswick Plantation is open to anyone who wants to join. You don't have to live here to be a member. Right now we have about 30 members. Half are experienced quilters and about half are novices," Hart said.

She still sells her work at the Brunswick Plantation's annual fall craft fair and does custom work for individual clients. She continues to make quilted craft objects as well as traditional lap, baby or adult bed quilts. Most of her customers come through word-of-mouth referral.

Her classes and the sale of her work have been successful enough to allow her to purchase a new piece of sewing equipment - one with an embroidery attachment that helps her design embroidered logos and do other custom embroidery work.

One of Hart's students, Linda Naumann of Brunswick Plantation, said, "Sue is a wonderful teacher - so patient." Naumann has taken a class in placemats and another in making wall hangings.

"Sue has a great knack for blending colors to make whatever you are working on or whatever she is making turn out beautiful," Naumann said.

Hart continues to share her passion for quilting by giving lessons. Her next class will be offered in the fall at Brunswick Plantation. She also gives private lessons.

And, if you share her passion for quilts and quilted items but not her love for making them, Hart does work to order.