NQA Leadership

Suzanne Swenson has been an avid quilter ever since she and her mother first took a beginning quilting class in 1975. After teaching quilting classes for several years in her home, she started her own business called The Cherry Basket, began teaching at a local quilt shop, and became an NQA Certified Teacher in 1983. This opened the door to further quilting and career endeavors, and in 1994 she became an NQA Certified Judge. Suzanne served as editor of the NQA Certified Judges' Quarterly newsletter and has served as associate judge at the NQA annual shows in 1999 and 2007.

Suzanne loves all quilts, and enjoys meeting and working with the talented people who create them and bring fabric, color and design to life. Every quilt has a story and a history, old and new, and Suzanne's love for history brought her full circle when in 2002 she received her Appraiser of Quilted Textiles certification from the American Quilter's Society. People in the quilting world are so interesting to meet, and Suzanne has never yet met a person in the quilt world who does not have an interesting story to tell or a lovely quilt to show.

Suzanne is a charter member of her local guild, Sinnissippi Quilter's of Rockford, Illinois (NQA #IL548). She specializes in quilt history, traditional quilting and teaches advanced intricate piecing techniques. She lectures on "The History of American Quilts," "What Do Judges Look for When Judging Quilts," "Finishing Techniques," and "Quilts Across Illinois." Suzanne teaches for quilt guilds, shops, retreats and at quilt shows.

Back to Board of Directors