Luba Mandiak has worked for Patricias' for over 13 years and has been working with the machines for all those years. She has gone to numerous Elna company trainings. Her first love is sewing garments, but also does quilting, heirloom, and decorative sewing. She has extensive knowledge of old and new Elnas.
For many years Suzzy and her partner, Susan Murwin, of Pennsylvania, collaborated long distance on the development of techniques and shortcuts for sewing American patchwork patterns on the sewing machine. They have co-authored three books. Quick and Easy Patchwork on the Sewing Machine and The Quick and Easy Giant Dahlia on the Sewing Machine are by Dover Books. Their major book, Creative American Quilting Inspired by the Bible, Fleming H Revell, 1983(now out of print) is the only work devoted entirely to early American quilt patterns inspired by Biblical heroes and events.(The Monroe County Library system owns 54 copies for loan.)
Suzzy has traveled extensively with her quilts, presenting programs in museums, churches,and conventions throughout the United States, and in France and England. Suzzy and Sue together were featured speakers at "Quilt Georgia", the Philadelphia Regional Quilt Market, and the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas.
Suzzy's quilts have been featured in other books and encyclopedias and many national magazines, including Lady's Circle, Quilt World, Todays Christian Woman, Guideposts, and Good Housekeeping.
Suzzy was raised in West Virginia and educated in Virginia and Massachusetts and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Boston University. Since 1986 Suzzy has been a Realtor with Red Barn Properties in Pittsford. She and her husband,Keith, have lived in Fairport since 1972. They have two married daughters, two grandsons, and two granddaughters.
Suzzy is a natural student and teacher. Her greatest professional joys are helping families flourish through the traumas of home relocation.... and giving her quilting students the ability and freedom to accomplish their personal creative visions in fabric, because they learned from her the skills to produce simple or elaborate patchwork projects and fullsize quilts with ease.
Sue Carmichael Spitulnik
I have been sewing since about age 10. I grew up in a 4-H household with three older sisters to learn from and emulate. I am a true sewing addict. I love to see the colors go together and turn pieces into a finished product, clothing, quilting or home dec. I have two grown children, dogs for "grandchildren", and a very hairy cat named "B.I.F." Bob is my best friend and significant other. Our summer past time is riding the Harley. I have my own sewing business named "Sewing to Suit" that takes up a lot of my time when I am not working at Patricias'. I want to thank my co-workers for their advice. Without their input I would not be as successful as I am, or able to keep learning in a positive way.
Annette Doell
Luba Mandiak
Suzzy Payne
Suzzy Payne was the very first quilting teacher at Patricias.. beginning in the fall of 1977 in the basement classroom of the original Patricias Fabric House in Bushnells Basin. Since then Suzzy has taught several thousand students at Patricias in her Basic (one ot the most comprehensive patchwork and quilting classes anywhere!), Advanced and Giant Dahlia Classes.
Sylvia Pedrick
Janet Root
Janet has been quilting since1989, but dressmaking for many years before that. She has taught quilting classes at many area shops and local guilds. Her quilts have been exhibited locally and at NQA and The Schweinfurth Gallery in Auburn. Her kaleidoscope quilt, Nagano, appeared in the 2000 AQS Art Quilt Calendar, and January Frost was published in a recent issue of Traditional Quiltworks.