Susan Conn Italo, of Wild Onion Studio, started playing with fabric when she realized that her Barbie needed some new clothes. Once she learned to sew, she began buying all the fabric she could carry in order to feed her quilting obsession.

Susan hand quilted her first quilt, then turned to her sewing machine to complete her quilts for the next 8 years. Once her longarm, named Phoebe, came to live with her, there's been an ongoing love affair out in the Wild Onion Studio. Susan and Phoebe have won numerous awards and have been published in several quilting and wearable art publications. In addition, the busy duo publish the Wild Onion Jacket pattern series.

Susan lives in Southern California with her husband, two young sons, Phoebe, and other assorted sewing machines with equally colorful names. By the way, "Wild Onion" is not just a clever name for Susan's studio. It is actually the translation of "Chicago", Susan's hometown.

Selected Awards:

Wearable Arts Connection Fashion Show Los Angeles, CA
2008, Humor, First Place, "Road Trip Jacket--Flashy Trash"
2007, Manipulated, First Place, "Zinnias"
2006, Best of Show, "Orange Silk Tunic"

Machine Quilter's Exposition Manchester, NH
2009, Jackets, Third Place, "Lilies"

International Costume Society Show San Diego, CA
2007, Juried, "Orange Silk Tunic, Satin Pants, Freeform Scarf"

Gallery Shows:
"Becoming Art at the Seams," Ventura County Museum of History and Art, Ventura, CA
     March - June 2010
"Redefining a Material World" Elverhoj Museum of Art, Solvang, CA, November 2009 -
     January 2010
"New Views 2009" Cabrillo Pavillion Art Center, Santa Barbara, CA September 2009
"New Views 2008" Cabrillo Pavillion Art Center, Santa Barbara, CA September -
     October 2008
"Color and Cloth: Redefining a Traditional Art Form" Elverhoj Museum of Art, Solvang, CA
     November 2007 - January 2008
"Frame of Reference" Santa Barbara Architectural Foundation, Santa Barbara, CA
     March 2008
"Stunning: Bella Bella Quilts" special exhibit, Pacific International Quilt Festival,
     Santa Clara, CA October 2005
"Cutting Edge Quilts" Ventura Museum of History and Art, Ventura, CA 2004

Publications:
Machine Quilting Unlimited magazine, Susan Conn Italo "Trapped Fibers: art techniques for
     machine quilting", Meandering Publications, November 2009
Altered Couture magazine, Susan Conn Italo "Les Jolies Fleurs", Stampingtion & Co,
     Autumn 2008
Altered Couture magazine, Susan Conn Italo "Zinnia Skirt", Stampington & Co, Summer 2008
Unlimited Publications magazine, Susan Conn Italo "Trunk Show: Wild Onion Jackets",
     Meandering Publications, March 2007 (also, cover photo)
Bella Bella Quilts, Norah McMeeking, C&T Publishing, 2005