Suzanne Sadow

Suzanne Sadow

Seattle, WA

Creative since early childhood, Suzanne went to art school! One design project in college was a kite - hers was a dreamy, big tissue and bamboo affair that self-destructed before it even reached the field. Later, she came to learn quite a few things about kites! In 1978, she walked into Great Winds Kite Shop and never walked out. After falling in love with Ken Conrad, and taking to so many aspects of kiting, she's made kites a lifelong journey - wearing many hats at Great Winds, flying all over for fun, designing kites and kite kits, teaching kites in all kinds of settings, and enjoying the creations, company and friendship of many delightful kite people.

In 1984, Suzanne travelled to China with the delegation of fliers from the USA to attend the first Weifang International Kite Festival.  There, she learned the phrase "meiyou feng" (no wind), paraded kites in a stadium and a vast field before thousands of spectators, and flew a Nishi sled kite (with her friend Nishi!) from a mountain. She does not compete or judge, but long ago, her sister won a kite contest with a kite Suzanne made! In 2016, Suzanne (and Ken) were deeply honored to receive the AKA's Lee Toy Kite Artist Circle Award for lifetime achievement in kitemaking.