Making Basic Italian Tomato Sauce

Do you ever get a craving for a good tomato sauce?

I do . . . and I'm craving it now.  This shows the tomato portion of my sauce.  The rest is a combination of a couple of recipes I've acquired from friends: my girlfriend's mom's recipe and another girlfriend's recipe.  I add olive oil, fresh garlic, celery, carrots, fresh and/or dry basil, garlic powder, and purified water to dilute the paste.  Sometimes fresh onion, too.  That's it!  I sometimes like to take a soup spoon and dip into a cold pan of this stuff the next day, right from the fridge.  Yum!  And it is always better after the first day.  Always.  If you have time constraints but would like a delicious dinner, boil some frozen ravioli and make your favorite oil & balsamic dressing and pour over baby salad greens.  Very easy, delicious, and it looks like you spent all day making it.

Website Block-of-the-Month

I started an Applique Block-of-the-Month Club on January 1st of this year. It's very exciting, as we are now up to 546 members from around the world. Sadly, I've had trouble sending the block out to a handful of people, where their e-mail address is denied. I don't know what to do with them because I have no way of getting in touch.

January's block turned out very cute and I'm using Moda's "Swell" line of fabrics, by Urban Chiks. It is a fun, quirky, colorful line that I love and I'm using the fabrics in rather a non-traditional way. I like to take more traditional designs and put a spin on them, making them playful and whimsical.

I'm working on February's block now. I have most of the pieces cut and freezer-papered, with just a couple of more pieces to iron down, then I can begin sewing them on to the base fabric. I'm excited about this 2nd installment of the BOM, as well! The entire BOM is themed: "Hearts-a-Flutter" and each appliqued block will incorporate the heart shape. There are a lot of wreath designs, although I've also sketched out some other designs that blend nicely, as well.

The finished quilt is also sketched out and I will be developing it into a pattern (all 12 blocks, plus the finishing borders, applique, etc.), and it will be available in quilt shops. It's been a wonderful project to work on and I look forward to making up the finished quilt.

If you'd like to join this BOM, please sign up via my website, here: http://www.SuzGuzDesigns.com/ While there, please check out my newest pattern: Boston Common. I added it today! It is a very versatile pattern that can utilize many different fabric colors and designs.

Ciao!