DAY 2: Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour

Welcome to Day 2 of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour!

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Block #104

by Susan Guzman, SuzGuz Designs

When meeting new people and talking about what we do for a living, it's not a simple answer on my part.  I am often amazed at how unique my job is, when I sit and think about it.  It's not something you think about going to school for when you're young.  It seems to be a career you fall into, rather than aspire to.  I feel so fortunate to work in an industry that is so warm and friendly, and one that acknowledges talent on many different levels.

Today, I thought I would talk about what I do in the quilting industry.  I work on a few different levels.  My first responsibility is to my freelance work.  I design quilts using the latest fabric lines, manufactured by leading fabric companies.  Companies I've worked with are Quilting Treasures (see free quilt patterns I designed on their website!), Hoffman California Fabrics, RJR Fabrics, Windham Fabrics, Michael Miller, FreeSpirit, Moda, Lecien, Henry Glass, Timeless Treasures, Marcus Fabrics, and Red Rooster.  For the first time, I will be using a line of fabrics by Westminster/Rowan for an upcoming quilt, so I am always open to working with new companies.  I'm always looking for fabrics that are new and, even if they are reproductions, ones that stand out in design.

My freelance work has consisted of designing and making quilts for fabric company's booths for the International Quilt Markets, designing and making quilts for magazines, and writing and editing quilt patterns.  The second level of work I do is for my business, SuzGuz Designs.  I have a growing line of patterns that has been on hold over the past year, due to the amount of freelance work I've been doing.  However, I just came out with two new, easy quilt patterns using pre-cut fabrics, and they are available on my website beginning this week.  The first is called: "Across the Street", made using one layer cake and one jelly roll.  The second is called: "Gables and Eaves", and is also made using one layer cake and one jelly roll.  Gables and Eaves has a bonus pattern, where you can make a baby quilt from the scraps to give as a gift or donate to your local Department of Social Services.  They are always in desperate need of quilts for the children they help.

One more project that has been on hold is writing my NuzLetter, which is likened to a mini-magazine.  I write about my business, interview people in our industry, write about interior design (something I used to do for a living and thoroughly enjoyed!), share recipes and entertaining ideas, find interesting new items for gift-giving, and also have guest writers share their talents.  Our next Nuz is in the planning stages, and we hope to start it up again, soon.  You can sign up to receive a link to The Nuz by going to my website.  Simply give us your e-mail address and we'll add you to our mailing list.  In the mean time, you can go to SuzGuz Designs and read past NuzLetters we published quarterly.

Finally, I am taking classes that are helping me achieve a goal I've set for myself in bringing my business to a new and different level; still staying in the quilting industry.  I also have an idea I'm working on for a new ruler, of sorts, that I am very excited about.  It is one that will work well with a variety of different fabrics, and I hope to have more information on it, soon!

Be sure to check in every day this week for a different, related topic!  Tomorrow's topic is my design process.

Now for today's give-away...  Today, I will be giving away an issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 2!  This issue will be sent to you compliments of Quiltmaker Magazine.  As a matter of fact, I have 3 issues I will give away for the remaining days this week!  So beginning tomorrow, you'll not only have a chance to win a surprise give-away from SuzGuz Designs, you will also have a chance to win an issue of 100 Blocks!

It's so simple to have a chance to win!  Please post to this thread and "Friend" me on Facebook to qualify. (Note added 11.10.10 at 9:30 am, EST: If you do not use Facebook--or even if you do!--I'd love it if you'd add me to your blog read list, instead!  Thanks :)

Have a marvelous day, and I'll "see" you tomorrow!

Susan

P.S.  DoN't ForGeT!!  Quiltmaker is giving away wonderful things all day, every day this week, as well.  So check their blog throughout every day this week for some great quilt-related items!