THIS WEEK: We're in Quiltmaker Magazine's 100 Blocks Blog Tour!

Have you seen Quiltmaker Magazine's 100 Blocks Volume 2 Issue, on newsstands, now?!  It's full of great ideas and the latest blocks by 100 of the top quilt designers!  I feel honored to have been asked to participate, and my block is Block #104, shown on page 23.  I'm so thrilled to be a part of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.  It is such a great way to inspire quilters of all skill levels!

Quiltmaker Magazine will be giving away lots of great items at: QuiltyPleasures (Quiltmaker's blog) during the entire week of November 8th - 12th.  Some will be planned and some will be spontaneous, so you'll want to check back often!  Fabulous prizes will include fabric, patterns, books, notions, and of course, copies of 100 Blocks magazine.

I will also be giving away something every day this week, so please be sure to check back here, as well!

The name of my block is: Hearts Bejeweled

At the time I was contacted to submit a block, I was filling an order for my Patchwork Rendezvous quilt pattern (available for purchase through my website).  The fabrics I used to make the pattern are from Verna Mosquera's line of fabrics called Savon Bouquet for FreeSpirit.

Patchwork Rendezvous Quilt Pattern

by Susan Guzman of SuzGuz Designs

Because this pattern from our growing line has been such a great seller, AND because I love, love, love the fabrics, I decided I would pull out my scraps from this quilt to start working on an idea for my block.

To construct the block, I introduced a myriad of fabrics from my stash.  The brown polka dot fabric used in the center square and the small circles was left over from my quilt called Nonpariel, shown in McCall's Quilting, May/June 2009.  The 4 yellow squares and the fabric used for the hearts is from Verna's Savon Bouquet. The spear shapes' fabric and the pretty robin's egg blue polka dot background are from a fat quarter bundle I purchased last year at the International Quilt Market (forgive me, as we just moved, and I can't recall the fabric line . . . if interested, please e-mail me!).  I believe the green I used for the stems is one of the Kona Cotton solids.  I can check on this one, as well, if anyone is interested.

The applique hearts design I came up with was actually inspired by a fleur de lis image I found in a magazine.  I wanted to use fabrics that were fun and playful, yet connected back to the French fleur de lis.

In honor of the release of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 2 magazine, I will be giving away something every day this week.  For today, Monday, November 8th, I will be giving away a set of two of my most popular quilt patterns: Candy Bar Road, and Patchwork Rendezvous (as seen in the image, above).  These quilts are very easy to make and show off fabrics beautifully!

In order to be eligible to win these patterns, please post a comment at the end of this blog AND find me on Facebook by Friday, November 12th!  Winners of all of my giveaways this week will be announced by Monday, November 15th! (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 :)

To all of my old friends and all of my new friends, thanks so much for stopping by!  I look forward to hearing from you and I look forward to a fun week ahead.

Susan