Much Overdue Blog Post

Hello friends...

Where shall I begin? My last blog post was exactly three years ago, today: December 3, 2013. It baffles me how things work out, as I did not plan this. I certainly was stunned, realizing how long it has been! I'll describe the past three years as an adventure full of change, many fruitful opportunities and, at times, an intense whirlwind.

Little Red Bird, McCall's Quick Quilts, Dec/Jan 2014, image compliments of McCall's Quilting. Photographer: Mellisa Mahoney, Stylist: Ashley Slupe

In 2012, I submitted a proposal for my first book and it was accepted. By this time, I was already designing and making quilts monthly for McCall's Quilting with a few extra, here and there. I had  established regular work with other magazines and fabric companies as a pattern writer, editor, illustrator, and designer (both quilts and graphic layout), among other things. My schedule was overflowing.

Project commissioned Spring 2013 by PFAFF. Click on image for pattern link. This quilt comes in 3 sizes.

Modern Diamonds ©SuzGuz Designs 2013 for PFAFF

Project commissioned Spring 2013 by Husqvarna Viking. Click on image for pattern link. This quilt comes in 3 sizes.

The Garden Patch ©SuzGuz Designs 2013 for Husqvarna Viking

Since that time, my best-selling book, All About Strips: Colorful Quilts from Strips of Many Sizes (see reviews on Amazon and Martingale), was published by Martingale, January 2015. In addition, I had the distinct honor of taking over McCall's Quilting as Content Director upon the retirement of Beth Hayes, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus. F+W Media purchased McCall's Quilting at the beginning of 2014, and I came on board to attend Spring Market, beginning to work in the office the 1st of July. At that time, I was in the throes of making quilts and writing patterns for a fabric and graphic designer whose book is slated to come out in 2016. While working at McCall's full time, I would come home and work several more hours into the night and all weekend on the book, wrapping up the last handful of projects. It was grueling, for sure, but I would not have had it any other way. And, wow, did I learn a lot!

Image compliments of Martingale 2015

At the end of August, 2015, I made the difficult decision to resign from my position of running the magazine; one I treasured and valued more than you can imagine. I would miss my highly talented staff and coworkers, working with the best quilt designers in the industry, the ability to work hard to meet our deadlines, the richly creative environment, and most especially, working on creating and molding content worthy of our readership. We all loved what we did and were passionate about maintaining the McCall's style.

We worked hard. I remember last December, as a blizzard was blowing through and the entire building was empty of people except myself, our art director, and graphic designer; how we had our nose-to-the-grindstone so that we could meet a deadline (we were short staffed at the time, and all had to pull together to get the work done). The entire staff worked straight that day and the three of us worked into the night. I remember getting punchy that evening and insisting how we all needed a break and to get a bite to eat. We piled into my SUV and, although the roads were dangerous to drive, we made it out and back safely. Looking back on my entire experience, I cannot tell you how proud I was of our entire staff. Their dedication and hard work at times brought tears to my eyes.

My first issue as Content Director for McCall's. Image compliments of McCall's Quilting. Photographer: Mellisa Mahoney, Stylist: Ashley Slupe

I'm glad I was able to accomplish these milestones: Work on the tail-end of McCall's last special issue (Heritage Quilts Made Modern, Fall 2014), and Beth Hayes' last issue (McCall's Quilting, Nov/Dec 2014). F+W Media changed the Editor-in-Chief title to a new title that encompassed video and digital media: Content Director. My first issue as Content Director was Quick Quilts, Dec/Jan 2015. I was able to work on the last perfect bound, larger-size magazine McCall's published; the Mar/Apr 2015 issue. I was so proud of that cover because it showcased a more casual elegance and playful feel, besides the fact that my dear friend, Amy Gibson/Stitchery Dickory Dock, made a mini quilt, Apple Blossom, for that issue and it topped off the stack of other lovely quilts that made the cover beautiful: Lilli's Pond, by sweet Bev Getschel, Shimmer by long-time contributor and prolific designer, Gerri Robinson, American Wildflowers by dear Audrey Hiers, Cross & Crown, by another sweet lady, Sandra Clemons, Keepsake Violets by the talented long-time contributor team of Sarah Maxwell and Dolores Smith. I believe Amy, Bev, and Audrey used fabrics from their stash, Gerri used her current collection at the time, Summer Cottage for Red Rooster, Sandra used Hadley by Denyse Schmidt for FreeSpirit, and Sarah and Dolores used Victoria's Violets by Molly B's Studio for Marcus Fabrics.

New HOME page for SuzGuz Designs

After leaving F+W/McCall's, my plan has been to revive my business: SuzGuz Designs. In October, my husband tore his labrum (shoulder) and had two tears in his bicep, all at once. And it all happened on his dominant, right side. He's been in a sling since then, and had surgery two weeks ago. This sort of injury is extremely painful and the surgery results in post-op pain for weeks. We look back on this experience and realize how it is all part of God's plan. If I were still working outside of the home, I would have had to take a leave of absence to care for him. As much as I get queasy around anything medical-related, I'm sure glad I've been able to help him; he's been my rock and biggest supporter since I started in the quilting industry.

Fall Market Finds, Part I

Some inspiring images for you to enjoy . . .

Amy Butler Design's booth showcasing Amy's newest collection called Alchemy (that's her sporting a ponytail!). Congratulations to Amy for winning a First Place ribbon for her booth design (red ribbon shown on banquette)!

I had the honor of making the quilt you see here for Amy's booth using Aurifil 50 wt. Mako Cotton thread. I ended up making two of them: One for Amy and the other for Westminster's main booth where they showcase sewn items from each of the designer's new collections.

This quilt was designed by Amy's husband, David Butler. Fabrics used are from Alchemy for Westminster/Rowan using Amy's new Quilter's Cottons. A free pattern for this quilt will be available through Amy Butler Design, soon!

I used Alchemy Organic Cottons for this version . . .

Meet David Butler of Parson Gray, introducing his latest collection called Seven Wonders for FreeSpirit. David is an artist on so many levels. In addition to being a fabric designer, he is an amazing photographer, graphic designer, and musician.

Anna Maria Horner's booth showing her latest collection, Field Study, for FreeSpirit . . . now in rayon, too! I had the pleasure of meeting Anna in person this summer at the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild meeting where she talked about her life as a designer and the processes she goes through. It was marvelous and she was so entertaining. We were very lucky to see a sneak peek of Field Study just as it was being released to shops, as well as several quilts she's made over the years, including her gorgeous new Feather Bed Quilt! 

Anna has a new book out on embroidery: Anna Maria's Needleworks Notebook. You can see a few of her embroidery designs, here.

I always love seeing the sofa Anna Maria brings to Market! The arms of this one show off one of her velveteen fabrics. I had to touch it, and it was so soft and pretty!

Moving on to Kaffe Fassett's booth, where color abounds! Kaffe's newest fabric designs can be seen on Westminster's web site.

I was sorry to have missed meeting Kaffe. I've seen him on a few occasions during Market. However, I've not yet had the pleasure of meeting him. Perhaps next time!

Check in with me next time when I share a few more photos from Market: Moda, Robert Kaufman, and Michael Miller!

Suz-A-Palooza Week 4: The Grand Prize Week!

I'd love to tell you all about our trip to the Denver Modernism show this past weekend, but due to some unplanned interruptions today, I would like to get our last week of The Palooza's instructions out to you sooner, rather than later. ;)

Friends, please be sure to rack up those extra entries, as this is the week that counts the most for the Grand Prize giveaway!

The Grand Prize . . .

Grand Prize compliments of AURIfil and SuzGuz Designs.

Here is what is included in the Grand Prize package:

Carry-all by Amy Butler.

Fat Quarter Bundle: Fairy Tale Friends by American Jane for Moda. Includes 40 Fat Quarters!

4-pack 50 wt. 100% cotton thread by AURIfil.

3 SuzGuz Designs Patterns.

Stationery designed by Amy Butler.

Samples from the entire line of Sugar Hill by Tanya Whelan for FreeSpirit and small fat quarter bundle from Rouenneries Deux by French General for Moda.

Total retail value of Suz-A-Palooza Grand Prize package: over $260.00.

You may recall me saying earlier that the Grand Prize was worth over $150.00. I decided to add a few more items and hope you like it!

How to participate in our Final Week Grand Prize Giveaway:

1. Please answer the 2-part question found on my FACEBOOK FAN PAGE. (worth 2 entries)

2. All month long, we've had the chance to learn lots of new things. I hope you've enjoyed finding out about new projects, new ideas, or perhaps even a new collection of fabrics you'd like to incorporate into your next quilt!

For your final BONUS entry, please leave a comment on this blog post, below, letting us know what most inspired you during this month-long giveaway. Please contribute anything that made you take note of, such as a new project or fabric collection you'd like to try--or buy!, a new recipe that appealed to you, or perhaps a new skill you'd like to take up!

Sugar Roses I, designed by Susan Guzman of SuzGuz Designs. Image compliments of McCall's Quilting magazine.

Finally, just a quick reminder as to why I decided to host Suz-A-Palooza . . . There are two more issues of McCall's Quilting magazine that will include Part III and Part IV of the 4-Part Sugar Roses Series Quilt project. Please be sure to pick up the first two parts (McCall's Quilting July/Aug 2012 issue and McCall's Quilting Sept/Oct 2012 issue) if you haven't already done so, here! The Sugar Roses quilt you make could become a treasured gift for someone you love or to keep for yourself.

A heartfelt thanks to my sponsor, AURIfil threads.

Suz-A-Palooza: Week 3

Regretfully, I'm having technical difficulties with my Mac which houses my list of Palooza participants. Will post winners from Week 2 ASAP! So sorry for the delay!

As mentioned in previous posts, The Palooza would not be in existence without my 4-part series quilt, Sugar Roses, being published in McCall's Quilting, and the generosity of AURIfil for providing their 4-spool packages of thread to give away. A heartfelt thanks to both!

This week, I want to quickly share with you a few photos I took while I was making the Sugar Roses quilt, Version II. I'm not the best photographer when in a hurry. Most of my shots are quick and not very well staged due to tight deadlines. Seems every second in the day counts! You can click on each image you'd like to see a close-up of.


This is Sugar Roses, Version I, right after I received the quilt back from my quilter, Linda Barrett of Threads and Traditions. Linda did an all-over quilting on this one, due to time constraints. It certainly would be lovely if custom quilted, as well! I had not attached the binding yet, but ended up using the same fabric as the first border (green roses). Sugar Hill fabric collection by Tanya Whelan for FreeSpirit, compliments of FreeSpirit.

Fabric used: Sugar Hill by Tanya Whelan for FreeSpirit.

This quilt was already in the hands of McCall's Quilting magazine by the first of February, 2012. McCall's has their own style of writing, so the editors then begin their process of writing a pattern for their readers. At this time, the series was unnamed.

After mailing out Version I of the Sugar Roses series, I immediately began working on the alternate version. The thought was to make a second quilt showing it with a different collection of fabrics and an applique border for those readers who like to do hand work.

After finishing the top, I began the process of adding the applique to the border substrate.

When I first began working on the project, I moved it to our dining table.

Hobson slept on his pillow to my right . . .

. . . and Maisy to my left.

On occasion, Hobson would wake up and make sure I was doing okay . . .

. . . then fall back asleep.

The vines were made from Moda's Prairie Cloth in Charcoal. I laid out the design I wanted . . .

. . . then added the leaves. I made the leaves out of scraps from the quilt project. I used 2-3 different prints.

Next, I added a stem in a lighter gray Prairie Cloth in Stone for each of the tulips, then added the 3-part tulip head in Red Rose Prairie Cloth. This worked out well. However, it would be best to add the tulip stems while pinning the main vine in place. Sometimes we're in such a rush to meet our deadline that we miss a step but it usually turns out just fine!

I did this same motif in the opposite corner of the cream print border. After the quilt is returned to me by McCall's, I plan on adding more applique to the cream print center of this quilt.

Image taken in our home in Indiana. The living room, dining area, and kitchen were in one big room. I must say that I really miss the kitchen in that house!

Now for Palooza: Week 3!

This is what we're giving away this week:

Two Layer Cakes: "Full Circle" by Kathy Schmitz for Moda . . .

. . . and "Dilly Dally" by Me and My Sister Designs for Moda.

A Moda Designer Roll: "Nest" by Tula Pink for Moda.

A Sun Blooms Bound Journal designed by Amy Butler (the pages in this small journal are embellished with bits of Amy's designs!).

 Even more wonderful AURIfil thread!

And 4 of my patterns for SuzGuz Designs: Peppermint Candy, In The Neighborhood, my best selling Candy Bar Road, and my Box of Chocolates (a bed size take-off of Candy Bar Road).

How to participate in This Week's Giveaways (if you haven't already done so, please first sign up for The Palooza, here. Thanks!):

1. I'm actually going to make it quite simple for you this week! Please go to my FACEBOOK FAN PAGE and answer the Week 3 question posted there.

2. BONUS Chance To Win This Week's Prizes: Please go to my FACEBOOK FAN PAGE and answer the Week 3 BONUS question posted there. Look for the title: Week 3: BONUS QUESTION For Suz-A-Palooza 2012 Participants.

Thanks so much for your continued participation! It is so nice getting to know you and learn about your interests as a sewist!

McCall's Quilting: Series Quilt Revealed! AURIfil GIVEAWAY!

I'm so pleased to announce the publication of the July/August 2012 issue of McCall's Quilting. My quilt, called Sugar Roses, is shown on pages 28-32.

Sugar Roses is a series quilt I designed specifically for McCall's Quilting, and the pattern will be featured in a total of 4 consecutive issues. Pick up a copy now for Part I of this 4-part series.

AURIfil Giveaway! See Monday, June 9, 2012 Blog Post For Details!

My favorite AURIfil colors, as seen in my interview on AURIfil BUZZ. See my free quilted pillow pattern!

Sugar Roses was made using Sugar Hill by Tanya Whelan, plus a few fabrics from Designer Essentials, all for FreeSpirit . . .

Sugar Roses, as seen in McCall's Quilting July/August 2012 Image compliments of McCall's Quilting

Fresh and pretty, right? LOVE Tanya's fabrics!

I made a second quilt using the gorgeous reds, tans, and grays combination of French General's Rouenneries Deux for Moda. McCall's Quilting generously provided it as a free Web Bonus (you'll need to purchase the magazine for pattern instructions). If you prefer the look of this beautiful French Country-inspired collection, look for yardage at your local quilt shop or favorite online shop.

Sugar Roses/Rouenneries Deux version, as seen in McCall's Quilting July/August 2012. Image compliments of McCall's Quilting

Next week, I'll share with you a few snapshots of the progression of the applique border I did on the Rouenneries Deux version.

DAY 4: Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour

I hope you all are enjoying your week of blogs and give-aways, compliments of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks!  I know I am, and I look forward to picking winners of my giveaways this weekend!  It's always fun to participate in programs such as this, and I especially appreciate all of you and your kind words!  When you work in a one-girl-studio, it helps to know that people like what you're doing and it gives us, as designers, such great energy to plan new designs and projects for you to enjoy.  So I thank you, from the bottom of my heart! :)  For without your feedback and interest, it simply would not be as satisfying to continue to come up with new patterns and designs.

With today's blog, I plan to share some ideas you may like to use to set my block into a quilt.  I have a few basic tips that are easy and fun, and will enhance a simple quilt top design.

Because the block should be the focus, you'll want to stay away from large, oversize prints.  I would suggest that you find a tone-on-tone, or two-color mini or medium-sized print to sash your blocks with.  I will use my block and it's fabrics as an example, and we will create a few different, easy designs with a touch of panache!

My first example balances the dominance of the deep rose appliqued hearts with a rosy red print border from Verna Mosquera's Savon Bouquet for FreeSpirit.  Sash your blocks with the Lecien blue-on-brown dot I used as the small center square and mini circles.  Then bind the piece with the same blue-on-brown dot.

My second example shows a softer setting, where I use a light blue medallion print for the main border.  The blocks are sashed and the piece is bound using the same fabric as the appliqued hearts.

My 3rd and 4th examples will give you an idea of taking the same sashing and border prints and changing up the binding.  In these examples, I again used the same tone-on-tone deep rose print I used for the hearts to sash the blocks.  Next, I pulled in a pretty, French-inspired floral from the Savon Bouquet line that has touches of blue to marry back to the blue dot background fabric of the appliqued blocks.  Where these pieces differ is with the binding.  See how you can use the blue-on-brown dot for the binding (#3), or pull the tone-on-tone deep rose print out to the border for #4.  Both are attractive and can give you a different "feel", depending on where you will be using the piece.  For example, if you wish to use it as a wall hanging, you may consider using version #3.  You could also use this version in a room where there is a lot of dark wood.  The #4 version is very pretty and feminine and could be used on the wall or as a dresser scarf in a girl's bedroom.  Or, add it to the center of a rustic pine table.

With a few simple changes, you can give your quilt designs a different personality.  Give thought to the myriad of possibilities you can dream up and interview fabrics into your designs that you never would have imagined.  A few questions you can ask yourself, as you pull your fabrics for this design are:

1) Does the fabric work better as a frame to the blocks or as a border?
2) What "feeling" do I want to show with my design?  Do I want it to blend into an eclectic environment, or something more traditional?  More eclectic, use a few different fabrics, if more traditional, stick to the same fabrics with smaller borders and use a different print for larger borders.
3) What decor do I wish to place this design in?  Consider the style and color tones of fabrics in order to blend well with your decor.  Before purchasing fabrics, ask your local shop for sample pieces to bring home with you if you are not sure they will work.

In addition to the table runner/wall hanging design shown here, I'd like to share an idea with you on how to place the blocks into a quilt design.  The quilt size is approximately 67 1/2" x 67 1/2".  I will be posting a pattern to make both the quilt and the runner designs next week!

Now back to the give aways for today!  As mentioned on Tuesday, I will be giving away a Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 2 magazine today.  My second give away for today is my Patchwork Rendezvous pattern, as well as my In a Snap! pattern.  Both are very easy and fun to make for any level of quilting experience.

Thanks again for all of your kind messages left this week!  Please remember to leave a comment and either "Friend" me ("Susan Guzman") on Facebook, or add me to your blog read list.  Have a lovely Thursday!

Susan