Suz-A-Palooza Grand Prize Winner Announced!

Dear Friends:

It has meant so much to me that you participated in my first ever Suz-A-Palooza month-long weekly giveaways. It was such fun for me, and I hope the same for you!

Please forgive me for my delay in posting the Grand Prize winner. I injured myself earlier this week and am finally feeling somewhat better. It has actually been a crazy week for both my husband and me. He tore a muscle in his calf and I had a couple of things go awry. Though, all is fine and on the mend; honest!

I hope you'll stay tuned to my blog and Facebook Fan Page as I'll be writing about a myriad of topics and hopefully, figure out the best time to begin the BOM/Sew-a-long, and announce it in more detail.

So here goes . . .

The Grand Prize winner of my very first Suz-A-Palooza is:  Andrea B.!

Congratulations, Andrea! You should have an email message from me already.

Thanks to everyone for participating! Your feedback, comments, and sharing were priceless, and I enjoyed every link, recipe, and comment made! You were amazing!

I love to hold giveaways, so please keep me on your radar for future events!

My best to you, always!

Susan

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 Winners Announced!

Insanely busy morning. I've been thrown off task more times today than I'd like, as I have winners to announce! Living in Mountain Time doesn't fare well for the East coasters, as they've been waiting an extra two hours . . . so very sorry for the delay, my friends.

Can you believe it is already the beginning of the final week of The Palooza?! I sure can't . . . Wow, has this month flown by! Before announcing the winner's of Week 3 prizes, I wanted to add how beneficial it is to participate each week. Almost HALF of this week's prizes are going to people who have participated consistently. Therefore, they've racked up many extra entries. Extra entries equals a higher percentage to win, and it has definitely shown in who this week's prize winners are!

As always, I use a random generator to "pull" the winners of the prizes. Here are this week's winners:

Prize 1: Once Layer Cake from the collection called "Full Circle", by Kathy Schmitz for Moda.
Congratulations! Winner: Emily C.!

Prize 2: One Layer Cake from the collection called "Dilly Dally", by Me & My Sister for Moda.
Congratulations! Winner: Peggy M.!

Prize 3: Designer Roll from the collection called "Nest", by Tula Pink for Moda. (this is one of my all-time favorite collections!)
Congratulations! Winner: Pauline F.!

Prize 4: Sun Blooms Bound Journal by Amy Butler.
Congratulations! Winner: Jenelle B.!

Prize 5: One package of full size 50 wt. 100% cotton AURIfil threads (approx. retail value: $38.00).
Congratulations! Winner: Sally M.!

Prize 6: My pattern for SuzGuz Designs called "Peppermint Candy" (retail value: $9.50).
Congratulations! Winner: HueiSei O.!

Prize 7: My pattern for SuzGuz Designs called "In the Neighborhood" (retail value: $9.50).
Congratulations! Winner: Barbara M.!

Prize 8: My pattern for SuzGuz Designs called "Candy Bar Road" (retail value: $9.50).
Congratulations! Winner: Suzanne N.!

Prize 9: My pattern for SuzGuz Designs called "Box of Chocolates" (retail value: $9.50).
Congratulations! Winner: Janet F.!

The Grand Prize with an approximate retail value of over $150, will be given away this week!

I do hope you are enjoying Suz-A-Palooza! Please be sure to participate this week for your extra chances to win the Grand Prize!

Suz-A-Palooza: Week 2 Winners Announced!

You can still sign up for Suz-A-Palooza! Go here for information on signing up, and for a chance to win the remaining week's prizes, plus Grand Prize! You must participate in the current week's Palooza to be eligible for that week's prizes.

I use a random generator to "pull" the winners of the prizes each week. Here are this week's winners:

Prize 1: One Layer Cake, from the collection called "Perennials" by Kansas Troubles for Moda.

Congratulations! Winner: Susan S.!

 

Prize 2: One Layer Cake, from the collection called "Max and Whiskers" by Basic Grey for Moda.

Congratulations! Winner: Jennie B.!

Prize 3: One Layer Cake, from the collection called "Buttercup" by Fig Tree & Co. for Moda.

Congratulations! Winner: Patricia P.!

Prize 4: My pattern for SuzGuz Designs called "In The Neighborhood" (retail value: $9.50).

Congratulations! Winner: Nancy B.!

Prize 5: My pattern for SuzGuz Designs called "Box of Chocolates" (retail value: $9.50).

Congratulations! Winner: Peggy M.!

Prize 6: One package of full size 50 wt. 100% cotton AURIfil threads (approx. retail value: $38.00)

Congratulations! Winner: Suzanne N.!

BONUS Prize: Photo Wallet and List Pad designed by Amy Butler.

Congratulations! Winner: Jenelle B.!

 

Prizes in the coming weeks will be similar. The Grand Prize will have an approximate retail value of over $150!


I hope you are enjoying participating in Suz-A-Palooza! I'm so excited to get the prizes in the mail to our winners! Each winner has been contacted.

Thanks so much for participating! Congratulations, again, to our winners! And Good Luck to you in Week 3's drawings!

 Please note: I am sad to say that there were 3 people who participated in last week's Palooza on my FACEBOOK FAN PAGE who did not send me an initial e-mail through my website to register (giving their full name, email address and "suzapalooza12" in the comments section, here). This information is required so that I can contact you for prize winnings. In further checking, and I cannot say this for sure, but I believe one of the 3 people sent me their first name only, so I was unable to register them.

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!

Suz-A-Palooza: Week 2

Week 1 Suz-A-Palooza winners can be found, here.

So excited to kick off Week 2!

Over the weekend, husband and I went to a few house sales. We came home with a sweet chair that I'm looking forward to updating.

She's living in our garage, for the time being.

I plan on making a slipcover for it with upholstery fabric I have on-hand. The lines of the chair are simple with arms having a curved feature. It should be a fairly easy project to complete since there is no cushion involved. I'm thinking about adding a tailored skirt with front corner pleats, still showing the wood legs.

We also found a cherry shaker-style Ethan Allen table in excellent condition with just a couple of small surface scratches. At one time, I was a designer for Ethan Allen and remember this piece well! It was an incredible buy, considering it's fine condition and craftsmanship.

Discontinued Ethan Allen side table. Image from Ethan Allen web site.

Brand new, this table went for more than $400. We got both pieces, plus a few yards of wool fabric for a project I'm working on, and a few other do-dads, all for $56.

Finding treasures that catch your interest can take time and patience, but the rewards are reserved for when you come across interesting items that have been take care of and also work well with your unique taste!

Palooza: Week 2

This is what we're giving away this week (plus a small bonus...see below):

More lucious AURIfil thread: One package of 4 full-size spools.

50 wt. cotton spools by AURIfil

More SuzGuz Designs patterns: "Box of Chocolates" and "In The Neighborhood".

Each pattern is written using fat quarters.

More Moda pre-cuts: This week, we're giving away 3 Moda Layer Cakes! Perennials by Kansas Troubles, Max & Whiskers by Basic Grey, and Buttercup by Fig Tree & Co., all for Moda.

And just for kicks, I'm adding in a gift from Amy Butler Design: A small photo wallet and list pad. I've worked with Amy by writing and creating illustrations for 3 of her free patterns on her website.

How to Participate In This Week's Giveaways (If you haven't already done so, please first sign up for the Palooza, here. Thanks!):

Sewists are some of the most friendly and helpful people I know! Please share something you love!

1. Last week, I shared a few links to projects you might like. This week, please go to my FACEBOOK FAN PAGE, and post a link to something quilty you like. It can be anything from a favorite tool or gadget, to a book or tutorial. Simply copy/paste the link you wish to share in the Wall Post I've provided, called: "Week 2: For Suz-A-Palooza 2012 Participants". Along with your link, please add why you're sharing it, too!

2. BONUS Chance To Win This Week's Prizes: Share Your Work! Perhaps you've made something from an online quilt-a-long or other online group project, recently. Or, you recently finished a quilt that you'd love to share.  Feel free to post an image of your project on my FACEBOOK FAN PAGE. Simply write a small description of your work, then click on "Photo/Video" above your description to add the image.

Note: If you need help with this, please send me a message through my Fan Page and I'll gladly walk you through it!

The purpose of this week's participation is to share ideas and meet new friends who share our love of sewing. I hope you'll enjoy the process and good luck with this week's winnings! Thanks!!

Suz-A-Palooza: Week 1 Winners Announced!

You can still sign up for Suz-A-Palooza! Go here for information on signing up, and for a chance to win the remaining week's prizes, plus Grand Prize!

Out of all of the winners, 2 came from the initial sign-up through my website, where you sent in your first/last name, e-mail address, plus the code word: "suzapalooza12". The remaining 4 prize winners came from answering last week's question and BONUS question through my Facebook Fan Page. So it goes to show you how your chances to win increase with extra participation (plus, I love hearing from you!).

 I use a random generator to "pull" the winners of the prizes each week. Here are this week's winners:

Prize 1: My "Peppermint Candy" quilt pattern ($9.50 value). A super-easy quilt to make for the upcoming Christmas season.
Congratulations! Winner: Marija V.!

Prize 2: My "Gables and Eaves" quilt pattern ($9.50 value). A 2-in-1 pattern using a Jelly Roll and Layer Cake (or, use fabrics from your stash with instructions included).
Congratulations! Winner: Paula G.!

Prize 3: My "Candy Bar Road" quilt pattern ($9.50 value). My all-time, best-selling quilt pattern, using a Jelly Roll and Layer Cake (or, use fabrics from your stash).
Congratulations! Winner: Lindsay M.!




Prize 4: One Layer Cake, from the collection called "Just Wing It", by Momo for Moda.

Congratulations! Winner: Beth B.!

Prize 5: One Layer Cake, from the collection called "Lilac Hill", by Brannock and Patek for Moda.

Congratulations! Winner: Janet F.!

Prize 6: One starter pack of 4 full-size spools of AURIfil 50 wt. 100% cotton thread.

Congratulations! Winner: Diane B.!

Prizes in the coming weeks will be similar. The Grand Prize will have an approximate retail value of over $150!


I hope this first week was as fun for you as it was for me! I'm so excited to get the prizes in the mail to our winners! Each winner has been contacted. Please see today's second blog post, posted soon, for Week 2's giveaways and extra ways to win.

Thanks so much for participating! Congratulations, again, to our winners! And Good Luck to you for next week's drawings!