Craziness Is Bliss

What is it about being busy and how it fuels us to continue to strive for our best, no matter how long we're at it?!

Well, I've sewed and typed my fingers to the bone over the past month and I'm still going strong. I've had deadlines for 3 magazine issues that come out next March and April and they're wrapping up. Not only do quilt designers design and make a sample of the quilts that will go into print. We also have to write out the instructions on how to make the quilts. In addition, you better know at least a little somethin'-somethin' about layout. This means that if you want to do your best work, you need to learn how to work with graphics so that your visuals can assist your written instructions on how to make the quilt. So many of us are visual and can make something simply by seeing someone first-hand or, if that's not possible, follow step-by-step pictures.

Whatever you do in life . . . give it your all! It brings you such glorious fulfillment and enriches your soul.

Please be sure to stop by periodically and check out our website, as well! We'll be sure to let you know where our designs can be seen in the near future.

Quilting Treasures Breast Cancer Awareness Quilt Design

As promised, I'm adding a picture of the quilt I designed for Quilting Treasures' newest line of fabrics by Karen Neuberger. The name of the quilt is called: "Braided Love", and was designed with Karen's line called: "Pink Companions II". You can find the pattern for this quilt through retailers carrying the line (see Quilting Treasures' website for further information on where to buy the fabric).

Taking A Class At The Local Quilt Shop

When I was at the Spring International Quilt Market in May, I walked up to a conversation going on at Aunt Philly's booth. Phyllis Hause, who is Aunt Philly, was talking with a shop owner about holding a class at her shop in Colorado. Of course, that perked my interest, since I live just south of Denver. I figured that if the shop wasn't too far from my home, that I'd be interested in taking Phyllis' class. I found out that the class would be held at Cottonwood Quilts in Niwot, CO and asked the shop owner if she could add me to her mailing list so that I could take the class. I just called the shop now and signed up for it on August 1. I'm really looking forward to it because I've done nothing but work on my business for the past few years and would love to learn something new. I have some Amy Butler fabrics that I think would make a darling rug for my studio, so I may end up using them. If not, I have plenty of other fabrics that are in my stash (pre-SuzGuz Designs) that I'd love to use up that are bright and cheerful and would bring a great zippity-do-dah to my work space.

Signing up for this class has brought up an idea that has been lurking in the cobwebs of my mind. I've wanted to start teaching, as well. Besides, I really need to start getting myself out there in front of people since I'll be doing so at the Spring Market in Pittsburgh. It has been years since I've been in front of an audience, so this would be a great way of breaking the ice. I'll let you know what sort of classes I'll be developing and will add them to my website when I have the outline ready to teach.

It has been a while since I've made decorative pillows and I've wanted to put together a few patterns of pillows I've made in the past, so that might be a great place to begin. In addition (but, of course!), I'll be able to teach how to make any of the quilt patterns I've designed. I really enjoy being around people and helping them achieve goals, so I can see how this could turn out to be a very fun and rewarding part of what I do.

Please write to me and let me know if there are things you'd like to learn in working with fabrics (crafting or otherwise like window treatments, etc.). I'd love to hear what you're thinking!

Upcoming Projects

Here we are in the middle of July already, and things are falling into place. We're working with a quilt supply distributor on a project that will be announced at the Spring International Quilt Market, held in Pittsburgh, PA in 2009. I'll be hosting a Schoolhouse introduction class, explaining how it will work. I'm excited about this, being that I'm a former Pittsburger and this debut will be in my old home town. I haven't been back to Pittsburgh since Erv and I were married there, 5 years ago.

I just finished a quilt top for Quilting Treasures with their new Karen Neuberger line called: "Pink Companions II". The fabrics are designed to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. There are polka dots, stripes, checks, and florals in browns, pink, fuschia, apple green, light purple, yellow, white, etc. The design of the fabrics is mod. I'll post a picture of it when the quilt is completed. It is my understanding that it will be a free pattern on Quilting Treasures' website and should be available sometime in August.

Although I have an EQ6 picture of it on our website, my design called: "Highlands March" is currently being quilted. As soon as it is completed, I'll take an actual picture to replace the computer designed rendition. The pattern is currently available for purchase on our website, here (click on the picture of the quilt when you go to the site to see a larger picture of the quilt, for more detail).

I have one more border to add to another new quilt design called: "In The Neighborhood". I hope to get it finished this week, so that I can send it off to be quilted. It's a darling quilt made of squares, representing neighborhood blocks, and long and short strips, representing the main thoroughfairs and side streets in a typical urban neighborhood. I used the "Wee Play" line of fabrics, by American Jane for Moda and love how the bright colors combined with a few muted tones bring such pizzaz to this quilt.

Well, I'm off to get things rockin' so that I'm ready for a busy August. I hope you're enjoying your summer!

Suz

Our Quilts At Market

SuzGuz Designs had two quilts at this year's Spring International Quilt Market in Portland, OR.

The quilt hanging to the right of the Kona Bay Fabrics sign in the photo below, is the quilt I designed and made for Asian Fabric magazine's March 2008 issue. The name of the quilt is "Sadako's Prayer". You can find the free pattern in the magazine. I wish I could show you the fabrics in person, as this photo doesn't show the beautiful color and pattern of the fabrics. I have some scraps left over and will have to see if I can photograph them accurately for this blog. If I can, I'll add a separate post.


The second quilt was designed and made for Quilting Treasures. I used fabrics from the new line called "Kids Go Green", by Kari Pearson. This quilt has 3-D prairie points around the rectangular medallion with the large sun in the center of the quilt. The quilt was also embellished with pink buttons surrounding the sun and on each of the corner blocks, flat silhouettes of butterflies and a dragon fly in the center, and sunflower buttons sewn in between each of the diamonds in the outside border. Again, the colors aren't as beautiful as in person. This free quilt pattern will be available from the Quilting Treasure's website soon!

Getting Ready for Spring Quilt Market

Last week, the quilt I designed and made as a sample for Quilting Treasures arrived at their offices and I was so pleased to hear that they love it.  The name of the quilt is: "Kids Shine II", and the name of the new fabric line they're promoting is called: "Kids Go Green", by Kari Pearson.  The quilt pattern will soon be available on their site, so please check it out to see if it is something you'd like to make.  The quilt design has 4 15" Rising Sun blocks in the center that make up a large, 30" sun.  It is quite colorful and cheerful.  Russ Adams of Back Porch Quilters did the quilting on it, and Quilting Treasures requested that it be embellished, so I added bright sunflowers, pink accent buttons, and a butterfly and two dragonflies.

Each Market, there is a "class" you can take called Sample Spree, where you can see all of the newest lines of fabric in fat quarter bundles and purchase them for sample quilts.  This is what I did at the big Market in Houston last October.  I purchased Moda's "Swell" line and created my free 2008 Block-of-the-Month through my website.  Going to Sample Spree is terrific in that it gives shop owners and designers a chance to view all of the fabric lines coming out at one time.  This saves going around to each booth during the Market and provides an opportunity to see what lines have potential for current or future designs.

I'm looking forward to spending time at Market, this next week, and look forward to discovering new opportunities for SuzGuz Designs.

Working with RJR

I received a call out of the blue from RJR Fabrics in February. What a wonderful call to receive from a terrific gal in their marketing department. She asked me to design a quilt pattern for them using a new line of fabrics they have coming out soon. I believe they're introducing the line at the Spring Market in Portland, but it won't be available until August/September.

We ended up doing it in two different color ways from the same line. The fabrics are very 1970's and I had a ball coming up with designs for it. There was one in particular that I'd like to do; kind of a funky play on the patchwork craze of the 70's. I think it would be a great quilt to take to a concert in the park on a summer evening. Be sure to bring your pretty crystal candlesticks, a great bottle of wine, and a nice warm loaf of crusty french bread with some delicious cheese to savor and enjoy.