Do You EQ...?

One of the best sofware packages out there today for the home quilter or quilt designer is the software put out by The Electric Quilt Co.  I love these people.  They know how to get it done if you have no clue where to begin.

Recently, I was working on my BOM quilt design, wondering how I was ever going to figure out the yardage requirements for the final quilt.  I played around with the software for a while but couldn't figure it out (and I like to figure things out on my own, if I'm able to and there aren't any time constraints).  So I call EQ.  Their phone number is on the inside cover of their User Manual and I ended up talking with Andrea.  This girl is a mathematical whiz.  She had me whipping around my software, changing, adjusting, moving, increasing this field, checking the box on that field, and all that jazz.  We did it!  Okay, 'she' did it.  Thanks for your help, Andrea!  And Penny is just as delightful as you!

It is my sister Ann's birthday today.  "Happy Birthday, Ann!"  I sure wish I could have taken her out to lunch today.  Unfortunately, the miles between us wouldn't permit.  I hope she had a marvelous day!

Tired . . . very, very tired . . .

I have been sewing non-stop for a couple of weeks and I finally finished up the last of it (well, almost).  I finished up the binding of the Asian quilt that will be going in Asian Fabric magazine for March.  I still have to make up the label to stitch onto the back, then I'll pack it away and send it off to the West Coast.  I'll post a picture of it here after it's been officially published.  I hope to do more work with them in the future.  The publishing gal is wonderful to work with!

Russ Adams of The Back Porch Quilter did the long-arm machine quilting for it and it turned out beautifully.  I haven't worked with many quilters because I've always done my own work, except for a few instances.  I'm not very good at it, so it is a blessing to have met Russ and his wife, Rhonda, through my friend, Dana, of Old Red Barn Co.  She's the girl who has the cool blog that I'm so envious of.  She's got the knack for it and I wish I could be like her when I grow up.

Making Basic Italian Tomato Sauce

Do you ever get a craving for a good tomato sauce?

I do . . . and I'm craving it now.  This shows the tomato portion of my sauce.  The rest is a combination of a couple of recipes I've acquired from friends: my girlfriend's mom's recipe and another girlfriend's recipe.  I add olive oil, fresh garlic, celery, carrots, fresh and/or dry basil, garlic powder, and purified water to dilute the paste.  Sometimes fresh onion, too.  That's it!  I sometimes like to take a soup spoon and dip into a cold pan of this stuff the next day, right from the fridge.  Yum!  And it is always better after the first day.  Always.  If you have time constraints but would like a delicious dinner, boil some frozen ravioli and make your favorite oil & balsamic dressing and pour over baby salad greens.  Very easy, delicious, and it looks like you spent all day making it.

Website Block-of-the-Month

I started an Applique Block-of-the-Month Club on January 1st of this year. It's very exciting, as we are now up to 546 members from around the world. Sadly, I've had trouble sending the block out to a handful of people, where their e-mail address is denied. I don't know what to do with them because I have no way of getting in touch.

January's block turned out very cute and I'm using Moda's "Swell" line of fabrics, by Urban Chiks. It is a fun, quirky, colorful line that I love and I'm using the fabrics in rather a non-traditional way. I like to take more traditional designs and put a spin on them, making them playful and whimsical.

I'm working on February's block now. I have most of the pieces cut and freezer-papered, with just a couple of more pieces to iron down, then I can begin sewing them on to the base fabric. I'm excited about this 2nd installment of the BOM, as well! The entire BOM is themed: "Hearts-a-Flutter" and each appliqued block will incorporate the heart shape. There are a lot of wreath designs, although I've also sketched out some other designs that blend nicely, as well.

The finished quilt is also sketched out and I will be developing it into a pattern (all 12 blocks, plus the finishing borders, applique, etc.), and it will be available in quilt shops. It's been a wonderful project to work on and I look forward to making up the finished quilt.

If you'd like to join this BOM, please sign up via my website, here: http://www.SuzGuzDesigns.com/ While there, please check out my newest pattern: Boston Common. I added it today! It is a very versatile pattern that can utilize many different fabric colors and designs.

Ciao!

Someone: Please nominate me . . .

Would someone pleeeze nominate me as the worst Blogger on Planet Earth?!  I think it's a time issue with me.  I actually love to write, but I have to keep my current priorities straight.  Perhaps one of these days, I'll be able to get into the groove of it.  I so admire those who do blog and do it well.

My schedule has been quite full, adding new club members to my 2008 Applique Block of the Month Club, through my website.  As of this moment, we are up to 517 sign-ups from around the globe.  It has become a very exciting process and one I'm so thrilled to have done.  The first block has received a great response, and I'm hoping it helps the club continue to grow.

Check it out on my website, here: http://www.SuzGuzDesigns.com/

2008 Applique Block-of-the-Month

I started a Block-of-the-Month on my website recently. We're up to 361 members who will be appliqueing my monthly 8" x 8" blocks. The 2008 January block was sent out on New Year's Day and continues to be sent out to new sign-ups, as they come in. It has been a very exciting process.

The fabric used for this project is Urban Chiks' Swell for Moda.

Welcome To My New Blog

Starting fresh, starting new . . . . there's something invigorating about the process.  Welcome to my new blog.  I've started a blog a few times and hope to keep up with this one.  I think it is a very healthy thing, to write.  It allows the creative mind to spew it's wisdom onto the unwritten page.

I hope to learn a lot as I write in this space.  I have friends who have some dynamite blogs and admire other artists who have great ones, as well.  But the whole idea of putting my words out there in cyberspace can be rather daunting at times.  Perhaps that is why I've dragged my feet at doing this on a more regular basis.  I'm going to try it, though.  See where it goes, if anywhere at all.