Life does go on . . . but I can still cry a few tears in the mean time

I found out last night that my girlfriend's mom passed away last year. Her brother told me so . . . I recently connected with him through the internet. I lost touch with the family several years ago. I sent an invitation to Erv's and my wedding but it came back without a forwarding address. I remember being very sad knowing they would not be there, even if in spirit.

Liz's mom was full of love, joy, and talent galore! She was compassionate and passionate. She was spunky! She had a lovely eye for the details, in life and in her art. I remember how profoundly her talent touched me. She could do anything! I particularly remember a quilt she made for her first grandchild, Katie. She hand appliqued the top with a story-book-like theme and it was stunning (she also wrote a story to go along with it). I also remember thinking at the time: how did she do that? and: gosh, how I'd love to be able to do that, too!

Paul wrote in his e-mail that his mom loved me like a daughter. He was so kind to say those words . . .

I loved her so very much . . . more than she'll ever know!

This Week: Playing Catch-up . . . with RJR

I designed two wall hangings a couple of months ago with the new Susan Branch's "In Love With Nature" fabric by RJR that I will be making into patterns. I got my fabric and measurements out today so I can start cutting & sewing them together. They both have the same applique on the tops (falling leaves and a few bumble bees!) but the patterns themselves are slightly different. One is called: "Picnic In The Glade" and the other is called: "Summer In The Forest". PITG is made using stronger tones from the line and SITF is made using more muted tones. I hope to have them finished soon and they will be available as patterns on my website, hopefully within the next few weeks. I'll post pictures, too.

Next on the agenda was to finish a design using the newest RJR's Everything But The Kitchen Sink fabrics (due in quilt shops this month). I finished it yesterday and made some minor tweaks today. I ordered the fabric and will begin that project, soon. That's another one that began a few months ago but, due to several deadlines, it had to be delayed. The name of this new design is called: Butterscotch Candy and it uses an array of fabrics from this line. I'm excited to get started on it, as I know the fabrics are going to go together quite well and will look so much better in person (I used my EQ6 software to place the fabrics into my design). It is always a bit challenging to design on EQ6 with the 1930's prints because the tones are lighter and aren't very true-to-life. And although this new pattern will have some traditional blocks, I hope the encouragement of using many different fabrics will peak quilter's interests to try it!

There are more things to come with RJR, but for now I can cross a few more things off of my list . . . :)

A Visit To Snow Sculptures In Breckenridge, CO

Every January, Breckenridge, Colorado holds it's annual snow sculpting show. Countries from around the world are represented. They start out with the same sized block of packed snow . . .

. . . then come up with works of art, such as this hand holding a globe of the world. You can see a Greek statue of a woman and tumbled pillars in the background.


Here's a roller coaster ride with people . . .

And a nymph . . .

This is the back side of the previous photo (the nymph cannot be seen but is on the front right of the picture). You can see the back of yet another figure in this sculpture. There were carved flowers, as well.


This one had such great whimsical detail. See the man hiding in front of the bear's left paw while the bear is peering through the window of his camper?


Check out the beaver laughing on it's back in the foreground and the owl about to loose it's home.


This one was sculpted by a group from Mexico. Although simple in design, it was very beautiful.


So elegant from China . . .


The details were amazing . . .


Erv and I met the man who designed this one and he took First Place (Yukon/Canada). He allowed us behind the ropes to show us the details up close and explain how it all came together. The sculpture had a rather macabre feel to it and behind the totem was a figure that looked as if it were straight out of the middle ages. I'm reading the book, "World Without End" right now, so this one was really neat to see.


It always amazes me that we can zip up to the mountains to see the beauty there year round. We typically don't have snow when they'll have several feet of it. And when it is in the 90's here, they'll have lovely 70 degree days. A great place to escape to any time.

(I believe you can click on each picture to see more detail)

Nudges of Spring Market

Plans are forging ahead for Spring Market, 2009! I'm designing & making the last sample quilt in the series of "I Love Lucy" fabric by Quilting Treasures. The fabric line is called: "Hollywood At Last". I've also designed & will be making the quilt for their upcoming Norman Rockwell's "Christmas" line, as well. These quilts will be displayed in QT's booth in May.

In addition to the Block-of-the-Month I'm hosting through my website, I'm in the process of finishing the design for a BOM that will be distributed by Brewer (available to quilt shops everywhere). Quilts, Inc. has to put the final approval on it, but I've also been asked to do a "Schoolhouse" presentation promoting the Block-of-the-Month. I'm excited about it because the design is fresh and modern and I'm hoping to turn on some would-be appliquers into great lovers of this resurgent art form.

RJR is coming out with a new line called: Fifth Avenue. I'll be making a quilt from this fabric for Market, too.

Coffee or Tea, Anyone? And how about a piece of pie . . .

I talked about it earlier but realize that I never came back in to chat about my 2009 Block-of-the-Month. The name of the quilt design is called: Take A Break. You can find out all of the information you'll need to join our BOM Club on our website, here.

The photo you see, above, is of our Teabag block, which is one of the January blocks you'll receive when you become a Block-of-the-Month Club Member. All blocks can be either hand- or machine-appliqued. I'm using Heather Bailey's Fresh Cut fabric line by Free Spirit.

Our Block-of-the-Month is only $2 per month and you'll receive fabric yardage requirements, templates for all of the blocks, as well as a monthly recipe that goes along with our theme of taking a break from the busyness of life. Lastly, if you sign up before the end of January, you'll be included for a drawing of a box of current fabrics. Not bad, huh.

If you have further questions, please contact us at: info@suzguzdesigns.com

McCall's Quick Quilts, March 2009 Issue

I've been quiet about it for 6 months. It's hard to keep quiet about things you're excited about.

My first experience of being in a McCall's magazine is here! I have a quilt called: Moderne Bliss, and a wall hanging called: A Tale of Three Bunnies in McCall's Quick Quilts, on newsstands now. Here is the cover . . .





I'm truly thrilled and honored to be in this magazine . . . more to follow in the next few months. I'll keep you posted . . .

Applique . . . how I love it!

Today my husband flew out of town for a few days and I miss him very much. Yesterday, I was telling him about an idea I have for my next applique quilt pattern design. I was able to sketch out most of it this evening and will be putting the finishing touches on it over the next few days. I am really pleased with the drawings so far and I think it could have a wide audience of interest.

I've found that one of the greatest things I enjoy about applique is the quiet time it takes. You can be in the middle of a group of excited people watching a Sunday afternoon football game and still feel the serenity of stitching fabrics in place to create a unique and beautiful result. Unique because no one will finish an applique project just like yours. I think that's pretty neat!

I'll share more on this subject later . . .