My Life – Page 26 – Quilting my way through life!

My Life, Quilt Market

We’re off to Pittsburgh!

May 14, 2014 suznquilts

Chloe & I are off to Pittsburgh today.

Pre-Market will start tomorrow with Schoolhouse sessions all day.

We’ll be in room #302 at 1:55 showing my new Christmas designs,

then again in room #302 at 2:15 discussing my unique Quilt-as-you-go technique

featuring new patterns including a table runner & place mats!

That will be followed by three days in our booth #822.

We’re looking forward to taking in the city of which we’ve never been before.

If you’re going to International Quilt Market, please stop by!

Stay tuned for my new patterns.

Until next time,

Susan

My Life, New Quilt Pattern Magazine

Easter & Quilt Mania Bunnies

April 20, 2014April 19, 2014 suznquilts

Finally it is acting like spring around here!

Just in time for Spring & Easter, is the new Quilt Mania, Spring 2014 issue.

I received my copy this week.

Lots of spring projects to make!

Two of them are my Bunnies in the Grass table runner

& little quilt that would make a nice topper or place mat.

Great little projects to make &

enjoy year after year.

Happy Easter!

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, Finishing up a quilt project, My Life, New Pattern Sample, quilt as you go lap quilt, Quilt Market, Suzn Quilts Patterns

Best selling pattern, A Pretty Package Follow-up

April 11, 2014 suznquilts

Well, I got busy and forgot to let you see my progress on the latest A Pretty Package, sorry!

I finished sewing the strips on and then fused the bow pieces.

Next I stitched the applique with my Sulky 12 wt. thread.

This is a close-up of the buttonhole stitch.

I had a call last week from a quilter whom I met at Houston Festival last fall.

We discussed this stitch that I use almost exclusively for my applique.

She remembered we have the same older Bernina machine

but she could not find the buttonhole stitch anywhere.

Well, it’s actually called a toweling stitch on our machine.

So, if you look around you might find it on your machine too (if you’re lucky)

but perhaps with a different name!

I finished the hand-work on the binding at Rosemary’s tips club yesterday.

Here is A Pretty Package in its completed state.

It looks pretty good on my favorite rocking chair, don’t you think?

I know where this quilt will land after market next month!

Winterlude fits perfectly in my living room.

Perhaps it will fit in yours too?

You’ll be seeing it in shops in June.

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, My Life, New Christmas Quilt Fabric, New Christmas Quilt Patterns, new fabric collection, New ideas, New Pattern Sample, New Quilting Template, New tiny Dresden plate quilts, Suzn Quilts Patterns

How Does My Garden Grow?

March 12, 2014 suznquilts

With Winterlude by 3 Sisters for Moda of course!

More & more flowers…

These have become addicting!

Each one is cuter than the last.

With my new template being just 2″, one might think tedious,

but I’m loving this!

So precise!!!

The complete little plate is just about 4″.

Now, I’m on to the next step,

gluing the plates to their background squares.

Then it will be back to stitching…

Can’t wait to show you the finished quilts!

What are you working on?

Until next time,

Susan

Applique quilt projects, My Life, New Christmas Quilt Fabric, New Christmas Quilt Patterns, new fabric collection, New Pattern Sample, Quilt Market

Knee deep in petals

February 27, 2014 suznquilts

These petals can grow & multiply even in frigid temperatures!

The weather is still crazy cold here.

It was just 12 degrees here this morning,

but it’s warm in my sewing room!

I’m sewing up my new Christmas designs for spring market using the new “Winterlude” by 3 Sisters for Moda that I showed you a while back.

So far today I’ve made these blue plates.

They’re actually mini Dresden plates.

They will make a 4-1/2″ finished block.

I told you they were MINI!!!

Now I’m working on green plates.

I like to make these in assembly line fashion.

Cut a million petals…

Stitch a million petals…

Trim a million petals…

I found a way to use my new bowl that was a Christmas gift from my friend, Kathy.

She sells the hand made pottery in her new studio.

It’s best to keep the different fabrics segregated since they’re so close in color & design.

That’s what I like about this collection.

There aren’t a lot of different colors, just a few used over and over with different patterns.

This quilt will have an organized scrappy feel to it with a feel of antiquity.

I love this collection!!!

I think I’ll move this to the living room tonight.

I can turn a million…

Press a millions..

all while watching my favorite shows!

Perhaps I’ll move my featherweight in there too.

This is a fun little project for that machine.

The days are getting longer.

Think spring!!!

Until next time,

Susan

My Life

Best Birthday Ever!

January 26, 2014January 26, 2014 suznquilts

When it comes to birthdays, everyone is different.

(note: the little signs say 50 Sucks, Bites & Blows…)

I personally think they’re a lot of fun.

My family in particular likes to celebrate them,

and this year, since it was a big one for me,

they really did that!

It was a surprise party for me.

I had no clue.

I didn’t want a party.

My DH turned 50 last summer, and we had a party for him, so it seemed like it would be a bit redundant.

It wasn’t!

They went all out and reserved a new tea room,

invited all my friends,

and were able to keep it a surprise up until the very moment we turned onto the street.

We were supposedly on our way to church, a typical Saturday evening for us,

but when we passed up our church and instead turned a couple of blocks later,

I knew right away what was going on then.

I have no clue how they pulled it off without anyone slipping, even a teeny bit.

My only out-of-state brother came!

My out-of-town college roommate who I’ve remained close with all these years came too!

We talked, we ate, we had a lot of fun!

I got cash, gift cards, flowers, candy, jewelry,

& these:

It’s no surprise to you I’m sure that I have quilting friends.

Two of my designer friends sent me a box,

& in that box was a fat 1/4 of red & white fabric, thread & cash to add more fabric

along with a challenge!

I have to send them a photo of a finished project by July 15, 2014.

Another designer friend sent me the tiny red, white & black 9 patches.

They go perfectly with the red & white fat 1/4 & my Vintage Play black road dashes plus she included my Vintage Play red tonal numbers in the center of each block!

Whoever said getting old is no fun?

I disagree!

I plan to just keep sewing…

Now you know what I’ve been doing.

I’m busy getting old!

Until next time,

Susan

A Giveaway!, fabric shopping, My Life, Quilt Shops

Quilt Shop Day – Saturday, January 25, 2014

January 20, 2014 suznquilts

Have you heard?

The second annual “Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day” is Saturday, January 25, 2014!

It’s a great way to support your local quilt shop around the world.

You don’t need to do anything special,

BUT if you

visit a participating quilt shop,

photograph yourself there & add a caption of why it’s your favorite shop,

then upload the image to

http://ww.quiltshopday.com

you will be entered for a chance to win a $100 shopping spree in that store!

You (& your friends) can vote on the website once a day during a six-day period

following January 25.

Winners will be announced in early February.

Sound like fun?

If you don’t wish to do the photo thing,

just go visit your local quilt shop anyway and pick out a new project for the new year.

Tell them I sent you!

Until next time,

Susan

My Life

An Extra Chocolatey New Year 2014!

December 31, 2013January 20, 2014 suznquilts

Going anywhere this evening to celebrate the new year?

We’ll be going to my brother Dennis’ house for an informal gathering of family.

It’s potluck.

I decided to make chicken salad to serve on crackers,

& this.

I just love it when my family really likes something that is so easy to make!

This is my go-to-recipe when I get called to make a dessert for a funeral at church.

One of the reasons it’s my go-to-recipe is that I keep everything for it in my pantry.

It’s so easy you’ll want to make one for tonight too!

Just prepare a brownie mix for a 9 x 13 pan.

Bake it in a 9″ or 9-1/2″ spring form pan for 35 minutes at 350 degrees.

Let it cool then remove the pan.

Invert it onto a serving platter.

Ice the top only with chocolate fudge frosting (Pillsbury is our favorite).

Sprinkle the edge of top with sprinkles.

Typically I use chocolate sprinkles.

Since it’s still the Christmas season I decided to use my red & green sprinkles.

It’s really rich, so cut the wedges small.

The ladies at church used to think I bought these!

Stay safe & Happy New Year!

Until next time,

Susan

My Life

Suzn Quilts Snowed in…

December 14, 2013 suznquilts

I didn’t order it, but it came anyway…

(cool panoramic by Chloe)

Chris & I were to go to Kathy’s new studio open house and art studio tour.

Instead we got 6″ of winter early this morning.

It’s the good kind that you can build a snowman with but alas, no one here is interested. (least of all me)

I’m in where it’s warm trying to organize my sewing room & basement to accommodate our ever-growing family that will be here on Christmas day at 11:00 a.m but whose keeping track?

If I get my organizing done before I’m too tired, I’m going to make something with fabric!

Until next time,

Susan

My Life

The Weather! You can’t get away from it…

December 9, 2013 suznquilts

It’s everywhere…

I’m just sitting here minding my own business when I get this email, EXHIBIT A:

“It’s like people that brag about being taaaall…” (in a whiny voice: You’ve got mail)

Then I notice Jonathan can’t keep his thoughts to himself either, EXHIBIT B:

Lyrics: People talk about the weather (LOL!)
Like it’s always gonna rain
They say it’s getting harder
When’s it ever gonna change?
Take a look at all the flowers in the field
For none were dressed like this (Matthew 6:28-29)