My Life

Best Birthday Ever!

When it comes to birthdays, everyone is different.

50 sucks-blows-bites(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:

50 yrs old basketIt’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

Have you heard?

2014-Quilt-Shop-Day-250x250.gif

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!

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.

Chocolate+torte

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…

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

House+in+snow+wmark+12-14-13

(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

new fabric collection, New Pattern Sample, New quilt pattern, Suzn Quilts Vintage Play fabric collection

“Playtime” Quilt Hits Newsstands in Quilt Trends -Winter 2014 issue

I have a new quilt; Playtime.

Playtime+Quilt+Trends+Winter+2014+watermark

Of course it’s made with Vintage Play!

It’s featured in Quilt Trends’ Winter 2014 Magazine.

Quilt+Trends+Winter+2014+cover

A fun lap quilt using the panel with kids playing,

plus the green border

Green+Border+24304_gre1

and a few more prints.

Cream+Flowers+24311_cre1Green+numbers+24307_gre1Blue+numbers+24307_blu1Red+numbers+24307_red1

The pillowcase shown is made with the cute dog print in red.

Red+dogs+24310_red1

The pattern for the pillowcase can be found here on Quilt Trends’ website

and the quilt kit can be ordered from my website here.

A nice gift for a quilter on your Christmas list???

Until next time,

Susan

My Life

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

It’s everywhere…

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

cold map marking

“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:

believe in something

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)

I like to listen to smooth jazz, USUALLY no lyrics…

Me?

I’m just going to keep on looking at my Sun(beam) & the stars (3″ finished), EXHIBIT C:

tiny stars

and ignore that white stuff right outside my window!

I hope you’re at least in the blue with me and not the pink,

but if not, just keep sewing.

Perhaps you can pull some warmth from your iron?

Until next time,

Susan

new fabric collection

Vintage Play: Fat Quarter Shop’s- Friday’s Feature!

Take a look at what’s being featured today over at The Fat Quarter Shop!

FF-VintagePlayQK-300

Kimberly & the folks at The Fat Quarter Shop made my lap size Vintage Play quilt (61-1/2″ x 77-1/2″) featuring the panel & prints from my fabric line, Vintage Play, and they’re selling kits.

You can also purchase backing kits, fat quarter bundles plus yardage.

Check them out!

Until next time,

Susan

A Giveaway!

We Have Winners!!!

Thanks for all the great responses to my Lost Mittens block in the latest 100 Blocks!

LostMittens

Our winner of the free issue is,

Cathy Jones, congrats!

QMMS-130037-cover_200_56636

Thanks also for the great comments on my

Christmas patterns on my website!

The winners of free patterns and a kit to make a 4 block quilt or runner are,

Laurie P.,

she chose my Ginger Bliss pattern,

Suzn Quilts Ginger Bliss #163Cover watermark

& Donna Lawrence,

she chose my A Pretty Package pattern.

A Pretty Package #179 cover Watermark

Congrats to all of you!

I hope you continue to follow the bloggers yet to come this week.

joinforblogtour8_200-011

Good luck & don’t forget to look for the new issue on newsstands November 19!

Until next time,

Susan

A Giveaway!, Applique quilt projects, Blog tour with give-aways, New Christmas Quilt Patterns, Quick Little Projects, Suzn Quilts

Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Volume 8!

I’m excited to announce that I am once again included in

Quiltmaker’s awesome 100 Blocks issue!

QMMS-130037-cover_200_56636

My block, Lost Mittens, can be found on page 46.

LostMittensI used various Christmas prints, plus a cute black/cream polka dot.

This would make a great scrappy Christmas quilt, using up all of your Christmas scraps don’t you think?

LostMittens+Runner

With just 4 of the 12″ blocks you can quickly make this 12″ x 48″ runner,

LostMittens+Topper

or by setting them a little differently, this 24″ x 24″ topper!

You have plenty of time…

Just an afternoon is all you need!

Leave me a comment above….on today’s post and you will be entered to win a free copy of Volume 8!!! Don’t forget to include your email address!

If you leave me a comment telling me your favorite

Christmas

pattern from my website

SuznQuilts.com,

you’ll be entered to win that pattern

plus a kit to make the 4 block table runner or topper shown above!

Leave your comment by November 13th, 12 p.m.

I’ll choose 2 winners for the free pattern & kit!

Don’t forget to visit all the designers on the blog hop for lots more give-aways.

Until next time,

Susan