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Over her 30+ years of experience, Suzi has specialized in taking flat art and bringing it into the third dimension. She has taken some of the most unique, original and exciting concepts in children’s literature and brought them to life for millions of children.

Suzi works with authors and artists when their concepts are still rough around the edges, and helps them visualize how their creations can become iconic toys.

Madeline was a rough scribble in a book brought to her over 25 years ago. The doll with the blue coat, yellow hat and red hair is Suzi’s vision from those rough sketches. Now it’s an icon
in everyone’s mind.

Arthur, by author Marc Brown, was an ugly long nosed aardvark that Suzi transformed into a lovable soft toy. The adorable, round, friendly character now in award-winning books and cartoons was drawn to match the look of the toy that Marc and Suzi made together.

The blue and white bunny in the pajamas you see today in the Goodnight Moon book was an illustration that had never been translated into a toy. This was one of Suzi’s own children’s favorite books, and seemed to be a “natural” for her to make into a love object.

Suzi worked with Nickelodeon and took a hard sculpture of the Blue’s Clues Dog and transformed it into the first three-dimensional Blue’s Clues soft toy over 20 years ago.

Amazing Baby is a book from England that incorporates bold geometric and black and white icons with black and white photographs of babies. Suzi, with her team at Dream Makers, has created all of the products and fabric designs for that very successful developmental line of toys now being sold.

Today, Suzi leads a team of creative and inspired designers at her company, Dream Makers, that has been executing and developing amazing new products in the toy, novelty and pet industries.

We also have great factory contacts and relationships in China.

Dream Makers stands ready to work with you and help create original, innovative and exciting new products which will be a great success for your company.

EMPLOYMENT
Dream Makers, Inc., Park Ridge 10/2001 to Present President
Co-created a marketing and design company to specialize in infant and developmental toys and children’s gifts, pet products, party products and decorative accessories. Provide concept development, product design for innovative new products. Prepare buyer presentation boards and three dimensional samples when necessary. Develop product with Asian factories through detailed specification sketches and final artwork for packaging. Full service design studio creating products from original concepts to sample development and final production. Specializing in textile, silk screen, and computer embroidery designs. Keen sense of design and an excellent experienced eye for critiquing designs. Excellent supervisory and project balancing skills. Proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator.

Commonwealth Toy and Novelty Company, Inc, New York 3/2001-10/2001
Design Director
Originated new and innovative concepts to increase the company’s product line and channels of distribution. Managed sample room of 16 people including designers, cutters, sewers and finishers. Worked with the Taiwan office, developing product via email and faxes. Shopped the market for the current trends in fabrics and trims. Developed new and unique music and sound mechanisms for special electronic effects. Organized and developed systems for the sample room to function efficiently. Created products for Walmart, Target, K Mart and Toys R Us. Developed new product categories to increase the company’s profitability and expanded targeted channels of distribution.

Eden, LLC, Jersey City, NJ 1978 - 2001
Design Director:
Supervised design staff of six graphic designers, 4 prototype designers and two graphic packaging designers to originate concepts, design first pattern and prototype, and prepare products for production. Worked closely with product managers, engineers, quality assurance and overseas factories. Assisted in catalog preparation and photography. Extensive travel to Asian manufacturing facilities. Developed innovative product lines which more than tripled the company’s sales volume. Successful designs included Madeline, Blue’s Clues, Arthur, Pat the Bunny, Paddington Bear and many others.

Barbizon School Of Fashion Merchandising San Diego, CA 1975 - 1977
Director
Established curriculum, selected educational materials, hired and supervised instructors, counseled students, assisted in job placement, directed fashion shows in connection with the Barbizon Modeling School.

Commonwealth Toy And Novelty Company Brooklyn, NY 1972 - 1974
Designer
Designed soft toys from concept to prototypes selecting all fabrics and trims. Worked with factory production and constructed display props. Successful designs include Curious George, Casper, Frumpy & Cleo.

Giorgio Di’santangelo New York 1971 - 1972 Assistant Designer
Supported one of the world’s leading fashion designers with sketching, construction and fitting of samples, fabric selection and design, sourcing and researching of materials for new lines. Organized and supervised fashion shows and sample room.

EDUCATION
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor of Science, Fashion Design: 1971
Dean’s List: First honors
ACHIEVEMENTS
Who’s Who in American Women: 1989 to present
Women in Toys 2012

Artist working in stained glass, pottery, jewelry, and Feng Shui. Clients include: Hallmark, Feng Shui Warehouse in San Diego, California, Maryland Federation of Arts & Natural Healing in Annapolis, Maryland, various gift stores throughout the country from Florida to the Southwest.
References upon request