Simplify

Lucky girl

If I'm not the luckiest girl, I don't know who is, because look what I found in my mailbox yesterday:

Yes, that is THE Carrie of Miss Rosie Quilt Co.  Oh. My. Goodness!

After getting a good laugh at the label, I couldn't wait to tear into it.  What did I find?

Some of the most de-lish fabric (trust me) , and this:

One of her Tuffets pincushions perfectly (expertly) sewn out of Simple Abundance.

Ask the fam, I actually squealed when I saw it.  YUM.

Thank you Carrie!!!  I heart my little pincushion and happy little pins!  

I told you, I'm lucky.  Now lets just hope this luck can rub off onto other things going on right now.  Particularly, these pattern instructions I'm working on right now.  I forget, have I mentioned how much I love writing patterns?  I haven't?  Hmm... that's weird.

Alright, back to work and a(n almost empty) bag of Twizzlers bites... right after I get back from swimming with my two little men, that is.  Speaking of which, we are running late.  Better go!  Hope you have a happy Wednesday!  I will, I mean, how could I not, with this sweet little thing?

Lucky, I tell you.  

It's been that kind of a week...

Two dates

Tonight, I've got two hot dates.  

One with the Mr., tortilla soup, and Harry Potter.

And after that, one with the General.  

Specifically, the French General, my walking foot, Friends and a Route 44. (So what, I fell off the wagon.  Don't judge.)

Not sure which one I'm more excited about.  

Lets hope they don't find out about each other.  ;-)

The Quilt Parade!

I think I speak for both Carrie and myself when I say WOW.  Wow!  I thought maybe 15-20 people would join in, but I was blown away!  I actually lost count, somewhere along the way.  You guys are awesome! 

I tried to make it around to all the posts to say hello, but at one point I realized that if I didn't hurry a little faster, this post was never going to make it by Monday.  I'll keep working on it.  I just have to say though, you girls have some SERIOUS talent!  Loved seeing all of your first quilts, and where you are now.  Amazing.  (If you missed my 'My first quilt' post, you can see it here).

Please double check your links are there and that they work, and if you come across a dead link or something that is wrong, or missing let me know in the comments section. This took one heck of a lot longer than I thought it would.  Again, WOW.  I added a random photo here and there to break of some of the monotony of the list.  The link below the photo is the source.  It should also help you find where you left off a little easier, if you can't read them all in one sitting.  I'm adding a button to my sidebar to this post so you can find it whenever you need it.  If you would like a button, feel free and swipe it!

Oh, I almost forgot!  The winners!  Carrie is drawing two and I am drawing two.  If you are one of them, please email me at camille(at)thimbleblossoms(dot)com and I'll get your surprise right out.  Think fabric cuts....and patterns. Congrats to:

Melissa at The Quilting Post

and

Susan at Tickled Paisley

Also, while you are looking around, make sure to leave loads of sweet comments for everyone, will ya?  People love that.  Or so I've heard.  ;-)

 All right, well, have at it!  ENJOY!  And THANK YOU, for making this what it was (is?)!  

Carrie @ La Vie En Rosie

 Brenda @ Little Acorns

Zarina @ Concerning Zarina

Barbara @ WilliamGeorge 

Andi @ Patch Andi

Jane @ Sew Create It

Nadine @ Dream Weavers

Katie @ Katie's Corner

Stacey @ Luv2knit n sew

Joyce @ J's Quilting blog

Carrie @Ruffled feathers   (first) (second)

Angela @ My three sons

Lindsey @ Five Heathly Hearts

Laura @ SoBella Blog

Maria @ Passing Down Crazy

Cari @ Cari's blog-o-rama

Sarah@Thoughts of a Disorganized Quilter

Nicole @ Sister's Choice

Tiffany @ My Peanut Blossom

Alma @ Blackbird Designs

Jessica @ Jessica's Quilting Corner

Cindy @ Hyacinth Blog

Stephanie @ The Pin Cushion

Nichole @ Nichole in real life

Allison @ Cluck Cluck Sew

Abi @ Monkey Tree Creations

Sherri @ A Quilting Life

Hosander @ Life's a Lark

Janet @ QuiltCrazy (first) (last)

Mary @ Mary on Lake Pulaski

Katy @ Starbound Studios

Lisa @ Stashmaster

Jaybird @ Jaybird quilts

Jonelle @ 4 O'Clock Quilt Company

Laila @ Time for Tea

Susan @ Tickled Paisley

Laurie @ Minick and Simpson

Chris @ Cats on my quilts

Renee @ Treasures of Joy

Lana @ Lana LuLu (first)  (second)

Michelle @ Where do I find the time

Lisa @ Banana Cherie

Wendy P (first) (last)

Joan @ Ouvrages dun'e acadienne

Sinta @ Pink Pincushion

Vicki @ Sew Inspired

Amber @ Sugie Cookers

Marcie @ Confessions of a Craft-a-holic

Sandi @ Peacemeal quilts

Melody @ Quilty Mama

Lynda @ Master of Patience

Lucy @ Here's Lucy

Mary @ Simple Happy Home

Nanci @ Quilting at the Cottage

Christine @ Cutting Edge Quilt

Lissa @ Moda Lissa

Vanessa @ V and Co

Gillian @ By Gillian

Joann @ Pieceful afternoon

Karen @ Quilts...etc

Carol @ Carol's crafty creations

Dorothy @ Doki Quilts

Megan @ Crooked Seams

Wendy @ Quilting and Life

Deb @ Works in Progress

Nicolette @ Dutch Comfort

Dianne @ Suburban Stitcher

Sarah @ Sew Joy

Stacey @ Sweet Nothings

Anna @ Thimbleanna

Karla @ Sweetwater 

Michelle @ Flickr (first)

Michelle @ Dresden Quilter

Connie @ We are Sewing

Debbie @ Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber

BethAnn @ Needles and Thread

Beth @ Love to Laugh

Magnolia Bay Quilts

Denise @ Graceful Stitch

Maria @ Passing Down Crazy

Ashley @ Hatch Family of Four

Emily @ So much for my plans

Allison @ Cluck Cluck Sew

Nicole @ My Own Little World

Jane @ Too Good to be Through

Wendy @ Are you kidding?

Megan @ Megan's Corner

Heather @ Based on a True Story

Marga@ Marpie's Weblog

Astrid @ Grandma's Red Needle

Amanda @ Hohnstreiterrific

Jodi @ Simply This That and the Other

JoAnn @ Dressing Livvy

Margaret @ Days of a Sampler Lover

Cathy @ Quilting on Main Street

Diana @ Dented Thimble Quilting

Heather @ Quilt or Stitch

Janet @ Round 22

Lisa @ Upstate Lisa

Laurie @ Stone Belle

Toby @ RLS home

Elizabeth @ Silver Scissor

Abby @ Crafts by Abby

Kate @ Kate's in Stitches

Natalie @ Cinderberry Stitches

Rafael's Mum @ Adventures in Quilting and Sailing

Conny @ Conny's quilts

Rachel @ P.S. I quilt

Robin @ The Hobbyholic

Stephanie @ Loft Creations

Vickie @ Mid Ohio Knitter

MegJill @ Baked Asia

Diana @ Percales Quilts

Amy @ Kati Cupcake

Mathea @ Crafty Mathea

Lori @ Weed Boquet

Mary @ Mary's Cottage Quilts

Bonnie (MOM) @ Cotton Way

Tricia @ Simply Stamping

Eileen @ Eileen's Attic

Edeen @ edeenut

Donnelly @ Donnelly's obsessions

Dotti @ Apples, Quilts, and more

Lynette @ Lynette Anderson Designs

Alyson @ Alyson's petals

Catherine @ The Sewing Attic

Aubree @ Weathered cottage

Sonya @ Giggle Buttons

Sarah @ Sarah's Prim Treasures

Barb @ Quilting Barbie

Becky @ The Whosies

Laura @ Laura's birdnest

Pam @ Pam Kitty Morning

Melissa @ The Quilting Post

Sandy @ Textile House

Chase @ Payge lyra handmade

Robyn @ Robyn's nest

Susuko @ By Susuko

AmandaJean @ Crazy Mom Quilts

Elisabeth @ lambi pie

Anne @ Bunny Hill

Lori@ Lori's Weblog

Mary @ Quilty Goodness

Lori@ Love Hazel

Marianne @ Marianne Penner Designs

Amanda @ Busy Little Quilter

Corey @ Little Miss Shabby

Julia @ Serendipity

Amanda @ Amanda and Matt

Kelly @ Remember your Karma

Live a Colorful Life

Molly @ Molly's Cottage

Anina @ Twiddletales

Pat @ A little of this and a little of Pat

Tiffany @ Tiggle Giggles

Liesel @ Sugar and Spice Creations

Teresa @ Mama T

Kristi @ Whatever

Cindy @ Just another day in paradise

Lolly Do @ This and That

Evelyn @ Use The Loot

April @ The Rosenthal Family

Pat @ Pat Sloan

and last but not least, 

Joanna @ Fig Tree Quilts (cutting it close, girl!)  ;-)

and one more last, last minuter...

Heather @ Trends and Traditions (Anka's Treasures)

Well, there you have it.  

So what did you think?  Did you have fun?  Find some new friends?  Hope you enjoyed the Parade of Quilts, it sure was great having you.  

Allrighty, I'm off to visit a few links myself...

THANK YOU everyone!

Flying pigs

I never thought I'd see the day.  In fact, I may have seen a few of these outside my window just now:

My very own mother has finally started a blog.  Wohoo!  She's not quite sure what she's gotten herself into, so do me a favor and head over and say hello.  She's not too scary, for the most part.  Just don't break curfew or leave your shoes by the back door and you should be good to go.  Oh, and heaven forbid nobody answers the phone when it rings.  She is known to use some choice words in those kinds of situations.  ;-) (Okay, it's the one time in my life I've ever heard her swear, and I've teased her about it ever since!)

So anyway, head on over, bookmark/google reader it, whatever it is, do your thing.  And while you are at it, check out her 'My first quilt' post.  Thats some crazy hair going on over there...  Happy Blogging Mom!  Love ya!

A few other things to mention:

*Amy over at The Quilt Shoppe in my hometown is having a giveaway for a fantastic Amy Butler/Quilt Soup kit.  I hesitate to tell you, because I really really want it.  I love Amy Butler, and I love Quilt Soup even more.  So go over and enter (if you must) and tell her I sent ya. 

*Judi at Green Fairy Quilts is also doing a giveaway, and raising money/quilts for a great cause.  Head on over and spread the word.  Try not to be too jealous of her amazing long-arm quilting while you are at it.  You've been warned.  

*I've been meaning to mention this, but Facebook...  Here's the thing.  My blog is my quilting/design/creative space, my twitter is.... I don't even know what to call it, my... space (?), and my facebook is my basically my extended family (of which there are many)/high school friends. Just family and old friends, nothing quilty/creative.   For now, the spaces are separate. We'll see what the future brings.  Trust me, you aren't missing out on anything.  Please don't hate me.  :-)

*Quilt parade is on Monday, see ya then!  (I've heard that Moda Lissa may be throwing candy.  I'm just sayin...) 

Happy Weekend everybody!

My first quilt

WOW!  A big thank you to everybody who has participated so far in the Parade of Quilts!  If you haven't posted yours yet,  you still have until Sunday to do it.  Plenty of time.  (Ahem, Joanna...)  I'm a little hesitant to post mine after seeing all of yours...  seriously.  I can't even believe some of the quilts you attempted for your first.  One thing is for sure, there is some crazy talent out there.  

Not a lot matches up on this quilt (this was one of the better nine patches), the corners are pretty rough.  Good thing it has that awesome hunter green/black gingham sashing and my black all over crazy stippling to highlight the piecing.

 

I got the fabric at the 'fabric tear' at my first Quilt Market (without being stabbed with scissors!).  I was 14, and it was in St. Louis that year.  Guess that would have been 199..7?  or would it have been 1998?  Can't remember.  

Yes, it's a little scary.  But still, I love it.  

The last quilt I finished-finished was this one, my Wild Thing quilt out of Simple Abundance.  I've started and ALMOST finished several other quilts since then, but they are still under wraps, (bleh!) so its a good thing they aren't quite done.  Don't worry, I'll be sure to show you the second that I can!

So there you have it!  My first quilt and my most recent finish.  I think I've come a ways since the beginning.  At least I hope so.  I've definitely learned a lot.  What have I learned?  I don't even know where to start.... hmm....  well,  the 1/4" seam is pretty crucial, never stipple over safety pins, and measure 5 times, cut once.  Learned all those the hard way, of course.  I also learned how much I adore fabric, and how much I absolutely love to quilt.  (Especially when it's not on a deadline!)

Now I'm off to work on my NEXT quilt.  And quite honestly, thanks to all of you, I can't wait to dive in....

See you Monday with the whole quilt parade in tow.  WOHOO!!  See ya there!