Thanks for having me here to share my first quilt AnneMarie!  I started quilting about 6 years ago.  On a shopping trip to Walmart I saw the cover of Quilts n’ More with a snowball quilt made with Katie Jump Rope fabrics.  I was in love.  So I bought the magazine, and took it to my Mom in hopes she’d  teach me to quilt.  I’d made a few things but never had an interest in quilting….so I think she was as surprised as I was.  We tracked down the fabrics at a local quilt shop and we got to work. 

She showed me some tips and tricks, and I whipped my first quilt top out in a couple of days.  I couldn’t do anything else but sew until it was done…I was obsessed with it!  I had no idea I wasn’t using a 1/4" foot to piece until a year or more later…and I had no idea that I should have been using a walking foot for quilting and binding…so it was some trial and error at the beginning.

The top was done and sent to a friend to long arm quilt.  It turned out fabulous, and it was fuel for the fire to start more projects.   The only thing I didn’t love is the cost of professional quilting…yikes!

Shortly after that I checked out some books, and discovered a couple of quilting sites.  I learned bits here and there and taught myself how to free motion quilt.   The first quilt I free motion quilted was my orange quilt:

Now making quilts is part of my life.  My kids are used to the sound of my sewing machine and even though I have 3 kids now I’ve managed to fit in a little quilting throughout my day.   Some day's I don’t ever see my sewing machine, and other days I can whip out a quilt top.  It’s a balance but I love it.

I’ve learned  a lot over the years for sure…but that’s what "firsts" are for!  I’m much more confident now and much less scared about messing up…now if I mess up it’s OK and I move on.  The best advice I got when starting is to "start simple" and it still holds true!  If you start simple and your successful, you’ll be much more likely to want to try again.  Happy Quilting!