Happy Quilting Anniversary!

Happy Quilting Anniversary to Me! I'm celebrating 12 years of quilting this year and what a ride it has been. I've truly enjoyed all I've learned and I still have many quilts on my "bucket list" of quilts I want to accomplish - Winding Ways, Double Wedding Ring, Storm at Sea, just to name a few.
Four years ago this month I started blogging about my quilting. I had blogged for a year before that, but mostly about teaching. What I found in quilt blogging is so unbelieveable! I couldn't ask for better friends. Jen and her mom Cindy were my very first blogging friends and to this day Jen and I are the very best of friends, having gotten together twice in the last two years and I got to meet Cindy as well.

When we started blogging, it was a very small group, but after moving to blogger, the friends I've made have just kept growing. With the invention of Google Reader I've been able to read a lot more blogs. I have over 350 blogs I have on my reader as well as Quilting Bloggers blog roll, so I get lots of inspiration.
I attended a quilting retreat where I got to meet Regina, Trish, Cindy, Jen, Patti, Jen V, Cathy, Linda, and Jennifer. It's so neat to meet blogging friends and really get to know the people behind the blogs. I love blogging and don't know what I'd do without it. While I've never met Deb, Colleen, and Cindy they also inspire me with their projects and comments. I now have 51 awesome followers and look forward to meeting other followers/commenters in the future as well.
This summer also marks two years that I've had my quilting frame. It has seriously been the best investment I've made in my quilting, other than new machines and quilt shop quality fabric and thread. I've been able to make a lot more quilts and finish my projects more quickly. Plus I love to play with the designs. It has also provided me a challenge compared to just sewing straight lines.
For the past 2 years I've worked at a quilt shop and a sewing center and I love every minute of it. I've really enjoyed getting to know the customers and learn more about the quilting market. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
To celebrate my quilting anniversary, I'm having a giveaway. I'll be giving 8 fat quarters of Moda's Sweetwater fabric and my pattern to make the Schlep Bag,  to a lucky follower/commenter who leaves a comment before August 14th, my half birthday. There's no need to blog about my giveaway and tell others, this is just for my loyal followers/commenters. I appreciate all the comments I receive and I wouldn't be blogging without everyone following me.