Friday, July 27, 2012

Simply Charming Mini Quilts Blog Tour

***Giveaway closed***

I'm so happy that Konda of Moose on the Porch Quilts asked me to participate in the blog tour for her new book, Simply Charming Minis.

Back in 2010, when I first started quilting, I happened upon Konda's blog and saw that she was hosting a jellyroll sampler quilt-along. I thought this'd be the perfect opportunity for me to learn new skills. Remember, I was brand spankin' new to quilting at the time, and I learned so many techniques making each block.
Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt
I ended up meeting Konda a couple months later at one of the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild meetings, and I was so impressed with her vast knowledge of all things quilting. (As a long-arm quilter, she even backed me up when I ranted about a quilt I had gotten professionally quilted that I wasn't too happy about. Thanks, Konda! Glad to know I wasn't off my rocker.)
About her new book: Simply Charming Minis is comprised of mini quilts made in traditional and modern colorways. I love how each quilt takes on an entirely different look just based on the fabric used. Here are a few images from the book so you can see what I'm talking about.

As a technical writer, I want my instructions clear and easy-to-understand. Konda has done a great job with this. You'll have no problems following her directions, even if you're a novice quilter.
In addition to the blog tour, Konda will be hosting a quilt-along based on the book. It will run from September 11 through April 2. We'll be making four quilt tops every two weeks and then taking a couple weeks in between each cycle to finish each quilt. Come April, you'll have 12 mini quilts. Konda will even have prizes along the way!

Now, if you'd like to win a copy of the book for yourself, leave me a comment on this post. It can be anything, but since my annivarsary is coming up (as well as my parents' 50th!), it'd be nice to get some ideas on fun and/or creative anniversary ideas (either for a gift or date). I'll draw a winner a week from today on August 3.
Be sure to visit the rest of the blogs on the blog tour.
Sat, July 28: Sherri McConnell at A Quilting Life
Sun, July 29: April Mazzoleni at Making Ends Meet
Mon, July 30: Vickie Eapen at Spun Sugar Quilt
Tues, July 31: Konda Luckau at Moose on the Porch Quilts and Michele Foster at Quilting Gallery










105 comments:

Gill said...

Hi Brooke
Happy Anniversary to you and your parents!
For my parents 50th anniversary we had a huge party where we presented them with a (surprise!) photo of all their children and grandchildren and great grandchildren - getting everyone together for the photo without Mum and Dad finding out was the hardest thing!!

JoyceLM said...

Happy anniversary. A memory quilt would be a nice gift for your parents. My 3 sisters & I made a memory quilt for my Dad a few years ago & he loves it. Thanks for the chance to win Konda's new book.

Allison C said...

You could do a themed party from when they met or a semi recreation of where/how they met.
Happy Anniversary!

Laura said...

On our tenth anniversary, we went back on the same trip we'd taken for our honeymoon. It was a fun way to celebrate how things had changed but some things were still the same ;)

Happy Anniversary!

Anonymous said...

You could always double date with your parents. Go to a nice restaurant or maybe go on a cruise - an IOU sort of thing for a later time to enjoy. Thanks for being a part of the Simply Charming Minis Book Tour and making one of us a lucky winner. Happy Anniversary.

Sandi T.
sandit1#sbcglobal.net

Pat said...

Happy Anniversary! I love the idea of a family photo to surprise them with.
Thanks for the chance to win!

Barbie Mills said...

This looks like such a cute book! I'm really curious about the professionally quilted quilt you weren't happy about. I'll have to ask you about that sometime.

Happy Anniversary soon! Ideas... my husband has been looking up what that particular year's traditional gift is (paper, silver, etc.) and thinks about a creative gift. Year 5 was wood, and he bought me a necklace on etsy with a pendant made of wire-wrapped petrified wood. It's pretty cool. Maybe look that up and think of something creative for whatever year it is for you.

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary to you and your parents! I'm afraid I have no ideas for a wonderful celebration. I am, however, excited about the giveaway...lol.

Lori said...

Happy Anniversary to all of you. I know of a couple that made a time capsule to open on their 50th anniversary.
quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

Joyce Carter said...

We are almost reaching our 50th anniversary. A gift that I would cherish would be a quilt with pictures and signatures of all my family members.Having my grandchildren write something on a block would be the ultimate gift.
Thank you so much for the giveaway.

VickiT said...

Happy Anniversary to both you and your parents. 50 yrs is a big one for them. If I had the money and my parents were still living I think I'd find a great place to send them on an overnight away. In our area there is a wonderful theatre that has excellent plays and a fabulous restaurant where you get the dinner and a play for a great price. The meals are wonderful and the plays are quite fun. My husband and I won a package to the one near us and it had been years since I'd been to a play so I wasn't sure either of us would like it. We had a great time and they even gave us a special dessert for our wedding anniversary.

Katie B said...

This book looks like a lot of fun!
I'm not the best person to ask about anniversary plans...last year, my husband and I got into a disagreement about the date of our wedding anniversary. Turns out we were both wrong! We now have a framed invitation in our entryway so we have no excuses. :)

Scrapatches said...

Love your jelly roll sampler quilt-a-long quilt. Looking forward to the Mini Quilt-a-long starting in September. Thanks for a chance to win the book ... :) Pat

Sallie said...

Happy Anniversary to both couples! Perhaps there's a bed and breakfast nearby for an overnight stay or tickets to a play or professional sports match would be appropriate and appreciated. Or do a progressive dinner - going to different restaurant for different courses (appetizers, main, and dessert). Thanks for the giveaway!

Judy1522 said...

Happy Anniversary! Parties are always fun. I did Konda's jelly roll quilt along on my own because she was on to the next quilt along when I found it. It was my first quilt ever and I made mistakes but also learned a lot. Thanks for the chance to win this book

Dru said...

I'm not very creative when it comes anniversary ideas. However, if it were my husband and me, we'd like a wine country getaway combined with bicycling or hiking. Thanks for the book giveaway.

bruinbr said...

Happy anniversary! My duh and I are pretty much home bodies, but we love tryout go out every now and then to try a completely new restaurant and dessert place. It's yummy and let's us explore! :)

Helen L said...

We're not too good about anniversaries, but some of our best have been taking trips back to our first anniversary spot in a little town just outside of Yosemite and visiting the little town of Columbia and it's wonderful history. Fun and beautiful!! Congrats on your anniversary!! I loved your vacation pics too: My sister lived in portland for years, and I LOVE Multinomah falls!! Such a pretty place: so glad you were able to visit it :-)

grendelskin said...

Happy anniversary (ies)! I like the how-we-met celebration. For our tenth hubby and I took a glassblowing workshop; we'd met at a glassblowing class and have not had many opportunities for that type of play since having kids and al that jazz.

Anonymous said...

HELLO! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO BOTH FAMILIES! WE ALWAYS DO PHOTOS AND DINNER OUT SOME PLACE NEW! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!

msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

Carolyn said...

Happy Anniversary to you and your parents! For my parents 30th (6 years ago) we had a surprise party for them. Now we just give them gift cards for going out to dinner. I am sure by the time they hit their 40th we will have to do something big for them again.

A.J. Dub. (Amy) said...

My friend created a "Date Jar" for her gift to her hubby on their anniversary. She made up 3 categories, color coded: free, cheap, and $$$$. Put that info and how much advance planning it needs on a label on the jar, and then typed the details of the dates on paper and wrapped them around colored craft sticks. I can send you a link to her blog post if you like.

Kathy H said...

Happy anniversary to you and your parents. A quilt is always a perfect present! We went on a cruise for one of our anniversaries but a weekend getaway for 2 is always nice too.

Izzy said...

Happy anniversary to you and your parents! For our anniversary, my sweetie and I just like to catch a movie and go for a nice dinner. Just being alone together is awesome!

~Laurie~ said...

Your first quilt was amazing - if Konda's instructions are that great I would love to win this book! I'm not sure if I have a great Anniversary idea, except be sure to take a nice picture with your hubby to commemerate the occasion. It's fun to look back through the years at how we all change - especially when you get to 50th like your parents!! Happy Anniversary to the both of you :)

Meredith said...

Congratulations! As far as ideas...oh gosh...my hubby and I are so low key we don't ever do much!!

Mary said...

Congratulations to you and your parents! My husband and I will have our 34th anniversary this Sunday. It may be too late, but a quilt is always a nice gift. And a small trip away is always a great way to celebrate.
The book looks great. Thanks for a chance to win.

Sinta Renee said...

I love small quilts and these look like a lot of fun... I sent my parents to a bed and breakfast on the coast for their anniversary and included a horse drawn carriage ride. They still talk about it! I also made them a signature quilt one year of all the family members and had a surprise party for them.

Sewgirl said...

For my parent's 40th we had all the family that could spend the entire weekend with them. I had coffee mugs as party favors made with their pictures on them to give out. Every one loved that. (costco had the best price in my area btw)
Happy Anniversary to you...How many years it it for your and your dh?

paulette said...

How about a family reunion...rent a hall or cabins on a lake!! Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful book!
Paulette

Beth said...

Love hearing about 50 year anniversaries! Congrats to them. I made a signature quilt for my BIL and SIL and everyone at the party signed it. They loved it.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Well, it has been some time, but we had a painting done (original family land tract )on their 50th and a painting of the homestead (on my header) for their 60th.

Marcia W. said...

Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Konda's book - the minis are cute.
For my parents 50th we threw a party in the community center where they lived, and invited lots of friends and family members to come. The response was amazing! My parents loved seeing folks that they hadn't seen in a long time. We had them "cut the cake" and the "kids" gave them a clock with engraved sentiment. The party and the attention was a surprise and more special to them than any gift. It was a lot of work as my sister and I cooked food, served, decorated, cleaned before/after, and my brother did the heavy work of setup/tear down of tables, chairs, loading/unloading, etc. Seeing how happy my parents were was priceless.

Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

We had a wedding reception for my parent's 50th anniversary with the invitations, wedding cake and everything. They eloped and kept it a secret for a couple of months. We invited family and friends. We all enjoyed the reception.

Jennie said...

I bought hubby a cast iron skillet for our anniversary... that's romantic right?
I'd LOVE a copy of this book, it looks so cute!

Anne said...

Well, do you have time to make them a small quilt? I always prefer anything homemade, even just a homemade card. It shows they made an effort. Of course, a night out with the hubster is always a special night for your anniversary. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!

Lee Ann L. said...

I hope you have a wonderful anniversary! We don't do much for ours; but, we have gone to the beach a couple of times for our anniversary and to a nearby town for an overnight stay. Any place nearby is a wonderful get away and often tends to be frugal too. :-)

Thank you for a chance to win. :-)

Monica said...

Sorry...no fun anniversary ideas here. I've only been married six years and we don't usually make a big deal out of it.

Kelly O. said...

Happy soon Anniversary :)

If you've never shared a limo on an anniversary it's a must! so fun and memorable... We just drove around the city getting fast food drinking champagne...

limo too pricey? go make out at a drive in theatre! you'll feel like kids again :)

Anne D said...

For a big anniversary plan a big trip. My husband and I want to do an Alaskan cruise for our 30th.
Thanks for the chance to win a great book.

Andy said...

For my parent's 40th, us kids held a surprise open house for them. We set it up like it was a wedding reception. We had a small wedding-style cake, my mom's dress on a dress form, photos of them from their wedding day, a guest book for everyone to sign. They loved it!

Thank you for the giveaway!

Lee said...

I think trips are fun! or a surprise party! thanks!

Tiffany said...

I like the idea of a memory quilt for your parents, it was mentioned in the comments above. What a neat idea!

Carol said...

happy anniversary - but no ideas for gifts. Maybe a double wedding ring quilt.

Annabanana said...

Happy Anniversary to you and to your parents...50 years is awesome. What would be better than a memory quilt?! Different family members can each contribute a square.If that's a bit too much work a scrapbook of their lives would be neat!
Thanks for the giveaway!

Jo C. said...

Happy Anniversary! I think an overnight getaway would be my choice, maybe with an off-Broadway show thrown in?
boppiesgirl at gmail dot com

Kate said...

Happy Anniversary! We did dinner out without the kiddo. That's about as exciting as we get!

ibmarlee said...

Happy Anniversary to you and your parents, for my Aunt and Uncles 50th my cousin and I put together a movie of their life with pics and home movies and then put it to music and then my cousin had a quilt made from some of the pics for them it was a lot of fun...

Homemaker Honey said...

Happy Anniversary! Here's an idea I saw on Pinterest: write down a memory from each year and tie it to a balloon, or tie a photo from each year to a balloon. Pop the balloons as you remember each memory together.

Deborah
homemakerhoney @gmail .com

Diann said...

At an anniversary party play music from the year of the wedding.

B Greene said...

Happy Anniversary! I don't have any creative ideas for celebrating, but just remind each other that you will never take each other for granted!

Quilt n Queen said...

Happy Anniversary to you and to your parents...a weekend road trip would be my choice of a great anniversary gift or just a dinner at a really nice restaurant. Looking forward to the Mini blog hop in September and ...thanks for the the chance to win Konda's new book.

Mhairi said...

WOW. Happy anniversary. Why not go back to the first place you met or the first date. For your parents this might be a real memory test and a lovely way to celebrate. Or do something that reminds you and them of the years spent together.
I hope you have a wonderful time.
(You could of course construct 50 mini quilts to represent the years they have spent together, hehe)

Beulah said...

Happy Anniversary!
For your parents....why not a listing of 50 blessings or 50 thankyous or 50 nifty things you love about your parents????

sowingstitches [at] yahoo [dot] com

Lisa England said...

It's not a very creative idea, but a photo book is a nice gift and keepsake. I have done the digital books online and they're fun and easy to do.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

It looks like a lovely book, and I would love to get it. Happy Anniversary! I would create a slideshow with old photographs and our favorite songs.

Cathy said...

Happy Anniversary to you and your parents. I party with a theme from the year your parents were married. I like to include a coin with the year of the wedding date inside the Anninversary card.

Colleen said...

I can see Konda has a lot of fans. Thanks for the giveaway.

Sherry said...

The book looks like it would be fun to have. It is our 40th anniversary in a couple of weeks. I have been wondering if we should really celebrate or wait till the big 50. Happy Anniversary to you and your parents.

Karen said...

This book would be great inspiration for whipping up some minis. They give me a feeling of accomplishment between larger quilts.

Rosa said...

Happy anniversary to your parents.

What about a memory mini quilt or photo with all the family,this was the best present for my mother in law and also a big dinner with all the family.

Sherry said...

Happy anniversary! How about a pillow with a picture of their wedding photo on it. That would be nice. Love the mini quilts from Konda's book. I'm new to quilting and love minis because they get finished faster and are easier to quilt on my home machine. Thanks for the chance to win the book.

foodmathquilts said...

Happy anniversary! I have no real ideas - although I'm signed up for a quilting class on my anniversary (our fourth).

A tidbit - my parent's 30th anniversary was three days after my wedding, and the day after movers arrived to pack them up for a 2000 mile trek. I think that maybe I owe them a party for their 35th!

Sarah

Anna @FreshDewDrops said...

Happy Anniversary! Not very creative myself, but whatever you do take the time to enjoy.

Almaelou said...

I always like to buy anniversary gifts based on what the card people say your suppose to buy for that year. For instance last year was our 3rd anniversary and for the 3rd anniversary gift is leather so I got him a leather tool belt. 2nd anniversary is cotton, I got him underwear.

Anonymous said...

A memory quilt would be a great idea as one can spend endless hours remembering the past time spent together by just looking at the quilt.

Leena

barbara woods said...

would love to win thanks

Winona said...

Happy anniversary to you and hubby and to your parents. We just celebrated our 35th anniversary last Wed. I am not good on planning parties. We didn't do anything special. I gave him a Snickers bar and he gave me a Roberts chocolate milk. LOL

Tricia said...

We are lucky to get a dinner without kids! Do something both of you enjoy!

Sharon said...

Looks like a fun book for those of us who like both traditional and modern quilting

Anda W said...

I am satisfied with not cooking on special occasions, so a dinner out would be my suggestion! awolk at rogers dot com

Unknown said...

Thanks for the review of the book. I love that there are more than one color way shown, gives you more ideas! Creative anniversary: I make or buy 4 or 5 cards and give them to my hubby all through the day. ie..first thing in the morning, hide one in the drivers seat for him to find when he gets in the car, give him one at the exact time of our wedding, etc..you get the idea. When all the kids were little we would try to spend the whole day together and get a sitter (grandma or an aunt :)).

Judy said...

Happy Anniversary to you and your parents! I look forward to my 50th in 7 years! Wow. Thank you for a chance to win this wonderful book. I would love to win.

webmailaddress2 said...

Happy anniversary! I hope I can participate in the quilt along!

Betteem said...

Happy Anniversay! After 50 years we are at the start of the next 50!
Each of you could make an exquisite card for each other!

Kathryn said...

make an easy block foe family members to sign.

Anonymous said...

Well, let's see...the traditional dinner-and-a-movie? No? Well how about a big scrapbook dedicated to memories/photos of them through the years??

Karee said...

Happy Anniversary! Blessings to you and your parents.

Perhaps a quilt of the houses they lived in and the HOMES they made the houses into.

Dj said...

Thanks for the chance. I love minis!

Lisa said...

Happy everything! My husbands parents had theirs this year and we made a scrapbook for them but let mom put the party pics in. I found a photo of them the day after they got married and blue it up put it in a frame with a current pics, mom loved it. I also took pics from their photos and their life together and put them on the table in frames now these pics sit all around their home. Please enter me in the giveaway!

Newbie Jen said...

I just saw the most amazing quilt at the international quilt festival. The quilter used excerpts from her great aunts diary from the late 1800's, added family photos, etc., transferred them to fabric and made the most beautiful vintage looking quilt out of them. You could do something similar with their wedding photos.

Ella said...

Oh Love it Love it!!! Every one of them!! So Cute!!

Jocelyn said...

Congratulations on both yours and your parents anniversaries. I think asking friends and family to write a letter about your parents and then put them in a book is always a winner. It brings a lot of people together and the memories are sweet to share.

Eileen said...

Thanks for the chance to win this fantastic book!

Angela Smith said...

First, Happy Anniversary to both you and your parents. Second, I would love to make a miniature. Thank you for the chance to win.

Sandra said...

I think you could collect photo's and have them made into a book (there's all kinds of sites online)
Happy Anniversary. Thanks for being involved in the giveaway.

Craig and Liz said...

Happy Anniversary!! Your parents would probably love a photo book. There are so many great themed books. Pick one and start adding pictures. Our grandchildren love the books I have made and they bring back so many wonderful memories.

tubakk said...

Always perfect to go out and eat, may be a concert og a theater. Happy anniversary! And thanks for the chance to win! Greetings from Norway. tubakk@online.no

Deb said...

Happy Anniversary! Scrapbooking is nice if you already are into that, or a quilt if you haven't already gifted that for a previous occasion.
for something simpler I'd just say a restaurant gift card for your parents or pay for Merry Maids to give them a housecleaning. For you and your husband, just a nice dinner out and a stroll along a riverwalk or something like that.

Shannon said...

Congrats!! I think doing something like recreating there wedding would be so fun!!

LeAnne said...

Happy Anniversary. My husband and I actually forgot ours this year so I'm not much help on how to celebrate one.

Paule-Marie said...

Happy anniversary to you and your parents. thank you for sharing the book with us and giving us the opportunity to win one. I love minis

Sally said...

50, wow. A memory quilt with pictures on fabric from wedding, include other pics such as children, grandchildren with large "50" appliqued in center!

Sherryl said...

Happy Anniversary to all of you! I don't know how you would do it, but I think a 50th anniversary requires fireworks. Wouldn't that be fabulous?!? thanks for the chance to win this great book. I do so love minis.
- sunshdws at yahoo dot com

Darlington Delights said...

Looks like a great giveaway. Can't wait to see the book. Thanks for sharing.

Linda said...

Love the mini guilts. The quilt books looks great. Photo books, such as Shutterfly are great gifts for anniversaries. For your parents there could be pages devoted to each of their children's families.

Unknown said...

Happy Anniversary to both you and your parents! I think it would be fun to have a family reunion at a lodge with a lake, outdoor activities, etc. Thanks for the chance to win the book!

Grammieto2 said...

an anniversary is a wonderful thing to celebrate and what a better way to share it than with a quilt made of those special memories made over the years. a selection of mini quilts put together to recollect those memories would be perfect. thanks for the opportunity for the book

Gwen said...

Happy Anniversary! When my parents celebrated their 50th anniversary, their favorite gift was a 100 page photo book that I put together for them. We had gathered photos of them from the time they were babies and through the years until now- including all the special events that have happened over time. Also, my sisters and I, as well as all the grandkids, each wrote up special memories which we typed and had included in the book. We also put together a slide show of all the photos and played it at their Anniversary party! :-)

Valarie said...

Our anniversary is coming up soon as well (the 9th). And my in-law's 68th is on the same day! (We were married on their 40th), Crazy, I know!
The 50th is such a milestone, one idea for an anniversary gift is to digitize some of their favorite old photos and make a table book or memory quilt, if you have time.
Thanks for the give-away!

Erin P. said...

yeah for mini quilts! eatkin85@yahoo.com

BeachQuilter said...

Happy Anniversary! There have been so many great ideas, I can't wait to read what you decided to do!

Jessica said...

Happy anniversary! Thanks for the chance to win!

thepalmierifamily said...

The book would be a lot of fun. Anniversary ideas...save for a trip next year to Italy! Plus I can send you an email with a lot of low cost airlines to travel around Europe a bit. :)

Leo said...

uhoh anniversary ideas ... I can't really help you on that. We painted a picture for my grandparents, we all took turns painting things we connected with them and turning

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