Firsts...

Today is the 1st of October. 

That means it's up to Cheryl, Polly and Laurie and moi to provide the entertainment.  It's kind of a letdown, isn't it?  No matter how you slice it, being CPLD'd just doesn't have the same cachet to it that being AMP'ed does.

But that doesn't mean there aren't still things to tell you about, things to show you and so on.  So here goes, let me get started. 

First Quilts.  I love my first quilt.  It's not exactly Amish, not exactly square, not even close to being perfect and not exactly traditional with that red machine-quilting, but I love it for all those reasons.  The imperfections are what make it one of my favorite quilts ever.  

  
If you want to read about it, you can do so here.   

The Edge Rulers.  I could have used some of those when I was making my first quilt!

 
If you want to win a complete set of these rulers ~ all the rulers you see here ~ just leave a comment here today on this post.  Then don't forget to leave posts on each of these blogs on the designated day.  It doesn't have to be done on that day, but your comment has to be on that person's post for that day.  Does that make sense?

• September 27th:  Pat Sloan and Kelly "I Have A Notion"
• September 28th:  Amy and Jackie
• September 29th:  Julie and Amanda
• September 30th:  Monica, Amy and Pam
• October 1st:  Cheryl, Polly & Laurie, Moi
• October 2nd:  Michele and Pat

What do you need to know about the rulers?  The frosted surface means less glare and greater visibility on both light and dark fabrics.  The frosted coating also means less slide and less need for products designed to keep rulers from slipping.  The lines are thin, clear and well-placed, and there aren't more lines and markings that you need maybe 1% of the time.  The diamond sharpening edge is a clever idea and I think it's going to work even better than you might expect.  The sound of the ruler along the edge of the ruler does take a tiny bit of getting used to but that's just because you're not used to it.  The rulers are terrific. 

Birthdays.  We might not be AMPed up but we've still got reason to celebrate ~ a most excellent eason to party.  Did you know that lots of very famous people were born today?  Well, not actually today but on October 1st sometime in the past. 

• Mark McGwire ~ Baseball player who won’t ever get into the Hall of Fame because he couldn’t fess up, probably more infamous now than famous
• Randy Quaid ~ Actor with more famous brother
• Rod Carew ~ Baseball player for Minnesota Twins
• Stella Stevens ~ Actress
• Julie Andrews ~ Actress, lots of great movies but my favorite is “10” because she was so darn funny though I still love "Sound of Music"... the hills are alive....
• Richard Harris ~ Actor, lots of great movies… too many favorites to name
• George Peppard ~ Actor, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The A-Team... I love it when a plan comes together.
• Tom Bosley ~ Actor, best known as Mr. Cunningham on Happy Days
• William Rehnquist ~ Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
• Jimmy Carter ~ 39^th President of the United States
• James Whitmore ~ Actor, he was in one of my all-time favorite movies, The Shawshank Redemption
• Walter Matthau ~ Actor, probably best known for “The Odd Couple” but who I really loved in “Grumpy Old Men”
• Bonnie Parker ~ Twit who hung around with another twit named Clyde
• Vladimir Horowitz ~ Renowned Russian pianist

It is also the birthday of Polly Minick!  Happy Birthday, Polly!  Despite being a famous hooker ~ forgive me but I just can't resist calling her that ~ Polly is most famous for being the older sister of legendary machine-quilter Laurie Simpson. 

(Today is also the birthday of Sinta of the Pink Pincushion.  Happy Birthday, Sinta!)

It's also my birthday.  Happy Birthday to me... happy birthday to me!  Happy Birthday dear meeeee... happy birthday to me. 

In addition to my sharing a birthday with Polly, I recently found out that Rosie shares her September 16th birthday with Gibby!  Except that she's older than Gibby by about 60 years ~ "dog years". 

 
I didn't get to tell you but I actually met Gibby while I was in Michigan a few weeks ago.  I guilted Laurie into leaving her mountain of pre-Market sewing work and coming down to meet up with me, and I asked her to bring Gibby along.  He is even more handsome in person and he's a sweetheart.  Thank you, Laurie, for bringing your beautiful boy along.  A belated Happy Birthday to Gibby. 

Recipes.  I baked cookies. 

 

I couldn't decide which one to make so I made both.  We've been making these for more than 35 years.

 
Walnut Squares and Butterscotch Cookies with Burnt Butter Icing.

I think you can figure out which one is which. 

Quilt ~ Moose on the Loose.

 
While making 501 and Moose Munch several years ago, it occurred to me that you could make the same design using strips instead of four-patches. 

Did I mention that this is a free pattern?  Do with it what you will.  I've been giving it to classes for the past couple of months and now it's yours.  Have fun.  (I hope.)

Moose on the Loose ~ Pictures

Moose on the Loose ~ Pattern

Why Moose on the Loose?  Because this quilt is much looser and more fun than Moose Munch. 

Just remember, leave a comment here.  And here with Cheryl.  And here with Polly and Laurie.

Do it today.  Do it now.  That takes care of today.

The rest is up to you. 

I'm going to go see a dog about a cookie. 

Comments

[Debbie]

Happy birthday, Carrie! Can't wait to see those rulers!

[Mary Val]

Happy Birthday! So you hear me signing here? I'm doing so very quietly since it's so early in the morning. That was a very entertaining read. Randy Quaid,the actor with the more famous older brother, is one funny guy: think National Lampoon Christmas vacation. We watch that every year at our house, along with the Red Ryder BB gun film: over, and over, and over, ha! LOVE the rulers, love the cookies, love that gorgeous dog too. thanks!

[Paula L.]

Happy Birthday! And thank you for the recipe - your cookies look so yummy I have to try both this weekend!
ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

[Kathy]

You associate the same memories with those actors that I do! So I have a question on the rulers - what does it SOUND like?

[Teresa Felgueiras]

Happy birthday. Thank you for your delicious recipe. Those rullers seem great too.

[Györgyi Varga]

Happy Birthday! In my country we say on this special day: Boldog Szülinapot! The cookies you made looks like delicious and your free pattern is lovely. Have a nice day with your family. Györgyi

[Jill]

Happy Birthday and thanks for the free pattern. Would love a set of these rulers

[Mary Jordan]

Happy Birthday! I graduated high school in 1973. That would make us about the same age? I know that now I like my tops long enough to hit my finger tips. That's were I liked my skirts hemmed in those days. We could wear pants when we were sophmores but they had to be suits. My mom made me umpteen double knit pant suits. My mom didn't let me shave my legs until I was in the middle of my 8th year. It was so embarrassing. I wore fishnet and textured stockings so no one else could tell. Finally I told her the kids were making fun of me and she finally let me use nair. I was allergic to it and had an awful rash and it was just yuk. She would tell me...I told you were too young to shave. The moral of this story is I picked my battles with my children. If I caught them in a lie or the didn't do their best at school then they were grounded. I think my daughter was grounded the whole school year when she was 12. Now that child is a whole different story....

Pat said to post our email addy...azuree55@yahoo.com

[Sandy]

It's so sweet that you give on your birthday. Thanks for the recipes and pattern. Wishing you a day full of wonderful things and memories to last you for years to come!! Happy Birthday, Carrie!

[Grace]

Happy Birthday, Carrie! I hope you have a perfect day! Thanks for the recipes and the free pattern.

[Brandie]

Happy Birthday! Hope it's a great one. jmb8161{at}yahoo{dot}com

[Karin]

Happy birthday, Carrie. Thank you for sharing the recipes and pattern. :) The butterscotch cookies look delicious! The oteher do as well, but I'm allergic to walnuts. So, I won't be making those. lol

[julie love]

Happy Happy Birthday! Tis the season for birthdays! We have had four just this week -- that translates to lots of CAKE - YUM!! Thanks for the pattern - you are so generous! Enjoy your birthday!

[Steffi]

Happy Birthday!
Your cookies look very yummy, and I like your Moose on the Loose quilt!
Have a nice day today!

[Debbie Gallett]

Happy Birthday. Love the stories.

[Marcia Kosturock]

Happy Birthday!!

[Angie]

Happy birthday! And thanks for the yummy recipes and pattern!

[Colleen]

Happy Happy Birthday to you and all the other Oct. Birthdays (mine is in Oct too!) Thanks for the pattern and the recipes. Your quilt is beautiful!

[Holly]

Happy Birthday! If it were my birthday today I'd wish for the rulers :-)

[Kim]

Happy birthday! Thanks for the pattern. And non-glare rulers? They definitely sound like they're worth their weight in gold! I've got to find one NOW!

[Pam]

Ohhh...cookies...rulers...today is going to be a good day

[Shawntel Parker]

Happy Birthday! The puppy is adorable, too! I'll definitely have to try the butterscotch cookies b/c my husband LOVES butterscotch anything. Your first quilt is full of bright colors--love it! Thanks for helping Pat with her blog hop!

[Tamie]

Birthdays, cookies and rulers. What a good combination. Thanks for participating in the giveaway.

[Darlene]

happy birthday to you,
happy birthday to you,
happy birthday dearest carrie,
happy birthday to YOU!

Have a grand day and don't think you won't have to hear me sing! bahahahahahahahaha

You already know how much I love Moose on the Loose - LOVE IT.

[Linda Brown]

so cute I love seeing first quilts they are so precious. Lots of laughs Linda

[Sarah Vee]

Happy Birthday to you! Love your post - actually read your other hop post too and smiled. I love how you write - and create! Thanks for the loose Moose, too. I'm going to print it for my 9 year old daughter. The cookies look good too. Thanks, Carrie. Enjoy your cookies and cake and whatever you want on your special day!

[Vicki Quilternp]

Happy Birthday and thanks for the chance to win the rulers
Those cookies really look good especially the walnut bars

[ursula]

Happy Birthday. I love seeing first quilts too. It's cool to see how tastes have changed. Thanks for the cookie recipes and the quilt pattern. Definitely making the walnut cookies this weekend.

Thanks for sharing.

[Deb S.]

Happy Birthday, fellow Libra! Love the Moose quilt.

Deb S.

[dolores fegan]

Happy Birthday! Thanks for a fun read. Enjoyed learning about your first 3 quilts!

[Munaiba]

Happy Birthday. Those walnut cookies look scrumptious.

[Melissa Corry]

Happy Birthday!! The cookies look so yummy!

[Chris]

These rulers have me intrigued and I would love to win a set.

[Miriam]

Happy Birthday, Carrie!

[Shontelle]

Happy birthday Carrie, I think the first of October is a special day - I know 3 awesome people that are born on that day. One of them is you....not that I really know you, but you know what I mean.

[Jocelyn]

Oh my goodness Carrie HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!You are among the rich and famous. Er, maybe they are among the rich and famous. Whatever. I hope you have a terrific day!!! And THANKS for the pattern..... my stash is calling me.

[Darlene B]

Happy Birthday, Carrie! Hope you have an absolutely wonderful day! Thanks for the free pattern. I would love to win these rulers!

[shellie]

These posts are so full of stuff. wow. I love your cookies recipes! The pattern is awesome. Im keeping for a have to do.
Happy Happy Birthday!!!

[rebecca]

These rulers rock. I'll be looking for them. Cookies. Ymmmm!!!

[Linda P]

Oh my!!! You have made it feel like our birthday!! Hope you have a really wonderful day as well!
*groan*... I never liked school clothes shopping either, we grew up rather on the poor side, so I remember having to only get a couple of skirts that we could mix & match with shirts or sweaters and then also share with my sister... then I remember having a shirtwaiste dress passed to me, and I really felt "IN" then. Thanks goodness, I'm not so hung up on all that now.
Cookies??? now those never go out of style - love, love, love!! Thanks for those recipes. They have to be tried and true, if yall have been making them for that long! Not sure where I've been, but don't remember the Moose Munch - I just like saying it - sounds like another recipe in there some where!
The rulers!! Wow, can't wait to try them. I am deciding which size to start with - of course I'd love to win the whole set, and if I did would share with my sister in Germany - I'm sure they don't have them there! This was a jam packed post, thank you for everything, and always making me smile or giggle thru it! hugs!

[Patricia]

♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Happy Birthday to you, Haaappy Birthday to you, Happy Birrrrrrthday dear Carrie, ........ Happy Birthday to YOU!!!♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥

It's so of you to share your special day with us! Thanks for the pattern and the chance to win a set of Pat's rulers, too!

[LeAnne Olson]

Happy Birthday Carrie....Today you are The Birthday Princess...Do as you darn please and have fun doing it...no matter what it is...xoxo

[Michelle Browning]

Loved your post! You are soo funny LOL Ah, yes, the ugly clothes of the 70s. And we thought they were sooo cool ROFL/Thanks for the pattern.

[Becky]

Happy birthday! Spoil yourself today! Love the moose on the loose quilt, thanks for sharing!

[Anya]

Happy birthday and thanks for the pattern!

[Zlaty]

Happy B-day to you! :)

Please count me in your giveaway! :)

[Lynn]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thanks for the cookie recipes. I love the rulers...and could use them!

[Nan S.]

Happy birthday!! Your posts are always so much fun to read. Hope you have a great day today.

[Angela]

{Happy Birthday!}

[Angela]

yeah- what DO they sound like? quiet I hope, as I'm eyeing that 16.5" square!