Saturday, December 6, 2014

Post Number 1,000 and a Giveaway

Hello Everyone,
 
Today is a big day.  This marks post number 1,000 for Sew'n Wild Oaks.  I can't believe when I started blogging in 2008, it would take me this far.  I can't believe that morning after morning, usually at or before the crack of dawn, I'm at the kitchen table in my jammies with coffee cup at hand. I sit and write about quilting and my daily life. 


First of all, I wasn't a quilt designer in 2008.  I had just retired from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as a Geographic Information Systems Analyst.  I started working at In Between Stitches just one day a week....every Monday.  You know the phrase, "Will work for fabric."  Well that was me.


One thing led to another.  The very supportive shop owners Leslie and Melissa, had me making shop samples, then I offered to design the quilt for a shop hop, and I became hooked on designing.  I now have 17 patterns and a resource manual all under the Sew'n Wild Oaks name.  (Insert confetti tossing here!)


Blogging has opened up a whole new world for me.  I've made and met so many blogging friends over the past six years from around the world.  It has been an amazing experience and I treasure our friendships, our meeting, and our good times we've spent together. 
   

I also treasure that fact that morning after morning YOU, sit in your jammies and read, and comment back to me.  I love to read your comments!  They make my day and make me look forward to putting together another post.


Half the time when I sit down to post, I have no clue what I'm going to say.  Who knows what comes out of these typing fingers at 5am!!  Some posts are better than others.....some write themselves......some are a struggle.  Just like quilt blocks, you can't hit them all out of the ball park.....but you can try.


To help me celebrate this momentous occasion, the kind and generous folks at Marcus Fabrics are donating a bundle of fabric for me to giveaway!  The fabric is on it's way to my home as we speak.  As soon as it arrives, I will post a picture so you can see what you have a chance to win.  Knowing Marcus Fabrics......it's going to be good!  I will also include any pattern of mine that you want.  You will have your pick of the litter!
 
 
Speaking of litters, Mazey turned 8 months old this week.  Those of you that have been following my blog know that she will be selecting the winning name.  So it's time to suck up to Mazey, who will accept any form of bribery from Kibble to toys.
 
To enter my contest, all you have to do is make a comment on any of my posts between now and next Saturday, December 13th by 12pm. I will hold the drawing on the 14th and announce the winner.  If you are a "no-reply" blogger, please include your email in your comment.  If I can't get in touch with you, then you can't win.  You can also send me an email to sewnwildoaks@gmail.com and I will enter you name in the contest.
 
All of the blocks in this post are made with Marcus Fabrics and will be included in my newest pattern called Lil' Orphan Scrappy.  I've been playing around with different settings.  This offset setting could be interesting and give me lots of space for some wonderful quilting.
 
 
Until the next time......which will be soon,
 
Lynn


93 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Lynn!! LOVE your blog!! Will a BELLY RUB do? That's for Mazey...although for a bundle of Marcus Fabric...! haha Here's to the next 1000 posts!!
    Paulette

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  2. What a journey you have had the last six years. Congrat's on another mile post. I know I look forward to reading your blog. And for Mazey a big ole hug. Thanks for sharing and a chance at your giveaway.

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  3. Thanks for sharing your story. I'm going to retire in a few months. I love hearing how new doors open for people who retire. Blogs are a wonderful way to hear about the good things that are happening in our world. Life is good.

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  4. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing the story of your quilting journey. I love to hear about other quilters! I like your off-set setting too; it is unexpected.

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  5. Each part of the journey is started with the unexpected first step and then the next.! Congratulations!!!

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  6. You blog with such grace and good taste. I hope that you will continue to share your thoughts and quilts with us. Congratulations on reaching 1000 posts.

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    1. Perfect sentiment...what you read is what you get...I can't think of a warmer lovlier person, both in the written word and in person than Lynn.

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    2. I wholeheartedly agree with both Maxine and Nancie Anne!!!

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  7. Congratulations! You blog is the first one I look at as I love the blocks, instructions and chit chat about life. I must say that my all time favorite quilt is my Country Charmer. I've always wanted a Christmas quilt and finally made it. A red and green Country Charmer. Thanks so much for all the smiles, and posts.

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  8. I'm so glad that you took up blogging. I love seeing everything that you and your ladies stitch up. Here's to the next 1000 posts.

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  9. Congratulations Lynn. I love to read your blog. Your stars are adorable. Kind regards, Nardy

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  10. Glad your blogging as your quilts and actual quilting are truly amazing. On another note, you may be blogging at 5 a.m. but I bet Mazey is snug in bed with your hubby. I know our Toby is.

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  11. Congratulations. I look forward to reading your post every morning to see what you have been up to. Thanks for sharing all that you do.

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  12. Congratulations on the six years you have been blogging. You have designed some beautiful quilts in those years....and I'm sure many more will come......
    And such a wonderful giveaway......Thank you for all you have given us.....

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  13. Well you know I am a big fan of your blog And I LOVE your new pattern. Scrappy is so much fun. Congratulations on 6 years. I'm right behind you, as I started in Feb of 09. Thanks for all the inspiration you have given us through the years.

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  14. CONGRATS! NEAT NEW PATTERN!
    THANKS FOR SHARING A GREAT GIVEAWAY!

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  15. I have to share that my husband Allan spent quite a bit of time looking at the Marcus Fabric blocks that you've been working on. He's color blind so some of his comments are really interesting because he sees different patterns in the blocks based on the colors he sees! He loves the quilt - and we wanted you to know that our Abbey is barking "Hellos" to Mazey as we speak :D

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  16. Congratulations on your 1,000th post, years of blogging and success with design. This is a great looking design with the off-set blocks - and you can't go wrong with Marcus.

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  17. Congratulations on your milestone post! I look forward to reading your blog and seeing all of the exciting things you are making and designing.

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  18. Congratulations on your 1000th post!

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  19. I like the new design and I noticed the off-set blocks, looks great! Congrats on your 1,000th post, I enjoy reading your blog...it's 1:41 PM and I'm still in my jammies on this rainy, cloudy day!

    Gloria
    gyates625@bellsouth.net

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  20. Aww. Sweetness...
    I'm so incredibly grateful & blessed that I finally discovered blogland, somewhere significantly after 2008... because I found you. Who knew my little comment about how to remedy a little design quandary would result in a friendship that has blossomed to include buckets of tears in both laughter and sadness...the warmest hugs from near, far and wide...and wider...and memories that are treasured so much that you can barely fathom. Sharing and Caring & Encouragement.
    I...no, WE...look forward to every little sentence you write that comes our way. You, Joe, Our Guardian Angel, Zinnie, and Mazey are part of our family. We love you all XO much!

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  21. Love your blog, love your patterns. Here is to 1000 more posts

    Arlene

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  22. Congrats Lynn, I love so much your blog & your patterns ! Finger crossed XXX

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  23. Wow! I can't believe it's post #1,000!!! Congratulations! Isn't life an interesting, exciting journey? Reminds me of Forrest Gump and life being like a box of chocolates and you never know what you're gonna get!! ;o) Can't wait to hear about Mazey's first time choosing a number!

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  24. I hope you write many more blog posts. I do enjoy reading them and seeing the quilt inspiration.

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  25. Congratulation!! I love your designs.

    Thanks for the chance to win!!

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  26. Congrats on your 1000 anniversary of blogging!! I love the new pattern your working on. It looks like a great scrap buster!!

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  27. Congrats! Isn't it just amazing how quickly time just flies by? Every day just seems to vanish. Love your blog, and all of your designs. The blocks in your new design are yummy - loving all of the fabrics!

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  28. How can I resist a pattern with the word Scrappy in the title?! Really enjoy your blog Lynn, and love the Mazy updates xx

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  29. Congratulations on all your accomplishments. We are all thrilled that you started by 'working for fabric' and have become a designer extraordinaire! I don't think there is another quilt in my house that brings me such joy as my Country Charmer quilt made from your pattern and your exquisite quilting that you did on it just for me! I am so lucky to have met you through this blogging and quilting world. You rock! And so does Marcus with some of their fabulous fabrics being donated. Thanks for the chance!

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  30. Congratulations Lynn! What a wonderful milestone, and the perfect encapsulation of why we post and how quilting adds such a rich experience and circle friends to our lives - some seen, many unseen. I've been quilting for years but having this worldwide community to share with at the tip of your fingers has just changed everything. Congratulations too on all of your patterns. I really like the offset layout for your blocks - now you've got me thinking that I need to do one too (ain't it always the way?) Great giveaway and so nice of you to offer it. p.s. I can't believe that Mazey is 8 months already!

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  31. Congrats Lynn!
    Yes, I am still in my jammies! I have just retired so I wonder where I will be in six years. I have recently purchased EQ7 so I am just starting on my designing journey. I have previously drawn out my ideas with pen and paper so I am having a ball changing colours and layouts at will in the program. Pity we can't sew at the same speed as we can imagine!
    judybarr at iearn dot org dot au

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  32. Congratulations on your milestone! Lovely block designs, the pattern is quite nice and a great way to use up some scraps to create something so lovely.
    I enjoy your blog very much and hope it continues for a very looong time!

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  33. I for one am very glad you kept blogging. Love your blog.

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  34. Congrats on your blog!! I'll be back to visit again:)

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  36. Congratulations on your 1000th post. Taking your workshop at Prairie Queens was one of my best things happened in 2014. I enjoy your blog and love canine chronicle.

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  37. Love the star quilt such wonderful mixture of fabrics. Congrats on 1000 posts, wish I could be more active on mine :)

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  38. I've just finished my very first quilt top and hope to get it quilted and bound in time for Christmas, a gift for one of my daughters. I love the old fashioned quilts and fabrics and hope to make a Country Charmer one day. Thanks for your inspiring posts and such gorgeous quilty pictures!

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  39. I'm new here, I am glad to have found you blog. Have a great day. dawnm1993 at gmail dot com

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  40. Congratulations on 17 patterns, and 1000 posts! Thanks for the quilt along. Thanks for the giveaway. Love your fabric combinations.

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  41. I am throwing confetti right now. Congratulations on number 1000. Love your patterns and your blog. I hope to finish my Country Charmer soon. Looking forward to Lil Orphan Scrappy.

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  42. Congratulations, imagine making 1000 quilt blocks. That would be a very large quilt.

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  43. Congratulations! I always look forward to your posts and seeing what you and others have been up to!

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  44. 1000 blog entries? Wow, congratulations! I've admired your work for years , You are an inspiration! Keep it up Lynn!

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  45. Oh Mazey, I'm looking at your Mom's beautiful fabrics and quilts as I rest from spending time with my Boykin Spaniel, Rebel, my son's mini dachshund Hause and my daughter's Munsterlander Ace and Golden Retriever, May. We had May's Mom, Maggie and brother, Baxter. They are all such different pups. Mazy, my fabric winning bribe to you is that as a Golden, I can promise that you will be one of the sweetest, loving and special to your Mom girl and loved very much. Like a quilt that holds a special memory for families, and is softly touched, you will be a part of them forever.

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  46. I have purchased two of your patterns - Country Charmer and For the Love of Baskets. I have finished For the Love of Baskets and it was my first (but not my last) scalloped border. My family has voted it one of their favorite quitls I have made. Congratulations on 1000 blog entries. I alway look forward to what you are doing.

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  47. All I can say Lynn is that I am very happy you started working at In Between Stitches, which began your wonderful journey which you now share with all of us!

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  48. It is great to read what is going on with you and your patches! Keep going. Love the subtle shades of the ones you have shown here.
    Best wishes.
    Wendy
    WBooth-Boyd@hotmail.com

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  49. Congrats on 1000 posts. That's a lot of early morning cups of coffee. The great thing for me is that I actually know where you're sitting now, whether you're in the cabin or at home. I am so glad you started blogging or we would never have met and become good friends.

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  50. Wow. That is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations. It truly is amazing where the simple act of starting to learn to quilt will take you.

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  51. 1000 posts! WOW! I so enjoy reading all you write while sipping my morning coffee. Congratulations. Keep posting.

    And, now to Macey, the most wonderful, beautiful, loveable, adorable, fantastic, brilliant (is that enough suck up?) puppy in the whole wide world, think Donna when you draw the lucky name.

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  52. Oh! what a lovely surprise. Congratulations on your 1000th post. I have looked forward to reading them all. I am so excited about the giveaway. I love Marcus fabric and to use it with one of your beautiful patterns is a double treat.
    Thank you for a chance to win.

    Best wishes,
    Aunt Bea
    srsusie10@gmail.com

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  53. Congrats on 1000 posts!!!!!! Also thank you for the chance to win. As a newer quilter and recently disabled I sure could use free supplies. sonjasmith76@yahoo.com

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  54. Congrats on 1000! I enjoy reading your blog, jammies and coffee in hand as well. Good company here! Love your patterns and of course your fabric choices, thank you for the chance to win, teaching and blogging!

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  55. I always enjoy stopping into your blog. :) Your projects are lovely and the quilting is always inspirational to me. I know exactly what you mean about BlogWorld opening entire new horizons for you! Isn't it so fabulous? I actually wanted to do my thesis on the changes in the quilting world that have ensued after blogs took off, but the department head said it was too young - more appropriate for anthropology or sociology at this point than for history. Maybe next time! ;D

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  56. How can I come up with something new after reading all these wonderful comments! Congratulations on this huge milestone, Lynn! I always look forward to what you have to say and your new designs! Your blog is entertaining as well as inspirational and you have touched us all with your amazing quilts and your enthusiastic attitude about quilting and life in general! I am truly blessed to have you for my sister and my best friend! Mazey will have her work cut out for her to pick a winner from all your fans!

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  57. Congratulations on 1000 posts. Like the Virtual Classroom - anything to speed up the process of making blocks.
    24Tangent@gmail.com

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  58. Oh my...1000 posts! Now this is time to celebrate! I love your Lil' Orphan Scrappy block. I have plenty of scrappies to use this one myself. Of course, I could always use some Marcus Fabrics, too!

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  59. Fantastic - 1000 posts! I look forward to reading your posts and you and your life. Whether it be your quilts, tutorials, helpful hints,stories about Mazey, I could go on and on. A big heartfelt congratulations and thanks!

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  60. Congratulations on 1000 posts and thanks for the giveaway! Your quilt in progress is beautiful. Love the fabrics.

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  61. Congratulations on your 1,000 Post ! I so enjoy reading your blog & I am honored to call you my friend :-D I am a very big fan of Marcus fabric !

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  62. Hello Lynn,
    congratulation to the 1000 Post. Isn't it nice to get this far?
    I am following yoz blog for quite a while and still enjoying it.
    Keep posting, I like yours.
    HUgs from Germany, Doris :o)

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  63. Congratulations on 1000 posts, Lynn! I only wish I'd "found" you back when I began blogging in 2008, but I'm glad I eventually made my way here! I have been so inspired by your incredible designs, unique style and terrific sense of humor! I look forward to the next 1000 posts and seeing you again in person soon! I can't wait to see how Mazey goes about picking a winner - if she's anything like our feline girls, meatloaf will inspire her for sure!
    Cheers!

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  64. Congratulations! I follow you with google+. sarah@forrussia.org

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  65. Congrats! I love quilting also, since 1991. I don't want to creat my own patterns, too many patterns already out there that I want to try! Thanks for the giveaway, will sign up for your blog, I usually read in my jammies! cork@pa.rr.com

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  66. 1000!! Wow! Time flys and so much fun! I've enjoyed watching your talent blossom! From the first pattern, to classes, to books--you are pretty amazing! And the recipes you have shared are wonderful too! Congratulations!

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  67. Love your blocks! They are so pretty all sitting together.

    Congratulations on your 1000 post!
    Sandy A

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  68. Congratulations on your 1000th post! What a great milestone!

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  69. Hi Lynn. This blog is so great. I just retired so was finally able to really get into quilting. I am quilting most of my Christmas gifts even. I am so glad to have attended your talk at AVQ recently. Thank you!

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  70. Congrats, congrats, congrats!!! I can't even imagine 1000 posts: I still getting up the nerve to do my first!! Love the blocks you showed today: gorgeous!! And what can I do to suck up to Mazey? The promise of the treats of her choice?!!! :-) Hmm, my B-day is Saturday... would that work? Tee Hee!!! Hugs, to you both, and have a wonderful week!! Hugs, Helen in Healdsburg

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  71. Congratulations!
    1000 posts is an incredible milestone!

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  72. Congrats! I have been reading your blog for awhile but have never commented. I love your color choices and have been downloading the Country Corner tutorials for future reference.
    Piper says "Woof" to Mazey!

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  73. Yes, a celebration is in order for 1000 posts! Congrats! Mazey is going to have a lot of dog bones to choose from. I love your quilts and am so glad I stumbled upon your blog. Here's to the next 1000 posts.

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  74. I loved reading about your journey in the quilting world. It is so inspiring to me. Isn't it wonderful that at this time in your life, you have taken on a brand-new fun and exciting challenge? I'm wishing you many more years of designing and creating and having quilting fun. (No need to respond. I know how busy you are. I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your blog).

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  75. Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your talent. Best wishes for thousands more to come!

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  76. Congratulations, Lynn! 1000 posts is a MONUMENTAL accomplishment. Thanks so much for sharing all that you do!

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  77. You go girl! Your success is much deserved. You are an inspiration to our quilting community. Love the new pattern!
    Congratulations! Mazey, you picked a good family to steal the hearts of!

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  78. Lynn, I enjoyed your presentation at our guild, AVQ. Your background as a cartographer is fascinating and it was interesting to learn how that has influenced your quilting. We all come from a patchwork of experiences which contributes to the wide diversity of creativity in the quilting world.

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  79. Congratulations on all your successes! Your's is a marvelous adventure with only more to come ")
    Thank you for the chance*
    Merry Christmas

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  80. Congratulations on 1000 posts. Your blog is always full of wonderful inspiration! Thank you for everything you do.

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  81. oh wow ... who would think that 1000 post would happen like it was just yesterday or forever! Marriage is like that to...lolo

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  82. Congrats on your blog anniversary and thanks for the chance to win.

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  83. I love the Little Orphan scrappy blocks. Congratulations on your 1000th blog. I will be at the shop tomorrow at Jo's Club and would love to win! thanks for the opportunity and Happy Holidays.
    Mary

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  84. Congrats on hitting 1000! I was so in love with your star blocks, and the Marcus fabrics you used, that I evidently forgot to enter the giveaway -- until now, when I saw your post on the fabric's arrival. Your star pattern is going to be a real winner!

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  85. Wow! 1,000 posts! Congratulations. I have been enjoying your blog for a while and I certainly can't believe Mazey is 8 months now! I love the centers of the blocks on this post. Thanks for your Country Corners Blocks. I am looking forward to making them. So glad we got rain yesterday too. Have a great day! K-

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  86. Congrats on 1,000 posts! Love your blocks. Thanks for the chance to win!
    wigglypup2 ( at ) yahoo ( dot ) com

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  87. Congratulations on your milestone! I enjoy your posts. Thanks for sharing, and for the opportunity to win!

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  88. That's a scrumptious bundle of Marcus fabrics. Love your blocks!

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  89. They are beautiful fabrics, Lynn - here's hoping.
    Jean

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