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Monday, January 8, 2018

Modern Batik Sampler Quilt and a Giveaway

As most of you know, I usually head to Key West for a couple of months during the Winter.  This year we are staying home in PA.  Of course, it has to be the coldest Winter ever, or so it seems to me.  When it is 3 degrees, I just don't want to go outside, but when you need groceries, there is no other choice.  It gives me a new appreciation for those of you that live in climates where the  temps hit -30 degrees.

I always look for the silver lining.  Staying home has given me lots of time for working on my last project as an Island Batik Ambassador.  I've been admiring Modern interpretations of traditional quilt blocks that I've seen on social media (Instagram) as well as improvisational blocks.  They really intrigue me.  For this final project, my fabric collection is called "Blue Moon".
Island Batik Stack Blue Moon 40 Ten Inch Squares
It's quite a coincidence that the theme for this month's project is The Four Seasons and that I was given this icy blue palette of colors.
I love blue and I'm so happy to see this color return.  This collection plus white was my playground for these blocks. I started with this block:

Then:
Then:
And:
And a bunch more:
And a few more:
I really enjoyed making these blocks and searching for ideas.  But the most fun part for me was rearranging, adding and subtracting to create the final quilt.  It's this puzzle aspect of quilting that appeals to me the most. This is the next to last step in my process of putting all of these blocks together. You can see I had to add some fill ins.
I decided to spend a day conquering the tension issues I have had as a newbie with my longarm.  Oh boy, do  I love YouTube.  I watched many videos with instruction ranging from how to oil it, how to load the backing and the quilt, how to baste it and how to thread it.  I reached out to other IB Ambassadors asking them about quilting with IB batiks and I have to thank them.  Those with longarms encouraged me to do it.  And then voila! it worked.



All of the Island Batik Ambassadors are participating in a blog hop to celebrate the culmination of a year's worth of projects.  Today Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter is also sharing her amazing quilt that she created from the Blue Moon collection.  It's so interesting to see what the two of us have created using the same fabrics.

To celebrate the blog hop there are 2 giveaways, one hosted by me  and one hosted by Island Batik.
I have been trying (key word trying) to do a bit of studio organizing and  came  across some of my swag from Quilt Market and other odds and ends.
My giveaway is limited to continental US addresses.  You can have several opportunities to enter:
1.  Leave a comment here with your email address
2.  Like me on Facebook or leave a comment if you already have.
3.  Follow me or leave a comment on Instagram and for every friend you tag, you'll get another chance
I'll pick a winner on Weds, Jan 17th by noon, EST.

Island Batik is also hosting a giveaway on Rafflecopter.  Here's the LINK.

Don't forget to check out the other blogs in the blog hop.  You'll have the opportunity to see all of the collections just arriving at your local quilt shops.
Tomorrow:
Carol Steely - Fun Threads
AlisonVermilya - Little Bunny Quilts   (Alison has shared the links for the entire blog hop!)
Tina Dillard - Quilt Affection
Jean-Sophie Wood -  Sophie Junction

And how did I spend last night's chilly temps while writing this post?
With my puppy on my lap and a warm fire.
Stay warm my friends, enjoy the hop and I hope you win some goodies.

157 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your Island Batik fun. mjalto at gmail.com

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  2. great quilt, Cheryl. would be a great addition at my house. e-mail is rozagulnik@gmail.com, and I can provide a US shipping address if I am lucky enough to be the winner!

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  3. I also spend time with my dog on my lap. Nice giveaway!

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  4. Your method of describing the whole thing in this post is truly fastidious,
    every one be capable of easily know it, Thanks a lot.

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  5. I love Island Batik, and am so happy to see blue being used more. My favorite
    color. ledamewood at yahoo dot com

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  6. I love just making blocks and randomly turning them into a quilt. It's a fun way to let my creativity loose. rsislandcrafts at gmail.com

    p.s. Your blog isn't linked properly on the blog hop page.

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  7. I just love the Blue Moon fabric. Your quilt looks wonderful

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  8. I love the improv of your quilt, and it makes me want to do more liberated quiltmaking in the style of Gwen Marston. Blue is my favorite color. Thanks for your giveaway--a treat in this cold winter would be lovely.

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  9. Forgot to say that I follow your posts in Old Reader. I'll look for you on instagram too. Thanks!

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  10. Once in a blue moon, we stayed in Pennsylvania for the winter...what an adventure! I so agree that the cold outside makes sewing/quilting inside so satisfying. You sure did have a fun time with your improvisational quilt. Thanks for sharing; I'm going to become more like you and learn to let go and enjoy the process that improvisation brings to quilting. So glad the long arm is working well - tension is a giant hurdle.

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  11. fun improv quilt! I'm going to be in key west on Feb 11!!! yay

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  12. love the quilt and the fabric! it looks beautiful! jackieferrell99@yahoo.com

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  13. Darn! I was so looking forward to reading about you riding your bike in Key West. I need to warm up vicariously! Love those icy blue fabrics in your quilt.

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  14. Your quilt is a riot of delightful blocks. My eye just keeps moving from place to place over it. :-)

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  15. Love blues - your blue quilt is amazing! Thank you for sharing, Susan

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  16. I follow you on Facebook! Thank you, Susan

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  17. Love the fabrics!!

    warner.dale@gmail.com

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  18. Your lovely blue blocks almost seem like Summer to me. Thanks for sharing

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  19. Your quilt is very nice. I like blue, too. patchworkbreeze (at) gmail (dot) com

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  20. such gorgeous fabrics, try to stay warm

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  21. What a fun way to build a quilt! I've been intrigued by some of the modern improv blocks as well. I might give them a try! I love the Blue Moon collection and really enjoyed working with it. How fun to see how we both interpreted the collection! That's what I love most about quilting...the endless creativity of it1

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  22. Love your blocks! Email...randall@maine.edu

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  23. Fun quilt! The colors are beautiful!
    cecilialyoung at gmail.com

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  24. Love your quilt! Would be a great quilt to cozy up under! ndfromsd(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  25. These batiks are perfect for the season. Love your designs.

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  26. Hiya Cheryl!!! I absolutely adore those fabrics. I love batiks and those blues are gorgeous. Thanks for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!! Pam
    pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

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  27. Hiya Cheryl!!! I liked your Facebook page. Thanks for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!! Pam
    pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

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  28. Hiya Cheryl!!! I follow you on Instagram. Thanks for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!! Pam
    pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

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  29. mdmn08 at gmail .com
    nice colors!

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  30. love those batiks , just made a log cabin quilt with them

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  31. follow on facebook bewtjwatgmaildotcom

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  32. Stay warm & quilt since you are staying up north for the winter. I love the colors in Blue Moon!

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  33. What an appealing sampler! It does look like a fun one to make. My address: quiltlegacy@juno.com

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  34. your quilt is so gorgeous. I love the one purple spot. thanks for inspiring.
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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  35. I liked you on FB
    quilting dash lady at Comcast dot net

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  36. You definitely had your creative hat on, and I can tell you really had fun with it!

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  37. Great job! I'm glad to see you conquered the LA with batik, and that it wasn't as challenging as you thought. Love the colors.

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  38. Batik colors always look rich and sew well. Like your ideas in the quilt. Jkestevens@aol.com

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  39. Beautiful fabrics! Cool quilt! Thank you for sharing. Stay warm! angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

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  40. That is such a fun quilt! A pup on the lap is a great way to stay warm (especially if they are 60 pounds like my Lab who thinks he is a lap dog).

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  41. Wow! Your quilt looks awesome. I really love these blues.

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  42. I loved seeing your progress on this quilt. And such beautiful blues!

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  43. Love your quilt, sampler quilts are absolutely my favorite!

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  44. Your quilt really caught my eye! Very cool! "Cool Blues". Great job! Thanks for opportunity: cswsand50@hotmail.com

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  45. The blue batiks are beautiful!
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  46. Nice job love the colors got you on facebook and instagram. . happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  47. Beautiful quilt! Would be wonderful to win these goodies ;-D

    usairdoll (at) gmail (dot) com

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  48. I’m a follower on FB

    usairdoll (at) gmail (dot) com

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  49. I follow your blog via BlogLovin as well as follow on IG (@usairdoll)

    usairdoll (at) gmail (dot) com

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  50. Thank you for hopping and sharing your BLUEtiful Island Batik Quilt. Creative Quilting Bliss...<3

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  51. Love the icy blue batiks in this sampler... my favorite color!

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  52. Your quilt turned out great. Sorry for the freezing temps you are having. Makes me appreciate our 50 degree rainy day!

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  53. I love a quilter when they allow the fabrics to talk to them! Beautiful.

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  54. The blues are perfect for your chilly temps and it looks wonderful.

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  55. Looks like a fun quilt. Thanks for showing us. Sounds like a good night; sitting by the fire and puppy on your lap.

    vburr at charter dot net

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  56. I am looking forward to seeing all of the projects and inspiration from this blog hop. I love batik fabrics with their unique designs.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  57. I'm a traditional quilter from cereal-box-template days, but am finding I'm being drawn more and more to wonky modern quilts like this one. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  58. I'm looking forward to following your blog.

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  59. Know your feelings about this Cold weather..I live in Ohio..so we are kinda neighbors! :) Your Quilt is sooooo pretty...I have never made a Sampler quilt. Yours is Beautiful!
    Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too!

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  60. Love your creative modern use of these fabrics! Stay warm!

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  61. Great quilt and fabric line. I think you captured the feel of a blue moon. Follow on Instagram as OlyveOyle.

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  62. What a fun quilt. Love the blue.

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  63. Your wonky blocks really do play well together. I am reminded of playing fox and geese in the snow and building funny looking snowmen.

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  64. I am already a fan of your facebook posts.

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  65. You've done a lovely job of capturing the colors in the very snowy and cold weather in suburban Philadelphia.

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  66. Love these colors! susan430 at cox dot net

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  67. I love your quilt, the colors and the improv block are gorgeous!

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  68. I love your aesthetic. cfw alt ner g mail. com

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  69. I follow on FB. maryc76904 at yahoo dot com

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  70. I follow via email. maryc76904 at yahoo dot com

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  71. Love the colors in Blue Moon and they are absolutely perfect for winter in PA! You have the right idea for staying warm...fire, puppy...yeah, those work!! I love your improve blocks - I find the puzzle aspect the most frustrating part to get right. Have a blast with your longarm (I remember those first days with my new best friend).

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  72. Beautiful quilt! It looks like it was a lot of fun to make!
    yoyopattycakes@hotmail dot com

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  73. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.netJanuary 9, 2018 at 11:24 AM

    Love the design and the colors of your quilt.

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  74. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.netJanuary 9, 2018 at 11:24 AM

    I follow you on Facebook.

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  75. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.netJanuary 9, 2018 at 11:25 AM

    I follow your blog.

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  76. I enjoyed viewing and reading your process in making this quilt. I, too, love the color blue!

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  77. I think that's why I love the Log Cabin block so much is because of all the arrangements you can do with it. I love this sampler and I can see why it was so much fun doing the arranging of the blocks. You've done a beautiful job with it and I to would be a proud owner of this quilt were it mine. Just love it!!

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  78. Really love your quilt blocks! Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

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  79. You improv turned out fabulous! Anita - Quiltlovefordomesticfelicity(at)gmail(dot)com

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  80. Wow- yours is nothing like Jennifer's, and, truthfully, I wouldn't even have suspected they were cut from the same collection! I love 'em both! Congrats on your continued Ambassadorship; they're luck to have you, and we're lucky you choose to share your work & wisdom. Have you heard how you house in Key West has fared? Hopefully, it will all be alright by the time you do return. I'ts been pretty cold here too, but nothing like we've seen in the more northern parts of the USA.

    Stay well and warm!

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  81. Love the blues. Can't get enough blue =) ebbtide 45 at yahoo dot com

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  82. I think this quilt may be my favorite one of all I've seen you post online. I love the colors and the improv nature!

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  83. Thanks for counting me in, Cheryl! debbiesther @ gmail.com I have a U.S. mailing address.

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  84. Thanks for your give away! Your dog is famous! I always look for him whenever you publish.

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  85. I love batiks. You did a great job. So fun.

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  86. I always enjoy your posts! The Blue Moon quilt is fabulous. I like the way you made the components and then fit them together! Have a terrific time "out West"!

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  87. Loved your quilt, what fun it must have been for you to work on it. You've been a great ambassador for Island Batik. Thanks for wanting to give away some of your goodies!

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  88. Thank you for the chance. LOVE LOVE LOVE your 'pieces' quilt.

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  89. I love the color blue, so anything that is made with it, catches my eye. lewisnancy54 at gmail dot com

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  90. Chetyl, it's been freezing here in Florida, too. So you're not missing anything. (Smiles) Enjoy California.
    susieclauson@gmail.com

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  91. I love your quilt! It is just gorgeous!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  92. I love your quilt! It is just gorgeous!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  93. I love your quilt! It is just gorgeous!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  94. I enjoyed reading about your visit to Longwood Gardens. Such a beautiful place. I bet you wish you were in FL this winter!
    yoyopattycakes@hotmail dot com

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  95. Aren't sampler quilts the best? I get bored making the same block over and over, but I never get bored with sampler quilts. I love yours!

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  96. Such lovely fabric and your quilt is so much fun.

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  97. Love your Blue Moon quilt! Batiklvr@gmail.com

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  98. Wow, you turned those blue batiks into a gorgeous quilt!
    jklmengland at windstream dot net

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  99. Love the new quilt! Please enter me in give away at slcm229@gmail.com

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  100. Already follow on Facebook and Instagram

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  101. A magnificent quilt! You are going out with a bang!

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  102. I'd be happy with that Pup and warm fire, also! I went to Longwood Gardens this summer and we had a picnic meet-up: family from Fairfax, VA; Merrick; NY and Westbury, NY. There were fireworks at night. The organ in the ballroom building was fascinating.
    The give-away? here's my email address: ASGrayWig1@aol.com.

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  103. I love the improve.

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  104. Love those blues! nbenoist@comcast.net

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  105. Enjoy that trip to California. I know I would. Your quilt is super.

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  106. This is beautiful...I love how you "filled in the blanks" and didn't worry about everything fitting perfectly...creative!

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  107. What an awesome, fun quilt!! I don't have FB or Instagram so crossing my fingers, arms, legs, toes and eyes!
    gladystan (dot) dawn @ gmail (dot) com

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  108. I love your quilt blocks! They look so beautiful especially with the winter weather! Thanks for a chance!

    tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

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  109. I follow you on Facebook and Instagram!

    tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

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  110. Great quilt and great giveaway. debbie at wowilikethat.com

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  111. Probably not a good year *not* to go to Key West, weather wise! Lovely quilt!

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  112. Cheryl,
    Did you decide to stay in Philly this winter because of your longarm??? Hope the bad weather goes away there soon. Venice has had a very cold spell but is now in the 70s. sw6944@gmail.com

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  113. Oh how you quilt sings, luv LongwoodGardens, will do next holiday season/ Thanks sew for fun joannealburger@yahoo.com

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  114. Follow you on facebook: Nicole Sender
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  115. Your quilt design is wonderful improvisation. You made all the pieces fit! It must have been fun to play with these lovely fabrics.

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  116. What a fun and artful quilt! Thanks for sharing it. Keep warm! pk_sews at yahoo dot com

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  117. Cheryl, Blue Moon is gorgeously icy cool! I too love the puzzle aspect of block piecing/arranging.
    I see some Crimson Tate/Heather Givans in that swag:)
    Thank you for sharing your batik colloboration and I'll be looking for the finish.

    bluestarof2(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  118. Free giveaway=lots of responses. Guess people read normally but don’t respond as a rule. What are stitching needles? Still wondering why you are not in Key West...bet you are, too!

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  119. I love this palette! Your modern sampler is fun and eye catching!

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  120. I love this palette! Your modern sampler is fun and eye catching! Lace.faerie@gmail.com
    (I forgot to include my email in my previous comment)

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  121. I love the modern aspect of your final DESIGN!

    Allisonredding615@gmail.com

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  122. Hi Cheryl!
    I met you at QuiltCon in Savannah last year and love your speciality rulers!!!
    Its cold here in central FL too! Still bringing plants in and covering others!
    Thanks for a chance to win some fun things. I do need a new wrist pincushion-been using my sleeve and weaving the pins I use to measure yardage, OUCH ;)

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  123. Love that fabric - what a great name for it. This is a great winter to just stay in and quilt! Lovely quilt.

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  124. Thank you for sharing your quilt, it looks lovely.

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  125. What a fun giveaway to start the new year
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  126. Beautiful quilt! From today I follow your blog, and follow you at Facebook.

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  127. Love your quilt and love the colors!

    Nrbird (at) Gmail (dot) com

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  128. thanks for sharing! pjrquilter at msn dot com

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  129. I love the color choice of this quilt. Thanks for offering a giveaway. And wishing we were all in Key West right now. Freezing in Alabama!

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  130. Fabulous job with the Blue Moon fabric!
    deb(dot)rick(at)live(dot)com

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Thanks for stopping by. I'd love to hear from you.