Thursday, November 22, 2012

It's the rookie's turn

When Carol at Sew Sisters asked if I would participate in the Canadian Blogathon I was like:

What?
Who??
Me???
Seriously????

When it comes to quilting, I would definitely fall into the novice category.  I work full-time so I really only get to sew on weekends.  I have some hits.  I have some misses.  Every time I sit down to sew or pull out a pile of fabric to ponder, a small evolution happens.  I’m so proud to be hosting the Manitoba leg of your blogathon journey. I’ve lived in Winnipeg my entire life and I have to let you in on a secret:

I.Love.This.Place.

I couldn’t live without my bright blue prairie sky, the funniest and friendliest people you’ll ever meet and yes, believe it or not, our climate. We have four very distinct seasons and we know how to take full advantage of each of them.

I would say I’m a self taught quilter but that would be a big fat lie. I learn from every post on every quilter’s blog that I read. The blogging community is filled with incredibly talented, inspiring, funny, generous people and I consider all of you my teachers. Thank you. Truly. I’d still be stumbling around with crooked, lumpy seams if not for you. Here are just a few of my Manitoba online mentors:

Tammy's Craft Emporium
CW Quilts
Tamarack Shack
Night Owl Quilting & Dye Works
Quilter Sandy
Scraps and Strings
The Crazy Crafting Cat Lady
OCD: Obsessive Crafting Disorder
Marj Moore's Blog
Thread Head


I have a handful of quilts under my belt, approximately 6.2 million ideas for quilts I want to make, and a very faithful assistant to help me with quality control:



Is it weird that my most treasured quilt is not a quilt at all? It’s these two paper-pieced pillows that my sister-in-law made for me:



So cute!

Hey, wanna win something?

Sew Sisters let me pick out my giveaway and I thought we should keep the Manitoba connection going. Monique Dillard of Open Gate quilts – and creator of the awesome “fit to be” rulers – was born right here in river city. She has a great book called Traditional Fat Quarter Quilts and you can win a copy by doing something very strenuous, labour intensive and highly complicated:

Leave me a comment!

I’ll try and pick the winner before noon Friday.  If you're a no-reply blogger, please remember to leave your email address in your comment.





Oh, and after you leave your comment here, make sure you pop over to check out Marika’s blog. She represents La Belle Province beautifully!

Before I go, Happy Thanksgiving to our American pals. I’m having serious turkey envy today.

115 comments:

  1. Sounds like we are peas in a pod. You could have been talking about me.
    And Tucker would love meeting Maggie ;)
    Thank you for listing my blog too! Excellent job!

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  2. What a fab giveaway you're having. It's so nice to read your comments about Manitoba ... I share your sentiments even though we only live there in the summer now.

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  3. Your quality control assistant is so cute, and I see he/she has approved your work. It is lovely, fresh and modern. I'm a new quilter and I really appreciate how well straight line quilting enhances a modern quilt. I've learned so much from the internet too.

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  4. Where would we be without our quality control pets! I had fun looking around your blog Heather!I agree about the beauty of blue sky here on the Prairies! Fantastic book for your giveaway!

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  5. Our sewing buddies are so important to us! It was lovely to visit your blog along this hop.

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  6. New to your blog , I just love that Sew Sisters came up with this idea I love visiting different blogs .Manitoba is dear to my heart we spent 10 years in Thompson Man.

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  7. I was born in Winnipeg! I believe Norwich ave. so nice to discover your blog. I am off to look around.

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  8. You have a great blog and a very nice looking assistant who I am sure appreciates all of your quilts!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  9. Hello to my neighbor to the north. I am in Minnesota. We visited Winnipeg when I was a kid. I remember playing in a small waterfall in a river in a park called Trowbridge Falls. I also remember some kind of International park? I am a new follower and look forward to getting to know you.

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  10. Love the pillows. Love your quilts, learning from others is the way it was done for hundreds of years, love your blog, have bookmarked it for another visit (or two).

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  11. those pillows are the cutest. its so good that you love where you live. too many dont.
    i would love to learn how to use fat quarters for quilting. im still fairly new and a lot of things are a little confusing.
    quilting[dash]lady[at]comcast[dot]net

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  12. Your assistant is so cute. Love the quilt and the pillows. thanks for the chance to win the book.

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  13. I have been following you for a while and I love your work. (Pinehavencreations@rogers.com)

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  14. Your Westies are adorable, and their pillows are too! The best thing I can tell you is to just show up and do the work. One piece after another will soon beome a quilt.
    Thanks for participating in the blogathon and for the giveaway.

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  15. OMG! I just adore your assistant! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  16. I love your faithful assistant, so cute!

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  17. Love your projects, thanks for the chance to win!

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  18. I've enjoyed your blog for awhile now and you have done a great job hosting Manitoba's part of the Blogathon. Great pick for the giveaway!

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  19. I am a new follower also. Thanks for the chance to win!
    crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  20. oh me oh me!!!! Please pick me!! I have one teeny tiny inch of space left in my place and that prize would fit perfectly in there!!!

    sjpiche@shaw.ca

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  21. good to meet you !! I am from the next door , blue sky province...Sask!!
    I agree that we learn so much from other bloggers...best teachers ever!
    thanks for sharing on this blogathon!

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  22. I love your scottie cushions! I lived not so far from where Church Ave ends near Tyndall Park, and worked at a fiber glass boat manufacturer on Church avenue, tho I think that was a couple of life times ago. I am putting you on my RSS feed so that I can come back to visit again!

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  23. I have tonns of fat quarters from a block of the month club. I have not made anything with them yet. This book may ispire me to make something. LOL!
    Love You Blog!
    mandybertberes@yahoo.ca

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  24. that looks like a wonderful book, I would love to win a copy

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  25. Great pillows/cushions and such an adorable helper.
    Thank you for the chance

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  26. Hello Heather - I grew up and lived most of my life in Winnipeg and started quilting there. I met so many talented and interesting quilters most of whom I still keep up with and visit a couple of times a year. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book - perhaps if I win I can use up some of my stash.

    Linda

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  27. I love your quality control expert - and the quilt he's lying on is gorgeous!

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  28. I would love a copy of this book. Wow great giveavay

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  29. We all need a faithful assistant like yours. Mine is Maycee, my Havanese. I can't lay anything down and she's checking it out ;)

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  30. I have two cats who help with quality control. One of them inspects the quilts faithfully and meticulously, and the other shirks his duty a little and plays favourites by only sleeping on quilts that are already on a bed.

    Thanks for the chance at the giveaway. It looks like a great book to add to my collection.

    beaniekins84(at)gmail(dot)com

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  31. Love your lil' guy...and quilt he is layin' on!! the pillows are waaaaaay cute too!

    Would love to win this book! thanks for the chance! :)

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

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  32. Tucker looks so cuddly. I'm jealous. Not just of that but your stash is AMAZING!
    Thanks for the chance to win.

    Kay Lemieux

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  33. Beautiful quilt and a thoughtful giveaway!

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  34. I so love this Blogathon, meeting so many quilters from across this great land. I really had to laugh at your "6.2 million ideas'...boy that is me and like you I gain a lot of knowledge from blogs. Thanks for hosting this leg of our journey. Now off to visit the other Manitoba bloggers.
    forbesrj@shaw.ca

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  35. Your little guy is sweet! The photo on the step is just classic.
    I'm a new follower and thrilled to see all these Canadian Quilter blog names. Yeah.
    Your two puppy pillows are wonderful, of course your dog needs his own quilt! What kind of person doesn't make a quilt for a pet? Geeez.
    The book sounds wonderful and lots of inspiration.
    Thanks for sharing your world with us
    Cheers, from Oshawa Ontario.

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  36. THANK YOU SO FOR SHARING A NEAT GIVEAWAY!
    BLESSINGS,LINDA

    msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

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  37. Love the cushions of the Scottie 's and the real one is so cute! Thanks for the chance to win what looks to be a fun packed book.

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  38. Thanks for the giveaway! That book looks great!
    saruqa (at) gmail (dot) com

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  39. Your assistant looks quite relaxed on your sweet quilt, thanks for the giveaway.

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  40. my assistant is a calico cat named Louise due to her being polydactyl. I am always amazed how she finds the time to check my quilts. The book looks interesting. I could use a way to use my fat quarters :)

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  41. I love your triangular quilt - that is really cool. And your assistant is adorable!

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  42. Your assistant has such good taste i love that quilt!! babscorbitt@gmail.com

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  43. Hello from Nova Scotia! Your pup is so cute and I love the colours in the quilt. Thanks for sharing.
    Would love to win this book.

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  44. This book sounds great. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

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  45. Canada sure has some awesome quilters! I love this hop that is spotlighting some of them.


    Yes, great people do come from Canada! Including my husband!

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  46. I love your quality control companion. We have a houseful of them here, of both the canine and feline variety. It never fails to amuse me how they are drawn to handmade over store-bought and in-progress over ready-for-use.

    Thanks much for the giveaway. We have a great affection for Canadians in our home, whether we're talking about our friend Janine or the author Louise Penny.

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  47. I love to hear positive things being said about Winnipeg! When I tell people I would like to live there for a bit ( during my living in Canadian cities tour once we retire! ), they always tell me it’s too cold! Well, I live in the humidity capital of the world and am always cold here (NB), I have lived in Goose Bay Labrador, travelled to Russia and Iceland and I believe Ottawa is the coldest!! place I have ever been. So, nice to hear you have 4 seasons like the rest of us! haha Loving getting to know more Canadian talent via this Blogathon! Signing up to follow you!

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  48. Ahhhh - your quilting helper is adorable and I love the quilt that your furbaby is keeping warm on. My step-sister lives in Manitoba and says the same thing - its so nice to have four seasons in a year unlike here in Calgary with WINTER and a little bit of summer the rest of the year.

    Thank you so much for the chance to win such a fabulous giveaway. I am now a follower.

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  49. We all have quality control companions. We have cats and a dog. Thank you for the chance to win. I love hearing about how beautiful Canada is, maybe someday I can visit there.

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  50. I love your quality control expert, and the quilt that is being sat upon. :-) My cats seem to think everything I make is for them. LOL

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  51. It's refreshing to hear someone say they love Winnipeg :) Pleasure "meeting" you :) I'm in Ottawa myself... did you use a pattern for the triangle piece your assistant is so lovingly showing off? It is gorgeous!

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  52. Your quality control assistant has great taste in quilts.

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  53. What a great giveaway chance!!! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

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  54. I also have 2 quilt assistants....mine are Maltese!

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  55. I also have two assistants, my precious dachshunds, Sophie & Lucy... They love to help.
    lisamcgriff at hotmail dot com

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  56. Thank you for sharing in the Blogathon... this is just awesome to meet some Canadian quilters and start following them (you included!!).

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  57. Thanks for including other Manitoba bloggers on your site. Most of the ones I have found are in the US. I look to all of them for inspiration. I am a member of the SewSisters fat quarter club so winning the book would certainly come in handy!

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  58. Yay for Manitoba! Ideas always seem to outpace any productivity. lol

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  59. Looks like a great book.
    Yeah for another great new to me blog.
    Cute dog.

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  60. Looks like a terrific book to use with the fat quarters I get monthly from Sew Sisters. Thanks for being part of the blogathon

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  61. Thanks for being in the Blogathon Canada. It's great to find new blogs of creative and inspiring folks, like yourself. :)

    Thank you and Sew Sisters for an awesome giveaway and a chance to win. Looks like a super book.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  62. So nice to meet you. I looked back a few posts...*love* your stash! I'm hoping to do the Bonnie Hunter mystery coming out tomorrow which will reduce my stash nicely...more importantly leaving room for more fabric. I've never been to Winnipeg.

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  63. I have tons of fat quarters that could use some inspiration! lol Thanks for hosting =)

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  64. Lovely to meet you! Love your little quality control inspector...I have one of those, too!

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  65. Nice to "meet" you Heather. Love your bright quilt being "loved" by your Westie. I don't have a dog but if I did it would have to be a Westie- they are so sweet. I have a great collection of fat quarters, so please count me in for the draw... Best Wishes from New Brunswick!!

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  66. Lovely to meet you!!!! Love your quilt and your quilt dog!

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  67. I would love to have this book for inspiration...maybe I would use some of the many fat quarters in my stash! Thanks for the chance at your giveaway.

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  68. We've traveled through Winnepeg several times on our way to other parts of Canada and it is one of the friendliest places we have been.

    I would love to win that book and thanks for the chance.
    (supermomnocape at yahoo dot com)

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  69. Thanks for the chance to win Monique's book. I would love have a copy.

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  70. Love your quilts and your helper :0)
    Thanks for the chance to win the book!

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  71. Wow, such lovely quilts... Awesome! Please add my name to your wonderful draw, would be honored to win such a lovely book.
    jcmpmorrisonatgmaildotcom.

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  72. Even though you mentioned you are a novice, your quilt is beautiful. That is an amazing book, I hope to win! Thanks for the giveaway

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  73. Greeting from Malaysia. I love your quilt and your dog so cute :)

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  74. I am enjoying this cross Canada blog hop and discovering new blogs. I am like you in that I learn so much from all the bloggers I follow. Quilters are a great group of people.

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  75. Love your helper!!! mine is the feline variety and she keeps me company most quilting days.... 6.2 million ideas no kidding... and not enough time in the day!! thanks for the chance to win!!

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  76. Enjoying the blog hop and all the Canadian quilters! Would love to win.

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  77. My helper doesn't like the sound of the sewing machine so she leaves the room while I sew!
    Barb@Witsend

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  78. I'm enjoying this world of Blog Hopping at which I'm a rookie. I'm hopeful that The Fat Quarter book would inspire to use some of my extensive stash of fats. When I have the itch to spend but very limited cash I sooth myself with a Fat Quarter.

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  79. I'm a novice too! Glad to have found your blog!

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  80. I have have a helper in my sewing room, in the form of an Aussie named Dolly. She likes to sleep cuddled up to the wheels of my rolly chair, so I can't leave without running over her!

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  81. I could so use this book. I must have a few hundred fat quarters, and need to find some good projects to use them up! Thanks for doing the giveaway.

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  82. I'm a novice too! Glad to have found your blog!

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  83. After reading about your hopscotch experience, I've decided to bite the bullet. Yours is so lovely. As I understand from you, a jelly roll can be used for this pattern and I just happen to have recently purchased a jelly roll of chicopee, which I think would be gorgeous done in this pattern. Thanks for the inspiration.

    I found you via the Canadian blogathon and I'm so happy I did. I live next door in Saskatchewan - Saskatoon to be exact.

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  84. First of, your dog is ADORABLE and I love the quilt he is making a nest with! Secondly, three cheers for Winnipeg! Thanks for the shout out for my blog :)

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  85. Lindo menino do controle.Seus trabalhos são ótimos,e concordo quando diz que a net nos ajuda,Obrigada.




    tiacarminhapezzuto@gmail.com

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  86. I love the quilt your helper is sitting on :) Definitely no problem having a cupboard full of fabric!! :)

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  87. Your quilt is beautiful! And yeah, the turkey is awesome, but for me....it's all about the candied yams! :o) Thanks for the chance!

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  88. I love the triangle quilt your dog is sitting on! :) Thanks for a chance to win! :)

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  89. great projects and love your dog! thanks for the chance to win

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  90. Oioioio .. traditional quilts - I always want to make traditional quilts but somehow I always choose bright modern colours and then they don't look traditional at all ...

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  91. Enjoyed my visit to your blog. Would love to win that book.

    Annie s

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  92. Well I enjoyed reading your post...you are funny and very talented. Love the puppies!! Your quilt with the puppy is so very fresh....thanks for sharing with us.

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  93. Thank you for the TGiving Day wishes -- always wonderful to spend time with family and friends. The good food just enhances the experience. I enjoy quilting but also have to wait until the weekends due to job and other commitments. Thank you for sharing!

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  94. Ah Manitoba! I miss it! However don't miss the winter. Spent 3 incredible hot weeks there in August. As a former Manitoban I enjoy your blog and thank you for the opportunity to win a book by another Manitoba transplant. Thanks!

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  95. Love your quilts and your helper. Thank you for the chance to win.

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  96. I would love to win this! Thanks for the opportunity!

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  97. Thank you for the chance to win this great gift and I just love your little helper

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  98. Hello fellow Canadian :) Super giveaway and I am so happy you are on this blog hop! Nice to 'meet' you!

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  99. Your projects and "puppy" look wonderful. Would love to have this book to study and plan new projects! Many thanks!

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  100. Welcome to the world of quilting. I love your little Westie. Thanks for the links and a chance to win.

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  101. You have a lovely helper! Lol! Thanks for sharing!

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  102. I love that first quilt you showed. You can tell that you have talenet. I am from Hopewell Cape NB. Nice to see your work. Thanks for having a give away.

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  103. Great projects.Love your fabrics choice.Thanks for the chance to win!

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  104. Thanks for hosting this giveaway .. I can relate to waaay too much fabric! lol
    Julie Andrea
    sundayschild1966(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

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  105. Thanks so much for a chance at the give-away! Like you, working full time does limit our fabric flinging time! I had the pleasure of visiting Winnipeg last year & thoroughly enjoyed everyday! Isn't Canada wonderful!
    mgw070 at shaw dot ca

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  106. Fun post and very cute dog- I am enjoying the fun journey around the blog a thon reading and meeting some new quilters to me. So many talented people doing terrific things. Monika's book looks great too -
    Regards from Edmonton,
    Anna

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  107. What a cute dog and fun blog post. I enjoyed it. Thanks

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  108. Fun! Great post and an adorable dog! Love the quilt the puppy is sitting on!

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  109. Thanks for a fun post and a great giveaway .

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  110. A wonderful post and loving the giveaway!!

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  111. What a cute Scottie dog and fun post. Thanks for participating in the blog hop- It has been great to meet some new to me quilters and read their blogs.
    Regards from Edmonton,
    Anna

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