Sunday, June 10, 2012

Dresden Stairs quilt


Welcome to my pit stop of the inspiration tour for the EZ Dresden Challenge, presented by the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild and Simplicity. I am so excited to share my EZ Dresden finish with you today, it feels like it's been eons since I finished a quilt I could blog about!! I'm calling this quilt Dresden Stairs.

Dresden Stairs quilt

The Dresden Plate is a really classic, uber-traditional block and Darlene Zimmerman designed a fantastic ruler for Simplicity called the EZ Dresden ruler.  It's designed for making a dresden plate with petals ranging from as small as 1" tall to as tall as 8", and it can be used in lots of other fun ways.  Did you see Lee's Lifesavers quilt? Or Kati's modern baby quilt? Two very different quilts, both built from the same simple ruler. I'm a full-on ruler geek; I love lots of different quilting rulers and this one is no exception.

stack

From the get-go, I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to do for this project, but I started by pulling some fabrics in a color palette I was excited to work with, and cut a bunch of dresden petals from them. I put the petals up on my design wall and moved them around in several different ways before I came up with the idea of creating a stair-step effect with the petals pieced in a straight line.

IMG_9206rt

I really enjoyed working on this quilt, and I especially enjoyed free-motion quilting this quilt. I'm trying to spread my FMQ wings and try things other than just stippling, so for this one, I decided to FMQ in the negative space rather than on the patchwork, to try to emphasize the patchwork. I stitched a continuous line swirl pattern all throughout the negative space, and though at first it was frustrating and made my eyes water from concentrating so hard, it ultimately became a lot of fun once I got the hang of it. I will definitely be FMQ'ing like this again! I used Aurifil 50 wt for this quilt the whole way through, and oh my goodness, it just glides through my machine like butter! The stitching is so smooth, especially during FMQ. Love it!

IMG_9202rt

Quilt Stats
name: Dresden Stairs
size: 45" x 54"
pattern: original, using an EZ Dresden ruler
fabrics: Free Spirit Designer Essentials Houndstooth in Aqua, Dear Stella Basketweave in Yellow, DS Quilts Bias Plaid Pink, DS Quilts Large Floral Pink, Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow Beads, Annette Tatum Boho Chevron in Orange, Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow Herringbone in both Berry and Pond, Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow Acorn Chain in Pond, Patty Young Lush Running Stitch in Creamsicle, Art Gallery Gold Lace, Kona White
backing: Bazaar Style Imperial Turquoise by Pat Bravo and Meadowsweet Peony Plaid by Sandi Henderson
binding: Modern Whimsy Circles in Park by Laurie Wisbrun
quilting: overall continuous line swirl pattern, by me

IMG_9201crop

Be sure to visit Colleen today, too, as she's sharing her EZ Dresden Challenge project!  For more details on the challenge, including the amazing prizes and the other blog hop links, visit the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild.

And now, for the giveaway! Enter here to win your very own EZ Dresden ruler! There are so many possibilities with this ruler, I highly recommend working with it, it's a lot of fun, and you have plenty of time to cook up your own challenge entry before the project link-up gets underway in September. To enter, simply leave a comment here, and the winner will be announced on Wednesday, June 14th.  Good luck!

For more inspiration and ideas for the EZ Dresden Challenge, follow along with the blog hop:


EZDresden_Logos

116 comments:

  1. Wow, love your quilt. I'm dying to try this ruler...i starred your post for future reference!
    boppiesgirl@gmail.com

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  2. I love your quilt - I'm not usually into orange, but think it looks great here.

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  3. Great idea. Just when I thought nothing new to see with the ruler. Thanks
    Pam
    plboner@yahoo.com

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  4. I love seeing the Dresden ruler used in nontraditional ways. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  5. Wow! I love your quilt! The colors, the layout, the quilting - it is all beautiful!

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  6. Very clever use of the Dresden Ruler! It's beautiful!

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  7. I love your quilt - and the quilting is gorgeous!

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  8. A zig zag with Dresdens???? That is amazing and looks terrific.

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  9. You did an awesome job on the FMQ - I like how you did it only in the negative space. I am eager to get one of these rulers to make my own dresdens. Thanks for another great idea.

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  10. Your quilt is so fun! I really love the colours you used as well as the pattern.

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  11. What a great twist on a classic stair step quilt! Love the vibrant colors.

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  12. I can't get over how creative everyone has been with their dresden! WOW!

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  13. Thank you for the inspiration of using the Dresden ruler to make a pieced block.

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  14. I don't know why I don't own this ruler! I love seeing all the projects everyone is doing using it!

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  15. I am enjoying how many non-circular designs are being shown using this ruler. Your quilt is gorgeous!

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  16. I love the way you used a Dresden ruler for a definitely non-Dresden quilt - great job!

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  17. I love how you used the Dresden ruler. This quilt is beautiful. I also love the fabrics you used.

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  18. Love your quilt,stunning, and the way you do the no circular dresden.

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  19. And here was I thinking dresden plates were circular/curved! Thank you for thinking outside the box!! A great idea!

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  20. Wonderful quilt. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  21. I have always wanted to try a Dresden but I like that you guys are showing different ways to use the ruler. Thanks for the chance!

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  22. I've been looking for this ruler at every local store I go to and they don't have it! All these great ideas have given me the dresden bug.

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  23. very very very great elizabeth! love this quilt!

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  24. Este é um projeto muito interessante,e sua colcha ficou muito linda.Obrigada.tiacarminhapezzuto@gmail.com

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  25. And yet another way to use the ruler that I never would have thought of ! Your FMQ looks great too!

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  26. Love it! And those swirls look so awesome. I'll have to give them a try - I have a couple retreat blocks that need finishing. Maybe I'll use that pattern.

    I have to come up with a dresden plan! Something scrappy I think - to use, you know, all my scraps.

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  27. Love it! And those swirls look so awesome. I'll have to give them a try - I have a couple retreat blocks that need finishing. Maybe I'll use that pattern.

    I have to come up with a dresden plan! Something scrappy I think - to use, you know, all my scraps.

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  28. I really like your quilt! And the quilting on it just makes you happy!

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  29. I love your stairs quilt! There seems to be no end to ways to use this ruler - amazing!

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  30. loving all these dresden ideas xoxoxo

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  31. The design is super adorable, and your quilting! WOW! Stunning. Good for you.

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  32. Wow, I love your quilt! It's so fresh and colorful! I really want this ruler now that I've been following this blog hop -- who knew there were so many different ways to use it?!? Thanks for the chance to win.

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  33. That's such a great idea using the ruler this way. I love this quilt. Awesome job. Thank you for showing us.

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  34. I LOVE the fabrics you chose, and the crisp-white background is a great showcase for your quilting. Such a happy quilt.

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  35. Oh, I love your quilt! The colors and quilting are so great!

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  36. What an unusual way to use the ruler, clever you.

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  37. Your quilt is beautiful! I'm loving seeing all the different uses for this one ruler!

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  38. I would love to try out this ruler esp now that I've seen other options from a traditional plate!
    Well done :)

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  39. Beautiful work, thanks for sharing. I haven't made a tumbler quilt before. To be honest, I didn't realize a desden ruler could be used for tumblers.

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  40. What a creative way to use the Dresden ruler. I love the quilting in the white part of the quilt. Thanks for sharing.
    Barb@Witsend

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  41. Love your design! Never would have thought of stairs. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  42. Very cool, loving all the variations :o)

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  43. Great idea, thanks for the inspiration!

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  44. I am IN LOVE with this design, Elizabeth! It would be a great way to use up scraps too. Your FMQ looks incredible.

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  45. This is so fresh and fun! I'm so glad to see how everyone is using the same ruler to create their own designs. LOVE yours.

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  46. I like your quilt. Very easy pattern made with dresden.

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  47. The quilt looks amazing! I love your take on the Dresden petal piece. Very unique. The colours are perfect for the summer season =D

    Last day to enter my giveaway. If you haven't entered already today is your last chance =D
    http://ibescheraldine.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/official-150th-post-giveaway.html

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  48. Fun idea and great quilt. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    ardreysend(at)hotmail.com

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  49. I've never tried dresdens but there is a first time for everything. Thanks for sharing something different you can do if you aren't into circles.

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  50. i've never used a dresden ruler but I am liking the modern designs this challenge is bringing forward and now I'm excited to try. I hope i win one.

    thank you,
    Michelle

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  51. Now, this is really unique - love the stair steps and maybe one day I can FMQ as well as you do. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  52. love the stairsteps! gorgeous colors and fantastic quilting. thanx for showing us this great idea and giving us the chance to win the ruler to make it wwith.

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  53. I'm loving this blog hop and the ideas of what can be done with dresdens! Love your stairs and it looks like this ruler will become a 'must have'!

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  54. Wonderful quilt! Love your creativity when the dresden ruler. YOU did a fantastic job with the quilting swirls - great choice.

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  55. very strong graphics on this quilt - love it!

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  56. Beautiful quilt with an interesting design! I love the pattern!

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  57. Ooh, I really like what you did with the dresdens. The quilt is beautiful.

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  58. Would love to try out this ruler! Great job on your quilt!

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  59. I really love this simple yet eye catching quilt!! And especially the FMQ'ing !!

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  60. Your quilt is lovely and such a novel way to use the Dresden ruler!

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  61. Beautiful quilt! I am also inspired by your free motion quilting. It looks gorgeous.

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  62. Your quilt is fantastic! And such a unique & clever use of the dresden shape, so inspiring. Thanks for sharing your process & for the chance to win the EZ Dresden Ruler.

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  63. It's beautiful, Elizabeth. I love the colours you chose. You did a great job with the FMQ!

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  64. What a fun way to use Dresdens! You have such a creative mind. I love your comment about your eyes watering when you were FMQ - I've done that, too!

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  65. I love the way you've used the dresdens in such an unconventional way - so modern and sophisticated!

    Thanks for the chance to win :)

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  66. The rulers look great. I have seen some excellent quilts made using these Dresden rulers and would love win one so I could try it out.
    Linda on travjonuk@yahoo.com

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  67. Cool quilt and love the quilting you did on it! thanks!

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  68. love these colors! so summery and gorgeous. i like the line look- that may be what i try for!

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  69. This is awesome! I love the stairs and the quilting :-)

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  70. I absolutely love this quilt! It's my favorite of the ones I've seen done with it.

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  71. I would love this ruler as I love dresden plates!

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  72. I have made one dresden plate with a loaned ruler and I would love to have one of my own!
    Love your quilt!

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  73. You dresden stair quilt is wonderful! Love it, love it, love it!

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  74. So beautiful! Thanks for the chance!

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  75. Wow I love what you did with the ruler. So unique and inspiring. Thank you for the chance to win a ruler!

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  76. Love your quilt design and the colors. Thanks for the chance.

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  77. What a cool way to use the ruler! I would never have thought of that! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  78. Neat quilt! I'd love to win that ruler. :) Thanks for the chance.

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  79. Love the quilting on your dresden quilt that doesn't look like a dresden quilt.

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  80. I am loving this blog hop. You are all so creative.

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  81. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!! Your swirls in your quilt look terrific!

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  82. Oh my, usually dresden's are done in circles but they look great as squares also. Amazing!

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  83. Such a great quilt! Love that you did something different than a circle. Love this hop and getting to see so many great projects by so many talented folks! Thanks for the inspiration and a great tutorial.

    Thank you and SLMQG for a great giveaway and a chance to win.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  84. very cool pattern on your quilt!

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  85. It's amazing how many different looks you n get using this ruler.
    Your quilting is fabulous. Those swirls are amazing.

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  86. I love the quilt and the colors are beautiful...I like the FMQ you did, was that on a longarm or traditional sewing machine? It is so interesting to see all of the different ways the quilters are using the dresden ruler...

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  87. Your quilt seems so fresh and summery! I have saved it in my quilting wish list file. Thanks for sharing.

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  88. I love what you did with the ruler. I love the quilting in the white areas especially. Beautiful! Thanks for the chance to win a ruler!

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  89. What fun and creativity using this ruler !
    I love the swirls of your FMQ. I'm just starting my adventure, trying FMQ.
    Thanks for a chance to win!

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  90. Your quilt is so beautiful! I love that it's a different non-traditional Dresden. Thanks for the chance to win

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  91. What a neat application for the Dresden block. I love the imagination

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  92. gorgeous! i love the colors you chose!

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  93. I like the colours you chose. And I like a lot of the fabrics. I also like the pattern you came up with. The quilting is so wonderful with the pattern. A wonderful quilt!

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  94. Wow I love your modern take on using the Dresden ruler.
    It's a wonderful inspirational piece thank you

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  95. Wow! I love all these creative ideas to use with the Dresden Ruler! Thank you!

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  96. Your quilt looks beautiful... I love the colors combination. Thanks for the great giveaway!!

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  97. Wow. I never really was a fan of the Dresden plate myself, but your quilt makes me wish for my own Dresden ruler! I never would have thought to use it for something like this!

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  98. Beautiful quilt! I love the quilting!

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  99. I've never done anything Dresden. But I do want to one day! I love how versatile they are!

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  100. I am being so inspired by all the ways to use a dresden ruler!! wow!

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  101. Beautiful quilt- really unique!!:)

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  102. Love the pattern you created! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  103. Dresdens intimidate me, but this ruler gives me hope!

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  104. Reading through the blog hop, I'm beginning to wrap my head around this ruler a little bit more, and understanding all the possibilites with just one ruler. You all have made it so approachable too, so kudos!

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  105. There is so much one can do with this ruler. I would love a chance to win. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  106. Your quilt is stunning!! Wow! I'd love a ruler like this to play around with! Thanks!

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  107. I love this quilt! And a new ruler? Would make me squee!

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  108. Oh my goodness, I so love the zig zags. I'm working on my own zig zag quilt now, but I never thought to piece it with a Dresden ruler. How smart! Thanks for the giveaway and awesome tutorial!

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  109. So super cute. Thanks for sharing.

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  110. Good for you for branching out with your FMQing, and it's good to hear that you felt it improved as you went along. That's exactly what happens when you keep quilting! I too love to quilt with 50-wt Aurifil. I buy it by the jumbo cones in white, ivory and gray, so I only need to buy again every five years or so. Great stuff. And this is a great giveaway too. Thanks for the chance to win!

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Thank you for leaving a comment for me! I appreciate each and every one of them and try to respond when time allows. Your comments totally brighten my day :)


Welcome! I'm Elizabeth, mom to a mood teen boy and a chatty six-year-old girl and I sew for my sanity. Let's get to quilting, shall we?
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