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Thursday, November 8, 2012

Fall Machine Embroidery Blog Hop and Giveaway

 
NOTE:  Even if you are not into Machine Embroidery....you may want to scroll down and see the amazing little Turtles below.  The giveaway is open to everyone who is an IHAN ® blog follower....I'll have two winners...one for Marjorie's Machine Embroidery Designs and one for 5 Spools of Floriani Embroidery Thread.


Today is my day to share what I made for the Fall Machine Embroidery Blog Hop!  Marjorie, Trish and SewCalGal are extremely hard acts to follow.

Before I began this post, I have to share with you that  I did not make the project.  I had intended on making it when I returned from Quilt Market but you all know what happened there!  Thank God for friends!  My dear friend Karin did the Machine Embroidery for me and I sooooo appreciate her help!!

Those of us whoare participating  in this blog hop,  were able to select the design we wanted to make from "Shop.B-Quilts.com". Marjorie, the owner, digitizes tons of the applique shapes that are made by the modern day fabric cutting machines (Slice Fabrique,Silhouette, Big Shot Pro (Sizzix) and AccuQuilt)  I chose Marjorie's Turtle because I thought it was adorable and I just knew my boys would like it too.  My intentions were to make a mug rug for each boy to keep their water on next to their beds.  After Karin agreed to help me....the project morphed into 7 Turtles!  Funny how those things happen.

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Starting with Floriani Embroidery Thread and some beautiful batik fabric....how can you go wrong?

Karin stitched  the outline of the design.so she would have proper placement of those wonderful little feet and head.
She used Floriani Heat N Stay Fusible Tearaway on the body, head and feet to prevent puckers (you will notice below...there is not one pucker in the design :).    Both Sizzix and AccuQuilt offer circle fabric cutting dies to cut the parts of the Turtle and body.  Karin does not have a need for a fabric cutting machine so she traced the design on the Floriani Heat N Stay Fusible Tearaway Stabilizer and cut them out by hand.  You may want to keep that in mind.  You don't need the dies to make your own Machine Embroidery Applique Shapes....Marjorie provides the template so you can cut them out by hand.    I would have used my Sizzix Vagabond to cut the circles had I been the one to make the Turtles.  
Each Turtle has one 3  inch circular body, four 1 inch circular feet and one 2 inch circular head.  Don't add caramel...it gums up the machine needle.  Just eat it before you do your Machine Embroidery...and having some coffee with the caramel provides a great sugar buzz (all this talk of Turtles just takes my brain to places it shouldn't be going...sorry!).

Karin is a saint...who hand cuts out all these little circles for a friend?  I guess she must know I'd do the same for her....after my hand heals :)
In the hoop, Karin used Floriani Perfect Stick.  I would have used the very same thing.  Why?  I absolutely love Floriani Perfect Stick because all I have to do is press my fabric down and go....so very simple.  I also prefer it over other products that do the same thing because it does not gum up my needle.  I've used others and I have to change the needle frequently because the adhesive sticks to the needle and pulls up my stitches.

I was going to make mug rugs....Karin decided to use one of "those purple kitchen towels" (her comment to me was, "who uses purple in the kitchen?"  I wonder?)  She marked the places where she wanted the turtles...you can see the white marks.
The outline of the applique shape stitches out so you know where to place the fabric.

Here is a screen shot of Karin's embroidery machine.  I'm not exactly why she took this photo...but hey...I'm using it :)  My guess is she wanted everyone to see all the different stitches this beautiful design offers....but who really knows?  I'm guessing she is asleep and I'm not about to wake her just to inquire....just go with it :)

She placed the head, tail and feet first and then the body as you can see in this photo.

The design tacks down the fabric and then.....

the tacking stitches are covered by the beautiful satin stitching.  Karin is using the Floriani Embroidery Thread.  The thread never once broke and the sheen is absolutely beautiful. 

Marjorie's Machine Embroidery Designs provide options of the type of edge stitching you like so you can change up the look of each Turtle/design.  Her designs are digitized for various machines so you don't need any special software to convert the files....you just transfer the one your machine requires.  How is that for easy? 

Now you can see why I choose the Turtle....how sweet is this Turtle?  (I know....would be sweeter with caramel!)

Even the back looks nice :)

She repeated the process 4 more times.....before taking an afternoon break.
 Karin's design idea was to put 6 Turtles heading up the towel and one headed down the towel and it would read, "Follow your heart."  I just love that....isn't that a great idea?

You can see the variety of stitch options Marjorie offers for her designs.  Each Turtle is unique :)

Then what happened?  You know...it happens to all of us.  LIFE!  Karin's husband had kidney stones so she spent the next few days taking care of him and the project didn't get finished....Yet!  Isn't that the way things go sometimes?  It is so important to be flexible and just go with what "IS" because there isn't any changing it.

My Machine Embroidery Tips:

  • Use the best stabilizers and thread you can afford....it does seem to me to make a big difference in reduction of frustration and the lasting beauty of your finished product.  I began using Floriani Machine Embroidery products because two friends (over 30 years of ME experience combined) told me about Floriani and showed me the difference....again...Thank God for friends!
  • Keep a list of every one of your Machine Embroidery Friends next to your Embroidery Machine.  Why?  Because it is often faster to ask a friend a question or problem solve than it is  to search through those manuals (Babylock are the only manuals I know of that are written by users.  I only use my Bernina manual as an absolute last resort.)  Besides, it is more fun to stitch with friends....even if only by phone...than to stitch alone...in my opinion :)
  • Bookmark your favorite Machine Embroidery Design websites as they seem to have some of the best tips.
  • Join a Machine Embroidery Chat Group.
  • Don't agree to participate in a Blog Hop and then break your hand.....from personal experience...LOL.
The GIVEAWAY....oh yeah baby!
There are two prizes being given away.  The first is only for those with an Embroidery Machine or a friend with one.  The winner will be chosen at random and they will win a design of their choice from Marjorie's website: Shop.B-Quilts.com

The second prize....5 spools of Floriani Embroidery Thread of the winners choice.  The Floriani Embroidery Thread is not exclusively used for Machine Embroidery.  It is absolutely beautiful used in other projects as well. 

How to win?  Just leave a comment below telling us that you have a friend who would be there to help you if you needed them or that you are the type of friend who would cut out 42 circles for another stitching friend.  You can also just leave any comment you feel is appropriate : )

Please, please, please go visit the other ladies in the Fall Machine Embroidery Blog Hop....you'll be glad you did.  Here is the line up:

Monday, November 5th 
Tuesday, November 6th 
All Things Crafty
Wednesday, November 7th 
Thursday, November 8th 
I Have A Notion
Friday, November 9th 
 
Smiles and Giggles,
Kelly

PS...keep in mind I have a Blog Disclaimer at the bottom of my post.....more giggles.


68 comments:

  1. I am pretty sure that I have several friends who would be willing to help me. if your hand was not broken you would be on that list also.
    get better soon, take care

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  2. What a great post Kelly and thank you Karin too! I love all the tips and what a cute project. Too sweet to have those different turtles following their heart. Love it!

    Thank you both for all your insights and inspiration!

    SewCalGal
    www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com

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  3. Sewing friends are the best! Hope your hand heals quickly.

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  4. This is a great post - I have a true friend Julia who steps in whenever needed - she calls me the sister she never had

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  5. Those turtles are adorable! Now I see how the machine embroidery applique technique is done. Sooo easy! Wow!

    Thank goodness for friends like Karin. Hope her hubby is okay now. I've had a kidney stone and let me tell ya, its no picnic!

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  6. Kelly, this is an incredible post and I don't know how you did it with all the obstacles--and yes Karin is that kind of friend. I have one of those too-don't know what I'd do without her.
    Hope Karin's husband and your hand are better soon.

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  7. Great info on here! Thank you so much! I have a friend who would help me any way she can and I would also be willing to cut out piecies all day for anyone who asks! That's what quilters and friends do!
    hulseybg@gmail.com

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  8. We those turtles are great! I do have a could of friends who would help me out!

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  9. Hi Kelly they are adorable!!!!! And yes I can attest to having friends that would be there for me since I have just went thru chemo and radiation and I was very humbled by there presence and what they have done for me....but I would do the same for anyone of my friends and that is where I consider myself so fortunate. I have never tried the thread but it does look like it has a beautiful sheen to it...I will keep my fingers crossed...Have a wonderful holiday and I hope you heal very soon.

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  10. Thanks for sharing this technique (may have to add an embroidery machine to my sewing 'bucket' list). I have a couple of sewing friends I can count on to help, but I'm also the type that would cut out 42 circles (or more) for them...of course, I have my Sizzix to help with that ;o)

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  11. Great blog, Kelly. I have been a bit intimidated in using my embroidery machine as I haven't had it for very long. This blog-hop is giving me great incentive. I may have to practice on some small Christmas presents. Thanks so much for sharing.
    bonnielarson58@gmail.com

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  12. Before we moved out of state, I belonged to a Machine Embroidery group through the ASG group. All of us were always available for help or to bounce ideas off of. We still keep in touch through technology, but it is not the same!I miss them, and our monthly get-togethers.
    As afar as cutting circles...I am the "go to guy", as I have the die cutting machine-LOL!

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  13. Thank you for your well written and informative blog. To see things done step-by-step really boosts my confidence so I can try it too. Yes, I have friends who would happily cut out 42 circles, not to mention my daughter who loves doing anything creative. She is just too good to be true!

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  14. Love this post! And yes, I have several friends I could go to for help. I am also a friend who would cut out 42 circles if asked (I have a Go! cutter but would do it by hand if necessary).

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  15. What a fun blog to find this morning! I just loved the little turtle project..... I can see doing that for my soon to be first grandson! Having friends who will help you no matter what or you helping them when need be is what a blessed life is all about! I can guarantee I have friends to help and I would help them cut out all those little circles. I love using my embroidery machine and can see this project penciled into the calendar.

    Thanks for the tips
    jackiedudek@gmail.com

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  16. Thanks for all the kind thoughts & good wishes - hubby's doing "just fine" to quote the little bugger. I'm sure glad of it, too, 'cuz I've got other things to do! Kelly, you turned me few words and crazy pictures into a terrific post that made sense & offered some tips too! How you did that, I'll never know! Next time we get together, we'll make turtles the old fashioned way - pretzels, Rollo candy and pecans! Oh, wait, that's the NEW-fashioned way, isn't it?! Well, that's the fastest way I know, so that's how we'll roll. (I'm so punny, I know, I know!)

    Love ya babe! (goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway - please don't count me in the drawing, and noooo reply necessary, just wrap those fleas around your wrist and keep on movin!)

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  17. The Turtles are darling, but now I am hungry for the candy turtles!! I also have a friend named Karen who would be there to help me when needed.
    paweis at yahoo dot com

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  18. Have made friends since I began machine embroidering back in February!

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  19. I love the turtles. I wish I had a embrodery machine, Maybe Santa will bring me one.

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  20. My wish is that everyone has one of those friends and I'm glad to day that I have one of those too!

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  21. I love the turtles...and I am the friend who would cut out all those little itty bitty circles haha

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  22. Love the turtles! I am lucky, I do have friends who would help if I needed them. I would also be that friend and help out if I could. Yes, I would even cut out 42 circles by hand. :-) Hope your hand is feeling better!

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  23. I have a friend that I could count on to help me with anything I could ask of her. I'm always here to help her whenever she calls, that is what friends DO.. hope you heal quickly!!

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  24. So cute. Now that I'm not afraid of my embroidery machine, I'd like to try some applique in the hoop. Hope your had is not keeping you from doing what you want to do. Take care.

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  25. Those turtles are so cute. I wish I had an embroidery machine but am thankful for the machine I have. I wouldn't mine helping out a friend by cutting all those circles. Lots of catching up and chat time.

    lsandes@comcast.net

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  26. I have a good friend who would love to cut circles for me and a daughter and grand daughter who would be over the moon to work with me on a project. It would be great fun to help the two of them learn more about machine embroidery while sharing in the cutting out and then the making up of this project. What a great giveaway!

    kristin
    rockymountainbirder at gmail dot com

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  27. Cute turtles! I'd cut out the circles for a friend and I have a friend who'd do the same for me. Thanks for the great giveaway! I hope your hand heals quickly!

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  28. I have a friend who was there for me when something terrible happened in my life in 2008 and she's been there ever since
    I don't have an embroidery machine but I'd like to try the thread!

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  29. hope you feel better great project
    judy p.

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  30. Yes I have lots of friends who would help me cutting out. I also have a wonderful quilt shop to help with any problems sewing out designs.

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  31. Love the turtles, unfortunately I live in Greece and they don't even have cotton fabric here let alone anyone who does quilting. My parents send me fabric and I love that.

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  32. Hi Kelly! I'm counting on you to be the friend to help me when I need emergency sewing supplies at any hour of the day, or just plain help if I'd be the one with a broken bone! Hope you are healing quickly!

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  33. I still can't believe you broke you hand like that. You are very lucky your friend would cut all those circles, but you seem to be very nice and I bet you have a lot of friends who would do it for you. Those turtles really are super cute.
    Yes, I do have a very close friend, my best friend in the world (my husband) who would (and has many times) help me if I needed help doing that or help doing anything as he does on a daily basis. I'm very lucky.

    You didn't ask but yes, I do have an embroidery machine and love it. I just got my 2nd one a few months ago.

    OH and tell your friend that *I* would LOVE to have an entire set of "those" purple towels for my kitchen. ;)

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  34. I have an older sister that loves to help me when she can! And I try to help her when I can!! I also have several sewing and quilting friends that can always be counted on to help. I ahve an Accuquilt Go cutter and a Brother Em. machine so I am ready to go. Belinda

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  35. Hope you hand continues to feel better. I don't blame you for cutting the cast off. We had to do that for my son when he broke his hand. After about a week or so it finally stopped being so swollen and he was able to tolerate the cast.
    I love machine embroidery, but am just getting into it. I have a great friend that would cut my circles too if I needed it. She's just great. It's nice to have friends like that.

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  36. thanks for the chance to win that tread

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  37. I'm pretty sure I've got friends that would lend a 'hand' and I know I'd be happy to, if need be! What in the world did you use to cut your cast off? Was it fiberglass? Gracious! Your turtles are darling and fun! :)

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  38. I have alot of good friends that craft togeather. I have taught many people over the years tole painting, cross stitch quilting and many other crafts. And alot of them teaches me things also.

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  39. I have two of the best sewing and embroidery friends. The three of us get together regularly to share ideas/issues, sew/embroider, help out, shop hop, lunch... and are always there for one another. I am so blessed.

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  40. What are friends for:-D Add me to your list if you need something while your hand is healing, XOXO

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  41. I love all of Marjories designs and would gladly cut out whatever my friend Chris wanted to use on one of her beautiful quilts. She would do the same for me, I'm sure. Bev

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  42. Such an amazing friend you have!!! I have one who will "shop" for me when she goes to quilt shops as she has the same taste as I do!! Gotta love those kinda friends :-)

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  43. I sometimes say that I am a glutton for punishment, since I am the kind of friend that would do the cutting of 40+ circles for another so that they could get an improtant project done.

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  44. What a wonderful post and great friend you have in Karin. Thanks, Karin, and glad to hear your DH is on the mend.

    The first "friend" I would call would be my sister, as she has a machine just like mine. If she couldn't figure it out, I'd call my friend who was my partner in teaching kids to sew at our LQS. She is always doing new things with her ME...and now she has two embroidery machines.

    I'd never heard of the Perfect Stick..and sounds like something I'd like to try. Thanks for talking about it.

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  45. Sewing friends (and gardening friends) are really great. I know my friends LB abd GA would help with a sewing project if needed them. I would love the thread, although I do not have an embroidery machine. Here's hoping your hand heals perfectly!

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  46. I'm very lucky to have 2 friends who would jump as soon as I call if I need help. I've never heard of the Perfect Stick and have to look into what it does exactly. Love the project.

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  47. I was wondering, Kelly, how you were going to do this hop since I knew about the hand. That is a real friend and you are lucky to have someone to come to the rescue. Yikes, I'd be hard put to find a friend that could step into a tough sewing/embroidery/quilting situation; my friends are not into those hobbies. Hubby would be great support, my girls would do what they could but are not sewers... My motto is "Do not break your hand; get sick; go to the hospital; or have surgery unless it's totally planned in advance!!!!!" Now, I am on my knees with a prayer on my lips because I know I'm not in charge.

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  48. I not only have one friend, I have two, and they are the best women to quilt with, we have each others back in any quilting projects of any other situational problem we might run into. I love the Floriani threads and different stabilizers to tackel any embroidery or sewing situation. I just took a Floriani class earlier this year at one of the quilt shops in my area.

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  49. Such an exciting blog hop! Thanks for the inspiration! Mary Ann www.rocknquilts.blogspot.com

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  50. I have several friends who have held my hand and provided shoulders when I need them to help with advise.

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  51. I have a best friend in my sister and we would do anything for each other. I'd love a chance to win the Floriani thread, I don't embroider and don't know anyone who does. Thanks for the chance. Hope the hand is feeling better after the modifications.
    Barb@Witsend

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  52. My best friend to come to my rescue and for someone I have come to her rescue too is my Mother. My mom lives near me and the past couple of years we have enjoyed sewing together often.

    Cindy

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  53. My embroidery buddy moved away but we still call on each other when we need help!

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  54. turtle is to stinkin' cute. Yes I know several people who do machine embroidery. Love your tips. I follow with emails. Thanks

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  55. Super, die schƶnen Sachen.
    LG Heike

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  56. My BFF would come to my rescue. Friends are awesome.

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  57. I love turtles especially yours. I have a machine and a BFF to help. Hope your hand heals quickly.

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  58. No tengo mƔquina bordadora ni amigos con ella pero los hilos se ven preciosos y el tu trabajo estupendo.

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  59. Quilting and friendship just seem to go together. I have a good friend who finished up a challenge for me when I was called away on a family emergency. I stumbled onto this blog while doing the Quilty Pleasures blog hop for their new book. I have an embroidery machine and love it. I wish that I had been in on this from the beginning.

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  60. My machine handles machine embroidery better than the owner does! Thanks for the giveaways.
    Hope that your hand is on the mend. Definitely puts a cramp in your quilting and culinary projects, though your IHAN staffers are probably very good at tote and fetch for Mom.
    I know that I can depend upon my mother to help me out if in a quilty quandry, even cutting out lots of circles.

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  61. What a fun project with such a cute turtle. I have serveral friends I can call on for help if needed, and I'm always happy to help them too. Thanks for the chance to win some great prizes.

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  62. This is sooooo adorable, thanks for the tutorial....just wonderful!

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  63. What adorable turtles!! Yes I have a friend that would help me out if I needed something. :)

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  64. Cute turtles. I definitely have a friend who would help me and I would be glad to help my friends out as well.

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  65. I'm the person who would cut out many circles for a friend but I also have a friend who is a big support in difficult times. I would love to give her the embroidery pattern.

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  66. Great post! Hope your hand heals soon. I have a BFF that I met at a BOM class going on four years ago. We take all our classes together and have lots of sewing days at her house. (She has the bigger table plus she is a great cook, hehe.) It's not much but I often thread her sewing needles for her. I would and do whatever I can to help my BFF, she is wonderful, a great friend and I'n glad she is in my life.

    Thank you for a great giveaway and a chance to win. Cute turtles! Love the purple dish towel and that is something I would have bought, hehe. Gorgeous thread as well.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  67. Yep...have several Friends tha'd be here in an instant, if I needed them (& they have been!) I am a Friend that would gladly cut out 42 circles....or help any way I could.

    Thanks for chance to win your drawing! :)

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Thank you for reading the IHAN Blog. I love getting and reading every comment that is left here; however I may not be able to respond to all comments left during giveaways. There are times when I am juggling many tasks at one time and may not reply to all comments. Please e-mail me at quiltnotions@gmail.com if you need a reply quickly. I thank you for your understanding and-
More Later-Beth

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