Monday, September 10, 2012

Dotty Stars and Giveaway

Hello fellow blog hoppers!  Today is the first day of the Dots on Dots Blog Hop hosted by Corrie of Quilt Taffy and Mdm Samm of Sew WE Quilt!.  Both are fantastic blogs and resources and I am excited to be part of this Blog Hop - I've lurked for a while and decided to jump right in, so I hope my first attempt goes well!  I know all the other particpants are awesome, make sure you check all their blogs out and give them some bloggy love too! 
Here's today's schedule:
AnnieOak Designs (that's me!) 
The full schedule can be found at Quilt Taffy here.
Now on to what I did.  I've been wanting to make a table runner for a while so I thought this would be a great opportunity.  I pulled out my trusty block book and went to work finding a star I liked.  I chose the Fifty-Four Forty or Fight block and sketched out the table runner in my notebook.  Figured out the amount of fabric and off I went.  I needed four colors to make the block work.  I am a JoAnn fan when I need something quick (a trip to a LQS would be an entire day and I am not shy about admitting that), so I wandered over and found these three coordinating dots fabrics and a navy to pull it all together.
Since the table runner called for three 12.5" unfinished blocks and some borders, I cut everything out.  Never used my Tri-Recs rulers before and turns out, they are pretty handy.  Thanks Nancy!
Then off to sewing. 
Fifty-Four Forty or Fight Block
I said I wanted a table runner right?  Well, I also wanted to try my hand at machine quilting with my Juki and I figured this would be the perfect opportunity (plus it seemed like a lot of work to get the thing on Diane's longarm for a lot of little work).  I pin basted it and being the control freak that I am, sketched the block out in my notebook and played around with the quilting designs until I liked what I had on the paper.
On with my machingers and off we went!  I started by stitching in the ditch around the stars and doing a dotty/pebbly motif in the navy areas around the stars.   
Pebbly Navy (sorry - the flash is aweful)
And this is as far as I got. 
Almost all the way!  2 out of 3 blocks done.
Ran out of thread.  This being my first attempt at machine quilting on my Juki I neglected to over-purchase my thread.  So, I am not going to the store tonight, so it lays unfinished, hanging over the bannister staring accusingly at me every time I go up and down the stairs.  I will get it done!  I has been too fun to do and I want to finish it before I start on my next project.
Now to the giveaway.  Since I am a stasher I ALWAYS buy more fabric than I need for a project.  What if I mess up a block?  What if I want to add to the pattern as I go?  Gotta have the wiggle room right?  Right.  So, I am giving away a fat quarter of each of the four fabrics I used for the table runner.
Just leave a little comment in the comments section and I'll pick a random winner at the end of the Dots on Dots Blog Hop, September 21.  For an extra entry, be a follower and leave me another comment telling me you are a follower.
Now, your next assignment is to check out the rest of the lovely blogs on the Dots on Dots Blog Hop!  Don't forget to leave bloggy love!

209 comments:

  1. What a great start for your table runner! Dotty all over... Will you show us your finished piece before the blog hop ends?
    Regina in Germany

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  2. I look forward to seeing it finished too!

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  3. I love your table runner. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the chance to win some fabric.

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  4. I love your table runner and the colors are wonderful. Thanks for sharing and a great give away.

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  5. I love your dotty table runner. I can't wait to see it when it's all finished.

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  6. I love the runner, the fabrics are gorgeous.

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  7. I love your dots and your table runner. Nice job.

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  8. Love those fabrics together! Thanks for hopping!

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  9. I like your runner! I'd love to make one too!

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  10. I'm a new follower and I hate word verification!!!

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  11. I love your blocks! If you are a fabric stasher it surely won't be long before you are a thread stasher too. I say this from experience!

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  12. I love all of your dots! Love your runner, it is a totally different kind of block! Thanks for being part of the hop.

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  13. Lovely dots, great blocks! Thanks for showing!

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  14. Hi, love the table runner and the fabrics are lovely. Thanks for sharing. Susie x

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  15. Lovely block and great quilting too , it will make a pretty runner . Thanks for sharing.

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  16. You chose a great block to play with your dots and it made a lovely runner. I buy cone thread - not a chance of running out! Thank you for sharing your project with us today.

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  17. You used the fabric so well. Thanks.

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  18. I love star blocks, and you did yours so well! Awesome choice of fabrics. That pebbling quilting takes so much more thread than other designs, but it looks so good! Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Also, I'm a new follower and am looking forward to seeing what you do next on that Juki! Your tetris top looks awesome. :)

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  20. That looks amazing already. I can't wait to see the finished article!

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  21. New follower. Love the design you came up with, and the colour combo! Lovely. You really jumped in with both feet, didn't you! Good for you. I still am lurking at the edges of machine quilting. thanks for sharing.

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  22. I love your blocks!! They are gorgeous!!!

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  23. I can't believe how cute those fabrics turned out to be put together that way - I love it! blessings, marlene

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  24. These FQ would be great for table runners for my kids. Thanks

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  25. Your little table runner is just beautiful! I hope you finish it soon so you can start enjoying it!

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  26. Oooh its lovely -hope you get it finished soon! Love your tetris block too. Thanks for sharing.

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  27. Your table runner is going to be beautiful! And I love the fabrics you chose. Thank you for the chance to win some of my own!

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  28. Great start and the dark background really makes it sparkle. Thanks for sharing.

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  29. That table runner is wonderful. I like how those dots are going together with the navy. I have one of those rulers too and have never used it. I will have to get it out to see what I can do with it.

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  30. Hi!!! I really love this block!!! The colors you used are very pretty too!!!!

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  31. Hi!!! I am a new follower!!! Glad to have found you during this hop!!!!

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  32. Wow...that is a lot of sewing :) Great way to mix up all those dots...thanks for sharing.

    Smiles,
    Kelly

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  33. What a very pretty table runner, I love the fabrics you chose!

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  34. Rosemary B Here:
    Happy Monday!
    I love your table runner. Very lovely design, so creative.
    Thank you so much for sharing your creativity

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  35. That will make a beautiful table runner. I love the fresh look of dots.

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  36. Darling fabrics! Love the name of the block, too! :)

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  37. I'm a new follower (found you via the blog hop)!

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  38. that's a wonderful looking piece that you made....I love navy!

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  39. It turned out really nice. Great dots and contrast with the navy. Keep on quilting!

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  40. Make sure you OVER BUY THREAD next time around!! LOL!!! You did well and like you I'm practicing my FMQ skills!
    Blessings
    Gmama Jane

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  41. I'm now a follower!
    Blessings
    Gmama Jane

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  42. Love your block and the secondary pattern that it forms! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  43. I love your dotty stars block, and the name is really cute!

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  44. This is a great design. I made it for a friendship block for members of my quilt club. Great job! I love following the blog hops!

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  45. That`s a nice table runner, very nice colors and great machine quilting. Very nice indeed!

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  46. I am a new follower. Your blog is a nice read.

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  47. Love the block. It has a really modern appeal!! Running out of thread is sad.....

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  48. Love your blog. This is my first visit to it.
    Being a newbie quilter, it never occurred to me that you could run out of thread quilting. Blonde moment for me, LOL!
    I am so glad that you mentioned it though as I am making a quilt and 2 quilted pillow shams for my sister and must make sure that I have enough thread for the pillow shams before I start them.
    Thanks!

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  49. Oh, yeah. I am a new follower too.

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  50. Your table runner is so pretty, as is your quilting! TFS

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  51. Terrific runner, the stars are fantastic!
    Thank you for the chance

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  52. Great project. Thanks for sharing.

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  53. I like that you made a star out of these! That's was what I was hopeing to see from someone! thanks! A great job!

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  54. HELLO! THANKS FOR YOUR POST!
    THANKS FOR SHARING!

    msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

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  55. Thank is a nice looking star, good luck on the quilting, I know it will be lovely.

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  56. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us and for a lovely give-away.

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  57. I like your table runner. Very pretty.

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  58. I am now a follower. Thanks for the chance to win your pretty material.

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  59. Your table runner is so much fun!!! Aren't dots the best!? I'm a fellow blog-hopper :)

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  60. Oh my, lovely table runner and the fabric is nice. Thank you for sharing...Judith, Texas

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  61. And yes, I am follower too. I look forward to seeing your table runner finished. You did great for a first time blog hop....Judith, Texas

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  62. Love the pictures on your blog. Your quilt block is great and will make a fantastic table runner. I like practical projects. Thanks for sharing-from California

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  63. 54-40 and fight is one of my favorite blocks too. We have a small JoAnn's and I've never seen that polka dot fabric before.

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  64. Beautiful! Stars and dots... does it get any better than this? I don't think so! lol

    Your tablerunner is going to be a stunner.

    Thanks for sharing and being a part of this hop!

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  65. This is beautiful, love the directions.

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  66. I am continually amazed at how great you are at quilting and I bow to your awesomeness!!!!

    Makes me wish I had more time to learn to quilt. Maybe I'd better finish my cross stitching project first............

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  67. Very nice job.I also buy more material than I need. Nice give away.

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  68. I love it and the colors! I also always buy wiggle room. Better watch out after years of buying you can end up with boxes of fabric too! I'll be giving some away on the 14th, my day in the blog hop. Hope to see you there.

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  69. What a lovely table runner. Great choice of fabric and pattern. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  70. Lovin the DOTS. What a fun blog hop. Thanks for the give away and great work!

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  71. I think you chose fantastic fabrics, and it turned out to be a really cute project. thank you for a chance to win.

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  72. Great dot fabric. Your tablerunner is lovely. Thnaks for the chance to win.

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  73. Lovely colors! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  74. Love that block....don't let it stress you, by glaring at you when you pass by. Just pat it and tell it you will get back to it shortly! LOL

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  75. I'm so glad you decided to stop lurking and jump right in. I love your dotted runner and the quilting on it looks great--look forward to seeing it finished. It's been fun hopping with you. :)

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  76. Your table runner will be gorgeous! I am a follower. Thank you for sharing and the great giveaway!

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  77. Your table runner is beautiful, and the quilting is fantastic. I like this pattern also and loved seeing your project. Thank you for sharing and for a great giveaway.

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  78. Your tablerunner is really neat! Thanks for sharing a different idea! Love it!

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  79. Now that's a really cute tablerunner.

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  80. The table runner will be great once it is done. Those fabrics make me think of rain falling.

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  81. Thanks for joining the hop and sharing your table runner. Great job on the blocks and the FMQ...looking forward to seeing it on your table. Happy stitching!

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  82. I am a new follower and plan to visit often.

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  83. Great dot fabrics and how you used navy as your background. I hate when I run out of thread...I've learned to buy plenty to have on hand! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  84. Your blocks and quilting is awesome and love your fabrics choice!!

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  85. I am a follower. I liked your comments about padding your stash!

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  86. Thank you for giving us a chance to win some of your pretty dotty fabric -- and for the tutorial on your project! I love it-- and the quilting is SO pretty!!! :-)

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  87. I am a new follower-- thank you again!! :-)

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  88. Love this design. I'm going to need to find the pattern for it. Your Tetris is awesome. One of my favorite games. Thanks for sharing and the opportunity to win.

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  89. Love the look of the table runner already!

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  90. Love this design. I'm going to need to find the pattern for it. Your Tetris is awesome. One of my favorite games. Thanks for sharing and the opportunity to win.

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  91. Great colours. I love that block, but maybe as a Canadian, I shouldn't admit it! It is going to be a lovely runner.

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  92. I am now a follower of your fun blog!! Thanks for sharing your cute table runner pattern.
    txjennywren.blogspot.com

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  93. I would love to win the fat quarters of the fabric you used for your table runner. Thanks for the chance.
    txjennywren.blogspot.com

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  94. BEAUTIFUL!! I love it! The colors are really really pretty together.

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  95. what a cool block- I hadn't seen that one yet! I love it!

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  96. Nice table runner!

    Deborah
    homemakerhoney @gmail .com

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  97. Great project.....hope to see ya on my dots to dots day !

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  98. Wonderful table runner, doing great with MQ on new machine.

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  99. Beautiful table runner!!! Great points :)

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  100. Love that going-to-be-table runner and really like your block choice. Judy C in NC

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  101. First attempt at FM; you did so well that you must have meant just on the Juki. Very well done. Isn't dotty just crazy fun?

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  102. That is one cute table runner! You did a great job with FM on the Juki. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  103. Very nice!!! I am lovin' this Hop!!!

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  104. I like those fabrics!!! A lot! When I saw the first photo of them, I didn't realize they could be turned into something so pretty. I'm not shy of buying from Joanns either. I have two really great polka dots, one is white on gray and one is white on brown, that I bought there. Today is my birthday and my husband gave me a gift card for Joanns, but I am not buying fabric--it's time to update my cutting mat and get new rotary blades.

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  105. Very cute block! Thanks for stopping by my blog too!

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  106. Your runner is looking good. Time to build up the thread stash now. Thanks for a chance in your giveaway.

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  107. Ahhhhh - love the star! Dots are way too fun!

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  108. I like that star pattern too! Nice job!

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  109. Love your dottie fabrics and your runner will be awesome when you get it done.... count me in on the give away ..... thanks for sharing
    in stitches

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  110. Love your table runner and the fabrics that you used! I have been wanting to make something with dots and bright colors a lot lately :)

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  111. I am a new follower of your lovely blog! :)

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  112. I love how the navy does bring everything together!! Thank you for the give away.

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  113. I'm like you...I always buy a little extra for wiggle...and the leftovers always make for great scrap quilts. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!

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  114. I just have to leave bloggy-love for a job well done! Great job!!

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  115. Now that is some real awesomeness. And thanking your for your bloggy love. We thrive on it. Don't forget to visit my blog on the 19th and enter my giveaway jeannegwin.blogspot.com

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  116. Beautiful runner in those neat dots! Thanks for sharing!

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  117. That is one of my favorite blocks. Your table runner has wonderful colors. The contrast is wonderful. Thanks for a chance to win those fabrics.

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  118. It's so pretty. I love the colours and the block pattern

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  119. The color combinations make your block sparkle!

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  120. I love your color choices for the blocks. It's perfect for a year-round table runner. I also overbuy and then tend to hoard whatever's left over.

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  121. I'm a new follower. Thank you for offering the lovely giveaway.

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  122. I'm a new follower and love the way you used your TriRecs Ruler.

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  123. just love the polka dots, well done.

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  124. Great table runner! I love the colors you chose. Thank you for sharing.

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  125. What an unusual combination -- I like it a lot! I haven't tried machine quilting yet, it's so beautiful that I want to but not sure my machine will be much help! :-/

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  126. Great block! A beautiful table runner.

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  127. Perfect table runner & very unique!!! Thanks for the chance to win the lovely dots fabrics :*)

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  128. Great choice of fabrics and I love the runner! Good job. :-)

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  129. This is such a fun blog hop getting to know new blogs as well as seeing new things to make. Your runner is pretty, and thank you for the giveaway.
    ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

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  130. Great block! 54-40 or fight block is so versatile. I love it!

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  131. I love the colors in the first photo. Beautiful! I love dots

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  132. Seu trabalho ficou lindo,parabéns.E essas cores então...divinas.obrigada.tiacarminhapezzuto@gmail.com

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  133. Sou nova seguidora,número 61 no GFC,Obrigada.tiacarminhapezzuto@gmail.com

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  134. I've never seen that sort of star block before. I like it! I overpurchase too! Hi everyone! My name is Mike and I'm a stasher. (admitting it is the first step)

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  135. These dots are wonderful. I have the same questions when I shop for fabric. And always buy more than I need. Thanks for the chance.

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  136. HELLO! NEAT DOTTED FABRICS!
    THANKS FOR SHARING!

    msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

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  137. LOOOOOVE the Dots fabrics you used!! Table Runner is waaaay cool!

    Thanks for chance tow in! :)

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  138. The thread thing happened to me recently, too. I always just assume I have tons but I went to get more and the stash was empty.

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  139. Beautiful job on the quilt!

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  140. Beautiful! I love your choice of fabrics for this. There's just something I love about polka dots.

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  141. I like your dotty fabric choices, the table runner will be fantastic when finished. Thanks for the chance at your giveaway.

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  142. Thank you for the giveaway! Truly I wasn't a fan of dots before but I'm enjoying seeing what people are making with this blog hop!

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  143. Your runner will be beautiful! I love making runners, easy to decorate with. Love the star you chose to make and great choice on the quilting. Thank you for sharing with us, Super job!

    Thank you for a great giveaway and chance to win. I'm also a new follower.

    usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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  144. Great table runner! Looking forward to seeing it finished!

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  145. Glad to hear I am not the only "over-buyer". My sweetheart's nickname for me is "Justin Case". ;)

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  146. This is going to be such a pretty tablerunner. I love the color combo.

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  147. Love the color combination...your tablerunner will turn out beautiful!! Thanks for the great giveaway.

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  148. What a nice tablerunner! I hate that you ran out of thread - don't you just hate that? Nice job of planning and executing the project.

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  149. Very cool tablerunner! Love the fabric! thanks for a chance to win! :)

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  150. I love your block. So great looking. As soon as I am done posting this comment I will become a new follower. Thanks for sharing.

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  151. This is weird because I posted a comment and became a new follower, but my comment didn't post and I didn't see any moderation. So I am posting this again. Love your blocks.

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  152. I'm a new Follower thru Google Friend Connect! (love your blog by the way!)

    Thanks for a second chance to win too! :)

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  153. How clever you are, it looks fantastic ♥♥

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  154. Lovely blocks and beautiful tablerunner! Thank you for the awesome giveaway!

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  155. O really like your table runner, the colors are beautiful.

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  156. wowsers! Dots a plenty!! Your runner is a real eye-full of fun!

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  157. You are smarter than I am - I rarely buy enough fabric and end up having to make do with something from my stash to fill in. Luckily, I like scrappy, make do quilts, but I sure would like to avoid the "oh, crap!" moments I always seem to have when I run out of a fabric and have to scramble for something else.

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