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Monday, August 16, 2010

the verdict

Thank you all for sharing your opinions about my backing dilemma. I'm actually glad that the votes were so equally split. It made me feel so much better about my conundrum (in some odd way).

I ended up taking the dilemma to my local quilt shop over the weekend. The owner, who has FABULOUS color sense, helped me decide.
She immediately picked the quilt along quilt for the backing in question. Figures.

Then I posed the question, "What on earth do I back the spiderweb quilt with?!?!"
At this point it was urgent.
I needed to have this issue put to rest.
Immediately.
(Have you ever been there?)

The first bolt she pulled out was this polka dot with just the right shade of cream background. It's from the Martinique line by 3 Sisters from Moda. It is PERFECT! She's a genius! (I could have hugged her right on the spot. But don't worry, I didn't.) She also picked out the stripe for the binding. It wasn't an immediate favorite, but I trust her judgement. I'm sure it will be better than anything I would have picked. Now I'm left wondering why on earth I didn't ask her a year ago!

I guess I have some (a lot of) basting to do now. :)

On a personal note: My sister had her (second) little boy early this morning. He is 6 weeks early! They are all doing as well as can be expected. He's breathing on his own already, which is amazing. He just needs to learn how to eat. (I'm sure I could give him a few pointers! hee hee) He still needs a name, too. He only weighs 4 lbs 8 oz. I can't wait to see him.

And one more thing. My other sister told me this weekend that my blog is much more interesting when I don't blog about quilting. Great news there. So my blog is interesting about 1% of the time? Great. (I took it well. I actually thought it was hilarious. Gotta love that honesty from your sister.)

Happy Monday to you!

82 comments:

  1. Ahhhh, resolution. That must feel better, and I'm sure that stripe will be a great binding. I love striped bindings!

    And congrats to your sister! I was a 34-weeker, too, and my kids were 36-weekers who spent a week in the NICU. He'll do great!

    Check out my favorite time-suck website, www.babynamewizard.com - you can plug in big brother's name and it'll give suggested sibling names! Love it! :-)

    -Liz

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  2. Yay! She picked the same quilt I did! And I love her choices for the spiderweb quilt. Can't wait to see them put together!

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  3. Gotta love sisters!!!!!

    I love those backings! I think that I like the strip best with the spider. Hmmmm.

    A new little guy? How fun! Prayers go out that he continues to do well and will pack on those pounds quickly.

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  4. Anonymous2:49 PM

    Aren't sisters wonderful?
    There have been times over the years that I would trade her in for another brother.
    The quilts are going to be awesome.

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  5. Congrats on your fabric finds and to your sister. My second baby was born early at 27 weeks. He was 2 and a half pounds. It was a very tough time for us, but he is doing very well now. I'm sure things will be fine for your sister's family. Have patience and faith!

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  6. Congratulations on your new nephew. Bless him to grow strong! I love your blog and everything that you put into it. It's always interesting to me. It's the first blog I have ever participated in and I check it every morning :). I just finished a ragged squared quilt last night for my friend's baby who is due in September and I was dancing around the house with glee. I would send you a picture if you could tell me how.... I don't have a blog page. Thanks!

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  7. While your 1% is also interesting, please don't listen to your sister about the quilting not being interesting! Why do I get the feeling she's not a quilter!

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  8. My sister laughed her (head) off when she sawnmy quilting blog. Can't wait to see the finished quilts, and well wishes and prayers for your nephew.

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  9. Congrats on your new nephew!
    My little girl was born 6 1/2 weeks early and was also 4 lbs 8 oz. She was tube fed at first, but nursed for the first time when she was 36 hours old and then was able to practice a little bit each day. She came home when she was 12 days old. :) I hope your nephew gets lots of good eating and sleeping and growing in :).

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  10. Hooray for the backing/binding decisions and congrats on the nephew!

    As for you sister....(blowing raspberries). We all love your blog so don't listen to her! My mom told me she likes it better when I just post finished products since they look so much nicer than the "in process" stages! Duh! I just rolled my eyes and thanked her for the input. :)

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  11. Don't you LOVE those sisters????

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  12. Some people just got an eye for color. Both backings will be fabulous.(incidentially it was my choice too, he he)
    Congratulations on being an aunt. But 6 weeks early, that must have been a shock, luckily it sounds like he's a little figther.
    And finaly, I find your blog interesting 100% of the time ;-)

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  13. I'm so glad you have the answers to the quilting puzzle. I wish the only problem I ever had was just to pick out fabric! Congratulations on the new babycakes!!!

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  14. I take it your sister is not a quilter. Just be thankful, my family doesn't bother to read my blog since they don't quilt.

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  15. Explains why I think your blog is interesting 99% of the time!! :0)

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  16. Anonymous3:33 PM

    Ack! No! The Gruber's fabric should be the backing for the spider web quilt (COME ON!! It was made for it!), with the polka dots as a binding, and the polka dots should also be the backing for the quilt along quilt (well, maybe not based on colors in real life, but I like the dots/square juxtaposition).

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  17. oh my what a tiny little baby! your other sisters comment is pretty funny....and you have made some beautiful fabric choices for those two quilts. i love when the right one comes to you, because you just know! a wee bit like a wedding dress

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  18. This sister isn't sure that she should be talking so much since some of my stuff ends up on your blog!
    What I forgot to mention is that I like the pictures of your quilts on your blog, too.

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  19. I love the quilts. Well, I love all of your work!! I think your blog is fabulous! Honestly the quilting is what drew me in to your blog. I love it!! So, you can just adopt some of us as your sisters and we'll give you pep talks when you need them. :0)

    Congratulations on the new nephew. Makes me think of my twins that were 6 1/2 weeks early Cory Drake weighed 4 lb. 9 oz and Cody Blake weighed 3 lb 15 oz. You couldn't tell it by looking at either of them now.....they are 9 years old. :0)

    Love your blog so keep blogging. :0)

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  20. I had voted for the backing to be used with the spiderweb quilt. But now that I see that you are using for the backing and binding, it is a GREAT choice.

    Love your blog, especially the quilting. I would like to say that sisters don't know everything. But I only have a brother. So what I do know?

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  21. happy for your sister and her little boy...and choices for two quilts are fabulous!!!!

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  22. I find your blog interesting all the time and I thoroughly enjoy the quilting aspect ..

    Is the sister in question older?? :).

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  23. Not to be mean, but your other sister is wrong, and probably doesn't quilt, and is probably interesting 1% of the time. BTW, I have a sis like that.

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  24. Love the dots for your spiderweb quilt!

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  25. I enjoy your blog more when you talk about quilting. I also love the choices made by your local quilt shop owner. Not all are as talented as she apparently is.

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  26. I have non quilting friends who tell me that they read my blog, but just skim through all that sewing stuff. That is a lot of skimming, but I make sure to try to mention other stuff too for their benefit. My first daughter was 5 weeks early and spent three days in the NICU. She took ages to figure out the eating thing, but she's 11 now and none the worse for all the worry we had. I hope your nephew does well.

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  27. If your sister isn't a quilter, then I could see how she might say that. We love all your quilting stuff, but we don't mind some personal stuff too. Your blog is always interesting.

    Congrats on the new nephew as well as the resolution on your dilemma.

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  28. Gotta love sisters!! Congrats on the baby. Happy to hear Mommy and babe are doing well.

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  29. I love the quilting stuff! I see a sheeping comment from Clair above, I guess that's your sister, tee hee!

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  30. gorgeous backings for the tops...
    Happy quilting :)
    Congratulations on your nephew!

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  31. Perfect backings! Isn't it great when you find just the right thing? Congratulations on the new baby, too.

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  32. Perfect backing choices for both quilts!!

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  33. Well there ya go! Everything looks great together. Thoughts and prayers going out to your sister and new little nephew. I think your blog is interesting 100% of the time. lol.

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  34. Smart quilt shop owner! But you coulda asked me...I would have picked the same stuff. LOL

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  35. Too funny! I think what your sister meant is that you are really fun to read when you show us your personality! (Like the I could teach him to eat comment!) Congrats and good luck to your sister and the baby. Thanks for sharing your day with us!

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  36. Both quilts will have perfect backing now!! Congrats Auntie! My daughter is honest in the same way as your other sister!!

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  37. Perhaps we could do a vote on the interest of your blog WHEN you blog about quilting..... judging by the sometimes 100's of comments you get.... I'd say we'd win the votes!!!

    haha.

    gotta love sisters!!
    xo
    eva

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  38. Hilarious!--my sister informed me of the same thing just a couple weeks ago. Less Fabric/Quilts and more kidders/family. She said maybe she would stop by and visit my blog more often if it wasn't all about fabric. Silly Girl! =)

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  39. Oh my! Happy Birth Day to your new little nephew. I'm so glad he is breathing on his own. Hope he isn't stuck at the hospital for too long. Sounds like mommy will be in a mad hunt for some preemie clothes :( Luckily they seem to catch up pretty quickly :)

    I love the backing you ended up with! It looks great! At first glance I also wasn't excited about the stripes but then I looked longer and thought YES it is perfect.

    That's so funny about your other sis. Should we assume that she isn't a quilter?

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  40. Quilters always love to hear about fabric, color, sewing, quilts... non-quilters, no so much. LOL
    We all enjoy your blog all the time.

    I "voted" forthe backing to go with the spiderweb quilt, but I love the final choices. They will both be fantastic.

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  41. kmodich8:26 PM

    I check your blog EVERY DAY, and follow it and suggest it to lots of people. I find it very interesting, and get most of my quilting advice from you. Sisters do not ALWAYS have the best advice. Blog on, blog on!!!

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  42. I do like that mini dot with your spider web, looks good!

    And I love your blog just the way it is, don't change a thing! :)

    SheilaC

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  43. ok this is the 3rd time trying to send this so if you get 3 other comnments, sorry. I love your blog!the reason I wanted to follo is for the quilts!. your sister may be right, but pleasse leave the quilting info. thanks mema

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  44. I had to laugh when I saw your sister's comment! - My sisters are so non quilty/crafty I didn't even tell them I had a blog!!!!!!!

    PS - love the backing choices for both!

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  45. Glad to see you have picked you backing and your one trim. Good for you. You little nephew will be in my prayers.
    You can tell your othe sister love it when you talk about quilting.

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  46. Congrats on the nephew! I think your blog is interesting ALL the time. :)

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  47. Anonymous11:48 PM

    Ohhh... congratulations on the arrival of your nephew! My newest(and last!) one is 8 weeks old tomorrow. It's amazing how fast time flies! I love the spot... but I'm not sure about the stripe either!! I'm sure it'll all come together really well! Looking forward to seeing the end results! Enjoy that basting!! ;)

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  48. The owner did pick well!
    And I bet your sister says that because she knows you so well! The rest of us are still learning so we love when you share more than quilting.

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  49. The backing is perfect!

    Congrats on the new nephew - hope he finds a name as quickly as he arrived! Word (finally) from the ultrasound is that my sister's having a boy, too.

    And your other sister is hilarious - I find you interesting regardless. Lol!

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  50. Morbida1:17 AM

    All right you went the way I was hoping you'd go with the quilts. I enjoy reading your quilt posts. There is a certain gentle ambiance about it. When I am quilting and need to slow down and think about what I am doing, I often come to your blog and just look and read even if I have read it before.

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  51. Love the backing! And the binding stripe will look fantastic, especially cut along the bias! Congrats to your sister too.

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  52. Don't listen to your other sister! I'm betting she's not a Quilter! ("If we have to explain, you wouldn't understand."
    =-)

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  53. I love the backings, BUT, while I usually favor stripes for binding (an idea I stole from Alex Anderson), there are TONS of stripes. I think I'd lay a shocker color up to the quilt as binding and see if that is better. From pics, it looks like the stripe binding would be PERFECT with the QAL.
    About your sister...we'd all love more posts about your family too. You are very easy to love.

    Lucy

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  54. Hey Woman -- your blog is interesting ALL the time -- I love it when you post. LOVE LOVE the backing choices -- can't wait to see them all finished. Congratulations to your sister on the new wee little babe!

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  55. Yay for the fabric backing choices! I bet it feels good to have that settled! Congratulations to your sister on the new little one! My first baby (25years ago) was a wee
    3 lb 15 oz. They still grow up mighty fast!
    BTW - I love reading your blog with all your quilting news!

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  56. Susan D.8:59 AM

    Well, congradulations! First, on your new nephew- glad to hear he's doing good. And isn't it nice to get backing and bindings decided upon! Yes, I trust my local quilt shop owner too-- very good eye for color. And I too love the stripe for binding-- good choice.
    Your other sister-- don't believe her! Your blogs on quilting are very interesting. MY sister pointed out to me recently, that I only talk about quilting. I fear she's right-- ok, so I'll only talk to quilters, then I guess I'm acceptable?

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  57. I hope your sister and her baby are doing well. We're expecting a new one in our family any day now.

    And if I get to share my two cents here, I love hearing about your quilting and seeing the progress of your work, but I also like hearing the little stories you sprinkle in here and there. Hearing about naming your cat helps me understand why you like help naming your quilts ;)

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  58. Oh, perfection! You have clearly received expert advice. LOL -- last summer my daughter and I were trying to choose backing fabric for quilt I was making her and we seemed to have completely opposite ideas. We went to a wonderful local fabric store, asked the owner, and she immediately grabbed the perfect bolt of fabric that my daughter and I both loved.

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  59. Congrats to your sister and her new little boy. My daughter was 6weeks early as well. She was only 4 lbs 6oz. Now, 13 years later, she is beautiful, healthy and the joy of my life. The only issue that came from her prematurity is her muscle in her left eye was weak. She wore glasses from the time she was 3 and now can wear contacts. Her eye gets better by the day.

    I know your nephew will grow up to be just as handsome and healthy.

    By the way, I love your blog just the way it is....and I think it is interesting. I'm just saying....

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  60. Anonymous10:40 AM

    First, congrats to your sister (and you) for her new baby! - and love your other sister's honesty; that's how my brother is with me :)

    Yay for resolving the backing delimma! I'm glad I was on the same page with your genius quilt shop lady for going with the quilt-along quild; the colors just work great. Ans what whe chose for your spider web quilt top is FANTASTIC. Can't wait to see the finished quilt.

    Fara

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  61. Congrats on your new little nephew! Aren't new babies so precious?!

    I think your other sister's comment just reflects the fact that she's not esp. interested in quilting. Nothing personal, I'm sure.

    I'm so tempted to start a spiderweb quilt...I totally have too many projects going already....but it's so darned cute!

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  62. Anonymous11:07 AM

    Just needed to let you know that I LOVE your blog, quilting and all. In fact, your blog was the first blog that I started to follow and was so sad when you took a blogging break. So happy that you're back. Congratulations on resolving the issue with the 2 quilts. I'm sure you're relieved.

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  63. PERFECT choices! Your LQS lady is a genius! Congrats to your sister and her family too!

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  64. Your sister is very funny! I have three so I know exactly how you feel!! I happen to enjoy your "quilting" blogs as that is why I added you to my Google Reader! Keep them coming!

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  65. Thomas, like Thomas the train. Cause he seems to go, "I think I can, I think I can."

    He's going to be a tough little guy no matter what they name him.

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  66. Anonymous11:35 AM

    I didn't vote on which quilt for your backing, but I like the results. As for your one sister who only liked your blog 1% of the time - did she read the name of your blog??? Please let her know that there would be a lot of your blog readers lost without your instructions, quilt alongs, etc.
    Thanks for sharing.
    cindy

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  67. for the record - tell you sister we think your blog is VERY interesting when you blog about quilting - thanks for doing it!

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  68. I am anxious to see your spider web quilt all finished. Your blog is always interesting. And I had a little 4lb 1oz baby 5 years ago-best wishes to your sister and nephew!

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  69. Her choices complement your beautiful work perfectly. Maybe sometimes it just takes a fresh set of eyes!

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  70. Susan K from Canada7:50 PM

    Keep on blogging about quilting and other things as you want to share - it is VERY interesting - sisters what do they know? (I have two by the way and love them dearly)

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  71. ah, siblings say the darndest things!!! lol

    the backings are perfect! love it how a 3rd person's (or 5th or 7th or 100th) point of view is just perfect!

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  72. I love everything about your quilt blogging!

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  73. It's seems so simple when other people do it! I agree with her choices and hope you fall in love with the stripe, which always looks great in a binding (or a plaid check, love that!)

    Congrats on the new relative. I can't even imagine how to hold a baby that tee-tiny! Glad he is doing well.

    Sisters! I think your blog is interesting all the time. She must not be a quilter, right? Too funny.

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  74. wow, the choices are awesome! Both will be great when done, can't wait to see:) BTW your sister is not a quilter right? lol Mine would tell me I talk too much about other things rather than just quilts.lol BTW I have a giveaway going on my blogs, check them out.
    hugz:)

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  75. Ok, your sister's comment is hysterical! Too funny. Love the quilt shop geniuses selections. Can't wait to see 'em quilted!

    Sending positive thoughts and prayers to your sister and the littlest member of the family.

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  76. Anonymous4:36 PM

    Look forward to seeing the quilts finished! I love the backings and binding decisions! Most especially, I like the quilt along one!

    ~Kayse

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  77. Gwynette in NW Arkansas11:11 PM

    What does your sister know???? Here in Arkansas, we DO hug our quilt shop ladies... LOL!!
    Prayers for the little tyke and his family.

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  78. Isn't it great to have someone with great color sense to help when your stuck? There is a lady in one shop I frequent who has that, and I always appreciate it!

    LOL! Too funny about your sister comment! I enjoyed that!

    Hope your sister and the little one improve rapidly!

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  79. A and B are my faves. I used your no triangle zig zag quilt method and loved it. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  80. Congratulations to you and your sister! My sister had a full-term 4 lb 11 oz baby. No idea why he was so small.

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  81. i love the polka dot fabric - it is perfect! The whole quilt is perfect. It makes me want to not be so quick to toss my scraps. Maybe. Prayers for your sister and her new baby. and - your other sister is wrong - we love you to blog about your quilts.

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