Thursday, October 04, 2012

Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop

Welcome to my blog! I'm so glad you stopped by. I'm delighted to participate in the Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop. Be sure to check the end of the post for giveaways.


Leaves on the Pavement
Personal photo printed on fabric. Machine quilted.
Original design. 12.5" square. Completed 10/2/2012.

Over the past couple of weeks I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for my block. Yes, I could make a traditional block with fall colors, but that just isn't challenging enough for me. As usual in the blog hops, I try to create a unique block. I had a few ideas, then on the drive home Sunday I remembered some pictures I took last November, which you can see below. All were taken in one of the parking lots of my church.





Here is what was on the ground near my car. What beautiful colors!


I gathered a few of the leaves by my car and took pictures so I could refer to the colors later.

I even used my 3-in-1 Color Tool to determine the exact colors.

The pictures were in my mind as I drove home on Sunday. I decided to use them as inspiration.

After reviewing the pictures on the computer, I was especially drawn to this photo. I decided to try to recreate it in fusible applique.

For reference in the placement of the applique pieces, I printed an 8" x 10" version of the photo on computer paper. I have a crummy printer, and printed photos usually look quite dull. But the colors on this page were so brilliant I was blown away. I fell in love with the photo and decided that I would use it just the way it was.

June Tailor Sew-in Printer Fabric
Used it for the images in A Few of Sharon's Favorite Things, as well.

Photo printed on the June Tailor fabric - still beautiful

Auditioning different blues for the border

I like this one.

Almost went with this one as there was plenty of fabric for border strips and it blended with the gray of the pavement.

I decided the gray was too "wimpy" for me and tried navy. Love it!

Leaves print trimmed to 1/4" seam allowance

First two border strips sewn on and trimmed. I'm deliberately making the border a bit oversized but will cut it to the correct size later.

Last two border strips sewn on

Block trimmed to 12.5" square

Block displayed on design wall

Fabric for the back - from stash

Used basting spray to hold the quilt sandwich together

Medium gray is for the bobbin. Using invisible thread on top. If the bobbin thread pops up to the top, gray thread should blend with the gray background

Quilted. Basically outlined the leaves, berries and white painted line.

Back of the quilt

Here's how the quilted block looks on the design wall

Close-up of a bound corner. I bind by machine, using fabric cut on straight of grain. I don't do miters. :)

Finished quilt

Close-up

Back of the quilt


Now for the giveaways. You could win one of the two fat quarters below.
Yellow                            Pink

For a chance to win one of the fat quarters, simply leave a comment by the last day of the Blog Hop (end of Wednesday, Oct. 10). Be sure to mention whether you prefer Yellow or Pink. For an extra chance to win one of the fabrics, leave another comment mentioning that you are a new or existing follower. Two winners will be drawn on Thursday, Oct. 11.

Be sure to stop by and see today's other Blog Hop participants:
Quilting With a Marmalade Cat
Traveling Quilter - You're here!

The Complete Schedule

Thanks to Madame Samm for creating the blog hop and to Cherry for coordinating.

Hope to see you again soon!

Debbie

Creations by Nina-Marie

149 comments:

  1. Wonderful little quilt! The colors are perfect. Just lovely.

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  2. Wouh! I love this litte quilt!
    Greetings from Germany, Marita

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  3. Oh how wonderful to have made your own material from a photo - thats something I havent tried - love your finished quilt too. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. What a great photo to use for a little quilt inspiration. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us.

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  5. Thank you so much for sharing that awesome thing that is the creative process. I can imagine you fell in love with that picture. It is indeed amazing, and showcases your inner eye. The block is mindblowing! Well done.

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  6. That block is awesome! I love how you used the photo. Such a work of art.

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  7. Fantastic project! Love the way you took us from start to finish. You have created a little masterpiece...well done! And the yellow would be perfect with some more Fall projects! Thanks for the chance.

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  8. great project. We never know where inspiration will come from.

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  9. Great block! Thank you for sharing your thought process - I love it!
    I love the yellow fabric!

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  10. oh how clever that is, a real work of art - congratulations.

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  11. Love your project - sew creative! Love the pink!!!

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  12. Yellow for me....such a wonderful cheerful color!
    Glad to know that there is another parking lot photographer!!!

    sowingstitches [at] gmail [dot] com

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  13. ohhh I love this - and your interpretation!! Thanks for sharing the process - I would love the yellow - since I have the pink (grin. Please feel free to link up at my Off the Wall Fridays - a link party for art quilts - its been a good way to connect!

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  14. What an incredible way to show off your photography!
    And a wonderful quiltie too!

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  15. No telling at the number of the missed opportunities for awesome quilts we quilters have due to the fact we do not take our cameras everywhere we go.

    Love your block!

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  16. Wow, what a beautiful block with so much color. Thanks for being part of the "Leafs me Happy" hop.

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  17. I am a new follower. Yellow is one of my favorite colors..

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  18. Thanks so much for the chance to win fabric. I prefer the yellow.

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  19. I am already a follower. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  20. Great pictures and awesome idea.Gorgeous quilt!!

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  21. I absolutely love this. You have inspired me! I also really like your binding technique - much neater looking than the miters. I hope you do a tutorial on how you achieve such a nice look on both sides of your quilt. I am now follwing your blog! .

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  22. Your block is stunning! It certainly is original. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway - I prefer yellow.

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  23. Great idea to use the photograph for your block. I am amazed at how well the colors turned out. Just beautiful. I like the pink fabric.

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  24. I have followed you for a while. (don't like to say I am an old follower!!)

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  25. WOW! I'm amazed by this. It's beautiful!

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  26. Your quilt is gorgeous. Interesting that it didn't end up how you imagined, but it did end up just perfect. I love the yellow batik, thanks for the chance to win!

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  27. Ah, this one I would like to see in person...I can tell it's stunning :) Thanks for sharing!!

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  28. Outstanding block! I admire your creativity. Nice job!

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  29. I like the yellow fabric. OOP`s!

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  30. Very creative and great for the season. I like the pink. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  31. I am now a follower. Thanks again.

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  32. Good Morning Debby, absolutely brilliant....

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    1. sorry Debbie...yes worth repeating BRILLIANT

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  33. Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

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  34. Beautiful! You can't improve on nature, so that is just perfect!

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  35. I'm an existing follower, by the way!

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  36. Thanks for sharing the process of creating this quilt block. Quilting possibilities are endless, it seems.

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  37. Amazing quilt it looks so 3-D and doesn't even look like fabric, but a photo. If I win one of the lovely fabrics I would like yellow. Thanks.

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  38. What a great way to make a fantastic picture special. I would love to win the yellow.

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  39. I've enjoyed printing pictures on fabric and your leafy project makes me want to do more--love it! The colors are so beautiful...so glad you shared it today.

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  40. Love the quilt. I used to do this but have only b/w laser printers. I love pink.

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  41. I really like your quilt....it is a great way to explore the outdoors and get that perfect piece...thank you....I would choose yellow if lucky enough to win...

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  42. What a great inspiration and a terrific idea as well. It turned out beautifully.

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  43. Great block. Love the colours. I love the yellow fabric. Thanks for the opportunity on the draw
    bonnielarson58@gmail.com

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  44. The picture printed on fabric is fantastic and the quilt look lovely too, thanks for the chance to win, yellow for me please!

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  45. I am an existing follower. Thanks for the opportunity on the great draw. Either colour is wonderful. bonnielarson58@gmail.com

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  46. Amazing job.The colors are so realistic.Thanks for sharing with us. Yellow would be my color choice.

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  47. Beautiful! The colors, how you came about it, perfect. I enjoyed your tutorial. It was so easy to read and understand. Thank you.

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  48. What a great way to turn a photo into a quilt! Thank you for taking the time to participate and share a great tutorial. If I should be fortunate enough to win, I'd be thrilled with either fat quarter. I am a follower.

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  49. Wow I am in awe of your quilt block! What a great way to do it and such vibrant colors! I'd like either fat quarter honestly if I actually won. Thanks!

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  50. Love the leaf block! I'm a follower. :)

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  51. Nancy: rangerer@sbcglobal.netOctober 5, 2012 at 8:22 AM

    Your block is beautiful. I have never tried to print on fabric. Someday I will have to try it. I think I would like the yellow, but the pink would work also.

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  52. Nancy: rangerer@sbcglobal.netOctober 5, 2012 at 8:23 AM

    I am a current follower.

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  53. I am a follower and love the process, I am in TX and dont have these colors and enjoyed seeing this.

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  54. I would love the orange, but mostly if I win, will you send me a leafy pic, I would love to try this process. I love pictures and the color of the fall, here in TX we miss out. Thanks for sharing. I want to check out your tutorials.

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  55. That was really a wonderful. We don't have those colors in So. CA. Thanks for showing us. I would like either of the fabric colors.

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  56. I have been a follower. Thanks for being part of the hop!

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  57. ALREADY A FOLLOWER!
    THANKS FOR SHARING!

    msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

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  58. HI! NEAT BLOG!
    I'D CHOOSE THE PINK FQ!
    THANKS FOR SHARING!

    msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

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  59. Oh this is lovely, the colours are spectacular! Thank you for sharing and thank you for the chance:)

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  60. Hi Aunt Debbie-I like your idea of taking a picture of the leaves and using that as the basis of your block. I'm hoping to be in the "valley" in November for the Jingle Bell Shop Hop that has stops in Stockton, Tracy, Manteca, Ceres, Tracey and Turlock, as well as Livermore and Fremont and Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Carlos and San Mateo. Maybe I'll bump into to your in one of the shops. Are you coming to Pacific International Quilt Fair next weekend in Santa Clara? It's always a treat with lots of quilts and vendors? Thanks for sharing.
    Rosemary

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  61. Thank you for the wonderful post and the gorgeous projects!

    Should I win, pink is my color.

    Thank you for the giveaway

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  62. I am a happy new follower of yours.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

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  63. How stunning....you found a little piece of nature and created an original masterpiece. You've got to enter this in a show - or a bunch of shows!

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  64. Beautiful and so original!!!

    If I was to be lucky enough to win I would like the yellow!

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  65. Amazing, Debbie! Loved seeing your inspiration and the process for this beautiful creation. It's marvelous!

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  66. I enjoyed the tutorial! Lovely, just lovely! Thank you for sharing...Judith, Texas

    I am already a follower...

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  67. I love your block! Thank you for sharing.

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  68. I am a follower. I like the pink fabric, but could use yellow also!

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  69. What a wonderful photograph and on fabric! The colors are so rich. Thanks for sharing. I'd love either color!

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  70. WOW! I am going to have to try that! My husband takes amazing photos.....now to get printer fabric!
    I'd love to win either color, they are both beautiful.

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  71. I am a follower. Thanks for the opportunity to win. Either color would work for me.

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  72. You Andr photo and your quilt are both lovely! And so is that pink fabric! pbstrand@msn.com

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  73. Rosemary B Here:
    super cool, wow printing on fabric.... many possibilities there
    Your project turned out really beautiful

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  74. What a neat idea. Very creative. Thanks for the picture parade and your pictures of your talent. If I should win, I think pink would fit into my stach nicely. Thanks for the chance.

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  75. I'm a happy new follower, love your colors in the giveaway, I like them both, but probably pink would work the best with my other stach.

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  76. What an interesting idea to use a photo and make a quilt out of it! Wonderful! thanks for sharing.

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  77. such a neat idea. thanks for showing the steps. I like the pink fabric.

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  78. New Follower here would love to win the Yellow fabric if I was oh so lucky ;). Thank You for the chance to win and for sharing with us.

    Sincerely,
    Tricia

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  79. Oh what STUNNING piece of Art!!! I have only tryed this once before without much sucess. But I think it's time to try it again. Thanks for sharing the process with us and the chance to win. I would love to try for the Yellow FQ.
    Please and Thank You.
    Sincerely,
    Tricia

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  80. Great idea for a block. The picture is stunning.

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  81. Hola Debbie, gran idea eso de imprimir la imagen que te gusta para después acolchar y enmarcar. Buen trabajo.

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  82. Wow-what a beautiful photo. The quilt came out just lovely with your choice of border and stitching. Amazing!

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  83. Love the pink fabric. I am a follower.

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  84. I love your block. You are a very creative woman
    Thanks for sharing
    Britt-Inger in Malmö Sweden

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  85. Such a creative idea - I love it :o) Thanks for sharing with us :o) BTW, I like pink or yellow!

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  86. Great colors in that block. Just beautiful. Pink if I win.

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  87. Iam a new follower to your blog, Your block was perfect and so realistic. Leaves on blacktop is so real. I am like you miter corners just don't lay right for me.

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  88. I'm a new follower...pink would be my choice. Thanks for the chance!

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  89. Very neat idea , the leaves look great ! Either color would be fine with me .thanks for sharing.

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  90. I've never seen that technique before but it's quite beautiful! blessings, marlene

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  91. Nice music. Love the block. marlaruthnelson@gmail.com

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  92. I love playing with photos and quilting. Yours turned so..... nice. This is my first hop and I am so glad I did. I have been able to follow many blogs that I would have not known about. I look forward to receiving your post in the future!

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  93. Amazingly creative block. I will have to look down at the leaves too, not just on the trees! I like the yello fabric best. Thanks for the chance at your giveaway.

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  94. I am a new follower who likes the yellow fabric. Thanks for sharing and for the second chance.

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  95. I like both colors but if I have to choose one it would be the yellow. I am sadly lacking in yellow fabric in my stash. Not sure why, I buy enough fabric you would think I would have lots of every color.

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  96. I am an old follower in more ways than one. I will be even older on Monday.

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  97. Wow! That is beautiful! Those leaves remind me of our October trips to the Smoky Mountains-- the hills almost look that they're on fire with all the oranges, reds and yellows! :-)

    Thank you for the giveaway-- If I get lucky and win, will you please choose for me! I love them both! :-)

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  98. What a beautiful block--so vivid and life-like. I really like your work!

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  99. I am a new follower! I love the yellow for fall!

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  100. What a great project! If I am lucky enough to win I would prefer yellow, but either color would be great. Thanks for showing the step by step of your mini quilt.

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  101. What a neat way to create your block. So pretty. If by chance I win surprise me cause I like them both.

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  102. Outstanding piece of art. Thank you for sharing. My favorite of the two colors is yellow.

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  103. I am your newest follower #322, happy to be here.

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  104. Your block is beautiful and unique. You also take gorgeous pictures. I think it was especially neat because it was simple and basic. I need that 3-in-1 Color Tool; must look into that. I love pink.

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  105. I love your block! I spent the day looking at leaves, and found myself thinking back to your work! I need that tool. Thanks for sharing with us all. (I love that yellow.)

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  106. I love your inspiration! And your fall tree photos are wonderful thanks for sharing..we just don't get color like that out here in the west!

    I would be happy with either piece of fabric if I won!

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  107. The finished quilt is neat!! Thanks for the tutorial. I need to add that to my every growing list of projects to try!

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  108. How creative. Thanks for sharing your process.

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  109. Really great idea. Thanks for sharing. If I win, I'd choose the yellow.

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  110. Wow, that turned out very pretty! Wonderful choice to just use the photo itself! Two great talents joined to make one pretty block!

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  111. Hi!!! Your block is very pretty!!! It turned out great!!! I would choose the yellow fabric!!!! Thank You

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  112. That is such a cool quilt! You used so many tools, and got it just right. Thanks for participating in the blog hop and for the giveaway! If I'm lucky enough to win, I'd like the pink fabric.

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  113. This is so pretty! I've never done printing on fabrics but would like to try it some day. Great photo to work with too! I'd love the yellow fabric if my name is drawn. Thanks!
    hulseybg@gmail.com

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  114. I already follow you. I'd like the yellow fabric if I'm chosen please!
    hulseybg@gmail.com

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  115. wow, your block is fantastic. I really enjoyed you telling how you did it. Not tradional. So cool. Thank you for sharing.
    I love pink.

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  116. Beautiful! I'd choose yellow. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  117. This is a wonderful piece. The clarity is amazing. You sure did capture the essence of the hop. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  118. What a wonderful idea.....using a picture......I love it....I might try to do Something like that myself....I have never printed on a picture on fabric.....thanks for the great idea....

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  119. I am a new follower and I love the yellow fabric....

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  120. I love your block, such beautiful autumn colours. i would like the yellow

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  121. I love your block. I haven't tried printing a photo and quilting it yet but you got such great results I feel inspired to try it. If I win I would like the pink.

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  122. I love your block!! It looks great!! Thanks for sharing!!

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  123. What a great, creative way to design a quilt block. I like the pink fabric!
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  124. gfc follower: nicolesender
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  125. Thanks for sharing your process of making your little quilt. I have never tried making a photo quilt. You have a good eye for the color and composition of your photos. I love the yellow fabric.

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  126. Wow, the color is so crisp in your photo quilt! If I win, I love YELLOW!

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  127. I love this quilt! The photo is beautiful! I would love to have the pink fabric.

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  128. Hiya Debbie! I love your mini, the colors are awesome!!! What a wonderful idea to use a photo for the quilt. I would prefer the pink FQ. Thank you for sharing and for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!!

    playamom57 at yahoo dot com

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  129. Hiya Debbie! I am a new follower. Thank you for having the giveaway (I like the pink). Blessed be, hugs!!!

    playamom57 at yahoo dot com

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  130. I love your mini quilt! You started with a great photo and the end result is beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway. I like yellow.

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