Sunday, January 27, 2013

Dare to Dresden--Wake up Sunshine!


I'm so excited to participate in another blog hop!  As soon as I saw this announced, I knew I wanted to do this project!  But first ... a little business ... and if you make it to the end, I'll have a little surprise for you :)

Thanks so much to Mdm. Samm and Christine at Quilt Monster in my Closet.  I'm always amazed and awed at the amount of time and positive energy our cheerleaders have for these projects.  THANK YOU.  I am in awe.  There is an amazing round-up of talented ladies today and for the next few days.  Go check them out, too!

A Reformed Heath'n (yay, you're here!)

This is actually a project I made over the summer for my daughter, Sam.  Each year she attends Girls Camp with the Young Women's program at church.  It has become tradition for me to make a pillowcase for her to have her friends sign.  The leaders keep the theme for a camp a secret from the girls, soI always sneak behind her back and find out what it is so I can coordinate her little gifts.  Last year's theme was Arise & Shine Forth, from D&C 115:5, 
"Verily I say unto you all: 
Arise and shine forth, 
that thy light may be a standard for the nations."  

I knew just the thing ... but I had NO yellow in my stash, so I bought a few coordinating fat quarters. Then, I cut 20 wedges for each  ray of sunshine the full size of my Easy Dresden ruler from 8" strips ...



Next, I folded the edges over once and chain-stitched the hem on all the tops.



Here they are all laid out.  When I sewed them together I started from the outside so that all the edges lined up.  I knew I was covering the center, so little inconsistencies wouldn't matter :)

Then I cut out a piece of batting just barely smaller than the circle.  Up to this point I had never appliqued before, time was of the essence and I knew it would be well-used and washed over and over, so I just wanted the durability of the machine outline to attach the Sunshine to the background.  There was just a little of the batting showing on the edges which I carefully trimmed as close to the stitching as possible.  I wanted the texture on the sun, so it was a necessary evil.
If I had this to do again, I would hand-applique the center circle on--it would have looked a lot better, but it was OK.  The center piece, I printed onto freezer-paper-backed-fabric that I sent through my laser printer.
I simply quilted each ray of sunshine with a free-motion s-curve and I LOVE the way it turned out.



 I did make two pillow cases because Sam's best friend goes with her and I *love* them both.

Also last week, I used my EZ Dresden ruler yet again.  This time for my Stash Bee.  How timely of the queen bee to request this block in January :)  She posted her tutorial with the link to the original inspiration here if you're interested.  She doesn't want it finished, so it's a simple circle.



This is the third blog hop that I've participated in, so I thought that I'd try a give-away.  Because I do my blog on my own, just for fun, you get something I've made just for you :)  I made several of these little wristlets from Javajem's tutorial here.  I absolutely love mine.  I can put my cell phone, drivers license and a couple of other things and not carry around a big purse.

Wristlets
photo courtesy of JavaJem
Just leave a comment below (I know many of you will anyway ...) and I will have one of my kids pick a number out of a hat or a bowl or a basket or whatever on February 1st and let you all know what happens.  This giveaway is now closed--thanks to everyone!

Have a wonderful week!

131 comments:

  1. Love your inspirational yellow dresden! Thanks for sharing your projects!

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  2. The pillowcases are gorgeous, and what a wonderful idea. Maybe someday you can make a memory quilt from all of them; the possibilities are endless, lol! I LOVE the dresden with the striped petals, I still haven't dared, but that is mighty tempting! Thanks for the inspiration! :)

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  3. Great dresdens! I especially like the blue and white one!
    Thanks for sharing!!

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  4. Pretty pillowcases! Love how you put the verse on the center.
    The Dresden with alternating stripes and solid white is stunning. Thanks for sharing and the opportunity to win an awesome clutch.

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  5. Clever idea, thanks for sharing it with us.

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  6. How beautiful! You are such a good mother to surprise your daughter like that!

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  7. Oh my word, I love your pillow and the white and blue Dresden is fabulous.... the wristlets are gorgeous....would love one! Thanks for the inspiration and great giveaway!

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  8. What a Cheer of Sunshine in the Morning!! Loved it and you Black and white one is delightful! Thank you for participating in the HOP. So inspiring! Hugs & Happy Hopping

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  9. How delightful! Blog hops are fun because we get to fiind now blogs. I'm so glad I stopped by.

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  10. What a perfect sunshine pillow you have made there! Maybe I should make one too as I am the Sunshine Girl! Thanks for sharing and the fabulous giveaway.

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  11. Love your cheery, cheery sunshine! My day is Thursday, and I'm still working on my project...yikes! :)

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  12. Hi!!! I love your sun dresden!!! So cheerful!!! Your blue and white dresden is very pretty!!!

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  13. Oh I wish I had time to quilt - love the pillowcase and all the Dresden samples. Once I retire that sewing machine will be working non stop.

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  14. Great projects. What a great mom to coordinate the surprises. It is marvelous to make a surprise for your daughter's friend, too! Sometimes, it's almost as easy to make two as one. (Don't ask my friend who has identical adult daughters, though.) Both of your Dresdens are wonderful. I hope to "see" you participate in more hops as you are a great inspiration. You are very generous with your giveaway.

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  15. Great job on your Dresdens....love the wristlets too

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  16. What a great idea to do that for your daughter at Girls’ Camp! I wish I'd thought of something like that when my girls were young...maybe a good suggestion for the Young Women to do in our Branch. Beautiful Dresdens too, by the way!

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  17. Great pillow case! :) Talk about starting the day "Sunny side up"! :)

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  18. very unique Heather...hard not to wake up to this kind of exciting pillow

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  19. Love the *sunshine* pillow cases.Great idea. And I really like your second Dresden block. They are all very pretty.Thank you for sharing and for the giveaway.

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  20. Beautiful sunny Dresden pillowcase! Thank you for sharing and the great giveaway.
    jbechosend at sbcglobal dot net

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  21. Beautiful sunshine pillow! Love the little wristlets too! Thanks for sharing.

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  22. The yellow is so refreshing! Thanks for the giveaway...love the dragonflys! : )

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  23. Your Dresden pillow is so cheery and bright...love it! Thanks for sharing and having those cute little purses as a giveaway. :o)

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  24. Rosemary B here:
    I love the yellow, and you made it on a pillow case, how wonderful. I would love that on my bed!
    The blue and white one is really attractive too. I can see so many possibilities!
    Your creations are always top notch!
    thank you for sharing.
    Oh, and the little purses are marvelous! they look very classy

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  25. What a beautiful pillow case. I love love love the dresdens with strips! What pizazz!!

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  26. The Sunshine Pillow reminds me of spring. Bright and cheery!
    Thanks for sharing

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  27. I love the pillow cases....I'm right in the middle of making my grand kids pillowcases for valentines day....love making them. Especially the roll technique....so simple and fast....and what a great giveaway.....

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  28. I love the Sunshine pillow case. So bright, you can't help but smile. Thanks for sharing and the great giveaway.

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  29. that striped dresden is so cute, and the wristlets is such a good idea. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  30. Beautiful! I love the yellows :)
    Thanks for the chance for the giveaway!

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  31. Great creativity! I love your blue and white Stash Bee block!

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  32. Sunshine Yellow....Yummy!!! And that wristlet is so useful!!

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  33. I love the Arise and Shine Forth pillow, I still might make one for my girl. Thanks for a cute giveaway too.
    ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

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  34. Good Morning! ... I love your sunny yellow pillowcases. Yellow is my favorite color. Who could not wake up happy with such a bright and inspiring message every morning. The wristlets are sew cute. Thanks for sharing ... :) Pat

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  35. Awesome pillow....That was a great idea. Thanks for a chance to enter your giveaway as well. conn_and_vans_mom(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  36. Love your work. I like how your center hole is a little smaller. Mine seems so big. Thanks for sharing.

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  37. I'm glad I hopped over, your sunshine is so shiny!

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  38. Great idea with the pillowcase. It turned out awesome! I love the blue and white too...so crisp looking! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the giveaway!. I enjoyed reading your blog!

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  39. Your pillow case is wonderful. A lot of work. Great giveaway. Thanks, Nancy P.

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  40. I love your pillowcase! I have made hundreds in the last 4 years and yours is really unique! Your giveaway is wonderful I love to make things for others (sounds great)

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  41. Inspiração é tudo de belo,sua fronha está linda,parabéns.Obrigada por doação.Seguidora nova GFC 48,Obrigada.
    tiacarminhapezzuto@gmail.com

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  42. What a bright and sunny Dresden! Nicely done too.

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  43. Great Idea! My daughters go to Girls' Camp too! ;-)So bright and beautiful!

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  44. Such a bright and cheery dresden! I love the words in the middle! Never thought of that! Great Job!

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  45. Love your pillowcase. I am sure that she and her friend were a big hit at the retreat. Those little purses are just so cute.

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  46. Arise and Shine Forth!!! And You Did!!!! I love the sun and I really love the blue and white Dresden. I've not made mine quite like that but I like your method and I LOVE your give-away
    Blessings
    Gmama Jane

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  47. I really think these are true treasures - because of the fact that you surprised the girls. Very nice and thanks for the opportunity to win from Judy C

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  48. I love your dresden - I think perhaps I'll make a sunny sunshine Dresden to hang in my kitchen. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Beth

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  49. I am not sure which Dresden I like best. I'll bet your daughter loves her pillowcase. Thanks for sharing.

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  50. Oh so cute!! your dresdens are a real pick me up :)

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  51. A sunshine for your Sunshine! Love that! Came out beautiful! Love the blue and white also. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

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  52. What a sweet gift for your girls! It turned out beautiful!

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  53. What a cheerful dresdan all in yellows! Live the graphic look of the black (blue?) and white as well. Thanks for a chance to win a wristlet - a great idea for a quick run to the store.

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  54. What a cheerful dresdan all in yellows! Live the graphic look of the black (blue?) and white as well. Thanks for a chance to win a wristlet - a great idea for a quick run to the store.

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  55. Your Dresden is so pretty, I love the yellow fabric that you chosen. You did a great job writing your tutorial also. Thank you.

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  56. I love the pillowcase idea, and it came out super cute!

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  57. I love your stash bee block. I am very intrigued by the more "modern" dresden looks. The pillowcase came out very cute!

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  58. I love the stash bee block! Love the stripes!

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  59. Heather-I love, love, love practical projects and your pillow cases "kill two birds with one stone!" I am also inspired by your wristlets. If they're the perfect size, they would hold my cell phone that I am afraid of innocently putting down someplace and then forgetting it. From CA, thanks for sharing.

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  60. Love the sunshine!
    And so many cute little purselets in the sewing world these days. Just saw one again today at sew can she. Thanks for the chance at a giveaway! Janita

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  61. Heather I love the whole concept of the pillowcase for her friends to sign! I want to do that for my granddaughter. :) The sunshine was simply perfect and I know she loved it. But oh my I do love the colors of the second one. So crisp and precise! I covet one of the wristlets. Oops, can't covet, that's bad. I want, that's better. :) blessings, marlene

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  62. Your projects are beautiful!! I'm only a beginner quilter, but you have inspired me to work harder at it!!

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  63. Both your Dresdens are beautiful!
    I'd love to enter your giveaway for a lovely wristlet.
    :o)
    Rose
    pippirose59 at gmail dot com

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  64. LOVE the pillowcase! The little purses are so cute. I hope I get "picked". Have a Blessed Day!

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  65. What a fun dresden block for the pillow. Great idea! Love your stash block too; vibrant and modern. If I don't win one of those wristlets, guess I'll be making my own. It's a must have item for me.

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  66. great dresdens! thanks for sharing!

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  67. Love the combo of yellows you used on your sunny bright pillowcase.

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  68. Your Dresdens are quite cute. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  69. Dresdens.... love em!! Thanks for the post and I hope I win!
    lisamcgriff (at) hotmail (dot)com

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  70. Love your Dresdens! What a fabulous tradition you have with your daughter(s) and camp week! Love your wrist-lets!!! How totally perfect to take to a quilt show...gotta leave those hands free for all the goodies to look at and my shoulder gets so sore with my heavy purse! If I don't win, I may have to make myself one!!!

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  71. How fun for your daughter (and her BFF!) to have a little bit of home with her at camp. You are giving that dresden ruler quite a workout.

    The wrist-lets are adorable! Well done there as well.

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  72. Love the (sneaky) pillow case! She must be SO excited when she sees it!

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  73. Your pillows are absolutely PRETTY ! I'm in love with the wristlets.

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  74. Very pretty pillow!!! I think I will make one for myself.

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  75. Yellow and white dresdens are so sunshiney, makes you want summer to get here fast. I also love the blue and white, and look through my stash now to see if I have any fabric I want to use to make another one. Thank your for the giveaway love purses.

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  76. I love your dresdens. What a fun hop, so many dresdens, and so many unique terrific ones too!

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  77. Love the pillow case you made for your Daughter!! Know she has saved each one...what Special "Heart Memories"!!!Love the navy & white one too...but the Sunshine one is my very favorite!! Thanks for sharing!

    Thanks too, for chance to win your drawing!! Yay! :)

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  78. A wonderful and creative project with great meaning!

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  79. Just Beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway! Thanks for being part of the hop

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  80. Both of your Dresdens are awesome!

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  81. Your pillowcases are beautiful! I like the way you put the verse in the center. I also like your blue and white Dresden. I'm sure your daughter and her BFF will love their pillowcases. Thanks for sharing ad for the chance to win a cute pouch.

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  82. Beautiful dresdens. I love the pillowcases.

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  83. Matching pillowcases for your daughter and her BFF. What a beautiful gift and memory keeper!

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  84. Love your dresdens and those pillows are amazing (I love pillows!!)

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  85. I absolutely love the pillowcase sunshine dresdens how neat for your daughter and friend to always remember their summer. Your second dresden project was very creative too. Thanks for sharing and your give a way.

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  86. What a sweet mother you are! The shining sun pillowcase turned out so well and what a fun thing for your daughter. I'll bet she looks forward each year to what mom will dream up.

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  87. what a happy story and a great tute! love your little wristlets ... thanx for the chane to win one.

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  88. Your Dresden is very nice. Thank you for sharing and for the giveaway.

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  89. I just love your Dresden - so sunny and happy!! Thanks for hopping with me today :)

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  90. So very cheerful yellow fabric - Love it! Thanks for showing the great ideas for using a dresden.

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  91. Love the sunshine. My daughter would love that.

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  92. You have let the sunshine in! Beautiful!

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  93. How colorful! Your Dresdens are lovely. Thanks for sharing!

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  94. You are very nice, all that work for your daughter and her friend! Love your dresden, and what a great gift. I want to be a quilter like you when I grow up. :)

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  95. Cute idea to make a pillowcase. And I love the block you made for the Bee you are in. Great job.

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  96. Beautiful sunshiny pillow made with Dresdens!
    I love handmade and to be able to win one of the wristlets you've made would be fantastic! Thank you for doing the blog hop and for the giveaway!

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  97. What a lovely pillowcase- love the sunshiney colors... dresden patterns everywhere and all so beautiful. Thanks for sharing and participating in the hop. I love your fun wristlets- very cute idea.
    Your winner will love them.
    Regards,
    Anna

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  98. Heather...sEw bright and cheery, a super fun pillow case, great job on both your Dresden projects! Your wristlets are awesome too. Thanks for sharing and the chance to win a wristlet. Happy stitching, Pauline

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  99. Your blue and white Dresden is stunning!!!

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  100. Love your yellow dresden and wavey quilting. Great job!

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  101. Your yellow dresden is like a splash of sunshine! So lovely.

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  102. Those wristlets are so cute. Love the Sunshine!!!

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  103. Love all your ideas and such a wealth of them. Thanks for sharing.

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  104. What a great idea and different way to stitch the Dresden. I love the pillow. It turned out beautifully.
    The blue and white one is awesome also.

    The wristlets I really love. I've kinda had those on my list of things I want to make at some point.

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  105. what a gorgeous pillow case! The quilting is perfect and really makes it look like a sun

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  106. Love the yellows, great idea for a pillowcase!

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  107. Love love love those yellow DP pillowcases!!! And those wristlets are adorable.

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  108. Your yellow pillow case is beautiful! The quilting fantastic! Great Job!

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  109. Love the yellow. Thanks for a chance of winning.
    tvbart@charter.net

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  110. What a great idea!!!!
    esp love the blue and white plate:)

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  111. Love your pillowcases! So pretty! And your little wristlet, just adorable! Zippers so intimidate me!

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  112. I love the idea of making a pillowcase with your darling Dresden!! And the words in the circle are perfect!!! Nice tutorial, thanks!!!

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  113. Those little purses are adorable, beautiful work!

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  114. Love your dresdens. I'm a follower and thanks for following me also.
    Charlotte

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  115. Beautiful dresdens, and thank you for the the pictures of how to make them.
    Wonderful giveaway, thanks for the chance to win.
    Bente

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  116. Opened up your screen and saw the Sun Shining! What a beauty.

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  117. Love the pillow case ! I was thinking of making my dresden a pillow.

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  118. Your dresdens are quite lovely. I've not tried to sew a dresden yet.
    nicolesender(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  119. Beautiful dresdens! I'm crushing on Wake UP Sunshine. So pretty.

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