Tuesday, May 17, 2016

A Just-Because Basic Grey Giveaway

The giveaway is closed! Congratulations to the winner: Crafty Coffin!

There’s been a lot of action here at From Bolt to Beauty lately—different readers leaving comments, bunches of new Bloglovin’ followers, the quilt-loving hordes reading my tutorials. In general, I have no idea how you found me, but I want to extend a hearty welcome! (Specifically, like 3,400 of you stopped by on April 28th and read the post on my Ridiculously Easy Jelly Roll Quilt. How. Did. You. Get. Here?!)

If you’re one of the newbies, let me tell you what you’ll find at FBTB ... Four or five times a month, I publish posts that highlight quilt finishes or address the nitty-gritty details of my process and current projects. I’m less than 30 quilts into my quilting career, so I’m still trying to figure things out. Maybe you’re in the same boat!

You’ll quickly learn that I love fabric, especially lines designed by Denyse Schmidt, Lizzy House, Amy Butler, Bonnie and Camille, and Basic Grey. It’s my passion for Basic Grey that instigated today’s giveaway ...


The Giveaway

In this giveaway I’m offering selections from Basic Grey’s most recent line: Mon Ami. This lot includes 2 half-yards and 10 fat quarters. The giveaway is open to anyone anywhere in the world.

Here’s the fabric: 2 half-yards and 10 fats!


Everyone gets one entry by adding a commenting below. You can write anything you want (“Lady, you sure are awesome!” and “How can someone so young-looking have kids?” are some suggestions), but if you do better with a little direction, please tell us a fun fact about yourself.

The giveaway includes some beautiful florals.


Here’s mine: When I was four years old, one of the kids in my neighborhood told me that if I went outside, a man flying in the sky would pour hot gravy on me. My mother claims that I spent that whole summer inside and, boy, was she pissed. (Fun fact #2: Decades later, I still refuse to eat gravy. Coincidence? I think not.)

I can’t have a Basic Grey giveaway without some Grunge in the mix.


How to Leave a Comment

If you’re new to commenting on blogs and don’t have an account that you can use to log in (check out the pull-down menu labeled “Comment as” under the comment field), I suggest going to Gmail, creating a new account, and using it to comment on blogs. (For me to respond to comments, you’ll need to ensure that you’re not a no-reply blogger. See the next section.)

If you’re not into that idea, I’ve enabled anonymous commenting, so you can still enter the giveaway. But anonymous commenters need to include their email address in their comment so I can contact them if they win. I know, it defeats the idea of anonymity, but on future non-giveaway posts you can comment anonymously to your heart’s content.


How to Fix Your No-Reply Blogger Status

Readers who use Gmail/Google to leave comments: In general, I get a lot of comments from no-reply bloggers. Maybe some people are NRBs on purpose—that’s cool. But I think many NRBs are unaware of their NRB status. (If you have a Gmail account and have never received a response from me about comments you’ve left, this is likely your situation.) To allow me (and other bloggers) access to your email address, see this tutorial from On the Windy Side.

I’m by no means an expert on all this commenting-on-blogs business, but I hope that clears up questions some of you may have!

By the way, before starting From Bolt to Beauty, I spent years reading blogs without commenting. Participating in the conversation was a game changer for me. I got much more out of the blogs I read once I started to share my thoughts with the authors and other readers.

This giveaway is open through Monday, May 23 at 8 p.m. (I’m on the East Coast of the U.S.) Good luck!

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76 comments:

  1. Hello! I cannot remember how I stumbled upon your blog, but I think it was in a newsletter that I receive. I liked what I saw and instantly added it to my feedly. :) Such a fun giveaway! Thanks for hosting it.

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  2. I was once a cheerleader for a professional football team--and no, the outfits were NOT sexy. Beige tights, turtleneck sweater, white, short skirt. And just so you know--I never met a football player! Love the giveaway fabric.

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  3. This is embarrassing, but I still have not finished the first quilt that I started! It's about halfway hand quilted.

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  4. hmmm I have no idea how I found you! ;-)

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  5. Been following for awhile-not sure how I got to you. Probably while reading other blogs and seeing their lists of favorite bloggers.

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  6. This is such a great blog, I can understand why you see that kind of traffic. I have been a reader for so long I can't remember how I found you either.

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  7. Love the raindrops and the dandelion clocks ;)

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  8. I agree that participating in the conversation is a game changer, Michelle. :) What I want to say is: how have you only made 30 quilts? You have such a good sense of self and style and it blew me away that you hadn't made more than that! <3

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  9. Such a generous giveaway. I've only recently started following a number of blogs on bloglovin' - so many talented quilters and crafters to learn from. Kristawells at nl dot rogers dot com

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  10. Your gravy story slays me. Sounds like the kinda thing I would've totally bought as a kid. However, I have a total love relationship for gravy, but that could be because my mama's from the south, and that's how she rolls. And Grunge. OH, GRUNGE. I love it so much. PS-You look WAY too young to be a mother! Are you sure you're not the babysitter? :)

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  11. Michelle, you are so young and such a generous woman! :) A random thought from me to share is that beyond a semester class of junior high sewing (over 40 years ago), I have never taken a sewing or quilting lesson. I learn by reading blogs, watching youtube videos and interacting online with others share the love of sewing. I have made lots of clothes, tote bags, a few quilts and love machine embroidery too!

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  12. I like your colorwheel quilt. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  13. Hi, I can't remember how I found your blog but I'm very happy I did. I enjoy the way you talk about the things you do, and I like your tutorials

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  14. I really have no green thumbs but i have a huge garden and I am always amazed about all those plants which flourish anew every year! They must be so strong to survive and make me really happy! Yay!

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  15. A fun fact? When my children were young I used to say, "Must pull the curtains at night so no one will shoot us". And now I have heard my grown daughter say the same thing in her own home!
    And no - we don't live in a dangerous part of the world with shooters running amok with guns!

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  16. Isn't the warm sun feeling good? Thank You for a sweet giveaway! msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  17. I started following you from another blogger on bloglovin

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  18. I used to make a lot of my clothes and was particularly proud of a slinky wrap around skirt. I was walking home from high school with a guy I had a terrific crush on when that skirt slipped right off and puddled on the sidewalk, leaving me in my shirt and underwear. I still cringe when I think of it.

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  19. 3400??!! That's awesome Michelle! I admit it, I was shocked when I realized that you were a mom, because, yes, I thought she's too young! Then again, I'm starting to think that more often. Could be because I'm an older parent, not having my son until I was 40. (my not-so-fun fact). When I see some of my son's friends' moms I cringe to think that they were probably in diapers when I got my masters degree.

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  20. 3,400 is a lot of people. wow! I can't remember how I found your blog, but I'm glad I did. It's been great following your adventures.

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  21. I found your site through Liz Katsuro's weekly news letter from http://jellyrollfabric.net... Where she has an online shop with great deals and special for jelly rolls, and such. She featured your quilt... A Tutorial of your Ridiculously Easy Jelly Roll Quilt, and I'm so glad I did! Let me say... Awesome quilts and fabric designs... a whole different take from traditional, but a real nice modern approach in quilting. Just love your site!

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    1. Well it looks like it is popping back undelivered.... You can reach me here at my most used address ............
      Loridrennen at yahoo dot com.

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  22. I think I found your blog through my friday fix of Crazy Mom Quilts. I go through the list, sometimes visiting every single link! My not so fun fact, I don't work outside the home. In this day and age, and especially in NZ, this is pretty unusual. I just tell people I specialise in having frequent migraines as my job.
    Thanks for your blog, its a fun read.
    Tarnia.hodges at gmail.com

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  23. I can't remember how I found your blog, but I've been following your awesome blog on Bloglovin for a long time. My fun fact: I save every little scrap of fabric. I just can't help myself. I'm going to make a confetti art quilt this summer so that people going into my sewing room don't look at me like I'm crazy when they see jars of trimmed tips from flying geese and slivers of fabric from squaring up blocks.

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  24. I don't remember how I've gotten to most blogs, usually by following a link. Besides quilting/sewing I enjoy gardening and even volunteer at our local botanical garden.

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  25. Just a little fun stuff about me... Quilting since I was old enough to be responsible with learning to sew on a old singer treadle machine with supervision! Six years old to be exact. I love creating something out of nothing, this is my passion! I started a quilt for myself, way back in 2006 and it's still in progress, life happens... but I have made several quilts for others since 2006. I hope to finish my quilt this year! : )

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    1. I started a blog several years ago and found that I really enjoy sharing ideas and such with others. You can find my blog at purplesageoriginals.blogspot.com

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  26. I love your writing style. Michelle, you sure are awesome!

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  27. I swoon over blooming cane begonias and huge hanging staghorn ferns. They're my weakness.

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  28. Let's see I love quilting, my husband, 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 dogs, 1 cat, lots of birds and my garden. If you haven't guess it yet I live out in the country and I am retired and very old. I love seeing what all you youngsters are sewing, keeps me young.

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  29. I love your blog and Mon Ami! Interesting fact. We have 5 baby ducks in our guest bathtub after our dog swallowed a baby whole in front of us and the mom did not come back after 4 hours. We read they would die of hypothermia and it was cold.

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  30. I am really enjoying reading your blog. Keep up the good work!

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  31. I can't remember how I found your blog but I'm off to check out that jelly roll tutorial now! When I was little I believed that if you broke your leg or arm etc it actually came off and that really worried me! I love this collection so I'm crossing my fingers! X

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  32. Oh how very exciting! I really enjoy reading your blog. A funny fact (?) about me: I spent years and years not being interested in quilting at all near my mom who visited quilt shop after quilt shop dragging us children with. And then, years later, I found myself in a foreign country (having much fun, I should say!) with a quilt on the bed and - apparently - having that quilt nearby was enough to just spark my interest in quilting. I am ever grateful to the women who made that quilt! However: imagine how many precious lines I could have bought if I payed attention all along?! *sigh* ;) Thanks for the chance to win!
    cottonpaperflowers at gmail dot com

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  33. I can't remember how I found you or how long I've been following now, but I love it here! Thank you for such an awesome giveaway!

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  34. New to your sight but glad I found it!
    Always look forward to seeing it!

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  35. Love to come and read your posts. Have been a follower on bloglobin

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  36. I joined your email list a bit ago, and really enjoy reading your posts. I have a huge dislike of snakes ever since I stepped on one barefoot when I was maybe 8. I don't remember what it felt like, just that it scared my badly. Oh well, I can live without snakes in my life.

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  37. Hi! I've been reading for awhile but I'm always happy to see other people discovering blogs I love :) Fun fact - I was such a nerdy kid, I read the encyclopedia for fun. My favorite entry was the one on lace, and someday I would love to try making bobbin lace (I've done knitted and crocheted already).

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  38. And as a child I was deathly afraid of dogs mostly because one followed me part way home from school. A nice Irish Setter not at all threatening except entirely too close. 45 years later I met an Bernese Mtn. Dog and it was love at first sight!

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  39. I make jewelry, play viola, keep chickens and am an aspiring veggie gardener! :)
    heatheranne99 at gmail dot com

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  40. I think I might have been a no reply blogger, much to my dismay. I think I have it fixed. I can't believe I thought I was really with it just having signed in with google chrome and I was good to go. Learn something every day!!

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  41. I found your blog through Patch the Giraffe ... can't remember how I found Chelsea? (oops I've gone down the rabbit hole now!) Fun(ish) fact ... quilting (and fabric hoarding) is my guilty secret. Really cant get a handle on the no reply thing ... saira.puffett (at)ntlworld (dot)com

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  42. I spend my first hours of every day on the computer, then shut it down and get on with life. I follow bloggers that I believe I can learn from so I immediately go to the tutorial pages - yours must have drawn me in. A fun fact about me - I have only three grandchildren - all born on July 11th, 2011 - triplets and they keep me young!

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  43. I recently started my own blog (adreamandastitch.blogspot.com) and began to realize the benefits of making comments and not lurking so much. I have been a lurker for years! I don't recall how I came across your blog, probably from a mention in another blog. I loved your design and taste right away, so I followed. :)
    I am hoping to make some connections in the quilting community.
    Let's see...Fun Fact: I alternate my hobbies. Quilting and gaming. I have been playing EverquestII (an online role-playing game) for over a decade. Sometimes it takes all my time on the weekends and sometimes quilting does. It all depends on my mood. :)
    I think I have my reply status set correctly, but just in case... adreamandastitch(at)gmail(dot)com

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  44. I have been following your blog for awhile now, and can't remember how I found you. But, sure do enjoy reading your blog. Your gravy story is hilarious.

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  45. You are so funny, that's why I love your blog! I don't know how I found your blog, fun (or not) fact: my memory is awful, but I did and that's all that matters.

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  46. I cannot remember how I came upon your blog. Most likely it was a link from another blog I follow. Your blog appears in my Bloglovin' feed. Basic Grey is one of the designers I follow and I'd love to win the Mon Ami bundle. The colors are just right for a picnic quilt.

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  47. I follow you on Bloglovin and have for a while now. I don't have a lot of time to spend on reading blogs, but I do appreciate all the work and effort it takes into writing blog posts.
    Thanks,
    Peggy
    Peggy-verdongibbs@att.net

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  48. I stumbled upon your blog on the NHMQG site and enjoy the great tips you post in your blog especially since I am relatively new to quilting. I have made about 5 quilts and push myself to learn new skills with each one...loving the process and my progress! Hmm, I'm not sure if I am a no reply blogger...fontas.diane@gmail.com I will try to figure that out...time well tell!

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  49. Lady, you sure are awesome!!! :) Congrats on your blog growth. I love seeing all your projects, your fabric choices are just so awesome. And Basic Grey fabrics are my favorites so thanks for the opportunity to add some more to my stash!

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  50. You have such a great sense of humour and your writing style is so natural and real, it's like we're having a conversation over tea and cookies! Anyway, I'm following you via IG and your blog via Bloglovin...how I discovered you is a mystery! An interesting fact about me is that when I was 9 years old I created comic books and these were given to my older sister's boyfriends. I had puzzles and contests with prizes which were hand made crafts! Lol

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  51. I think I found you on Instagram, with a quilt posting.Love your fabric choices.

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  52. I don't remember how I found your blog, but I'm sure glad I did. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!

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  53. found your blog a while back, likely from link from Crazy Mom quilts. I am a 'lurker', don't comment much ever, but your chatty post convinced me to... could this be a first step into a parallel comment-filled universe?!
    Am I a NRB??! nbrisse at gmail dot com (just in case!)

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  54. I am one of those people that doesn't comment much. I have a blog myself so i know how good getting comments is. I apologise, all.i can say is that life.gets in the way and typing on a phone is hard! I enjoy your blog though, you're very talented

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  55. The arrival to your blog was circuitous and long forgotten but I follow you on Feedly. I love the visual image of hot gravy from the sky. In a past life I was an avid comper-working on slogans and buying qualifiers-that has passed with Internet entries but nothing quite gets the juices flowing as an opportunity to win. Thank you.

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  56. Hi. I have been a follower for a while now. Living in Texas, I love gravy and my four children and my favorite meal is new potatoes with thickening and cornbread. Great blog!

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  57. I recently moved back to NH, near where I grew up. I read your post about local quilt shops and was thrilled to learn of Quilted Threads in Henniker! I took a trip there the other day with my newborn. What a great shop! I bought some fabric to finish quilt for the baby…now to find the time to do some sewing! Thanks for that post. (majesticjenkinsATgmailDOTcom)

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  58. Gorgeous fabrics! I made a Christmas quilt rop with the grunge gray in the background and I love it! I've only completed a handful if quilts since I started quilting six our seven years ago, so it's nice to know someone in the same boat I am =)

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  59. I love gravy!
    I also love this fabric.

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  60. I quilt in Prince Albert, Sask., Canada. It's an obsession. I make pouches, bibs, & cushions. Even curtains on occasion. I am also a bit of a craft whore -- I knit a bit, I love photography, I have refinished furniture, painted furniture, dabbled in chalk paint. In crazy moments, I think about trying to sew a garment or two. Too many hobbies, not enough time! I need to retire! Sadly, that's 8 years away. annesimonot@sasktel.net

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  61. Your blog and posts are awesome Michelle!
    Congrats on all the visitors, you deserve it, your work is great!

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  62. One way I find new blogs to read is to go to a familiar blog then read down through their right column until I find a blog name that sounds interesting. That's how I found you! I am sharing one of your tutorials on my blog tomorrow so more people will be stopping by to find out how awesome you are.
    Marsha
    quilterinmotion@gmail.com

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  63. Wow! That's a lot of page views in one day. Way to go! I love those Basic Grey prints. Thanks for the chance to win! I think my fun fact is that you are the blogger who encouraged me to really start blogging. After some negativity from other bloggers your kind words gave me the push I needed. Thank you!

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  64. Hey, lady, you ARE awesome! Thanks for sharing with us! Congratulations on your blog activity! OK,something interesting about me....I have twins who are about to turn 26 years old. Zach was 9 pounds, 5 ounces and Nick was 10 pounds 4 ounces! My daughters in laws are just a little bit nervous about this fun fact!

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  65. How fun! I guess the new readers will make me one of the old guard. :) An interesting fact about me? I moved three weeks before having boy #3. He's 5 weeks old now and I'm finally finding enough time to handstitch a quilt. Call me crazy but I'm finding it to be very therapeutic!

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  66. I was once a NRB and didn't know it either until a blog I had responded to during a SMS Giveaway Day listed my name as such. I'm sure there are many who don't know this. Thanks for relisting a way to correct this. I really NEED more fabric. :)

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  67. I love Basic Grey designs as well. I recently finished a Metro Rings quilt where I used a hoarded PB&J jelly roll. I'm ready for some Mon Ami! Love your blog.

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  68. I'm new to here, but loving all of the great inspiration!! :)

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  69. Thank you so much for your blog! Such a motivation for me!

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  70. Love to be surrounded by fabric but always uncertain on which is going to be the next project!

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  71. Random fact about me: my roommate is teaching me to play the piano.

    ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

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  72. of course I'm late to the party, but I just love seeing all of this love for you! Lucky me, to have been early to the party! ;) xo

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    1. gah! and thats what happens when you're typing and watching toy story with your kids at the same time. You make a nonsensical sentence. I meant late to the blog POST party, but early to the party of your BLOG in general! Anyway, way to go. You know I'm your biggest fan!

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Thank you for commenting! I almost always respond to comments by email. If my response might interest others or if you're a no-reply blogger, I'll post it here.