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Tuesday, May 26

Cotton + Steel Quilt Kit Giveaway and One Lovely Blog Award

Craftsy's Flying Geese Quilt Kit



Last week BuzzinBumble had the honor of being nominated by two wonderful friends for the "One Lovely Blog Award"  



You may have seen these awards, which are just beginning to sweep Quilty Blogland.  The idea behind the award is to introduce your readers to some of your favorite blogs, preferably ones which they might not have visited before.  It is a great opportunity for people to explore and make new friends.    


If you accept an award, then you write a blog post and:

  1. Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link to their post.
  2. Share 7 things about yourself.
  3. Choose 10 blogs to nominate for the award. (It is fine to nominate less than ten, just however many you feel comfortable with.) 
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So here I go...

Thank you Kaja (Sew Slowly) and Sandra (Musings of a Menopausal Melon)!  

You made me feel Wonderful by nominating my blog and it means even more coming from you!    

Seven things you might not know about me:

1.  I am a combination of shy and friendly.  Blogging is a leap of faith for me, but it gives me a freedom I do not have in everyday life.  This is because I am very hearing impaired, which makes communicating verbally difficult. 

2.  I am nuts about I love dogs and cannot imagine life without them.

3.  I am always looking for reasons to laugh and love corny jokes.  I married a funny man and raised three funny children, so I don't have far to look.      

4.  I am a good mimic.  I can howl exactly like a black and tan coonhound and have been known to set them off in the distance.  A long time ago I learned to imitate a mother cat calling her little ones and I can make kittens come running to me.  This only works two or three times on each litter, because kittens are smarter than you think.

(My brother Dave is much more talented at mimicry than I am.  He once kept an entire Alaskan cruise ship full of bird watchers running back and forth from starboard to port, as they desperately tried to sight the Bald Eagles they heard screeching. Even the ship's naturalist was fooled for awhile, but once she figured it out, she just watched and laughed.)  

4 1/2.  I get sidetracked easily.    

5.  I love pretty much every quilting style and like to try a little of everything.  Out of necessity, I am a very slow quilter, so projects take a while for me to finish.

6.  I make great homemade soups.  So good, that people have been known to have soup for dessert.

7. I can hypnotize frogs and taught my kids how to do it when they were young.



There.  Now you know that I am a little kooky.  I don't have to hide it anymore.  Mwah ah ah ah ah!   

Somehow that fly buzzing around makes the soups not sound so good.  Heh heh.

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It's time to share my nominations for the "One Lovely Blog Award". 


The problem is that I love a lot of blogs.  You can see that on the BuzzinBumble sidebar, under "Blogs to Love".  This is kind of like picking bridesmaids.  You either have to choose just one and ask your sister, or you have thirty bridesmaids.  

So I tried to choose with an eye toward doing something different.  I've nominated a few quilt bloggers from different areas of the world, blogs that represent a nice variety of quilting styles, and some which might be undiscovered treasures for my readers. And, as you will see if you visit, they all are terrific and fun people. 

Without further ado, here are my ten nominees, in alphabetical order:

Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner - Ruth 

Doodlebugs and Rosebuds - Ramona
Fancy Foot Farm - Colleen
Love to Stitch - Raewyn
Prairie Sewn Studio - Laura & Linda
Quilting Stories - Christine
Susie's Sunroom - Susie
The Cozy Pumpkin - Amanda
Weekend Doings - Martha
Whims and Fancies - Soma

Also, don't forget you can visit Sew Slowly and Musings of a Menopausal Melon too!

Each nomination has a link embedded and you can get there simply by clicking on the blog's name.

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I got to thinking about this and decided to make the award even more fun by adding some extra incentive for my readers to go and visit the Lovely Bloggers in this post:  I'm going to do a giveaway!  And not just any giveaway - a Mambo giveaway!  Craftsy has been having some amazing sales on quilting supplies and I ordered a Cotton + Steel Flying Geese Quilt Kit just for one lucky reader to win.  Here are pictures from the Craftsy website of their Flying Geese Quilt Kit, done up in Kim Knight's Homebody Collection.  It looks like it will be a lot of fun to make!



Craftsy's Flying Geese Quilt Kit - includes all the fabrics for the quit top and binding.

Craftsy's 64" square Flying Geese Quilt - Homebody fabrics

Kim Knight's Homebody Collection for Cotton + Steel

How would you like a chance to win this quilt kit?  If you would, then here is what you need to do to enter the drawing: 


Visit at least one of the blogs I have shared here and leave the blogger some comment love.  For each blog you comment on, you will get 1 chance in the drawing, so technically you could have up to 12 chances.  When you are through, come back here to BuzzinBumble and leave 1 comment (Only one!) and let me know how many of the blogs you visited and commented on.   


We will fill out 1 slip of paper for each one of your chances.  Next we'll fold up all the slips, put them in a big bowl and toss and stir them up super well.  Then I'll have my hubby draw one of the slips.  I'll announce the Winner in my next post on Monday, June 1st.     


The nominees are welcome to participate in this giveaway too!  And I welcome entries from people across borders and don't mind shipping overseas.

Make sure that I have a way to contact you if you win! If you are a no-reply commenter then I will let you know under your comment, so please check back if you aren't sure or just add your email to your comment.



Hello Everyone - Thank you for making this giveaway a great success!  Lots of people had a ball blog hopping and meeting new bloggers!  The lucky winner of the Cotton + Steel quilt kit is Beth, commenter # 39.  Congratulations Beth! 


Jim, drawing for the Giveaway 6/1/15






53 comments:

  1. I left a note at each 10 blogs - I found a couple that were new to me. Would love to take part in your give away

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  2. Congrats on your nomination! You 7 things gave me a chuckle, do you pick up the frogs?! EWWW! LOL!

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  3. I visited and commented on all 12 blogs. Thanks for bringing these blogs to my attention. I enjoyed each blog and got some great tips and lots of inspiration.
    hijoffe(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. HI, how fun! Commented on all 10 Blogs!
    Thanks for sharing! msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  5. Thank you Lara! the giveaway is gorgeous too! I had fun visiting your faves, some I'd not been to before!

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  6. Lara, how nice that you are hosting the giveaway. Thank you so much for including my blog in your faves!

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  7. Thank you for the nomination Lara! I love knowing 7 fun things about you. Although I'm impressed by your skills of hypnotism and your ability to teach them, why would you want to hypnotise a frog? Does it make them easier to catch and eat, or do they become your slave zombies who reduce the summer fly population?

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    1. I was thrilled when you said "Yes" Colleen! You never fail to make me smile, laugh and think about things.

      I thought I should answer your question about frog hypnotism here, in case others also don't see the purpose. So, you asked "Why would you want to hypnotize a frog?" How else can you get him into his little top hat and tail coat? If only I could get them to sing "Puttin' on the Ritz" when they came around! Although, frog slave zombies... hmmmm I see possibilities there too. LOL

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    2. Ha ha ha Lara! I should have known it was to make them look cuter. A frog magically appeared on a bathroom counter here a few months ago (a bathroom FAR from an outside door by the way). Maybe I should have hypnotized and dressed it up. However, I think the high pitched shrieking emitting from my surprised and still half asleep son would have un-hypnotized it!

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    3. Heh heh heh Colleen - Didn't I mention it? High pitched shrieking is an essential part of the technique. You really do have to wonder how that frog got there though.

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  8. Lara, I think your frog needs to have a cane also to dance with while he sings!

    I enjoyed the blogging list today and I left a comment on 10. I have only visited one of them before so I found it a very interesting hop! This is a great idea. Thanks for the fun.

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  9. Thank you for my nomination, Lara! I am really lucky to be on any of your lists!! I was so thrilled the day I found your blog. I couldn't stop going back through all of your posts to see what you made and what I could learn from you!

    I visited and commented on the other 11 blogs. I also noticed how cleverly you inserted fact 4 1/2, to get another one in!! LOL
    I was thinking that you hypnotize frogs , because you have a really good family Frog Legs recipe...
    Susie

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  10. I visited most of the blogs and commented on the weekend doings post. Thanks for a great giveaway and now I'm off to check out the other things you and your friends have made.

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  11. What a sweet post and a fabulous giveaway, Lara! It sure is fun to get to know you a little better. I enjoyed reading the 10 and a half things about you. Congrats on the lovely blog nomination. Your blog is lovely and so are you. So true!

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  12. Lovely to find out more about you Lara. I am shy and friendly at the same time too! But I am clueless when it comes to hypnotizing frogs!! I have visited 6 of the blogs and left comments - thanks for a wonderful giveaway :-)

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  13. I only had a chance to visit two of the featured blogs but I found them delightful as is yours. I'm a new follower now and look forward to getting to know you and your projects better.
    Patrica @ dogwoodlanerambles.blogspot.com

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  14. Fun and Done! Thanks for the giveaway!
    cork@pa.rr.com



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  15. I am never going to think of you now without a little line of dancing frogs in top hats and tails behind you. Your giveaway is so like you - a beautifully generous gesture. I visited the blogs I didn't know (4). Doesn't seem fair to count ones I visit and comment on anyway!

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  16. Thanks for sharing such fun blogs. I'm newish to quilting and have loved seeing new styles and techniques! I was able to comment on 7 of them. Thanks! Sarah: crjandsbj(At)netzero(dot)com

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  17. Thanks so much for the giveaway and for the introduction to some lovely blogs - I can see why they're your picks :) I visited and commented at all 12 :) x

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  18. This is a wonderful kit!! Thanks for the chance to win. :) I visited all 12 blogs and left comments on each. As I a beginning quilter, they were all new to me. I enjoyed reading your seven bits of info.

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    1. That is wonderful and I hope you found lots to love in the 12 blogs! Thank you for such a great comment too.
      I sure hope that you check back before the drawing. It turns out that you are a no-reply commenter and I was not able to track down a way to contact you. So if you read this, can you please add a way I can reach you if you become the winner? Thanks.

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  19. I love your post today - so fun to get to know you better. I'm going to make time to visit the blogs you have selected.

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  20. I commented on all your nominated blogs!!
    I too was curious as to why you would want to hypnotise a frog but what an awesome skill!!

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  21. I commented on all the blogs! I'm really glad you introduced them to me. I found some great things and I'm feeling inspired!
    sarah123quilt AT gmail DOT com

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  22. I commented on all the blogs. I love how varied they are even though they are about the same thing (well, you know what I mean).

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  23. I love your seven things! I love dogs too. I even compete in dog sports which require a lot of training because I love them so much!

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  24. Hi Lara! Congrats on your blog nomination! I love your blog too and can see why others nominated you. I visited all 12 (count 'em, twelve!) blogs and left a comment, including who sent me! I live very close to a pond that is heavily infested with frogs who churp, gurp and grumble all night so loudly that we have to close the windows. I'd like to hypnotize them to sleep quietly. What's your trick?

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  25. Congradulations on your blog nomination. I visited and commented to 12 blogs. It was great fun and I enjoyed it. Thank you so much for your gracious giveaway.

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    1. You are most welcome Dody and it is wonderful that you visited all twelve blogs! I love your enthusiastic spirit!
      I'm thinking you must have a yahoo email, because blogger didn't even let me know that you had commented. Unfortunately, I can't track down contact information for you. So if you read this, can you please add a way I can reach you if you become the winner? Thanks.

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  26. What fun things you shared! I can meow like a cat, too. Don't think it's a mama cat but my cats would always come around to see who was there. I'd love to know how to hypnotize frogs.Hint, hint.
    Lovely giveaway. The winner will be very lucky.

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  27. I visited all 12 of the blogs listed and commented (as Debby). And it was really fun. I found some great blogs I had not been to before. This was fun. Thank you!!!

    determineddebby at gmail dot com

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  28. What a fun post, Lara!! I loved it!! You really are kooky. Wonderful and kooky :)

    -Soma

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  29. What happens to the frog? Does it recover? I did look at3 of your favorites but I have a 2 hr internet limit each day or I will be on here all day. I get addicted you know. Too much fun with all you crazy happy ladies.

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    1. Hi Chris! It doesn't hurt the frog. I'm one of those people who even let's spiders outside rather than squish them. It is smart to limit your internet time. I've been here all day and have not sewn a stitch.
      I'm thinking you must have a yahoo email, because Blogger didn't even let me know that you had commented. Unfortunately, I can't track down contact information for you. So if you read this, can you please add a way I can reach you if you become the winner? Thanks.

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  30. I'm chuckling at the story about your brother. I commented on 11.

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  31. It was really fun to read about you, Lara!
    I sure got a kick out of reading you hypnotizing frogs ... I had to look this one up on youtube. My husband uses to hypnotize his grandma's chickens, she almost had a stroke when she saw all her chickens laying on the ground. :-))

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  32. Just checking in, love your blog.

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  33. I visited all 12 blogs, most of which were new to me. Fun! I left comments on them all, although there was one that said I wasn't logged in. I didn't know how to log in, so I don't think the comment got posted.

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  34. I had no idea you were crazy about dogs! ;) OK, hypnotizing frogs. . . I'm interested. . . maybe a tutorial post?? Man, I am crackin' myself up!! When I was a kid, we hypnotized the chickens :)

    Thanks for the chance! Very generous of you!

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  35. Sorry Lara, I was a bit late, but I visited the 9 blogs and discovered valuable posts. I love to learn some more things about you. I know what a beautiful person you are, with humour! Thank you again for nominating me!

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  36. Now you are making me laugh! Mimic...hypnotizing frogs?! Those are not every day talents ~ which seem to run in the family! How fun to learn about each other!

    I visited 3 ! thank you for sharing some new blogs to me!

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  37. Hypnotize frogs, huh? I think we need a tutorial! :)

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  38. I commented on each blog, and found several new ones to follow--thanks! Also, now I'm browsing some Craftsy patterns I discovered while making the rounds. What a fun way to spend an evening, thanks to you. :)

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  39. Thanks! I comment on 2 blogs, not knowing them already, now following them!

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  40. Thanks for the intro to your nominations! I have visited the 10 you listed and commented on each. I will also be going back to visit with a few of them as well! You are right....they are terrific blogs! Thanks for the chance in your giveaway -- but thanks again for the intro!

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  41. Well, as of a few minutes ago I have (remembered to, lol) finally visited and commented on 11 blogs (does writing a couple of posts on my own count for a 12th chance?! ha ha) and I am so happy you did this Lara! These are great nominations, and I've read some very interesting posts, and met some pretty amazing creative souls, not the least of whom is yourself. So generous and genuinely kind you are, not just with the giveaway (but holy wow, as Judy would say) but also with spreading the love. Mwah!

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  42. Better late than never. I have been saving your post so I could check out your blog list. I enjoy finding new blogs to follow. Thanks for sharing!

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  43. Thanks for the giveaway and sharing some new blogs. I commented on five blogs.

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  44. I spent some lovely minutes reading about your seven hidden characteristics. And I could hear your humorous streak when reading the words. You have a way with words that make me smile. I'm sure people don't get bored when they're around you...

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  45. Oh how fun to get to know you a little better! I'm enjoying this blog award and meeting new people and those we know better!

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  46. Hi Lara I may not get to write on all the blogs you listed but I came to yours through Christine, and just had to write and tell you that your blog is probably the most fun blog I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed myself reading it.
    Thanks Sue from New Zealand. ☺

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