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Wednesday, September 16

Quilt Kit Giveaway!, Ad Hoc Improv Quilters, & A Fun, New Linky Party!

I'll talk about the Rainbow Zoo quilt kit giveaway, which is part of the Quilty Orphan Adoption Event, in a few moments...

Rainbow Zoo by Amy Blay

But first, there are some other fun things to share too!  


Ad Hoc Improv Quilters

There is something very exciting going on right now in Quilt Blogland!  It's nothing less than a chance to stretch your wings, exercise your creativity, perhaps be a little daring, and see where it might take you.  

What am I referring to?  Kaja, of Sew Slowly and Ann, of Fret Not Yourself have put their combined talents together and begun the Ad Hoc Improv Quilters group!  They'll be hosting it together, using both of their blogs as classrooms.  Everyone is welcome, at any time, even if you don't know the first thing about improvisational quilting.  Ann and Kaja will be our guides along the way.  



I've been joyfully watching these two wonderfully talented women create their own brand of magic for over a year now, so when they began this group, I was thrilled!  

And so the adventure began... 
One of the first things Kaja recommended was to pick a shape and simply play with it.  So I did.  I picked wedges.  Then Ann talked about breaking up columns and that actually made me decide to try my wedges in a defined column, which i thought I might break up later.  This weekend, I took the Eclectic Elements fat quarter bundle off the shelf, blew the dust off, added in some scraps and set to work.  (Do you have trouble taking apart bundled collections and actually using them, instead of just admiring their pretty selves on the shelves?  I do.)  

I chose part of a beloved poem as inspiration.  It has influenced what I've done with the piecing so far and I hope that it continues to do so. 



Ha, ha, this isn't how I meant it, but that could be the Scrappy Quilter's Credo.  Soma, if you read this I know you will recognize the lines from Sense and Sensibility. Any other Jane Austen fans out there?   In the movie adaptation, Alan Rickman read these words with such deep feeling that I doubt I'll ever be the same. 

Back to the experiment:  Without intention, my random wedges began to take the form of a tree trunk as I sewed, so I went with the flow.  Who knows where this is going to take me for the quilt, but it sure was fun!

I showed my husband Jim and asked him if he thought it looked like a tree trunk and he said "Sorry; I'm just not seeing it."  ...  :O ...?  Nope, he was not being facetious.      
Here it is, on the design wall, next to my blocks from Deana's wonderful Americana Quilt Along:

Improvisational Wedges grew into a tree

This next photo is a visual aid for poor Jim.  heh heh heh

If only that tree was wearing a red striped shirt.
Photo background from rgbstock by micromoth

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Coming soon to a fabulous blog near you!

A New Linky Party!  Starting Thursday, October 1st

Starting on October 1st, there will be a new linky party on Thursdays, hosted by Zenia, of A Quilted Passion.   If this party is anywhere near as fun as Zenia is, it will be a ball!  Just the name cracks me up.  I hope to see you all there on Thursdays!


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Quilty Orphan Adoption

This post is all about sharing fun events and Cyndy's Quilty Orphan Adoption Event is no exception.  It runs from October 18th through the 20th on Cyndy's blog Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.  

Too many quilts, too little time?  This is a great linky party for all of us who would like to give away a quilt project that we're no longer jazzed about, but which someone else would love to take over.  So grab this chance to rid yourself of guilty, quilty dust collectors and make someone else happy at the same time!  Be sure to visit all the linkers because this is also a great place to pick up a new project too.  




Rainbow Zoo Quilt Kit Giveaway

I'm starting my giveaway today.  How would you like a chance to win the makings for a fun baby quilt, from the pattern, to the fabrics?  



The pattern is called Surprise!  Some people call it a peekaboo quilt, but no matter the name, little children love them.  




There are probably enough fabrics for a pieced quilt backing and binding included in this bunch too.  The fabrics are from the Rainbow Zoo collection, by Amy Blay.  You could, of course, use the fabrics in any way you please.

I bought them all when I saw the most adorable quilt made by YC Quilter, on The Quilting Board.  The photos below are of her finished quilt, used with her permission.  She did a wonderful job with her Surprise quilt and she tells me it is still much loved.  

Rainbow Zoo Surprise! Quilt by YC Quilter
Rainbow Zoo Surprise! Quilt by YC Quilter -
I've even included the fabric for the Children of the World square

Rainbow Zoo Surprise! Quilt by YC Quilter - close up of the sweet border

I'd like to give the kit away as a boost to someone who has done charity quilting.  This particular quilt does not have to be sewn for charity though.     

 I'm starting my giveaway today and running it for one week.  I will announce the winner on Thursday the 24th.  Shipping is free and international friends are welcome to enter too!  The winner will be picked using a random number generator.  Please forgive me if I am unable to reply and reciprocate to all the comments.  Sometimes I just can't keep up with giveaways.

To enter the giveaway here's what you need to do:

1st Chance: Leave a comment below and tell me about a charity quilting cause dear to your heart that you have sewn for.  
2nd Chance: If you follow BuzzinBumble, you get a second chance in the drawing.  Just leave a second comment and tell me how you follow my blog.  
3rd Chance: You can earn a third chance in the drawing by visiting Kaja's, or Ann's, or Zenia's, or Cyndy's blogs (any or all) and leaving them some comment love.  If you did that, just leave a third comment here on BuzzinBumble, letting me know about it.   If you have not visited their blogs before, you are in for a treat! 

That is up to 3 separate comments and 3 chances to win!  Good luck!  

PLEASE remember, if you are a new visitor and have a yahoo or AOL email address, or if you are a no-reply commenter, I will probably not be able to contact you. If I am unable to contact you before the drawing, you will miss the chance to win.  :(  If in doubt, please leave your email in the comment.  Or check back, because I will let you know below your comment if I cannot reach you.    

This was a long post, but thanks for bearing with me because...


Click on the pup to leave a comment!

69 comments:

  1. What a fun idea. I am sure that I have a few that I would like to add to the project. We have about 10 groups that we donate quilts to in out guild. I suppose my favorite of the group is our pediatric hematology unit.

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  2. Of course, I am a follower.

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  3. I immediately thought your improv looked like the trunk of one of my brich trees. I love how it turned out. I can't wait to see where this all takes you. Don't enter me in the contest. I just wanted to tell you how cool your tree trunk was. Zenia's new linky sounds fun. Thanks for the heads up.

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  4. So much to see/read here today, I love it! Alan Rickman could read me the phone book. His voice is totally swoon-worthy. Also raising my hand on being a Jane Austen fan. Love your improv tree trunk. So obviously a birch! I'll sit this giveaway out, so don't include me in the drawing. I still have your pretty Christmas fabric winnings to quilt into something. Better get on that one of these days before the snow flies!

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  5. Wow! Your quilting community is really buzzing.
    I love the circus and I love Jane Austen :-)
    Amalia
    xo

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  6. I'm thrilled to see a Spenser quote (English teacher here)!

    Angelia
    theeclecticabuela@gmail.com

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  7. I am currently finishing my 9th charity quilt for the children's ward at my local hospital in Norway. I hope they give comfort and joy to the long-term sick children. I started making charity quilts in 2012.
    My most memorable charity quilt, though, was the one I made for the tornado victims in Moore, OK, in the summer of 2013. I saw an add in the local newspaper in OK announcing a sew-in one weekend. Kits were provided, and everybody managed to at least finish a quilt top during the day. The week after, there was a guild meeting, and all the finished tops were shown and handed over to the committee. "My" quilt was made of OKC Thunder fabric, and has probably given joy to a boy after his family lost most of their belongings.
    I will definitely continue making more charity quilts, it gives me so much pleasure!

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  8. I follow your blog by blog reader.

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  9. I left comments on all the 4 blogs mentioned.

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  10. Wow, your improv tree trunk looks great! Can't wait to see where it takes you next. Thanks too for the heads up on Zenia's new linky - I'll check it out.

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  11. Thanks for the head's up on AHIQ. Your improv tree is awesome. I make charity quilts for our local children's hospital.

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  12. I also follow Zenia and Cyndy on Bloglovin. Can't wait for Whoomp, There It Is.

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  13. Okay, where to begin?!?! Yes, I heard the quote in Col. Brandon's voice! :D I immediately saw a birch tree...in fact my Brother in law wants something like that for a chair he is reupholstering in Michigan :) Please excuse me from the giveaway...trying to slim things down around here :) but the quilt is adorable!!!

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  14. Hahaha...the visual aid for Jim still has me cracking up! Truth be told, I saw the tree trunk before I looked at the visual aid! Improv is definitely on my list of techniques to try...along w/paper piecing and more applique. On the Quilty Orphan Adoption, does it matter if it's a quilt/project already started or a quilt/kit still in the package? Rainbow Zoo Quilt is adorable....it's going make some peeps very happy...maker and recipient. Thanks Lara for sharing about my upcoming linky party!

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    1. The Orphan Adoption Event is live now. Projects can be in any form. Mine are usually about half finished because that is usually the point where I realized "What was I thinking!"

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  15. So much to read and to see in your posts Lara! I love your blocks and the tree trunk... husbands definitely have no imagination!

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  16. I love your improve tree, Lara! Don't listen to Jim, It looks fantastic. Silly boys :)

    Well, you already know how I feel about Alan Rickman in Sense And Sensibility! Swoon :)

    -Soma

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  17. Left Cyndy a note!
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  18. FOLLOW YOU >BLOG LOVIN'!
    (USER>lindadouglas35 )
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  19. HI, for several years now I have made about a dozen baby Charity Quilts a year for our local unwed Mom's group>"Crib Connection! It has become a passion of mine>love making them+giving them! Thank You for sharing!
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  20. Oh my goodness is that cute!!!!! joannb1978@gmail.com

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  21. I love your improv tree, it looks so good against the photo! I love making charity quilts and my favorite thing is quilt other people's quilt tops because it gets the quilts finished and into good hands as well as being great practice for me. My traditional guild donates its quilts to a single mother's half way house for the mother's and their children. My modern quilt guild is making a quilt that will be raffled off at the Meyer's center holiday luncheon. The Meyer's center is a local non-profit school that works with young mentally and physically disabled children to get them ready for school and kindergarden.

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  22. I follow your blog via bloglovin :)

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  23. Great to see you participating again! Thanks so much. I am still giggling over the tree. I had to print out your visual and put it on my bulletin board. To me it looks right at home!

    (BTW - The Orphan Adoption link is live - Feel free to link up any time)

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  24. I did visit Zenia of A Quilted Passion and read her first tutorial! The microwave cozy she made is awesome and the tutorial was easy to follow.
    Pauline
    perry94022 at hotmail dot com

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  25. I follow you via email and Bloglovin'
    Pauline
    perry94022 at hotmail dot com

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  26. My favourite charity is my local WOmen's SHelter - WOmen in Transition. For years I have made and donated children and baby quilts to them every month. I love making them and when the child leaves for a sheltered home they take the quilt with them and that I love. I also make CHristmas stockings for all the residents at Christmas every year. I would love to make this fabric into a quilt and donate it.
    Pauline
    perry94022 at hotmail dot com

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  27. I do several quilts each year for either Ronald McDonald House, Project Linus or the local Neonatal. It is so rewarding to make and give to others. I would for sure use this kit for the Neonatal and it looks like it could be for 2 babies!!

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  28. I am following you on bloglovin.

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  29. I visit Cyndi's blog regularly!! Love her scrappy quilts.

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  30. My charity quilting was done with the Common Threads Quilt Guild of DeRidder, LA. We sewed for our local dialysis center, making sure each patient was covered in love as soon as they began dialysis. We also sewed for those in crisis, giving them heart quilts.

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    1. Lynne, those are such wonderful causes and it's so great that you've done quilts for them.
      I'm replying here to let you know that your comments came in to my inbox as a "no-reply commenter" and I could not track down any other way to contact you. I hope you will contact me before the drawing: buzzinbumbleb at gmail.

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  31. I like to make quilts for Project Linus and also for the NICU at our local hospital. I enjoy making quilts for the children. Thanks for giving away a such a great kit.

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  32. I'm a new follower via email.

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  33. I've also visited the other blogs. :-)

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  34. Wow Lara so much to see in this post. Great colorful child's quilt. I don't need to win, just wanted to comment. I hope the winner does do charity work as this is a wonderful quilt for a child to receive.

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  35. First, I just cannot remember this poem being in Sense and Sensibility. Maybe you can enlighten me about the scene into which it is read... I think it was added in the movie because I just don't remember reading it in the book (which I have read many times). Hmm....
    Second, I definitely see the tree. It looks like a birch tree to me. With a ribbon on it. You know, the red or orange plastic stripes people attach to a tree to mark it...? You could even add a layer of moss and a layer of dead leaves at the bottom. And a few mushrooms. lol
    Third, thank you for the tip about the link party. I will visit for sure.
    Four, don't count me either for the generous giveaway of the beautiful package. I already have too much on my plate. But good luck to everyone!

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  36. I periodically take lap quilts to our local Hospice care facility or baby quilts to a local crisis pregnancy center. I like helping local groups when I can. And the Hands2Help quilt drive at Confessions of a Fabric Addict is something I've joined in for several years. The camaraderie of quilters all over the place coming together to help a couple charities is kind of fun. And I know Sarah puts in a lot of effort to make it a success.

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  37. I follow BuzzinBumble via GFC.

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  38. I love making charity quilts, especially lap-sized or smaller, for two reasons: they are easier to work with, AND I get bored easily so by making a smaller quilt I can actually stick with it and get it done! I've made many quilts for Hands2Help, Downey's Quilts for Kids, Project Linus and for our local quilt guild's sunshine project. I would love to work with these fabrics---so very cute!

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    1. Hi Sherry, I am attracted to making smaller quilts too, but am not sure if they are easier, although they are usually faster. You do some wonderful charity quilting! Blogger did not notify me that you had commented, so I'm guessing that you might have an aol or yahoo email address. I could not track down any other way to contact you. I hope you will contact me before the drawing: buzzinbumbleb at gmail.

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    2. Lara...I'm not very computer savvy...tried to get a new address through gmail. My address there is booksherry3 at gmail. Hope this helps. I'm much better at quilting than computer stuff!

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  39. Me again! I've just pinned your post to a Pinterest Group Board called Giveaways. You can see it at this address: https://www.pinterest.com/thechillydog/giveaways/

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  40. I saw your tree immediately. Of course, it looked like aspen to me - I see more of those than birch. How kind of your to mention our new linky. It's so exciting wondering what people have been doing and will link up.
    Your fabric giveaway looks gorgeous and is so thoughtful of you. Don't add me to the list. I'm madly trying to spin my stash down right now. Too many WIPs.
    I'm going to check out more of your links. What fun!

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  41. This post is just packed with so many cool things! Thanks so much for keeping us in the know, Lara. You sure do a wonderful job of Buzzin around the internet in search of sweet nectar to share with your readers. Thanks for sharing! And I can't wait to see what becomes of that lovely tree!

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  42. Lara, don't enter me in your giveaway as I am also participating trying to reduce my stash. :) Love your tree trunk!
    Someone will love your baby quilt fixin's. :)
    The "click on the pup to comment" - awesome!

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  43. Just cheering you on! The tree is very cute, even if Jim needs a visual aid! I love the Faerie Queen as well! Such an "epic." Good luck with your giveaway--it will make an adorable quilt!

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  44. Your improv piece definitely looks like a birch tree trunk to me. Great job!
    The Rainbow Zoo fabrics are adorable! I would love to make a quilt for Project Linus or Happy Chemo with them.

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  45. I have left a comment on Cyndy's blog and am also participating in the Orphan Adoption.

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  46. I've made quilts for the hospice which took such good care of my mom. I've also made quilts for foster children.
    hijoffeATgmailDOTcom

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  47. I am President of CAAWS, the oldest animal welfare organization in South Louisiana. We raffle off several of my quilts each year to pay for heartworm treatment. We pull from 7 kill shelters in the area and just about everyone has heartworms.
    I am just finishing up a tea towel quilt of a St. Bernard for the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Rescue fund. Love my Swissys!

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  48. Funny, funny...so what did Jim think of the visual aid? lol....thanks for the opportunity to win. Our local guild makes quilts for the Linus project and for an in-county project of making baby quilts for needy new mothers. My church community also makes quilts for families whose homes has burned. I also design a bi-annual queen size quilt for our local Breast Cancer Awareness group raffle....we usually raise several thousand dollars. Our guild members make a sampler block, then my 2 sisters-in-law and I make the top, another guild member does the longarm quilting and I bind it...usually a curved binding.

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  49. ...p.s. I follow BuzzinBumble via email...

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  50. I don't know Lara, there are a lot of things here I can't find.lol hehehehehe

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  51. What an absolutely fun quilt idea. I really like donating to Happy Chemo and Project Linus. :)

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  52. I also follow your blog with Bloglovin.

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  53. And I visit Cynthia and Zenia's blogs regularly.

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  54. Love your improv piecing. It does look like a tree trunk. Sometimes husbands don't get our art :)

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  55. That would make a fun and happy baby quilt! I've made quilts for charity before. I'm looking for a project for a silent auction item for a fundraising event the end of Oct for a friend's son who just got his second liver transplant. Karen kthurn@bektel.com

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  56. Second chance: I just signed up to follow your blog by email. Karen kthurn@bektel.com

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  57. Third Chance: I've been following Quilting is more fun than housework blog for quite a while now. Just love that name...how fitting!! I'll have to check out the other blogs you list too. Karen kthurn@bektel.com

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  58. I love that pic with the trees and your funny comment :)

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  59. Love the immediately recognizable birch tree! My DH doesn't ever get it either, but that is not his job. And yes, to Spenser, Austen, and Rickman in S&S. Awesome improv job!

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    1. That's true! My husband is really good with numbers, whereas I am not. Thank you for the compliment! I could not track down a way to write back, so am replying here.

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  60. Lara, thanks again for helping spread the word about our linkup It's so kind of you. This is such a great post - several diverse and interesting topics. I love the way you are using a bundle. I never buy them because I'm afraid I wouldn't ever split them up. What fun to use some of the lovelies we already have. Thanks for linking up with AHIQ.

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  61. I totally saw the tree. Even before you put it in the photo.

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  62. I didn't need the visual aid! I really do think it looks like a tree trunk so what's next with it????

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