Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Beat the Heat! Island Batik Blog Hop - Ripples

Welcome to my stop on the Island Batik Blog Hop where we are showcasing Spring 2019 collections. I got the fantabulous Electric Desert by Jackie Kunkel collection.
Isn't it divine? For the challenge we had to create a lap size or larger quilt, using as many of the fabrics in our line as possible. I used every single one of these 31 chops! I knew I wanted a modern style of quilt, but as per usual, I waffled on what design to do: invent a fresh one (started to sketch out some basic blocks to use my AccuQuilt Go! dies), then thought I could do my own design that was recently published in an ezine, and actually started cutting the 2.5" strips for it with that fabulous die, and then, I opened a recently purchased book that I just love, and want to make every quilt in it, The Quilter's Negative Space Handbook, by Sylvia Schaefer. You know when the universe aligns and you just feel it deep in your heart, your solar plexus your mind, your third eye and you hear the choir voices soar? Yeah, that all happened....it was heat all right, of the This is the one! kind.
A quilt in a tree, Lake Erie in the background...pretty much all you need to know about me in one photo.

All of the fabrics, the thread and the batting were generously provided by Island Batik, Aurifil, and Hobbs Batting. Please be sure to hop over to my co-ambassador Terry's blog, Lizard Creek Quilting today who is also working with this beautiful line.
How does one beat the heat? And let me tell you it was scorching hot the entire time I was working on this quilt, heat and humidity both... One throws oneself in water. A pool, a lake, hey, even a cool refreshing shower will help!

Sylvia's quilt is called 'Row of Diamonds', and maybe it was because she used nautical fabrics in her diamonds, but all I could think of was water, waves, ripples, sunlight glinting off it...

I had the fabric cut and a few test blocks sewn in no time. And no, it's not paper-pieced, nor do you use templates; it's just an intelligent block.😉

I started putting the blocks onto my design wall...

I knew that I wanted to use both of the accompanying yardage chops they sent as light and dark pieces, and so I did a bit of a waterfall effect, using the light at the top and the dark at the bottom, as water does as the depth increases.

I assembled the diamond panel using my much-loved Book it! method:

and in no time had the flimsy:

Now, as is the case with the majority of my quilts, this one has a story. Several years ago, in summer 2011 to be exact, I was in Windsor visiting my daughter, Dayna, and it was, as per usual, hot and humid and I was loving it. We'd already planned to leave Alberta at that point; Dayna already had, and we'd purchased a home for us here the previous year. I was on the hunt for my two beloved styles of yoga classes: Ashtanga and Yin, both hard to find. I did find Ashtanga at Downtown Yoga, at 6:30 am Monday to Thursday, gulp. Well, that was a way to beat the heat: do yoga very early, so off I went.
I have heard early morning sunlight is not as warm as evening, but I like the glow here.

There I met Michael, long-time yoga teacher at Downtown Yoga (which is no more), who sat with me for about 10-15 minutes after class, asking me my story. I was new, and he not only acknowledged me, but he took the time before going to his day job to get to know me a little. 

In the quilt top section, after echoing the diamonds and filling them with a water-like ripple motif, I did wavy lines with the intermittent swirls that came to me in another Island Batik project when I was thinking January winds and swirling snow. Both water. Different states. I added clusters of pebbles, or maybe they're bubbles, but both are found in water, so they went amongst the waves.
I echoed the diamonds once in the aqua and once in the plum. Sylvia did that on the entire background in hers.

Our actions have ripples; I firmly believe that. I also firmly believe that the Universe or by whatever name you call the benevolent force of supreme love that guides us, plants people and events in your path that you either pay attention to, or not, but they are planted for a reason. Quitting my teaching job pre-retirement age, nine years before I'd have enough years in to get the full pension due to several part-time years because of having kids and wanting to spend time with them, was a daunting, no terrifying, prospect for me at the time. It all came pouring out to Michael, who I'd just met. 

Nearly finished, Avril and I flowing along very well together again, despite our exceedingly cramped present quarters.
Michael listened. He heard me. And he gave me the perfect advice and solution to assuage (somewhat, ha) my financial fears, "Get your yoga teacher certification. There's a real need for yoga teachers here. You'd have lots of work." He planted a seed. And like they say about acorns...
or pine nuts...
That autumn, my mum gave us each some money 'from my Dad' who had died in summer 2008. I talked to my Yin teacher, also a good friend, whose sons I'd taught, about my thoughts on doing teacher training. She told me of a course starting at the Ashtanga studio where she practised, in Edmonton. So, I started my 200-hour teacher training that January 2012. The money Mum had given us kids was the exact amount of the cost of the year-long course. It's true. Universe at work. Again. Always. So I used Dad's gift to pay for this, knowing he'd heartily approve, since it'd be a gift that would keep on giving, lol.

'OM' sign FMQ-ed into the quilt. They say it is the sacred sound of the universe. I freehand drew it with a chalk pencil, FMQ-ed around it twice with the variegated purple, but then after I'd bound the quilt, decided it needed a bit more of a pop, so I used 28 wt dusky mauve Aurifil to go around once more on my Bernina.
What I didn't know at the time of my chat with Michael, was that my husband, the intrepid MacGyver, (not his real name), would decide on our 3-day drive back to Alberta, that he wasn't waiting until the planned summer 2013 date to begin this next exciting phase of our life. No. He wanted to start next year, summer 2012. I clearly recall that pounding of my heart panic attack of how in the hell am I going to live without my teacher salary? Yet simultaneously was a flutter in that same heart panic attack that was excitement. But it was a flicker, not a flame at all.

Was Michael planted that morning on purpose to sow the seed? He alternated teaching the class with the owner, my current Ashtanga teacher, Gina, so I believe he definitely was planted there that morning. 

And so it happened. I did my 200-hour Ashtanga TT, flying back to Alberta twice to complete three of the ten weekends, and in autumn of 2012, now living here in southern Ontario, fatefully finding my beloved Yin teacher training add-on, right here in good old Essex County. 
It all, all of it, fell into place, like my quilt on this most perfectly imperfect fence, as it was meant to be, even down to finding the most perfect yoga teaching job, a mere 5-minutes' drive from my home, working for and amongst, and teaching, kindred spirits galore.

A word on the 'fell into place': this was the first time I used Hobbs Silk Blend batting, which is 80% silk and 20% polyester. From first pulling it out of the package, to taking it out of the washer, I have been enamoured of its drape and softness. I will most definitely be using more of this in future quilts. A tiny part of me was like damn! should've used this in a quilt I'm keeping not giving away... Ha! But no Michael deserves this quality, draping, snuggly batting.
Machine-applied binding, sewn to the front, glued and pressed to the back, and stitched down in the ditch from the front. I remembered my satin label too!
The backing is a water-themed piece of 'vintage' fabric from my stash sandwiched between pieces of Island Batik 'Electric Desert'. The top one is Hedgehog cactus and the bottom Prickly Pear. Great names!
The batting washed up beautifully: cold water and laid flat too dry. Just look at that texture! I love how the 'om' pops.

I've always said Michael is the catalyst that pushed me to taking my yoga teacher training. He has retired now from his day job, as well as from teaching yoga, but he practises with Gina in our new Ashtanga-dedicated space. 
Like Lake Erie's calm blue/green waters on this particular morning, it is a calm space, and Michael continues to exude a calm presence. A few months ago, he told me that he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's, and my heart is breaking. However, the other famous Michael with Parkinson's, also a Canuck, has done incredibly well, and with all the new advances, I have high hope for my Michael as well. As soon as he told me, I knew I would make him a quilt.

When I was thinking on a quilt to make for this Beat the Heat hop, it came to me gently, as trees whisper, and waves ripple, that I should make this hop quilt for Michael. It is a comfort quilt, a healing quilt, and gratitude quilt for a man who has had such a profound effect on my life, and for whose continued presence in my life, I am grateful.

You never know the ripple effect your words and actions may have...

One more post-washing photo that shows the centre row of diamonds with swirls and pebbles. All the others got the rippled water motif.


Quilt Stats:
Pattern: Row of Diamonds by Sylvia Schaefer
Size: 45.5 X 55.5"
Fabric: Island Batik
Backing: Island Batik and a no-name from stash
Batting: Hobbs Silk 80/20
Quilted: on Avril, 85 479 stitches
Threads: pieced on my Bernina with Aurifil 50 wt; quilted with Aurifil 50 and YLI 40 wt variegated


Giveaway! As is the custom, there is not only a giveaway on Island Batik's blog, there is also one here. Simply leave me a comment telling me your favourite body of water (mine is Lake Erie). Followers can get a second entry by telling me in a separate comment how you follow me. At the end of the hop, I will have my trusty grandson Brady choose a number and I will email that person. If you are a no-reply blogger, please write your email in your comment or I will choose another winner.

This is what you will win, the remainder of the 2.5" strips of Jungle Cruise and a copy of Blue Skies & Sunny Days which is a great way to make use of not even half a set of strips!

Please note that due to the high volume of comments during giveaways, as well as that I am on vacation I am unable to reply to your comments, but I will for sure read them!


Linking up
My Quilt Infatuation
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
TGIFF at
Busy Hands Quilts

129 comments:

  1. This is the most wonderful story, I hope you saved it all. And Michael's Quilt, the best gift of all, made with love and so many caring thoughts into the design, and given freely with more love than we could imagine. My favourite patch of water, it HAS to be Lake Tarawera, in the Rotorua region of the North Island.We built a home, on a section that looked over the lake to Mt Tarawera, we watched the sunsets in winter as that mountain turned a brilliant pink on a frosty night, we saw snow on the top, and swam, boated and fished in that lake. We had a most wonderful holiday with another family, 4 adults, 5 children, in a very small bach, and although my friend has gone, her husband remains a true and wonderful friend, that holiday was over 45 years ago.Like your quilt,memories are so important in each of our lives.( My Dad would say, you write as you talk, LOTS ).

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  2. Your quilt is gorgeous! And your story is inspiring to all of us who step out into the unknown.

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  3. I follow you through email. BTW I have a grandson named Brady, too!

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  4. I love how your quilts have stories behind them. I for one am glad that you and MacGyver found your way to Ontario. I think Michael was a gift to help you along your journey. Beautiful quilt and wonderful sentiments quilted into it.

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  5. Lake Superior is my favourite body of water! We travel the north shore of it east and west... the views are spectacular!
    Your quilt is gorgeous... awesome design!

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  6. I love your quilt and your story. My favorite water is the Oregon beaches. The weather is so cool there, but breathtaking!!

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  7. My favorite body of water is the Gulf of Mexico. I just don't get there often enough.

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  8. I follow with Blogger - by adding you to the "blogger reading list."

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  9. Pretty quilt and wonderful story. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

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  10. That was such a beautiful story and such a gorgeous quilt to go with it. I am sure it will be loved and appreciated.
    My favorite body of water is Tybee Island. Thank you for the giveaway.

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  11. I follow on Bloglovin and Instagram.

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  12. Sandra, what a beautiful story to go with the beautiful quilt. Thank you for writing for all of us to enjoy, especially when we need to read good things. It’s a reminder to be the change you want to see. Blessings on Michael. This quilt will mean so much to him! (My favorite body of water is Lake Pepin, a widening of the Mississippi River between the limestone bluffs of Wisconsin and Minnesota.)

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  13. I happily follow you on Bloglovin and Instagram.

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  14. Like all of your other commenters, I love this quilt and the story that goes with it! Thank you for sharing it, Sandra. Your work is always stunning! My favorite water is the Pacific Ocean - especially the rocky coast in the Monterey and Pacific Grove area. Waves, rocks, tide pools - ahhhhh!

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  15. I follow you on Bloglovin and Instagram!

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  16. Alice Martina Smith amartinasmith@att.netAugust 7, 2019 at 9:50 AM

    Your Michael story is just as beautiful as your quilt. I am so happy for you that you are at home on Lake Erie! We did the Lake Erie Circle Tour a couple years ago and delighted in our Canadian and American neighbors who share the shores of this beautiful lake. I must say that my favorite water is Lake Michigan. Frankly, any one of the Great Lakes--or the Friggin' Awesome Lakes as they should be called--is an excellent choice.

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  17. I love your quilt! My favorite body of water is the Pacific Ocean.

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  18. Well, my friend, what a story! I'm a bit teary, to be honest. What a beautiful quilt for Michael. Please give him a hug for me, and let him know there are many who will be thinking of him. What a meaningful post. The fabric is beautiful, and reminds me of my favorite body of water -- Lake Superior. It's time for me to go visit soon!

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  19. Gorgeous quilt and fabulous story. Yes, it seems it was all meant to be.
    I never thought of a favourite body of water but, since I live just outside of Vancouver, I guess it would have to be Burrard Inlet. There are viewpoints on either side of the water, there are harbour cruises, and even the occasional Orca. Hmm, the mighty Fraser River is a favourite as well. Now you have me thinking, and appreciating. :)

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  20. I follow you on Instagram, Bloglovin, and by email.

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  21. I follow by email. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  22. My favorite body of water is Lake Michigan. We try to get to a local beach there at least once a summer. It is the best place to relax in God's creation!

    I absolutely love your quilt. It just might be the next quilt I make for an upcoming great-niece or nephew!

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  23. Nancy A: SewingGranda@gmail.comAugust 7, 2019 at 10:10 AM

    6 years ago, when I lived in Illinois, I would have said Lake Michigan. Now that I live in Alabama, I will say the Gulf of Mexico. But we also have ties to Lake Erie because my husband grew up just a few miles from Lake Erie in Pennsylvania.

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  24. Your quilt is beautiful and the story behind it is truly inspiring. If we listen to our hearts, we can find our paths to new adventures. My favorite body of water is Lake Tahoe. Thank you!

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  25. I am following you on Pinterest, Instagram, Bloglovin, and by email.

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  26. I love your quilt and story. So insipring!

    My favorite body of water would have to be Niagara Falls. We went there when I was 8 or 9 and it just amazed me.

    Sandy A

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  27. What an amazing story! I often think of the "what if's" in my life that has brought me here - looking out to Lake Scugog as I type. From meeting my hubby in the Bahamas, to adopting kids from Lima, Peru in the 80's on the shores of the Pacific, to our trip to the fateful Normandy beaches in 2017, water has always been there. Congrats on a beautiful quilt and best of luck to your friend.
    basaran.family (at) rogers (dot) com

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  28. I subscribe by email.
    basaran.family (at) rogers (dot) com

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  29. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  30. I follow you on Bloglovin and Instagram

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  31. Love everything about this quilt - the fabric, the pattern, your interpretation of the pattern and of course, the quilting. And your story tops it all!
    Favorite body of water changes depending on where I go that summer. Current favorite is lake Superior!

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  32. Beautiful quilt, beautiful story! My water is the Pacific Ocean.

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  33. I follow on bloglovin' and also newsletter.

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  34. What a lovely quilt! I always enjoy your reading your blog. My favorite body of water is kind of a split between the Pacific Ocean and Lake Michigan. Many memory ties to both.

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  35. Your story gave me the chills (or maybe that was the fan blowing on me), but no, seriously, what an inspiring story to go with this quilt. Many positive thoughts being sent to Michael. Your descriptions of your design process are so helpful. I don't have a favorite body of water. I enjoy the awesomeness of large waters like the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario, the power of water at Niagara Falls, and the calmness of smaller bodies like Canandaigua Lake in the Finger Lakes.
    Pat

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  36. I follow by email and will add you to my Instagram feed.
    Pat

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  37. Such a fascinating story of Michael and his perfect placement in your life! I do believe we meet people along our path for quite the same reasons. God has plans and we are so blessed by Him! Ripples is such a beautiful quilt, full of meaning, and one Michael will cherish for years to come.
    Even though I live about a mile from the Mississippi River, it's not my favorite body of water. I love the ocean more, which is so far away. Any ocean will do, as long as I can walk on its sandy beaches and play in the waves!
    duchick at gmail dot com

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  38. I am a happy Bloglovin' and IG follower of yours, Sandra!
    duchick at gmail dot com

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  39. Your wonderful story is filled with Heart Memories to hold close always! Thank you for sharing...your Quilt is Awesome & perfect! I love Lake Erie too..but I saw the Ocean for the first time a few years ago..when went to visit our Daughter in NC. It was breathtaking to see...so has to be my favorite body of water. Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too :)

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  40. I also follow you thru Email, Bloglovin & Pinterest :)

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  41. love your quilt and the story of michael. my favorite body of water is the gulf of mexico, texas coast.

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  42. Sandra, such a beautiful story about the background for this quilt. I am so touched with the love you put into this quilt. What a beautiful pattern. I live near Lake Tahoe but the Pacific Ocean has always called my name.

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  43. Beautiful design. My favorite body of water can be found at the beach on Fort DeSoto Park in Florida. It's not as busy as some of the other beaches on the west coast.

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  44. I guess the Atlantic Ocean is my favorite body of water. We vacation with as much of the family as can get there every summer and I love spending time with the kids and grands at the beach!!

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  45. I guess Lake Tahoe. It's beautiful. I love your quilt. Color and design, wonderful.

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  46. Such a beautiful quilt, and the story behind it as well!
    Although I live near Lake Champlain (the "almost" Great Lake), my favorite body of water is the Atlantic ocean - particularly Penobscot Bay in Maine.

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  47. Amazing quilt. Even more amazing story. Things always happen for a reason...even if we don't know the reason in the moment.

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  48. Sweet story and beautiful quilt!
    I'd love to visit your part of the world! I love beautiful places. I guess my favorite body of water is the Gulf of Mexico since we've spent time there on several vacations and cruises.

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  49. Beautiful quilt, and I enjoyed your story. My favorite body of water is lake Superior.

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  50. Wonderful story, thanks for sharing it! My favorite body of water is the Pacific Ocean...have lived near it all my life.

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  51. I love Lake Michigan... went there a lot as a kid when I lived closer to it!

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  52. Carribean Ocean. I like how your diamonds looks like the sun making the waves sparkle. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  53. Following on bloglovin'. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  54. My favorite body of water isn't a body of water. I love the Deshutes River and in particular the water fall called Tumwater Falls. It is so beautiful, majestic and inspiring there, I love it. I love your quilt, the inspiring story behind it and that you are giving it to Michael. Thank you for sharing the story and quilt with us.

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  55. I read your blog a couple times a week to see what you are up to.

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  56. My favourite body of water is the sea/ocean off the beach called Newgale in South Wales - it's been a constant in my life for many, many years - although I don't get to see it often enough. (My second favourite is Loch Morlich at Aviemore, which is about an hour and a half away from me. My third favourite is Loch Clunie which is a five minute walk away from me. I've just discovered that someone offers paddle board yoga there so I'm going to have to get myself along there one day soon to have a go!

    I'm sure your quilt will bring comfort to Michael.

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  57. Beautiful quilt, love the colors and movement!

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  58. Gorgeous quilt, love
    the colors. And a
    fabulous story! Hope
    Michael does well.
    Carla from Utah

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  59. I love when you can find what you need in a book on the shelf. Perfect designs for gorgeous fabrics! Great job!

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  60. Such a beautiful quilt and lovely story. My favorite water has changed over the years. I live close to The Atlantic & enjoy visiting it, also enjoyed the lakes in our region of New England, but now love warm water- the Gulf of Mexico, a pool or a lake.

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  61. I follow you on Bloglovin, FB & IG

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  62. I really enjoyed reading your story--and what a beautiful Quilt!!
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  63. I receive your blog through Email.
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  64. Great story, thanks for sharing! Since I'm almost smack dab in the middle of the Central Illinois I don't see alot of water! Farm country! But I do live only 2 blocks from our lake so I guess it's my favorite.

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  65. The Gulf of Mexico! Living in South Mississippi, we have 22 miles of man-made beaches to choose from, all less than an hour's drive away! Thank you, Susan

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  66. I follow you by email newsletter! Thank you, Susan

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  67. Glendale Lake at Prince Gallitzin State Park in Pennsylvania where my family often picniced when I was growing up.

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  68. That is a beautiful quilt story, all woven into your story and Michael's story and everyone's story.
    My favorite body of water is Crater Lake in Oregon. I love being in the woods in the Pacific Northwest and there's something so mysterious and beautiful and awe-inspiring about Crater Lake.

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  69. Pretty quilt! Thank you for sharing your story and your quilt.
    cecilialyoung at gmail dot com

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  70. I follow via email.
    cecilialyoung at gmail dot com

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  71. As usual, I am in awe. It is a real beauty and you did a fabulous job. The story is so touching and I am always intrigued by the known and unknown ripples in life. The quilting motifs are terrific. I am sure this will become as important to Michael in his upcoming challenges and his conversation did in yours. Namaste.

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  72. Those fabrics were truly calling out to be matched up with that quilt design. An amazing finish! My favourite body of water might just be the "west coast", that is the west coast of Ontario, aka Lake Huron. Particularly at sunset!

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  73. Via email is how I follow you.
    Thank you for your kindness and generosity with this lucky draw!

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  74. Thank you for sharing this lovely story with us. Who can guess how far its ripples will spread? My favorite body of water is the Pacific Ocean; my favorite place to experience it is in Orange County, CA, my home-sweet-home, though I am far from there now.

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  75. Hands down its lake superior. ..love going swimming on the north Shure drive. .. happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  76. I follow with e-mail.... happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  77. I live near the Mississippi River and have had great fun on the water. Thanks for sharing your beautiful quilt. It captures the theme of the blog hop wonderfully. And thanks for the inspiring post!

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  78. I follow you on Bloglovin! Thanks for all the inspiration!

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  79. Sandra your quilt is beautiful and the story behind it is inspiring; a reminder that things happen as they were meant to. Sending positive, healing thought to Michael. I loved Okanagan Lake when I lived in Kelowna. Now that I am a Kootenay resident I find myself drawn to theColumbia River and often stop while driving by to just appreciate the flow of the water over the damns and listen to the roar as it goes by.

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  80. My favourite patch of water is a Greek Island, Crete in South of Greece. The water is like diamond and the subset is amazing every single day. Wow your quilting is so beautiful xxx

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  81. I also believe that everything happens for a reason, and that there are no äccidents. My favorite body of water is the lake in Alberta that we live at. Thanks!

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  82. I follow you on Bloglovin. Thanks!

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  83. Such a lovely, peace evoking quilt! My favorite body of water is Lake McDonald, in Glacier Park, Montana. But my fondness for lakes also includes the lakes of Voyageurs National Park and too many others to name.

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  84. As for how I follow you, that would be through Instagram and clicking the links to your blogs from there 💗

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  85. Thank you for sharing this lovely story and your beautiful quilt. I love to be anywhere near the sea

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  86. I have your blog saved in my favourites

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  87. Since I am 30 minutes from it...The Pacific Ocean. If a lake...Big Bear!

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  88. Wow, Sandra! What an awesome story! Thank you so much for sharing it. I know he’s going to love his quilt! Favorite body of water, huh? The Atlantic Ocean!

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  89. These fabrics are yummy. Your quilt is gorgeous. The white really makes the fabrics stand out. Thank you for sharing and inspiring.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  90. My favourite body of water would be...Lake Erie. Beautiful for swimming in the summer and such awesome power in the Fall and winter.

    A friend just sent me to your blog because she knew I'd enjoy it and of course, she was right!

    Lisa

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  91. My favorite body of water is Lake Michigan. It’s the first lake I saw with waves.

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  92. Thank you for sharing your story. I love your Ripple quilt. My favorite body of water is Lake Superior!

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  93. I follow your blog w/ bloglovn!

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  94. I so look forward to your blog. My favorite body of water is the marsh behind our home on Oak Island, NC where I enjoy kayaking.

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  95. It's always a wonder when the right people show up in your life at the exact right time. Such a beautiful quilt and back story to go with it!

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  96. We live by Lake Michigan, but my favorite place to visit is Lake Superior.
    jgsowin@gmail.com

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  97. What a wonderful story and beautiful quilt. I've been jealously following your vacation on IG.

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  98. We share the love of the same body of water, Lake Erie, but from different shores. My family's cottage is on Van Buren Point, half way between Erie and Buffalo. Isn't the water high this year!! We've been going there for more than 65 years. I loved your story of your recent life's journey. Continued good vibes.

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  99. I've just started to follow you via bloglovin.

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  100. My fav is Lake Michigan. I also posted a quilt on a tree with lake in view. marykmalon1@gmail.com

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  101. oh, and I subscribe to your newsletter via email. marykmalon1@gmail.com

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  102. My favorite body of water is the ocean. I live 2 miles from it in California. I am staying home this summer and just enjoying the mild weather we have here. My visiting guests are quilters also, so it has been fun!

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  103. What a wonderful story—on so many levels Coincidence?? I think not. My favorite lake is Lake Superior. It is generally too cold for swimming. My love comes from the beauty...the color...the vastness. The surrounding forests, stones etc along with memories made there with my hubby and kids.

    msyvonne@wowway.com

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  104. a beautiful quilt, thanks for the chance at a wonderful giveaway. I like the Ocean.

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  105. I love your aptly names quilt and its story!
    my favourite body of water is probably the Atlantic Ocean

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  106. The fabric is great, but I really like what you did with it! My favorite body of water for swimming is any sparkling clean pool that is 80 F. or above. For walking the beach, I want the southern CA beaches! Your quilt is beautiful, but your story of becoming a Yoga instructor is even more beautiful. I call that God, because He is in the details of our lives, knows us by name, and knows the path we are walking. Your gift is a wonderful representation of Michael's gift to you. Thanks for sharing it, and thanks for the giveaway.

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  107. My favorite body of water is the Atlantic Ocean. I have spent my life living close to the ocean in Connecticut and right at the ocean in New Hampshire.

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  108. I love your quilt stories and this quilt. Such visual appeal. My favorite waters are the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. I have been there so many times and never tire of eyeing those beautiful green waters.

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  109. I follow you via Bloglovin and IG.

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  110. Great use of these fabulous IB fabrics!!

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  111. Gorgeous quilt. Thanks for sharing. I am an email follower

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  112. My favourite body of water is a fresh water lake - Candle Lake, here in Northeastern Saskatchewan. Lots of memories there.

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  113. Oh, Sandra, the quilt is gorgeous and the story behind it is beautiful, too! I hope he feels the comfort you've stitched into it for him :) No need to enter me into your giveaway, but my favourite body of water will always be the Atlantic Ocean!

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  114. Fabulous Quilt! Your friend will love it!

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  115. Most any lake, love the calming of the water and waves.

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  116. It's so fun to see how the universe can align so perfectly in life and for a quilt. Love the story and this quilt is amazing.

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  117. My favorite body of water is Lake of the Woods. A78mandel at yahoo dot com

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  118. My current favorite is Lake Winnepasakee (spelling???) in NH. However, Lake Erie is a sentimental touchstone since I lived in Erie until I was 12.

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  119. I forgot to say my favorite body of water is the Niobrara River which is near where I live.
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  120. Love the color and movement in your quilt!

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