Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Riley Blake Design Team Project & GIVEAWAY!!

Today I'm SO excited to be sharing a new project for the Riley Blake Design Team!!

Quilted Chevron Tote Bag tutorial

This step by step tutorial is for making a Quilted Chevron Tote bag, using very simple instructions, Riley Blake's new Chevron fabric collection, that's casual and useful. You can take this method of tote bag making and go crazy with your own ideas, just by adding a few steps.

Remember this Chevron Quilt Block from last week?

Chevron Quilt Block

Well, now it's a Quilted Chevron Tote Bag! A bag that's soft and easy, perfect for shopping, the beach or pool, and for washing after much use!

Quilt Block Chevron Tote Bag

I really hope you like this tutorial! You can get very creative using this method of tote bag making. You can swap out the batting for interfacing, to create a sturdier bag, add pockets, appliques, magnetic closures for a fancier version, etc.. The possibilities are really endless!! My project will be up on their blog later this morning, they are a few hours behind those of us on the East Coast, so be sure to stop by and check it out later this morning!

GREAT NEWS, besides having the honor of guest posting on the Riley Blake Blog as part of the Design Team, I also get to host a new RBD Fabric Giveaway right here today!!!

How does a chance at winning a Fat Quarter Bundle of an entire Riley Blake Collection sound??!!

RBD sponsor

Well...the sweet folks at Riley Blake are so generously offering a Fat Quarter bundle of the entire Riley Blake Chevron Collection to one lucky reader!!! WOW!

My creation
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Enter to Win!

Here's how,

1. Simply add a comment to this post. (one entry) If you want, you can let me know one thing you hope to stitch up soon?
2. Followers of Maureen Cracknell Handmade get a second entry! Whether you follow me here or on Facebook, just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one entry)
3.
Follow the Riley Blake Blog or facebook page for a third entry. Just let me know that you do by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (one entry)

That’s 3 possible entries! Enter now through Friday morning and I will announce the winner in a new post here on the blog.

* Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or an anonymous commenter, remember to include your email address in your comment so that I can contact you, should you win!

Thank you so much for stopping by! I'm so excited to be a part of this Riley Blake Design Team!!!

915 comments:

  1. I would love to make the Prismatic Quilt that has a quilt-along gearing up, but I am not sure I can handle all those triangles :-? Nexy project may be a paper-pieced mini-quilt!

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  2. What a fun giveaway! No matter which collection it is, I know I'll want to fire up the sewing machine and jump right in!

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  3. I am a happy follower of your blog! Always exciting to see all the creative projects you come up with! Great Chevron Tote - I have loved seeing that fabric everywhere, but now I am glad to start seeing some projects actually using it!

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  4. I also follow the RBD blog - Thanks for the chance to win!

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  5. I need to bite the bullet and make a new wallet. But, I"ll probably make a new purse first.

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  6. I follow your blog. Thanks for the chance to win, and congrats on being part of the RB design team! Love the tote.

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  7. I hope to stitch up a nice quilt made with embroidered redwork blocks on it for my granddaughter! Very old fashioned! Thanks for the give away offer Maureen!

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  8. I can't wait for the new Erin McMorris's collection to come out in June so I can start a Retro Flower quilt for my bed !!

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  9. oooh I;d maybe make an apron for myself or include it in a quilt for my son. or a bag!!

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  10. I also follow you here on the blog and on facebook!

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  11. I follow you here and on Facebook ! I don't want to miss anything hehe :)

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  12. I like the Riley Blake facebook page ! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  13. I also follow Riley Blake on facebook!

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  14. Well, after seeing the chevron tote tutorial I would like to have a go at that!
    Elaine

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  15. Well, since we just found out we're having a girl after having three boys, I'm thinking I need to start on some cute dresses! Thanks!

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  16. I follow you on Facebook!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  17. ooh, is this open to the UK? if so, I would love to win! Those Millie's closet prints on the riley blake site are gorgeous! i am currently in summer wardrobe mode, but i would love to try a quilt, so that's what I would do.

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  18. My granddaughter will turn one year old on May 5, and I am planning to make her a birthday outfit -- complete with a special crown! :-)

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  19. And I follow Riley Blake in my Google Reader. Thanks again!

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  20. I follow your blog on GFC and also on Facebook! Thank you so much for all the fun giveaways you have! :-)

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    1. Thanks for saying so, Gwen! I always worry that I have too many, I know some people frown on them! I personally love giveaways, well..obviously! :)

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  21. I follow Riley Blake on Facebook, too! :-)

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  22. I have been fighting with two skirts I am making my twin daughters. I can not wait to finish them and make something easier and fun!

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  23. hoping to stitch up some teacher appreciation gifts very very soon!

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  24. I am determined to finish a mug rug before we move. The binding needs to be made and sewn on. That is all I have left to do on this itty bitty project. When we finish with the move and have my sewing/crafting room set up, I'll be wanting to make a grand-niece a Halloween quilt as she is a Halloween baby. I also want to make a couple of skirts, some other miscellaneous projects.. Thank you for a chance to win!

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  25. I am a follower of Maureen's blog.

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  26. I follow you on both your blog and facebook. :-)

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  27. This is a fabulous giveaway! In the meantime I need to finish up my daughter's birthday quilt (considering her birthday was last week and I haven't started piecing it together, I really need to start!)

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  28. Great bag, I may need to whip one up since in the next year all plastic bags are being banned in Austin... will need to get my groceries home some way!

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    1. WOW! That's awesome! If I were you, I'd just skip the quilting and the lining and make a bunch of them!!

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  29. That chevron fabric is so cute! I would probably use the fabric for your bag tutorial Maureen.

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  30. I also follow Riley Blake on Facebook!

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  31. Cute bag! I have a list of "want to do" projects a mile long -- but I'm getting ready for a craft show. When I'm done with craft show prep, I've got an Amy Butler bag ready to go.

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  32. I follow Riley Blake on facebook. I also follow their blog! Thanks again!

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  33. I follow your blog (and love it!)

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  34. I follow Riley Blake on FB. They are fabulous!

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  35. Ooh! How exciting! I love a 'surprise' giveaway! I really want to play with more zigzags. In pinafores, in quilts. So many ideas, only 2 hands! :)

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  36. Winning an entire Riley Blake Collection sounds AMAZING! I LOVE the purse!

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  37. I like Riley Blake on Facebook - thanks for the chance to win!

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  38. hi maureen, love the tote bag! i am looking forward to some basting and quilting this weekend. i have a couple more blocks to make for swaps but then it is all me and the quilting... i can't wait!

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  39. I follow you by email and Facebook - thanks for the chance to win!

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  40. I will be working on a quilt for my nephews. I am also working on a dress for my granddaughter.

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  41. I just purchased some of the Riley Blake chevrons in aqua for a future quilt - thanks for the tutorial and the chance to win some great fabric!

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  42. Thanks for the chance to win! I love Riley Blake fabrics! I just started quilting, so I'd use the fabric for that!

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  43. I follow you on FB. And you made my list of favorite sewing/fabric/quilting sites to go to on a friends recent informal poll. :o)

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  44. And.... I follow Riley Blake on FB, too. Love their fabric lines - and their fabulous tutorials. I made the Peak Hour Quilt - as my 1st quilt - and it was very well received by the Momma-to-be!

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  45. I am a follower and so enjoy your blog!

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  46. Commenting for Entry 1. I LOVE the Chevron series, I want to make oh so many bags with them all! <3

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  47. This is my entry 2 - I follow you on FaceBook :)

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  48. Entry 3- I just followed Riley Blake on FaceBook. Should have done it sooner, I love their stuff!

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  49. So great! I love Riley Blake fabric! I hope to win!

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  50. Adorable bag! I will definately check it out. I would love to finish the binding on a few quilts and work on my Granny Square quilt. With 3 boys, baseball has officially taken over my life for now so sewing time is very limited. Thanks for the chance! Smiles~Beth

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  51. I follow Riley Blake on Facebook!

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  52. I think I'm gonna have to make a cheveron bag. That is beautiful!

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  53. I am a happy follower of yours on FB. Thanks for the chance and congrats on joining the Riley Blake team...how exciting! Smiles~Beth

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  54. I am a follower of Riley Blake's Blog

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  55. Well, I have to quilt and bind a wheelchair quilt I am making for my husband's great-aunt who is in the hospital. After that, I bought a pattern and have fabric picked out to make my first bag ever... I'm nervous about it, but excited!

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  56. Im following Riley Blake on facebook.

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  57. I happily follow Riley Blake on FB (I absolutely adore their fabric lines!!!). Thanks so much for the chance. Hope your day is lovely. Smiles~Beth

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  58. I follow you and really enjoy your blog. I saw above that you worry about having too many giveaways - I wouldn't worry about that. They're fun! Who doesn't love the chance to win beautiful fabric???

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  59. This is SEW cute and would be a quick project for my DD!

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  60. Well, right now I am quilting, so I really, really hope I'll be stitching up some binding soon!

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  61. A Giveaway?! Great because I love the Chevrons and I'm sure that the new fabricline will be as good as well! Thank you!

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  62. ...and for sure I follow you on Facebook ;)

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  63. I follow your blog and like you on facebook!

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  64. I like Riley Blake's facebook page!

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  65. and right now I've discovered the Facebook-page of Rile Blake Designs - I'm now a follower and looove the page already ;) Thank you for showing this!

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  66. Love your Chevron bag! I'm hoping to stitch up some summer clothes for my little girl in the next few weeks.

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  67. Love the bag, need to make a new one for me soon and this is a great one. I'm busy making quilts for Siblings Together a UK charity supporting children separated by the care system, I've got one top finished, another more than half done and another waiting to be cut! Thanks for the great giveaway

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  68. Love surprises! Hope to finish a birthday quilt soon for someone's 4th birthday.

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  69. I follow both your blog and your facebook page.

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  70. I'm a follower of yours by RSS and on facebook.

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  71. I'm already a Riley Blake blog follower and facebook fan - thanks very much

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  72. I can't wait for the tutorial to go up...I was looking for a pattern to use for a tote as a teacher appreciation gift for next week! Perfect timing. Thanks!

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  73. I love the bag and the chevron pattern! I NEED to get some dresses made for my girls! I need an awesome sewing room (or any at all would be awesome) so I don't have to pull it all out and put it all away. I think I would get a lot more done!

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  74. I follow you on GFC and facebook as well.

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  75. Already following Riley Blake's blog and facebook page. Thanks for the chance!

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  76. I also follow Riley Blake designs on both too. :)

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  77. I love the chevron fabric! at the moment I'm cutting out a charity quilt for siblings together!

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  78. Love that fabric...and your quilt block....!
    boppiesgirll@gmail.com

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  79. I am loving all the projects I've been seeing from the Riley Blake team using the Chevrons! Not sure what I do with them yet, but I know some would end up in a quilt in the near future.

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  80. I think that chevron fabric could be used in so many ways.

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  81. I'm planning to start a baby quilt later this week using Peak Hour! Thanks for chance to win some wonderful Riley Blake! (marshudson at comcast dot net)

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  82. And I follow your blog on Google Reader.

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  83. I'm one of your followers; thanks! (marshudson at comcast dot net)

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  84. I follow Riley Blake on FB as well.

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  85. I'm signed up for Riley Blake's newsletter; thanks (marshudson at comcast dot net)

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  86. Good Morning Maureen, I'm getting excited about all the new chevrons going around the fabric world. I'd want to make lots of things. Maybe some pillows.cyndylouquilts@yahoo.com

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  87. My next project...this tote bag of course. Love a quick project in between bigger ones.

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  88. I follow you on your Blog and Facebook. cyndylouquilts@yahoo.com

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  89. I follow Riley Blake on Facebook, too. cyndylouquilts@yahoo.com

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  90. I follow Riley Blake Designs on Facebook.

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  91. By the end of the week I'm hoping to finish at least one of the three baby quilts I'm working on, all three of which will be given to a dear friend of mine to help with fundraising to adopt a beautiful little girl from Russia who has down syndrome. Beautiful quilts for a beautiful cause!

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  92. Love that bag, want to make one. Right now I am working on a baby quilt and a queen size quilt for myself. Thanks for the tutorial.

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  93. I follow your blog. Thanks for the chance!

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  94. I follow you on facebook. Love your blog.

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  95. I follow Riley BLake on facebook too.

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  96. The next project I hope to stitch up are some table runners and place mats.
    ~Terry~

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  97. I'm already a happy follower of your blog :o)
    ~Terry~

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  98. I Love Giveaways, its exciting to be in a contest so easily, I have never one any, but hey, I dont by lotter tickets either... LOL

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  99. I follow you MC and like I stayed yesterday, I am trying to save up enough fabric with color and style for a KINGSIZE BED SPREAD..

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  100. I am a big follower of Riley Blake,even painted my shed outback like some of their fabric design.

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  101. I follow the Riley Blake blog. Thanks for the chance! :o)
    ~Terry~

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  102. I love the tote, it looks like a great size!

    kari dot stewart at me dot com

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  103. I would love to make myself a fun new summer skirt ... it's been a while since I've made anything for myself!

    Jennifer
    jennifereladd at yahoo dot com

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  104. I follow you here. Always enjoy seeing your creations.

    kari dot stewart at me dot com

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  105. I follow you on Facebook.

    jennifereladd at yahoo dot com

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  106. What a lovely tote bag! I really grow to like chevrons, until now I used to make them myself with HST... ;-)

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  107. I'm a follower of your blog. I cannot like you on FB because I've quit the Blue Universe for good.

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  108. I've just become a follower of the Riley Blake blog.

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  109. Maureen, Chevron design is perfect for your tote bag.

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  110. I follow RBD on Facebook.

    Thanks again for the opportunity to win some great fabric.

    kari dot stewart at me dot com

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  111. I love a chevron bag!! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  112. I am hoping to be done with stitchin the pinwheel blocks for my 1st ever quilt soon so I can put them together and get my daughter's quilt done before she moves to her big girl bed!

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  113. I like the Riley Blake Facebook page.

    jennifereladd at yahoo dot com

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  114. I need to get a baby quilt done--I'm going to force it on myself this weekend because the baby is due May 7. I keep imagining a 'modern' version of something but then back down. I'm going to find the courage! dammit! And yesterday was my birthday. I'm getting too old to be such a chicken liver!

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  115. I hope to stitch up some wallets!

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  116. I am in love with that tote, black and white anything makes me drool......

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  117. oyes, I'm a follower! looking forward to more sewing machine info.....crossing my fingers and toes that you got one free!

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  118. I love the chevron prints! I haven't bought any yet, I need to destash a bit first :) Thanks for the chance to win some great RBD fabric!

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  119. I already follow Maureen Cracknell handmade on facebook.

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  120. This is great. I have crocheted chevron afghans forever and so excited to see them hit the fabric world. I would have to make your cute little tote bag for starters. Thanks for the tutorial and another great giveaway.

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  121. I am a FB follower of you.

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  122. I also follow Riley Blake Designs on facebook, and I LOVE all of their fabrics :D

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  123. And now a Riley Blake follower.

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  124. Wow this would be spectacular! I'm trying to figure out what I want to use to make a picnic blanket, so this would be super useful!

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  125. I'm hoping to sew up some baby gifts--I'm a little behind :-o

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  126. I love these chevrons!! I would love to be stitching with them but I am playing with an early line of Riley Blake's so that is fun as well :)

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  127. O and, I follow you on google live feed :)

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  128. I follow Riley Blake!! They are incredible!!

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  129. I follow your super fun blog as well :)

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  130. What an amazing giveaway!!! Thanks for the chance to win! I am HOPING like crazy to get my daughter's quilt (my first complete quilt EVER) COMPLETELY DONE very soon!

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  131. I am a follower of your blog! (and I love it!)

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  132. I really want to get my hands on some of those chevrons, I think they would make super fun bindings

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  133. Great bag! Thanks for the giveaway! I'm wanting to make some tote bags since they are quick to do.

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  134. I hope to find time to make a toile for my hen do dress soon. I still got 3 months but its nice to be ahead of your game, right? :)

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  135. Love the tote! I think these fabrics are a great stash builder. No specific plans right now, but I'm sure I will come up with something.

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  136. I follow Riley Blake's facebook page!!! Thanks again!

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  137. Really like this bag ~ it's so cute! Really a great way to show off quilt blocks.
    I've always got plans for something or other. Think a bag like this would be the thing!
    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  138. Love your bag and all the ideas for variations. I have started my first H2H quilt which I hope to finish by next week. I'll bet a Riley Blake bundle would make a great H2H quilt too -- although I'd probably have to split it and use some for myself! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  139. I'm following you on your blog and facebook ~ don't want to miss out on anything ~ teehee!

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  140. And I get Riley Blake's newsletter!

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  141. wow!!thank you Maureen and Riley Blake folks. I am about to start a few bags and table toppers....love your tote

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  142. I an hoping to finish some diaper covers this week.

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  143. I like Riley Blake on facebook!

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  144. There are a lot of things I want to make, need more time and energy, lol.
    I am working on an americana piece now, and I want to make some more quilts to hang around the house, some charity quilts, and then learn how to make bags and clothing, so lots on my to do list.

    Debbie

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  145. I LOVE tote bags! And I especially like the black/white zigzag fabric. I'm hoping to finish up a checkerboard quilt I started a couple months ago...got in to other projects and haven't gotten back to it!

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  146. love the bag! the stitch project at the top of my list these days is my daughter's Daisy uniform... she's earned several new patches lately but oh-my-word i don't get along with clear thread (and unfortunately that's the only way to get them to look nice & stay on through the wash).

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  147. I am one slipper down one slipper to go on a pair from ithinksew.com. Going to make more pairs to give out for mother's day from some AMH velveteen. Love your cheveron tote!

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  148. I follow Rilley Blake on facebook.

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  149. I follow Riley Blake through google reader

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  150. Ifollow you! I love Riley Blake!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment!

If you are a no reply or an anonymous commenter, I will be sure to respond to your comment right here - so please do check back!