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Sunday, January 31, 2016

Five Years

Seriously, how can it be that I've been doing this bloggy thing for FIVE full years? The memory of a time before A Quilter's Table is kind of faint. This blog and its related social media personas, the newsletter, the bees, the quilt guild, the quilt shows, the projects . . . well it's never far from my mind. And I can't deny that it all adds up to a big part of my free time.

Completed Swoon Quilt!
Swoon, 2011

Every year when I write this annual post, I can't help but go back and read those from previous years. One Year expressed an appreciation of the growth and creativity that had blossomed. (More than one person has told me, "What you do now is sure different from what you used to do." Indeed.) At Two Years, I commented, "What I love about a journey is that no matter how well you plan, there are usually elements of surprise, new experiences you could not have anticipated, and often growth in unexpected ways. And this last year has held all of that for me." Three Years found me speechless and emotional - seriously! Then by Four Years I was a bit incredulous at the changes that had happened - in my stash, my studio, and my sewing itself.


Now I'm marking five years, and I sit here awed by the scope of it all. On one hand, it feels like alot of it has come of its own accord. Invitations, gentle prodding from the community, inspiration in so many ways - it all has drawn me to a place I couldn't have imagined five years ago. But boy am I grateful for it all. Nor could I have anticipated how tied I'd become to our community. I mean, really now, I am so proud to be a part of it all.

HST Love, 2013

At the time I began, I felt late to the game but I'm sure glad I didn't let that stop me. Stepping out to become an active participant rather than just a follower has been so fulfilling, so challenging, and so much fun.


So thank you. Your presence here is a gift every day. I know blog-reading has diminished some with the popularity of other social media avenues, but I tell you. Here is where I get to share my truest creative self, and that still means alot.

Monochrome, 2015

To mark the occasion, my friend Kristina/Fabric Bubb has agreed to partner with me in a celebratory give-away! Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to her modern fabric shop. I'm a real fan, and in addition to a beautifully curated selection of fabrics, her customer service can't be beat. Check out the online shop, find Fabric Bubb on Instagram, but before you go, leave a comment. I'll choose a random winner Friday night! And again, thanks for being here.


127 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your blogging anniversary!

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  2. Congrats on the big 5 years! That's amazing. You have created SO much and you have so much to be proud of, Debbie. I love watching the evolution of your style and projects. I also echo your feelings about blogging in this day and age. It continues to be the most fun part of what I do. Cheers!

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  3. Such a great milestone - thank you for all you share! I'm always inspired and learn new techniques and patterns.

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  4. Long live the blogs! Thank you for your wonderful voice in a medium that I hope endures!

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  5. Congratulations! I love your work.

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  6. congratulations, Debbie! What a journey!

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  7. Congrats on your 5 year anniversary. I always enjoy reading your posts.

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  8. Congratulations! I love the way your quilt photos are so different. Makes them fun to look at. 👍👍

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  9. Congratulations on 5 years! Love the quilts and the back drops you photograph them in. Here to 5 more years!

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  10. Congratulations, Debbie! I'm so glad I found your blog & IG, a constant source of inspiration and encouragement. What a great quilting community we have! Colleen (CHaggs24 on IG)

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  11. Congrats, Debbie! So glad to call you a guildmate. And I've been loving Kristina's bundle eye candy, too!

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  12. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings about how your quilt life has changed in the last five years. I probably will always be a follower without a blog of my own so it is important to me that others take the lead.

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  13. Congratulations! 5 years of writing, taking time to create your post, sharing the thoughts that are on your heart, this is a big deal. You are a great blogger and I Enjoy reading your posts. Thank you for doing this.
    Christine from Ontario

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  14. Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your quilting journey with us :)

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  15. Oh Debbie! I'm so happy for you to have lasted five years! Really. Too many bloggers have stopped blogging. It's wonderful to know you're thriving and can see personal growth through the process. It was seven years ago (January) that I began blogging, though at first not so much about quilting, but nearly all about it now. The blogging community remains one of my favorite places to be. I hope you're here for many more years too!

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  16. Congratulations and Thanks! I'm glad you get a benefit from blogging, because as a reader I know I benefit and appreciate bloggers who continue to post interesting and inspiring things. Here's to many more years!

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  17. I find it interesting to see how your quilting journey is taking you into a more modern and free style patterns - enjoy reading your blog, keep on inspiring us.

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  18. Congratulations! 🎉🎉🎉 And thanks for the chance to win.

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  19. Congratulations, Debbie! Great post :)

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  20. wow, I love seeing the progression of your quilts! Very inspiring!

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  21. Congratulations! What a fabulous five years and I enjoyed your recount of the progress you've made!

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  22. Congratulation. It is fun to see how your style has evolved. I love the more recent quilts.

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  23. Congratulations on your five year anniversary! You have inspired me to try new things more times than I can count. Love your color sense and creativity.

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  24. Congratulations on your blogging anniversary. Reading your blog always inspires me to try my hand at new things.

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  25. Congratulations on your anniversary! I really love Instagram for the quick, frequent shots of people's work, but I still love the blog format for the in-depth view of projects. Yours is a blog that I read consistently. Thanks for all the work you put into it!
    tstanulis@verizon.net

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  26. Congrats on your blogging anniversary! I'm always inspired by your beautiful projects!

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  27. Congratulations to you! All of your quilts are so pretty. Hard to choose a favorite!

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  28. Happy Blog Birthday! I am so glad that you are here in this space and part of the community and have become such a good friend. You continue to inspire me every day.

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  29. Congratulations! I really enjoy reading your blog posts.

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  30. Love FabricBubb and all the quilt beauty you share on your blog -- congrats on five years!

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  31. Congratulations on five years of blogging! Your quilts are lovely - I enjoy stopping by your blog for regular hits of inspiration. (greycatquilt [at] yahoo [dot] com)

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  32. Congratulations on 5 years, Debbie! It's been truly inspirational to follow along on your quilting journey.

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  33. Your quilts are beautiful. The photo of Thanks to Vesta, I love!

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  34. Congratulations on your 5 yr milestone! It's been fun to watch your journey. Keep up the great work, it's very inspiring!

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  35. Congratulations on your 5 years! And here's to many many more!

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  36. Congratulations on 5 years, Debbie! I have so enjoyed following your creative journey - you and your work are a great source of inspiration!

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  37. Congratulations Debbie! I enjoy reading your blog and love your work! You share so much inspiration with your beautiful quilts and fantastic photos! I started my blog also about 5 years ago and couldn't agree more with you. You and my other blogging friends are part of my everyday life and I'm not sure if I would be a quilter without you. Here's to many more creative years! x Teje

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  38. And a big congrats to you for sticking with the blogging for 5 years! I just found you about 2 yrs. ago, but have enjoyed following you ever since. I don't think of myself as a 'modern' quilter, but there are things about it that very much intrigue me and so I dabble. Your blog is wonderful in that it conveys both the journey and the process, much more enjoyable to me than just seeing the finished product. Thanks for an great blog, an interesting newsletter and being willing to share your enthusiasm for quilting.:)

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  39. Before I ever started following your blog (I feel I am quite late to that myself!) I regularly saw your supportive comments to others in so many different places! I would see your gorgeous works in the BQF...So glad to finally be in YOUR loop!! Here's to many more wonderful adventures! Thanks for all you do to help and support creativity in others!!!!

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  40. Wow! Five years. Truly speechless Debbie. You have maintained a great blog. It started good and continued to excel...you provide meaningful content and include relevant links, you post regularly...these are the things that keep me returning to your little bloggie site! But seriously, WE should all be giving YOU something for your Bloggaversay as you provide us with so very much.

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  41. I love following your blog. Congratulations!

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  42. I am so glad you keep your blog up...I love it! Thanks for all the inspiration.

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  43. Congratulations! I just signed up for your newsletter :) I found out about fabricBUBB from Coopcrafts on IG. She makes the most beautiful Alternate Ending quilts with their solid bundles! I have not purchased anything YET from fabricBUBB...but it will be happening...soon!

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  44. I have been a follower for a couple of years and really love your work. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  45. Blogs contain a level of depth that instagram cannot. Thanks for keeping it up!

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  46. Congrats Debbie! Seriously, you are more than an active participant. You are a leader in the modern quilting movement! Thanks for always sharing your creations, your inspirations and your thoughts!

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  47. Congratulations Debbie... I love your passion to try new styles and test new waters. Lovely creations... and here's hoping there is lots more in the future!

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  48. I really enjoy following you on your creative journey! Thank you for sharing and taking time to blog!

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  49. Congratulations on your blogging anniversary Debbie! As I've told you before - your gifts are evident :o) I so enjoy stopping by and being inspired by both your writing and photography. It's great to journey along with you. Blessings!

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  50. How wonderful! Here's to a few more decades with all of us cheering you on!��

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  51. I can well imagine how much of your free time all this takes. We all enjoy and are inspired by your output! annesimonot@sasktel.net

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  52. Congratulations! You have done amazing work over the last 5 years and it is all well documented on you gorgeous blog.

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  53. Wow 5 years is quite a blogaversary! Congratulations. Love looking at your quilts.

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  54. What a journey! Congrats on making it this far, and I hope you continue to explore and branch out in your design and aesthetic. Thanks!

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  55. I love following blogs, so much creativity, ideas, learning opportunities, and gorgeous quilts.

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  56. Congrats on the 5 years Debbie - always enjoy reading your blog and seeing your fabulous makes!

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  57. Beautiful journey you've been on. And that, after all, is what life is all about!

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  58. I'm relatively new to reading quilting blogs, but I love starting the day with some invitations to creativity. Yours is a favorite as is your Scrap Basket newsletter.

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  59. Congrats on 5 years of sharing your beautiful creations

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  60. Congrats on 5 years. Since I have just discovered you this past year, I am hoping for at leasr anothe 5!

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  61. Congrats on five years! I really enjoy your blog :)

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  62. Congratulations! I look forward to seeing what you have been up to with each post.

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  63. HI,THANKS for your Blog! Appreciate your inspiration! Thanks for a great giveaway! msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  64. I've been following you for quite some time and plan to continue. Yours is one of my favorite blogs!

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  65. I am so glad you do continue to blog... while I adore IG I can often miss several weeks of someone's photos, so knowing I get to catch it all here is great!

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  66. Happy Blogaversary!!! It certainly has been a pleasure to come and see all that you do in the quilting world. I have drawn so much inspiration from your quilts and your words! Thank you!!!

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  67. Happy anniversary! I discovered your blog a few months ago and am enjoying your modern journey. Just spent 1/2 hour drooling at Fabric Bubb...thanks for the giveaway!

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  68. I've been following your blog for about 3 years and never imagined you were 'late to the game'! Such an accomplished quilter and creative blogger! Congratulations on 5 years!

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  69. Happy 5 year anniversary to you! I've followed along most of it and enjoy watching and reading your journey! You do inspire me!

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  70. Always enjoy your posts! Thank you for taking the time to share. Truly appreciated!

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  71. Congratulations on your blogaversary!

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  72. Congratulations on your blogaversary!

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  73. Happy 5 years! Looking forward to future content!

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  74. I LOVE your blog! It's seriously the first place I go to when I start reading my blog bookmarks.

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  75. Congratulations - 5 years is a huge achievement, and the quilts you have show cased show an amazing journey

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  76. Your blog is one of my happy places. It inspires and stretches me in the best way. Thank you for being here, and keep up the amazing work!

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  77. I agree.....the inspiration in the blogging community is amazing and has really encouraged me too. Your work is a delight.

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  78. Thank you for all of your inspiration and ideas, congrats on 5 years!

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  79. Your blog is always full of inspiration. Here's to another five years!

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  80. Congrats on five years. Beautiful quilts. It's always amazing to me how fast time goes by.

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  81. Congratulations on 5 years! Here is to many more of following your amazing work

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  82. I love your blog! Keep up the great work!

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  83. Congrats! It's a lot of work keeping a blog going that long!

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  84. Congratulations! I love watching your work develop. Great blog and newsletter!

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  85. Always nice to stop by here Debbie. I have enjoyed watching you be a bigger presence in the blogging world : ) Enjoy the ride. Congrats on 5 years!

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  86. Congratulations on 5 years! To many more.

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  87. Congratulations on 5 years! To many more.

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  88. Wow! Has it been 5 years already?! Oh, how times flies when there's fun and inspiration to be enjoyed at a Quilters Table. :o) Thanks for sharing your talents, Debbie and here's to many more wonderful years!

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  89. Congratulations on 5 years blogging! The diminishing number of bloggers makes me sad and 'm glad you're still around

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  90. Congratulations, Debbie! I think it's wonderful to look where you were and see where the journey has taken you. Here's to five more glorious years quilting and blogging!

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  91. I'm so glad that your are still blogging Debbie! I have been a long-time follower, fan and hopefully long-distant friend who is continually inspired by your creativity and originality. Congratulations on the 'first' five years!

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  92. Congratulations! Thanks for sharing.

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  93. Congrats! I too am glad there are quilters still blogging!

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  94. Congratulations Debbie. Your blog is an inspiration to me!
    Wishing you many more years of quilting and blogging.
    http://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com/

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  95. I started a blog 5 years ago but struggle getting posts up. Congratulations on being such a good blogger!

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  96. I'm sure I've enjoyed reading your posts and seeing all your beautiful work as much as you've enjoyed the writing and making of them! Congrats and here's to many more!

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  97. 5 years has flown by -- congratulations! I really enjoy your blog.
    What a great giveaway -- I love Fabric Bubb!

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  98. I couldn't imagine 'blogland' with out you and your blog! Five years...conrats! This community is amazing! Your active roll in blogging is appreciated by so many of us! Keep inspiring!!

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  99. Congratulations on five years! It's neat to see your style change a little each year over the years.

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  100. Congratulations! Five years is great. here is to Five more years of inspiration.
    Candy

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  101. Congratulations! I love reading blogs. The sharing and inspiration is truly amazing to me!

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  102. Congratulations on the big milestone! It really is crazy how quickly things can change.

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  103. I'm glad you're blogging - while I love the other mediums I feel I learn so much from the extended format of blogging. Thanks for sharing your creative journey with us!

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  104. Congrats on 5 years of blogging. It's great to see some of your quilts to see how your style has evolved and changed.

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  105. Happy 5 Year Blogiversary!!! Here's to many more Blogiversary's to come! Thanks for chance to win a gift certificate to such a cool shop! Soooo many great fabrics to choose from!

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  106. Congrats on five years of growth as a blogger, quilter, and person.

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  107. I love seeing your quilts through the years. Congrats on five years of blogging!

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  108. I have been following your blog for several years and have enjoyed it immensely! happy blogiversary!

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  109. Love how you posed "Thanks to Vesta" in front of the waterfall! Happy 5th Blogiversay. Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

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  110. Your work certainly looks like you are having fun creating it. I am spending lots of time reading blogs.........I do not care for the other social media.

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  111. Congratulations. Your quilts are lovely. (I still adore that Swoon pattern.) And I hope you make it many more times five years to come.

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  112. Congratulations on blogging about your quilts for 5 years. Thanks for sharing all your lovely quilts. They are very inspiring. I am hoping to get a Swoon quilt made this year.

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  113. Congratulationa Debbie! I wish you many more happy years borh in quilting and bloggning (and on Instagram).

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  114. Happy bloggy birthday - here's to the next five years!

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  115. Happy five years Debbie, glad to have been here since the beginning! Here is to another wonderful year of blogging greatness.

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    1. Oh and I may not get to reply every blog post anymore, but rest assured I'm still reading them all. :)

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  116. Congrats on five years! I've been a blogger for longer than that and although I see less traffic, this is a venue that allows for more than a pix and a few hashtags, but an explanation of process. Please stick around for more!

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  117. Congrats, in this day anything lasting 5 years should be celebrated!!

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  118. Congratulation! Thanks for blogging and not going on to Instagram. I think that blogging shares feeling and emotions that Instagram just can't. I appreciate your blog. It's so fun to look back and see ourselves growing and changing. I think we are never too old to learn and grow!

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  119. Congrats on 5 years! I always enjoy reading your posts.

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  120. Congratulations on your great anniversary.

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  121. Congrats on the five years Debbie. I like the look back at where you were and where you've come. I'm always amazed at how much you get done. Rub a little of that off on me please.

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