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Wednesday, 1 September 2010

.September Cool Shops! KATE CONKLIN DESIGNS.

(Cool Shops! note...I didn't want to completely say goodbye to my August Cool Shops! so have made a special Cool Shops! archive page (see the link under my header) for you to visit and will be updating each month with new Cool Shops!)

Cool Shop! #1 for September (yep, September ALREADY!) is Kate Conklin Designs.


Kate is a wife, mother of two, speech pathologist and avid quilter who has recently begun not only designing her own quilt patterns, but also writing and selling her patterns! Kate posted me a complete set of her patterns to review and I only wish I had 100 more hours in my week so that I could have actually sewed one of her gorgeous quilts myself! Instead, I have been plonking myself on the couch and taking each of the patterns out of their bags and dreaming about future quilt making expeditions!!!


I must say, I am feeling very inspired and after finishing my last quilt quite a few months ago I am wanting to dive into another now! Kate shares some great tips and techniques that make quilt sewing easy and fun and her patterns include detailed, step-by-step instructions complete with lots of photographs and diagrams.

I love Kate's fabric choice and started reading her blog around the same time her Wonky Donkey Quilt was released. First of all - who doesn't love Laurie Wisburn's amazing fabric? But then to make an amazing wonky quilt out of it and photograph it on a real life donkey?!! That is awesome Kate!


The calming tones in Kate's latest design, Sea Views are just beautiful. I have had a good read through this pattern and am intrigued at the way she cuts the curves using a freehand method and pieces them without using pins...I think this describes my kind of sewing, leaving lots of room to express yourself and do things your own way.



Kate Conklin Designs patterns are available on her website as a PDF download and can also be purchased at well-known fabric stores in Australia and around the rest of the world.

GIVEAWAY
As part of her Cool Shops! review, Kate has generously offered to host a giveaway to readers of my blog. One lucky person will win two patterns (of your choice) from her shop, as well as two pieces of coveted Heather Ross fabric as shown below! (Will someone please enter for me?!) The bicycle fabric is half a metre (20") and the mushrooms is a 5" x 18" strip. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment!


Giveaway will close on Wednesday 8th September and winner will be drawn randomly. Your comment will be disqualified if you do not leave an email address in your comment or linked to your profile.

137 comments:

  1. I like the Sea Views quilt.

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  2. I've had my eye on her patterns for quite sometime.. I may have to indulge myself and purchase them! And I love the Heather Ross fabric.. she's such a talented designer.. in fact, both ladies are!

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  3. Oh I love Kate's quilts. And you've got to love a donkey quilt photographed with a donkey (and we've been listening to The Wonky Donkey - by Craig Smith a lot in our house lately so even better)! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  4. nice donkey! that's so cool.

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  5. I love the wonky donkey pattern...I love the Sea View pattern...oh heck, I love them all.

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  6. I have just moved into our brand new house and been looking for a new quilt to make my bedroom come alive - these quilts are fantastic and I will be visiting the store to see what I can make.

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  7. Gorgeous! I really like the sea quilt also.

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  8. Awesome give away. I really love the Dandelion Windows pattern.

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  9. I am in love with Sierra's Forest by Kate. She seems like such a great person to get to know! Hope I can win some of that absolutely adorable bicycle fabric too;)

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  10. I love these quilts! I have a hard time producing the pattern in my head the way I want it to look, so patterns make it so much better.

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  11. LOVE Kate's quilts, absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  12. I absolutely love Kate's quilts - and her blog is always fun!! I think the sea quilt is my favorite....

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  13. Oh, oh, oh! I'm so in love with sea views!

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  14. I started following her blog around the same time! I love her Wonky Donkey Quilt!

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  15. Love all of Kate's quilts-it would be a tough choice but one I'd make gladly

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  16. I really like Kate's quilts... they are definitely my style. I'd love to use one of her patterns and love the chance to win some Heather Ross prints!

    wilke [at] lulubloom [dot] com

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  17. I love that Sea Views quilt. So beautiful!

    Thanks for the chance to win. I'll be crossing my fingers for the next few days!

    Angelina

    figure8angel[AT]gmail[DOT]com

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  18. I love her patterns and would LOVE to win one!

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  19. I love her patterns and would LOVE to win one!

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  20. I really love Kate's patterns, and of the fabrics she chooses for them. I think Sea Views is my favorite, but it's hard to choose. BTW I recently bought your Shearwater shirt pattern, I'm making it for summer!

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  21. Beautiful quilts! And I am partial to donkeys. :-)

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  22. Oh my goodness, how generous!!! This is awesome!!!

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  23. oooo I love Kates work! Definitely worthy of a Cool Shops! review :)
    x

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  24. Beautiful patterns and fabric!

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  25. Fabulous give away! I love those patterns! They are so fresh and creative, thank you so much for the chance to win some! Sharonj

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  26. rockin donkey.
    we love ya kate. xx

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  27. I love the sea views quilt, which is the quilt that introduced me to Kate, and then I went looking at the others....and I love them to!

    Most surely a Cool Shop!

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  28. Love Kate Conklin, in fact working on one of her patterns now!!!! And I have not any Heather Ross, so surely I must need some!

    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  29. Gorgeous patterns and fabric from two lovely ladies. What a great giveaway!

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  30. Oh how I would love to attempt one of these beauties with my new sewing machine!!!

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  31. I too am a big fan of Kate Conklin's designs. Her quilts are modern and fun to make. Great blog post Toni. Thanks.

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  32. I LOVE Kates designs but haven't yet tried out her patterns. I think Sea Views is on my to do list first!

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  33. beautiful patterns and even more beautiful fabric! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Sandy A

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  34. The patterns are really lovely. And that fabric, well...

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  35. cool giveaway - love the fabrics and the pattterns

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  36. Thanks for a great give away!

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  37. I would love to win even just one of Kate's patterns....but it would be hard to choose which one :-) Of course, I am starting graduate school classes tomorrow night in addition to working full-time, so I'm not sure how much time I will have for quilting :-/

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  38. Fantastic! another blog to add to my ever growing list of faves, and a chance to win some very cool patterns..love it!

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  39. Oh, I'd love to get my hands on those fabric goodies! THANKS for the chance!
    ourbusylittlebunch(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  40. Comment!

    Can't believe its September either!

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  41. Oh, her patterns are beautiful! I would love a chance to try one! Thanks for the chance to enter! =)

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  42. Oh I love to make quilts and that fabric is gorgeous!!! Please enter me!

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  43. I just finished a quilt using Kate's Charm Bracelets pattern, and it was fantastic!

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  44. I'm just dying to try one of Kate's patterns and get my hands on that fabric!

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  45. I would love to win this. I love her quilt patterns, and I would love to win the HR fabric.

    emallett@nc.rr.com

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  46. What an awesome giveaway!
    I love Kates patterns! I have "chain reaction" on my to do list!

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  47. i've been dreaming of making a wonky donkey quilt for my tomboy neice for a while now - she is in love with donkeys at the moment - so it would be totally perfect for her.
    i love reading both yours and her blog - very inspiring
    allie
    majeppes@bigpond.net.au

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  48. What a fantastic giveaway! I love Kate's patterns and would LOVE to add to my Heather Ross collection too! :-)

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  49. Just came over from Kate's blog, wow, what a generous give away! I love all her patterns but the forest one is simply stunning. Fingers crossed and thanks!

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  50. It would be great to win one of Kate's patterns.

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  51. I love these patterns. So fresh and modern and still sweet!Thanks for the chance to win!

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  52. Must have the Sea Views Quilt. Living by the ocean I am always drawn to ocean related things. Thanks for introducing me to Kate's work. I'm off to check her patterns out now and thanks to Kate for a generous giveaway.

    psmanning@hotmail.com

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  53. My goodness! You have the best giveaways :)

    (ljs742 at yahoo dot com)

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  54. Gorgeous quilt and I love the bicycle and mushroom fabric !! So sweet ! Thanks for the giveaway !

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  55. I've made a few of Kate's quilts now and I just love them.
    Kate is not only an awesome quilt designer but also a wonderful person and an awesome sister.
    :) Amelia

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  56. I love the patterns and that fabric is delish!

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  57. The donkey quilt is fantastic! I am looking for simple quilt patterns for my next quilt, this is great!

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  58. Oh I love her patterns and who doesn't love Heather Ross fabrics? (well I am sure there might be one person but it sure isn't me!)

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  59. I must say I love her patterns. They are so fresh yet tranquil. I love the donkey as a prop lol.

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  60. Please enter me Toni! Her work is great! :)

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  61. Yay! What a great giveaway! Love Kate's quilts - I think my favourite is the charm bracelet one. And the Heather Ross fabric is of course beautiful!

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  62. Those are great patterns! And lovely fabric!

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  63. Thanks you for holding this give away :) Great things up for grabs!

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  64. Kate's creativity and energy is really admirable, thanks for sharing!

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  65. I love Kate's quilts, I've already bought some fabric to do the Sea Views quilt and I will be very happy to win the pattern. And what to say about Heather Ross fabrics, just gorgeous!

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  66. I love Kate's designs and your right about the colour choices.

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  67. Gorgeous! I haven't tried a full size quilt before so this might be a good chance to get into it. I love the wavy sea one.

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  68. I think all of Kate's work is truely fantastic. thanks for a chance

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  69. oh boy - I'm so out of it with the whole sewing/quilting thing. 70 comments over quilts! Amazing how these things bring people out :)

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  70. Ugh, the bicycle fabric is too much! Love it!

    ellengraf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  71. I just finished the dandelion window quilt. I love all Kate's patterns. Thanks for a great giveaway. SChalle171@aol.com

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  72. I read Kates blog and wow what a giveaway!

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  73. I love Kate's quilts. She manages to create patterns that are not only beautiful, but catch the feeling of the fabrics she uses. Thanks for the chance to win one of her patterns! Maybe I'll make one instead of just admiring them online!

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  74. Gorgeous, gorgeous quilts! And I love the donkey photo! :)

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  75. I love all of Kate's patterns -- they are so contemporary and really suit a lot of my favourite modern fabrics. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  76. I like the wonkey donkey
    the quilt and the donkey.
    Please enter me
    thank you

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  77. I've been looking at her patterns for a while and would love to try one out. The fabric is so cute too!

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  78. I love love love Kate's designs. I have been following her for a while now and having one of her patterns would be amazing. Heather Ross is awesome too ;), Ive been dying for some mushrooms.

    Lindsay.forgette(at)gmail(dot)com

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  79. Love Kate Conklin! I've been following her for about the same time as you, and would LOVE to get my hands on her patterns! Thanks for hosting :)

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  80. I just love all Kate's patterns. Great giveaway. Thank you.

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  81. I LOVE the Sea Views quilt. I've been admiring it for quite some time now wishing that I had it. If I won, I suppose I could make it! Thanks for the great giveaway.
    spackattak7 at hotmail dot com

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  82. I love that Donkey Picture. AwEsome! Also, little mushrooms? adorable.

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  83. Thank you for the chance to win! Kate is producing some great things. My daughter has already been coveting her patterns.

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  84. These quilts are so beautiful! I think the Sea views quilt is my very favorite! Great talent!
    skaletm@gmail.com

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  85. I recently discovered Kate's designs and blog in my now avid research of all things sewing (if only like you I had a few extra hours to fit in it - I could stop sleeping I suppose...). But I having been lusting after the patterns and to win some, and therefore make, would mean the sleep deprivation would at least be very worthwhile! x

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  86. Kate Conklin and Heather Ross, what a great pairing! I especially love Kate's brilliant quilt staging :)

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  87. The Sea Views quilt is just lovely. Love the donkey one too!

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  88. i love the Wonky Donkey Quilt, it's so cute.
    songyueyu at gmail

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  89. You take care of yourself Kate! I love your patterns btw, especially the one with a lot of white and the big squares (sorry, don't know what it's called). Thanks for a chance to win.

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  90. Wow these patterns are amazing. I have been looking out for a pattern to make a quilt for sometime now. One of these would be just perfect

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  91. Wonky Donkey on a donkey made me laugh SO MUCH!! *sigh* those quilts are so beautiful!!
    Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

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  92. I have just discovered Kate Conklin and love her designs...hope I win!!

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  93. Gorgeous! I love Kate's patterns. I have only tried one so far, but I can't wait to do another :)

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  94. Oh I love the Sea Views!!
    And that bike pattern is super fun.

    Thanks for the giveaway

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  95. Love Kate's patterns. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  96. So many beautiful quilt patterns and so little time.

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  97. Charm bracelets or Sea views would be my style... although it's hard to choose. They are all so lovely!

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  98. LOVE the patterns and the bike fabric!

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  99. I already have one of Kate's quilt patterns but would love some more!

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  100. I have been itching to get her Charm Bracelet pattern. All of her patterns look like they would be fun to make. And that wonky donkey quilt---what a hoot!
    Leslie S. in MN
    esclante[at]comcast[dot]net

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  101. I have just moved into our brand new house and been looking for a new quilt to make my bedroom come alive - these quilts are fantastic and I will be visiting the store to see what I can make.

    Sorry for previously not leaving email - email is ang82r@gmail.com

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  102. Great patterns - I do love the Sea Views quilt.
    rvroberts@optusnet.com.au

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  103. The sea views is really lovely, also the Heather Ross fabrics are awesome. sang(at)gci(dot)net

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  104. Love Kate's designs & HR fabric, thanks for the giveaway!
    jgflack@gmail.com

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  105. love her patterns and the fabric
    thanks so much!!!

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  106. I love Kate's designs, especially the donkey quilt, that's my favorite. What a great giveaway!

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  107. Kate's patterns are my style, casual and wonky. The freehand curves sound like a great technique. The fun fabrics could be focal points in any of Kate's quilts, too.

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  108. Love kate's quilts. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  109. what a delightful giveaway!
    sntbosch@msn.com

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  110. I LOVE Kate's quilts! And I LOVE her blog too! Awesome giveaway!

    lindalu83@yahoo.com

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  111. Love the sea view quilt!! I could definatly use a pattern. Bought fabric to start a quilt for my daughter. But have quilters stage fright and don't know where to start.

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  112. What a fabulous giveaway from two of my favourite inspiring designers and bloggers!

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  113. Wow, I love Kate Conklin's quilt designs, and am very intrigued by the sea views quilt. Gorgeous.

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  114. All of Kate's quilts are beautiful. Charm Bracelets and Wonky Donkey are favorites but so is Sea View and Sierra's Forest. mlwright29 (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  115. Ohhh, those mushrooms are too cute!!! And two whole patterns, excellent!

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  116. oooh, I'd love to win those bicycles!! I have already been a v. lucky recipient of 2 of Kate's patterns, so I'd throw those back for someone else to enjoy and run away with the bike and mushrooms myself!

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  117. I have never made a quilt! This would be great!

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  118. I love these modern style quilts. Gorgeous!

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  119. I love reading Kate's blog and her quilts make me drool!

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  120. I am a huge fan of Kate Conklin and her wonderful designs. I would love to win a pattern, as I am constantly trying to resist the temptation to hop over to her shop and buy another.

    wordygirl at earthlink d0t net

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  121. oh i want to win this so badly. i love her designs and that fabric is to die for! great inspiration!

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  122. I love Kate's patterns. I saw Charm Bracelett made with Arcadia fabric and fell in love with it. Only problem is that there is no more Arcadia to be found.

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  123. I would love to win - I have the Sea Views pattern and made it i the Hunky Dory fabric. So cute.

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  124. I love the styling with the donkey - good of him to stand still! I also really like the sea views quilt and have bought some of those fabrics - inspired by this quilt!

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  125. I love Kate's designs...thanks for the chance to win some!

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  126. Oh I love her designs, I have a one of her patterns

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  127. The sew views quilt is beautiful.
    I love the heather ross fabric too - thanks for the giveaway
    colleen
    butler83ataoldotcom

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  128. Best. Giveaway. EVER. And I LOVE the Sea Views quilt!!!

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  129. new to sewing, love your blog and kate's designs!

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