Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Quiltmaker's Staff Block Challenge featuring my Block & Giveaway

**Note - If you are looking for the Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post you will find it here ;)

While at Fall Market I found out that the staff at Quiltmaker had chosen my "A Study In Quilting Block" for their Staff Block Challenge.  So exciting!!!  What is the Staff Block Challenge you ask??  Well, you take this one versatile block, add 8 fabric companies, and finish with a group of amazingingly creative quilters and you end up with some super amazing Staff Block Challenge Quilts!!!



This is the Original quilt I made using this block.  It is called Jelly Beans and was published in the May/June issue of Quiltmaker.   It is the block in a simple 6 x 6 layout, and I love the stars and secondary stars it creates ;)


For the Staff Block Challenge, the quilters were assigned a fabric company,allowed to use a 4 x 4 layout with a 4" border so each quilt finished at 56" x 56".  And can I say, I am totally blown away with how each quilter took this basic design and played with the color and layout to make it their own.  And they are incredible!!  Here they all are!!!

Donna Amos, former QM Scrap Squad Member, made this version using P & B Textiles.

 Carolyn Beam, QM Content Director, made this version using Hoffman Fabrics

Kelly Eisinger, QM Editorial Assistant, made this version using Timeless Treasures.

Eileen Fowler, QM Associate Editor, made this version using Quilting Treasures.

Diane Harris, QM Interactive Editor, made this version using Moda

Jackie Hughes, former QM Scrap Squad Member, made this version using Clothworks.

Denise Starck, QM Graphic Designer, made this version using Northcott.

Paula Stoddard, QM Creative Editor, made this version using Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

See what I mean!!!  Amazing!!!  It really goes to show how one quilt can be done in so many ways.  Each person really highlighted different parts of the design and really made it their own amazing design.  Just incredible!!!  You can read more about each of these awesome quilts in the Jan/Feb issues of Quiltmaker.  It is out on shelves now and is filled with lots of quilty goodness!!!  You can also check out this fun slide show that the folks at Quiltmaker put together on the Staff Block Challenge ;) 



I am so honored that the folks at Quiltmaker chose to use my block for their Staff Block Challenge and I am absolutely in love with the quilts they made.   What a special treat!!  Thanks Quiltmaker!!

 And the folks at Quiltmaker have a special treat for you as well!!!  Quiltmaker has graciously offered to giveaway  2 copies of Quiltmaker Jan/Feb issue to 2 of my lucky readers!!!  

 For a chance to win a copy, simply leave a comment on this post of your favorite Christmas Song ;)  I have been listening to Christmas Tunes non-stop and it always makes me smile ;)

The Giveaway is open to everyone and will close on the evening of Friday, December 5th and I will announce a winner Saturday Morning ;)

Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy Quilting Day!!!



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123 comments:

  1. WOW! It's amazing to see how different all those quilts are, but are all the same pattern!

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  2. Can't believe all those quilts started with the same block. It's hard to pick just one christmas song. I would have to say "Mary did you know".

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  3. I love Silent Night! thank you! Great design!

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  4. What a great block. It translates so well to different fabrics and layouts. Thank you so much for sharing this. I plan to share it with friends, possibly for a community service project and chronicle it on my little blog. Great work!

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  5. The different quilts all using the same pattern are amazing! I love this pattern! My favorite christmas song is 'What child is this?'

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  6. Oh me too! Silent Night all the way!

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  7. What a cute block! My favorite Christmas song is All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Carey!

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  8. Love all the variations! My fav song this season is "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole!

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  9. Just put nat king cole's christmas tunes on and I am a happy camper......they are all favorites. enjoyed seeing the difference between fabric choices - great block - would like to win this so I can play too

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  10. Valley Winter Song by Fountains of Wayne-- it's all about snow, so I can listen to it for a long period.

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  11. The Most Wonderful Time of Year or First Noel are my most favorite Christmas carols.
    Great block - I love all the different quilts. Quilters are the most creative people!
    Thanks for the chance at the giveaway.

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  12. Great block! Really like this!
    Favorite song is The Little Drummer Boy

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  13. I love "Last Christmas" by Wham - showing my age I know!

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  14. The First Noel by Phil Wickham is my favorite new song. Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth by Bing Crosby and David Bowie is an older favorite.
    Those quilts are amazing. I wouldn't have been able to tell they were using the same block! Thanks for the chance.

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  15. All of the quilts look wonderful. My favourite Christmas song is "32 feet and 8 little tails" by Elaine Paige, I used to make my parents play it over and over when I was small and I still love it.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  16. Have a Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives version)!

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  17. I'll Be Home for Christmas - doesn't matter who sings it. Fun to see all the different designs and colors. Those folks at QM really understand contrast, don't they? PS - My favorite fabrics are your original block in red, white, and black! My favorite quilt is Quilting Treasures with Moda a close second.

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  18. O Holy Night has always been my favorite Christmas song. Love all of these quilts, all so different but so pretty. Your block was a great pick for this challenge. Thanks for the chance.

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  19. Any thing Bing Crosby! The different quilts are eye candy! Diane Harris' stands out for me!

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  20. Wow! I'm amazed at the different looks that the quilters got from your pattern. They are beautiful!
    My favorite song is Silent Night. I find myself singing it in my head quite often...even when it's not Christmas time!

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  21. Mary Did You Know is my favorite Christmas song. Love your quilts!

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  22. Mary, Did You Know? I see this quilt in red/green Christmas colors. Wonder if I can get it done before Christmas with all the other stuff I need to get done.

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  23. My favorite Christmas song is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". A new favorite is Nick Lowe's "Children, Go Where I Send Thee".

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  24. My favorite song is Sleigh Ride. I love the clip clop of horse hoofs and the neigh the instruments make.
    I really really like this layout and the block combinations. Great job.

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  25. I love to listen to little drummer boy. I love all the different layouts with your block

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  26. Wow - what a difference color choice and placement makes! All of them are beautiful. My favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  27. "O Holy Night" as sung by NSYNC. <3 it. Any version, really, but NSYNC's tops the list.

    Also, "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" by Amy Grant. (See how I slipped in the second one. You can't stop me.)

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  28. When I grew up, I enjoyed listening Christmas music, my favor one was “I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus”; after I came to this country, by accident, I heard this “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”; I thought it was hilarious and it became my new favor Christmas song.

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  29. Silent Night is my favorite....always makes me cry. :)

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  30. Wow, Wow, Wow! Those quilts are awesome! I love that no two are alike. My favorite Christmas song is Mary did you Know?

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  31. Beautiful quilts!!! My favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night.

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  32. I love rocking around the Christmas tree.

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  33. I am scrutinizing each picture to see how the block was constructed - this is such a great post to inspire me with different fabrics and lay outs. I really find peace and love with Little Drummer Boy.

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  34. O Holy Night is my favorite. Love they way the made the block look so different - awesome!!!

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  35. I just love your block Melissa! Thank you Quiltmaker for such a great resource!

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  36. The First Noel is a favorite of mine.
    Thanks for demonstrating how very versatile your block can be!

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  37. Great to see all the different versions of your block!
    I like O little Town of Bethlehem

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  38. Thanks for sharing all those- so creative! Love that block! One of my favorites is Carol of the Fryers.

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  39. Oh Holy Night is my favorite Christmas song and those quilts are mind boggling! I have to really study them to see how the values change the pattern. I like your original the best but the others are very interesting.

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  40. There are so many lovely carols that it's too hard to pick one. I just love listening to all of them. Thanks for the lovely giveaway, Melissa.

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  41. HI, MY FAVORITE IS "O HOLY NIGHT"!
    THANKS FOR SHARING!

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  42. All the quilts look totally different, but so beautiful. It is hard to believe they are from the same pattern. Thank you for the giveaway. My favorite song is Mary, did you know.

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  43. In the Bleak Midwinter is my favorite. Love, love your block and seeing it in so many different ways.

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  44. One of my favorites is Little toy trains by the Forrester Sisters! I think that's the name anyway, I used to sing it to my son when he was little (and I still liked him lol!). Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

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  45. Have yourself a merry little Christmas. kthurn@bektel.com

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  46. Wow - I would have never thought your block would make that pattern on a quilt! Amazing what one bloc, repeated, can create! Me = impressed!!!

    I love the Bing Crosby/David Bowie Little Drummer Boy song - love it.

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  47. Wow - I can't believe that all these quilts are with the same block! Fabulous!! My favourite Christmas Song is Carol of the Bells, but I must say my absolute favourite Christmas listening is the story of 'The Littlest Angel' as narrated by Paul Ried. You can listen to it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkYxM4SPkbE
    and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. When we were growing up, we always listened for this to be played on the radio :)

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  48. I love so many Christmas songs! One of my favorites is Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song, even though I've never had chestnuts roasting over an open fire!
    tstanulis@verizon.net

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  49. I just got this magazine in my mailbox a couple of days ago. So excited to see you there. How wonderful that everyone used the same block and they all came out gorgeously different. Thanks for sharing.

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  50. My favorite is Carol of the Bells! :)

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  51. Melissa, you should get the David Archulletta christmas CD. I love it!! And I already have the magazine, so don't pick me, but I just wanted to say congrats on having them pick your block!!! How wonderful!! It is so fun to see how differently it can be done up!! Hugs, H in Healdsburg

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  52. My favorite song for Christmas is What Child is This. Thanks Julie

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  53. Without a doubt it would have to be The Twelve Days of Christmas. I embroidered a wall hanging to match the song and have proudly hung it up just recently for the upcoming celebrations.
    Best wishes to you and your family for a very Merry Christmas.

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  54. The Chipmunk song ...always makes me smile....

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  55. My favorite is "Once in Royal David's City".

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  56. Ooooh my...an Oldie "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby!! But most fave now is "Mary Did You Know" because my Husband sings it at Church at Christmas :)

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  57. It's amazing this block was interpreted so differently - I wouldn't even know it was the same block! My favorite song is 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful". Thanks for the giveaway!

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  58. O Holy Night is my very favorite. And all I can is WoW when I saw how versatile this block is.

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  59. Oh Holy Night is a long time favorite - but I do love Jingle Bells when sung by my grandson.

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  60. Like you, I listen to the radio station, here in Chicago that plays Christmas music 24/7 for about a month before the 25th.. It's a great companion as we put up decorations, bake, sew, wrap packages, etc., and soothes me with the spirit of the holiday. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. lv2bquilting2@comcast.net

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    1. oops, my favorite song is Oh Holy Night, especially by Streisand or Grobin.

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  61. White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby and also up there is Trans Siberian Orchestra's version of Carol of Bells. I am always amazed at how talented quilters are!!. Maybe someday I can achieve wonderful quilts too. sandybailey55@hotmail.com

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  62. There are so many really fabulous quilts up there! I was blown away as well.

    As for Christmas music, I really dig the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. My MIL starts listening to her Cmas music with them in July!

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  63. Oh Little Town of Bethlehem.
    Love the variations of quilt pattern. All are wonderful.

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  64. I love any Christmas carol sung by the Oakridge boys. Love So it Is Cristmas

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  65. My favourite Christmas song is Winter Wonderland. I loved seeing all the different variations of your block!

    lin dot web dot 28 at gmail dot com

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  66. Every time someone asks me that question, I give a different answer. I love "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". And those quilts are AMAZINGLY beautiful, each and every one. WOW. You have a great block there!! :)

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  67. I love Josh Groban's "O Holy Night"

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  68. Carol of the Bells

    It's amazing how different all their quilts are!

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  69. Handel's Hallelujah Chorus is my all-time favorite! I could sing it and listen to it every day!

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  70. I love the Boston Pops playing Winter Wonderland and for fun I've always loved "Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer" sung by Gene Autry.

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  71. I love All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  72. Away in a manger. Thanks for hosting this give away. Mrscummings2u at Gmail dot com

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  73. Beautiful quilts. My favorite song is Mary did you know.

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  74. My favorite is What Child is This. Those quilts are AMAZING! sarah@forrussia.org

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  75. I love so many songs-Mary did you know?, White Christmas, Feliz Navidad.

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  76. Silent Night is my favorite, but really, I love them all. Your block is amazingly clever, Melissa, and so are each of those quilts.

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  77. How striking all of those quilts are from their block challenge using your block design.
    My favorite song is still oh holy night. Have loved it my whole life.

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  78. "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!" Is my new favorite Christmas song

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  79. Favorite is Jingle Bells...so simple and easy and my Grandson is learning it! So sweet with those little voices!

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  80. I would love a copy of that magazine! My favorite song is "O Holy Night" in church and "All I want for Christmas is you" on the radio. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  81. Your block and all the variations are wonderful! I have so many Christmas favourites, but Silent Night and O Holy Night are high on my list. Thanks for the chance in the Giveaway.

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  82. So many songs I love, but the one I always have to sing along to is "Little Drummer Boy"

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  83. Amazing quilts! My favorite Christmas tune is Santa baby by Madonna.

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  84. I am constantly mocked for this, but I am proud to say I know all the words to 'Last Christmas' and belt it out everytime is is on the radio.

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  85. The quilts look completely different. What a great versatile block. I love this holiday time of year and the music as it is so uplifting. I love the Trans Siberian orchestra and Mandel's Messiah.

    tushay3(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  86. Lovely quilts....my fav Christmas tune is Oh Holy Night

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  87. White Christmas....sang by Bing Crosby. Love the movie too!

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  88. it always amazes me at how a block can look so different depending on fabrics etc.Lovely selection here, the green one by Kelly gets top marks from me. In the bleak mid winter is one of my favourite carols and Chris de Burgh has got written some lovely Xmas songs, well everything he writes is wonderful to me!

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  89. What an amazing variety of quilts from thev same block! My favorite Xmas song is O Come All Ye Faithful.

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  90. I love seeing the same design down in different colours, I find it really helpful to see so many ideas of fabric choice. I love the traditional carols, especially Silent Night, and Away in a Manger. When my children were tiny I used to sing away in a Manger as their bedtimes song every night for years. x

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  91. I'llBe Home For Christmas has to be my favorite song. Being in the military meant my husband and I never knew if we could be with family at this special time of the year. Amazing that one block and different fabrics could look so different. Sincerely, Paula K.

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  92. I love these blocks!

    Favorite Christmas song - Little Drummer Boy

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  93. White Christmas. It's amazing how different all the quilts look. Love them all.

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  94. Do You Hear What I Hear?
    Of the sample quilts I think Paula is the only one who stayed true to your vision. It is wonderful!

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  95. O come all ye Faithful.
    Tough call...but I really love that song. Frosty is my favourite winter song : )

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  96. Amazing how arranging one block in different way changes the entire quilt! I love Silver Bells!

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  97. I cannot believe these quilts! It is so amazing to know they are all from the same block! WOW! I cannot just pick one, but Jingle Bell Rock and Blue Christmas are up there for me...

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  98. I'll Be Home For Christmas always makes me a little teary...see, all I have to do is type the title!

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  99. It's amzing how different they all look by where they put the different prints!

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  100. Awesome Quilts! My favorite song is Oh Holy Night

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  101. the little drummer boy always brings tears to my eyes, happy memories of my son.

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  102. My favorite is Oh Holy Night...nut it makes me cry every time!! (But my favorite to play on my flute is Silent Night! Oh so pretty!!)

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  103. Wow! That block and those quilts are AMAZING! They all look so incredibly different! Just beautiful. Congratulation on getting chosen for the staff block challenge and publishesd in Quiltmakers Mag!

    Amber

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  104. My favorite is The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) by Nate King Cole. Your block and all the quilts are simply amazing...I love them!

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  105. My favourite is So this is Christmas. I like your original block. All the quilts are wonderful. It's just a colour choice.

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  106. I love "Baby, it's cold outside", dreaming of a warm Christmas.

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  107. Melissa how fun to see your block done in so many different variations! Congratulations on being a part of Quiltmaker! My favorite Christmas song is "Silent Night"

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  108. Once in Royal David's City is my favorite.

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  109. it is fun to see your block in all the different versions. My favorite Christmas song is O Holy Night.

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  110. In the Bleak Midwinter is my favourite carol, but my guilty secret is the Slade song ' Merry Christmas Everybody' .... sshhh son't tell!

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  111. It is amazing how different that one block can look! I love Christmas song...I guess if I have to choose a favorite, it would be Silent Night. Magistra13 at yahoo dot com
    Beth

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  112. Wow the quilts are gorgeous!!! sonjasmith76@yahoo.com

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Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I just love hearing from you!!
Have a Happy Quilting Day :)

Melissa