Wednesday, September 12, 2012

We're blogging, we're hopping, we're Moda!

Welcome to the Moda Designer Blog Hop. Many of you have been following the path of the very talented Moda designers over the past week. Today is my turn to share my hometown news - believe me, it's a short story. I was born and raised in Bennington, Kansas. My parents still live in the same house on the other end of town from the KT studio -  5 blocks away. We don't have a McDonald's or Starbucks, there's no pizza delivery or movie theater. But I can walk across the street to get the mail and not lock my door, grab a sandwich at Westside Ventures (they also have the best broasted chicken strips on Wed. and Sat. nights) and bring back the extra change the next day, go to the bank and not need any I.D., and the UPS guy can leave a box anywhere in town and we'll get it the next day. Pretty good trade.

What we do have is a quaint little soda fountain on the other end of the block, the Linger Longer. Jay & Sharilyn Wagner have renovated the original counter and fountain to it's former glory. My Mom and I were both soda jerks there in high school, making dozens of malts each night for the football players, scooping cones for seniors and kids alike, and mixing Green Rivers for everyone.



Standing in front of the Linger Longer, across the street is the Post Office, Sparks Kennels (the grankids love to go play with the adorable puppies), motorcycle shop, The Dog House (bar & grill) and Romm Chiropractic (people come from hours away to see Dr. Romm and his magic fingers). 

The KT Studio is right across the street from the chiropractor. We're the tallest building in town! Here's my grandaughter, Delainey, on her first pony ride during the downtown festivities the day of the Bennington Rodeo. 

Although Bennington is small (600 citizens), the 3-day Rodeo is a very big deal here and in the cowboy world. For 3 days each June, our population doubles as the competition heats up. Some of the best bulls and bucking horses provide lots of entertainment in the PRCA Rodeo events. The goat roping and mutton busting for the kids is an added bonus. Main street is roped off for a street dance on Sat. night with live music and lots of good old-fashioned dancing in the street. 

After having the KT Studio in downtown Bennington for over 10 years, most people finally know we're not a retail store. I had alot of lookers the first year or so and finally mentioned it to the chiropractor's Mom (his receptionist). She proudly exclaimed she'd been sending them over to shop while they were waiting for their appointment! We got that straightened out right away. When we had quilting retreats for 7 years, it was the talk of the town on the Monday morning after at coffee down at Westside where all the quilters were from. Most folks were amazed that ladies from all over the country would come to little ole Bennington, Kansas to see Charlie Boster's daughter. Funny, at over 50 years old, I'm still my parents child here. I guess it keeps me young. That's small towns for ya. 

Robert and I actually live 2 1/2 miles out of town. On Mondays and/or Wednesdays, my piecer & kit cutter, Lois Sprecker, and I meet at the KT Studio to work on the latest projects. She takes her homework and  brings back a finished quilt. Too cool! I work from my little studio at the cabin (see above) in the country 2 days a week, designing fabric & quilts, writing patterns, and juggling my calendar. Robert stops by the building each afternoon to fill orders and keep the paperwork under control. As much as I love to travel all over the country meeting quilters and visiting quilt shops, there's nothing like coming home to our little slice of heaven.

Comment here by Sunday night to win a Harvest Moon Layer Cake, scrap bundle of strips or a charm/mini charm pack combo. I'd love to hear what you love about your hometown. Winners announced on Monday, Sept. 17th.

I am so grateful and blessed to work with the great minds at Moda and am constantly inspired by all the Moda designers. Each one brings a unique perspective to the quilting world. Check out two more of Moda's designers today, Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts and Malka Dubrawsky of Stitch in Dye.

570 comments:

  1. I've moved a lot and have to say that where I live now is not where I want to be. That being said, what I love about it is that I'm with my husband and that makes it all okay. Loved reading about your home!

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  2. I love your little town. So quaint. My hometown was a very small town like yours when I lived there. Cedar Hill Texas is now a booming and thriving Big Town. It has grown so much and the roads have been changed, it's hard sometimes to even figure out where I am at. So sad to see such a small friendly town (where everyone knows everybody), turn into a big city. Thanks for your giveaway.

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  3. My hometown is not quite as small as yours, Lynne, but you do get that same feeling of belonging. Most older people in town knew my parents and always have a story to share. No one asks for ID, but they do ask what your kids are up to. I'm from central Maine, a town named Winslow. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. I love my town since it is nice and quiet. We are in the woods, but not too far from the next town over for stores. We only have one traffic light in town and no sidewalks.

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  5. I'm from northwestern Wisconsin. My hometown is Rice Lake and growing up there was very much like your little hometown. I live in Eau Claire now. Would love to win one of your goodies.

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  6. What a different world from my original hometown, Queens NY! Nice slice of life :) What I love about my hometown is its diversity and that there is so much to do. I'm in Kingston, NY which is 'meh' but here we are till the housing market improves.

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  7. I'm in Panama City, FL. We have beautiful beaches. People flock here in summer months, which is when I avoid the scene for the most part. The beaches are my favorite place in the fall/winter months. I love to walk along a beach early morning in the cooler weather.

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  8. The "Linger Longer" shop? ADORABLE!

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  9. I live in Lincoln, England. One of my favourite things here is the christmas market in December. It is the biggest one in England and all of the stall holders dress up in Victorian costumes. The stalls all sell craft or food and it takes a couple of hours to walk around it all. Thank you for the giveaway.
    ks(dot)eyles(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)uk

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  10. What a nice little town you live in, been a long time since we have been out in your area of the country, but that is changing. Our sons will be in the middle of our country soon. Thank you for the short tour, and the taste of small town living.

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  11. Your town looks wonderful! I long to to live in a small town. I live in Houston, TX it is too big for me what has a lot to offer!

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  12. Location, location, location! I live in NW Montana outside of Glacier National Park and it is gorgeous here. Really loving the coming of Fall right now and anticipating the changing colors of the leaves beginning this week with the first frost last night. Thanks for a great giveaway!

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  13. Hi!
    I live in a small city in Kenora Ontario Canada, I love that it is 2 hrs from an International Airport in Winnipeg Manitoba, our country's geographical midpoint. It is also 2 hrs to the Canadian-USA border and Minnesota! We have some big box stores, but at a population of 16,000 it is convenient, yet small! We don't lock our door either! Thanks for the giveaways!
    Take care, Leslie

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  14. After reading about your hometown I want to pack up and move, it sounds just what I am looking for a change. I reside in Englewood , Fl. It is considered a relatively small town but it has drastically changed in 32 yrs. When we first moved it sounded like your town, quaint, quiet secluded and a main street that was out of the 1900,s. So much for change. Thanks for the opportunity to win great giveaways!

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  15. Your cabin is AMAZING - what a beautiful place to be,and close to your Mom - awesome. I love living outside of Mankato, MN because I am on a piece of farmland I grew up on, across the creek where my parents lived. Now my son lives basically in my backyard as did my daughter, before she moved for a new job. I laugh at your comment Charlie's daughter - brought back memories of living in the small town of Mapleton, where you were recognized as someone's daughter-in-law, wife, mom, sister-in-law, etc. Too funny.

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  16. My original home town was a suburb of Chicago. Now I live in a tiny town in Idaho, Marsing. The lastest population numbers say there are 1034 folks here, up from the previous census of 690. What a population spurt. Idaho is known for its outdoor sports, summer and winter. Here in Marsing we have lots of fruit orchards. Love KY, you're the best.

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  17. I live on Long Island, NY in a town of about 12K people. What I love most about living here are the seasons. We have what I like to call "real seasons" and Fall is my favorite. Driving to work I pass a lot of farmland and seeing the pumpkins just brings a smile to my face...so does seeing the sunflowers!
    Thanks for the fun post and the opportunity giveaway.

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  18. I live in a small town in Wisconsin less than half the size of Bennington, but like you I cherish not having to lock doors and my UPS man will put my packages in my truck if he sees it parked in town! Love you fabrics and patterns!

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  19. Although I consider Pittsburgh to be my hometown, I actually grew up in a suburb rather than the city itself. Small town feel but close to the city. Now I live in a small town in Kentucky that didn't even have a mall when I moved here. Thank goodness it's grown a bit since then.

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  20. My hometown is Costa Mesa, and what I love about it most of all is that it's where my home is, and I love being home more than anything! Add to that that it's close to everything!

    Thanks for the opportunity!

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  21. I've lived so many placea that I don't have a home town. Presently I live in Arizona, and love it!

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  22. At the moment I'm studying at uni so I've been away from home for a couple of years now but my parents live in sunny Townsville North Queensland, Australia. It is on the coast so there are beautiful views of the ocean. I spent my holidays when I was growing up snorkelling and fishing on the Great Barrier Reef. Townsville also has some lovely restaurants. My favourite is Gyo a Japanese Tapas Bar - I love their fried chicken and also the spider crab sushi rolls. So so good.
    Thank-you for the giveaway!

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  23. Good morning! I love your little town! I live in Winnebago, IL which is also a little town (though not as little as yours). We love it here because we are out in the country, teachers actually get to know parents and at the high school we even have Tractor Days! Your fabrics and patterns are beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us and for all your inspiration!

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  24. Loved reading about your hometown! The soda fountain is really cute. We are somewhat rural where I live - used to be a township - recently changed to a "city" but the best thing is we still have well water!!!

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  25. You live in a wonderful little town. I grew up in a small town, everyone knows you.
    People just pop in for visits or to borrow a cup of suar and off they go. Small towns are just happy friendly places.
    Thanks for sharing such a lovely giveaway.

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  26. I live in Key Largo Florida which used to be a lot like your little town, no locking doors, everyone knew everyone else, it's changed but it's still beautiful and that's what I love best.

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  27. I am just in the transition stage of moving back to my hometown after a 30+ year absence! I have held onto the home I was raised in, as was my father and his mother, since my Mom died a number of years ago. The home was purchased on my birthdate in 1863 by my great grand parents. It is a smaller town than yours and alas the only business left is antiques in what was the General Store...however, I keep eyeing the other "commercial" buildings and dream of renovating and re-opening them, much like your soda fountain shoppe....we'll see what the future brings but for now we have to renovate the old house and bring it back to glory.

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  28. After having been to a retreat at the KT studio I can understand why you like living there. I also live in a small town although our county gets thousands of tourists every year. I live out in the country and after having grown up in Chicago I would not want to live anywhere else but out in the "boonies" as my grandchildren call it.

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  29. My favorite thing about my hometown (Grand Haven, MI) is the beach on beautiful Lake Michigan. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  30. I live in a cosy little town in NJ...it's about a mile and a half square and has 22 lakes. Okay, most of them are very small, but it's a great place! What I love is an even we have, called Canoe Carnival. Groups get together and take two canoes, seal them in plastic so they become pontoons, then build a float on top of them. Just after sundown, the gun goes off and paddlers paddle the floats around the lake. All along the lake, residents have parties, tickets are sold for beach seating and all in all it's a lovely evening spent with good friends. We always have a good time!

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  31. I live in Erie, PA, on the shores of beautiful Lake Erie. We have four beautiful seasons, lovely spring, hot summer, colorful fall, and snowy winter. Thank you for the tour and I love the name "The Linger Longer". Thanks for the giveaway.

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  32. I am really enjoying this blog hop. I love seeing the different parts of the country (world) where other live and take a peak into their lives.

    I like the family atmosphere of my town. It is still a pretty nice place to raise a family.

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  33. I'm a small town girl too. Originally from Nebraska, my husband and I have lived all over and I miss small town life. Hopefully we will move back to that area someday! Thanks! Have a good day!

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  34. Your cabin is my dream! I live in a coastal,farming community in Southern California in the city of Oxnard named after the Oxnard Brothers a German farming family.I'm new to quilting ( one year) and love this blog hop, great way to "meet" so many talented people!
    Thanks for the opportunity to have some of your treasures!
    Tee

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  35. Thanks for the opportunity to win. I am from Michigan the Great Lakes State and of course they are great!
    Shawn

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  36. I grew up in a small college town in New York state.. When school was out it was so quiet.. I remember having a street dance on Main Street one summer and only about six cars were detoured!

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  37. I grew up all over the world as a Navy brat but am now proud to call South Carolina home! :)

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  38. I live in New Orleans, which has a reputation as a partying kind of place. But if you get away from all the tourist spots and visit with New Orleanians, you'll find they are very family-oriented. That's what I love about my town!

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  39. Bennington sound like the perfect place to grow up and raise your own family, a bit like Mayberry RFD. You are so blessed.

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  40. I grew up in a small town in New Hampshire - the "center" of town was a crossroad with a general store on one corner, the library/town hall on another, the Congregational Church on the third and the "old" cemetary on the fourth. My folks didn't get locks on their doors until the mid '80s. Now I live in Manchester, NH, a city designed by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, once (1800s) the largest textile mill in the world. The Merrimack River runs thru the city and I live on the West Side of the River - away from the downtown area. We're close enough to wooded country that I've actually seen 2 moose on my street. It's like living in a small town in my section. Many people grew up here, married locally and stayed. Most of my quilting friends can trace their family back to workers in the Mill. I get the best of small town and city ammenities, plus I'm an hour from the White Mountains, an hour from the ocean and an hour from the "big" city - Boston (where I actually work!) Your town sounds great. It's nice to know there are still towns like that. Thanks for your generous giveaway.

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  41. Mayville, Michigan.... A village with a grocery, bank, post office and several quilters. Life is Great!

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  42. Small town life sounds wonderful to me. I would love to win the layer cake, thanks for the opportunity.

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  43. Love small towns, I live in a large city Minneapolis, MN. Love your fabric, thanks

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  44. Wow, so nice to hear about your hometown and that your studio brings in money to it via your business and the retreats!

    My town, Glen Dale, WV, borders the Ohio River. We have a bike trail that winds alongside the river for some miles, then connects to other places. One can ride all the way to the DC area along the Potomac Canal bike trail.

    I like that my neighborhood has lots of old trees, some are over 100 years old! We are close to schools and stores and things to do, like the city park & swimming pool.

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  45. I grew up in a Navy family so my homes changed frequently. Now I live in Severn, Maryland and I enjoy finally having a permanent home.

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  46. What I love about where I live is the feeling of community. Everywhere I go I can be sure to run into someone I know. Love my neighbors and having more than a dozen kids on our block. What sounds sweeter than young kids playing outside? Thanks for a great giveaway.

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  47. I'm also from a small town in North Dakota, not quite as small as yours though. I loved that everyone knew everyone and you could go as you wanted as there was not threat of danger. Thanks for the opportunity to win some wonderful fabric!

    Materialmoments@yahoo.com

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  48. I live in a small town in MN and we have a local coffee shop that is a gathering place every morning for anyone who wishes to get a great cup of coffee and scone! Our tennis ladies play twice a week and have coffee to "catch up" afterwards. Love your fabric and patterns...thanks!

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  49. What in the world is a Green River? We don't have those in Phoenix, AZ. Sounds interesting!

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  50. I too live on a farm near a Kansas town of 500 (also where my husband and I were both raised). Like you, it's the simple things that make them so wonderful! Love your designs!!!! jmh

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  51. Good morning Lynne!
    I live in McKinney, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. My husband and I are small town people so the business of the metroplex is a bit overwhelming and chaotic for us. We long for that small town life again.
    ~J

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  52. I live in Seattle in a neighborhood called Ballard. Ballard used to be an old-fashioned Norwegian neighborhood, but it's become quite hip now and you are hard pressed to find lefse anywhere around. But it's great for me because I can walk to the main street and to any of the great new restaurants and cute shops.

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  53. I love your little town. I live in southeast Florida where the towns were waaay smaller when I was growing up. They've grown so much they meld into each other. I guess the best thing about our town is the beach.

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  54. I live in a small town of Wytheville Virgina. Not a lot goes on here. It is in the Southwest of Virginia where interstate 77 and 81 come together. So we have a lot of places to eat and a lot of gass stations. But I do have some great friends and we call ourselfs the Bitchin Stitchers because we talk more than we stitch when we get together.

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  55. I live in Mooresville, IN, just outside of Indianapolis. It is a quiet little town with the best library ever. We also have a wonderful apple orchard that keeps us supplied with fruit and vegetables from June to November. Thanks for the giveaway and wonderful designs.

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  56. I live ion a small farm outside Calhoun, KY. I love that it is a small town becuase when someone is in need there are always a load of people to help with whatever they need. From fundrasier to helping with the crops, always ready to help a neighbor!

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  57. Are small towns the greatest! It's like cheers, everyone knows your name. I too live in a small town in ne pa and they seem to have a spler life style. it's off subject but your magazine should come with plastic sheet protectors because it is just to drool for.

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  58. I live in San Antonio TX and I think the best thing is that one can find just about every kind of recreation within a day's drive - hills, beach, cultural things, whatever. Your small town sounds fun!

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  59. What a great post! I love your story about your town. We live in a rural area--not in town. I love the quiet and the natural vegetation. Thanks for the giveaway. I LOVE your designs.

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  60. I grew up on a farm and really envy your small town environment. Great fabrics!

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  61. Morning. Love your town. My hometown had lakes all over so if we were hot as kids we could be swimming in 10 mins.

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  62. I moved to Cambridge from northern Minnesota, to take
    a job, 37 years ago and never left. Small communiting
    town, where the sidewalks get rolled up about 8 PM.The
    local church hosts a Swedish festival in June, and a
    Snowflake parade in November.

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  63. I love Omaha because the people that live here still consider family time number one! We have our creative talents, can get anywhere in the city in 25 minutes and still enjoy many things available in big cities. We have public gardens, the Symphony, Art Museums, Fortune 500 Companies...and best of all - Quilt Stores!

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  64. Hi Lynne. I live in a small rural town, Minlaton, South Australia, Australia. It sounds very similar to yours. It is surrounded by farm land (cereal cropping and sheep farms) and is also only a 10 minute drive to unspoiled, deserted, white sandy beaches. This is what I love best, the beaches, the peace, the unspoiled nature! sarahleighATinternodeDOTonDOTnet

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  65. I love the fact that my town is small and very "connected". I live a block from the library, two blocks from the fire station and 2 blocks from my church. The UCC church on the corner just up the street from my house plays hymns on the chimes every hour on the hour from 9am until 5pm, Monday through Saturday. It just seems very "small town" to me and it always makes me smile.

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  66. Bountiful, Utah is my hometown. The Cottage was our ice cream shop, and now it's an antique shop. I loved it then and I love it now!

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  67. We just recently moved here, and this town is very much like the town I grew up in. Small neighborhoods in a big town. The difference here is that you look out your back yard, and there are cattle grazing in the pasture out back.. we didn't have that back in Minnesota.

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  68. I live in a tiny village of less than 100 people and I love the peace and open spaces of my surroundings!

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  69. My hometown sounds similar to yours in the small, quiet & safe ways. I even grew up outside of town. There's a little diner & a gas station, a PO & a bank. That's it!

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  70. I live in a small town that is considered a bedroom community of Rochester, MN or the Twin Cities. No fast food but do have a pizza shop. thanks for a chance to win your lovely fabrics.

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  71. Our town, Lake Stevens, WA has grown a lot in the past 23 years that we have lived here. I love the mountains all around us and the beautiful lakes and Puget Sound nearby. The ocean is just a morning drive away. Most of all I love that most of my family lives nearby.

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  72. This Blog Hop is great. Enjoying all the sites.

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  73. I live in Austin, Tx. I love a lot about this town but I love the sunsets over the lake the most.

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  74. My hometown here in US is North of Boston. Its a historic place, a lot of things to do. And fun place to raise the kids.

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  75. I'm in a small town 35 miles west of Nashville, TN. I didn't grow up here; my family moved here when I was in High School and I left shortly after graduation. I returned because many of my family are still here, and met and married my husband (who is from here). For me, the best thing about this town and living here is the close proximity to our families. It's nice to see folks here and there, instead of just on the big holidays. :)

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  76. I love in a large city in the charming Midwest--Rockford, Illinois, where we have many beautiful trees and parks, and 5 quilt shops!

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  77. What a wonderful little town. The Linger Longer is a treasure. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  78. I love the change of seasons in my town -- Lake Superior in the summer is wonderful, the colors of autumn are splendid, and I especially love the long, cold, snowy winters when I can snuggle up with a good book and a quilt.

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  79. My hometown (since I've lived here 29 years) is Charlotte, NC. I love the mild winters, something blooming each month of the year and the wonderful trees. We love our trees!! We can go to the beach or to the mountains in a few hours.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    Gloria
    gyates625@bellsouth.net

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  80. I live just outside of Duluth, MN. I love the change of seasons.

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  81. I live in Lancaster, CA. The thing I love about Lancaster is that this is where my family is. Thanks for sharing your hometown. It sure sounds like a wonderful place.

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  82. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio and it is the people that make your town home. I also am glad we host the International Quilt Festival in the spring. Kristy soardkg@fuse.net

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  83. I live outside of Monkton, Ontario, Canada and I love the co-operation in our town, and our hockey arena!

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  84. I live in Chanhassen, MN and love the new library.

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  85. Your small town sounds wonderful! Small, midwest towns are the best!

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  86. I'm from Salem, Utah and I love that it was small enough while I was growing up that most everyone knew each other. It's gotten bigger, but you can still feel that small community feel.

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  87. We love the diversity of the eating establishments in town since the influx of minority groups to work in the packing plant. Lexington Nebraska is called Mexington by some but it has been a wonderful experience for our kids in school. terriud@atcjet.net

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  88. I live in Troy, IL, which is a small town about 29 miles east of St. Louis, MO. We have a lot of fast food restaurants because we seem to be a good place for truckers to gas up! We do have a quilt store right in town called Sweet Annies. There are a group of gals who meet the 3rd Sat of every month for the KT Stash Club! We love your stuff!!!!

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  89. I left my hometown of Mishawaka, In in the late 60s when I graduated from HS-I always loved the small city atmosphere the,and the stjoseph river ran thru too.
    I am now retired and living in the woods outside of eldridge, mo. what I love where I live now is the beauty and the wildlife-thanks for the giveaway chance I love your fabrics Kathy

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  90. I live in State College, PA a college town that really booms when the 40,000 come back every fall. Love the fabric you design, my kind of colors. Would love to win.
    Sheila

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  91. I love the idea of your small town. As a youngster, I would have hated it, but now I'm a bit more mature, it's my idea of heaven! I live close to a pretty big city (for the UK) and we have NO sense of community at all. I suppose what I do like is being close to the action.

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  92. What I love about my hometown is the diversity of the people who live here and in the area. Because of this there are a lot of good ethnic festivals and places to eat.

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  93. I live in Delmont, PA, and every fall we host the Apples and Arts Festival. I'm looking forward to going there this fall!

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  94. Nine years ago we moved to Canton Michigan and I love it here. It still has some dirt roads and is just the right size for me and offers every thing I will ever need except a brick and mortar quilt shop. We have an online shop called Crazyquiltgirl Fabric Shop...and it is the best...when I'm not sewing at home.....you can find me helping a friend filling orders and shipping packages from her online shop. Thanks for inviting me to Bennington Kansas, I'm enjoying my visits to the hometowns of the Moda designers. Have a wonderful Wednesday Lynne!!

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  95. I grew up in a small town called Jamestown. We used to sleep outside in sleeping bags; wake up the next morning to walk downtown to shoot pool. We could also walk to Sonora, which is 3 miles away and go to the Frosty Shop. My parents live across from Railtown where Engine 3 made the movies and filed famous movie stars. I kept a scrapbook with autographs and still have the scrapbook. Now, I am married and we live in Sonora. Things change and now Sonora has become a big city with stoplights and by-passes and lots more people living here. Still, Sonora is called the foothills and I plan on living here forever. Thanks for giving all of us a chance to win those goodies.

    Sandi T.
    sandit1@sbcglobal.net

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  96. Wow! Thanks for sharing. I live in Springdale, Arkansas. This is home and always will be. I like the conveniences - especially having a local quilt shop.

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  97. What a great tour of your town!! I'm loving these hometown tours. My hometown?? I love the weather. We live in Central Florida and our weather is balmy year round. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  98. What I love about my hometown: going to The Greene and hanging out with friends. One can shop till they drop, eat at a wide variety of places (EO Burger Almond) or just sitting around listening to the live music.

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  99. I live in a small tourist town called Breezy Point in Northern MN. I love all the change of seasons and the beautiful outdoors.

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  100. Hey... forget about my hometown... i'm loading up the Penske and moving to your town! lol! Sounds like a peaceful and comfortable place to live! :-) Please enter my name in your giveaway!

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  101. I love my hometown too, it's Alexandria Virginia. There are so many little stores and Mt. Vernon (George Washington's home) is there so it must be good! Your town sound magical, love the Linger Longer. Great name.
    Joann in Annapolis, MD

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  102. What a wonderful hometown. While our current hometown is small, it is growing. What I like the most is that we are close to family.

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  103. Your hometown looks simply charming.....I live in Burnsville, MN suburb of Minneapolis. What I love is the family and friends I grew up with.

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  104. I live in the suburbs of Detroit - I love that we can drive out of town in any direction but south and get to a Great Lakes beach! thank you!

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  105. I live in Columbus, Ohio. We have the best Zoo! There are so many places to go with your kids.

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  107. I live in a sweet little village in western New York that has the most wonderful collection of beautiful older homes, one right after another.

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  108. It sounds like a wonderful place to live, our town used to be like that, but a lot more people moved into the area, since it was so nice. I live in North Kingstown, RI, outside a small village that is similar to yours. When we were kids we had a soda fountain and every one knew every one else. The village is on a cove, so it is a nice place to visit and see the boats and stroll around the stores.

    Debbie

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  109. I live in Carson City, Nevada and love that we are only 20 minutes to Lake Tahoe!

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  110. My hometown was population 3,000 in agricultural Central California. After living in Chicago for 10 years, we settled somewhere in between in an east central Iowa city of about 200,000. I'm still trying to get used to the winters!

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  111. I love that my hometown is small and quiet. The city honestly makes my skin crawl with all the noise and light pollution. I'm thankful to see all the stars at night and sit in a swaying field on a breezy day!
    Thanks for the chance!

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  112. I live in between a couple of small midwestern towns. The closest, where I went to school, is pretty much like you describe. I like that people are so supportive of one another. We had a young death in the family a few weeks ago. The outpouring of love and support was amazing.

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  113. My "Hometown" is a city of about 800.000.Although I have not lived there for 42 years I still call it my Hometown. I love the city there are so many things to do and you don't have to travel for an hour to do it. Our Children and Grandkids live there which is a big plus.

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  114. We live on five acres between Harlan and Elk Horn, Iowa. Apart from just loving Iowa, I love that we can sit on our back porch and watch the stars, or fireflies or the cats showing off. We don't have traffic or neighbors in our back pockets or hear sirens. And it's Iowa, so it's wonderful!

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  115. My name is Nanette and I'm from Vancouver Washington. I've lived here all my life and have watched it grow from a small town to a large city. My favorite thing about my city are my family and friends who live here. Washington is know as the evergreen state and it hold up to its name! There are areas of Vancouver where you can view the beautiful green colors, the Columbia River, Mt. St. Helen's and Mt. Hood. It's just breathtaking!!

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  116. I live in the north Ga mountains and love love love fall when all of the festivals come to town. Lovely smells and great crafts!

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  117. I live in Houston, Texas which seems so big for me to call it a hometown. But there is everything that we could need here, and we have the International Quilt Festival.

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  118. My hometown is also rural. I love it. I cannot imagine living in a big city. Thanks for the giveaway! I love the fabric!

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  119. I live in Calgary, Alberta. The rodeo is a big deal here too for 10 days each July. The Calgary Stampede had its 100th anniversary this year. We are in the foothills of the Rockies, so it is very pretty here.

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  120. My hometown is nestled in the foothills of the beauty Great Smoky Mountains. Besides the gorgeous views, I love our community of quilters and visiting the many quilt shops in our surrounding area. I enjoyed reading about your little slice of heaven. I love all of the lines you design, and would enjoy winning your giveaway! Lana

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  121. The think I like best about my hometown is the many memories it has given me. Family and friends are the most important things in my life. I have met so many wonderful people through my quilt guild.
    Thanks for sharing your hometown and for the chance to win.

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  122. I grew up and live near Salt Lake City, Utah. The best thing about living here is being near family, but the beautiful scenery is great too! raybanfandango at hotmail dot com

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  123. I live in the same town I grew up, Catlin, Il. population- 2200. I love the same things you do about small town living...no locked doors, knowing everyone at the Post Office and grocery store. No crime, no traffic not even a stop light in Catlin.

    I will see you tomorrow in Danville and am excited to Cater the event. I am just crazy about Kansas Troubles fabric especially Cattails and Clover.I think I am becoming a hoarder of any precut I can find! Look forward to sewing your new line, Harvest Moon!

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  124. We are new to our town, Centennial, Colorado. It's close to Denver and the Rockies and the people are so very friendly - especially the quilters!

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  125. Hometown is Ottumwa, IA, lived here all my life. Love your new line of fabric. Thanks for taking part in this hop and the great giveaways.

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  126. The thing I like best about my hometown is the many memories it has given me. Family and friends are the most important things in my life.I have met so many wonderful people through my quilt guild.
    Thanks for sharing your hometown and for the chance to win.
    Thanks Moda!!!

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  127. I love that people in the town my family calls home are kind and caring. We have a top-notch public school system, and area churches work together to provide various services for those in need. We, too, have an old-fashioned soda shoppe. It was restored a few years ago by actor Jerry Van Dyke, a former owner. It's now called the Burger Shack.

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  128. The best part about my hometown of Marshall, Missouri is the wonderful group of family and friends scattered throughout and in the surrounding area. Thanks for sharing about your little town. I always enjoy your lines of fabric.

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  129. I grew up a military brat, so I have many hometowns! My favorite thing about my childhood hometown in Maryland was our giant backyard where my sisters and I would spend numerous hours playing. There is nothing better than a sunny day outside!

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  130. I use to live in a small town which I loved in PA and miss it. I lived NYC for most of my life but now I have downside to Omaha, NE.

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  131. Thanks for a chance to win. Loved hearing about your ST. The best part about where I grew up (Waldwick, NJ) was as a kid you could bike anywhere you needed to go.

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  132. I don't really have a hometown. My father was in the military so we moved a lot as a kid. I live in Florida now but am not fond of it! Too humid!

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  133. I live in the country near a small town also. Its a wonderful way to live. Love the soda fountain.

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  134. I LOVE your hometown. It seems so relaxed.
    I live in Roanoke, Tx and it is small but not that small. LOL!

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  135. I want to live in your hometown! I have to agree. The best thing about it is it is "home".

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  136. Your hometown seems so quaint! I love the fact that we get a good dose of all 4 seasons : )

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  137. Thanks for the great blog hop. My hometown favorite memory would be the local rodeo every summer.

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  138. I love the beautiful scenery in and around Spokane, WA. We have mountains, rivers, lakes and forests here. It's a great place to enjoy the seasons.

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  139. I love all the farms and apple orchards in our Michigan town. Thanks

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  140. Your small town is adorable and I LOVE the inside photos of the shop! When we first moved to the town we are in now it was laughed at by the bigger cities around Atlanta as being a "hick" town but we LOVED it just the same. Now 40 years later it has grown so much but it's still considered a small town! Thanks bunches for the chance to win this beautiful prize!

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  141. Nevermind my hometown, my parents moved around the Midwest when I was growing up. But drug store counter Green Rivers! What a blast from the past. Say maybe over 50 years ago I got them with a ham salad sandwich on Wonder Bread at the local drug store in Miama OK. Loved them but haven't thought of them since. Thanks for the memory. What was in those things?

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  142. Small town living is some of the best. I live in the country near a small town and love it for its peacefulness.

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  143. Hi Lynne, I am now living in Comanche, Texas. (We travel through your great state often,on our way to Harrold, South Dakota where my Mom, brother and sister live. SD is where I was born and Harrold is EXACTLY like where you live.) The atmosphere in Comanche is much like that as well, just a bit larger town. I've lived in this area for only about 5 years.

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  144. Home, what more can you say. My hometown is Gridley California. It is where everyone knows you and looks out for your children.

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  145. My hometown is in Northern Virginia. I love that we are so close to DC that it's easy to take day trips there a lot!

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  146. I live outside a small town in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. I love all the wildlife that wanders by each day :-) I loved hearing about your town and it reminded me of my grandmother's hometown - Garnett, KS. It, too, had a soda fountain and I used to think it was amazing to get a "coke" that they mixed up from the syrup and carbonated water. Small towns hold such great charm!

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  147. Live in the heartland of the midwest in a very small town such as yours, population 300. Love small town living as you described and feel richly blessed to live close to my family. We live on my husband's century family farm so tradition is so important to us....thus my love of traditional quilts.. the older the better. My town is Massena, Iowa.

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  148. Our small town has grown huge as Route 1 runs right down the coast of Florida. However, 'downtown' has kept its charm including the feedstore. Thank you for the giveaway. maryellen1304@hotmail.com

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  149. Your hometown sounds charming -- thanks for the tour. We live in Visalia, CA. The best part of our town are the wonderful people who live here, and the fact that it is a two hour drive to either the beautiful San Joaquin mountains, or the California central coast.

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  150. My home town is a small town in southwest Kansas. I great-grandparents on both sides of my family help settle the town. I have many old photos and other momentos that came from the family to help me share the memories and the history of the town. Your home town and mine are such special places.

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  151. Right now I'm loving that my town of Grand Island, NE has 3 quilt stores. Each of them offers a different style of fabric, so there is something for everyone. Grand Island is a bit bigger than Bennington, but we still can't go anywhere here without running into someone we know. Love the new fabric & would be thrilled to win.

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  152. My home town is Omaha, Nebraska. Although, I've lived in Colorado as long as I lived there. Isn't that funny that I still call it "home" after all these years? There is nothing like living in the midwest.

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  153. Well, my hometown is Atlanta, Ga. I have lived here most of my life. It used to be a lot smaller, but now it is one of the biggest cities in the country! I love that you can find just about anything you are looking for by driving a short distance. In the suburbs, you can still find county fairs and in the city, you can find all of the latest broadway shows! One of the other great things about Atlanta is that my family is all close by. They are either a few minutes or just a couple of hours away!

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  154. My hometown, Dallas, Oregon is 12,000 strong. We have a wonderful summer festival. The feed store has Santa Paws and chicken daze for fun and we are
    home to the county fair. We are a bedroom community to salem, our state capitol.
    I love your fabrics and quilt designs.

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  155. My hometown is in Southern Utah ... the city is Washington. What I love is that we are within a couple of hours of 3 national parks! Zions, Bryce Canyon, and North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

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  156. My hometown is Mechanicsville, VA and I love that it's rich in civil war history.

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  157. I live in Blaine WA up in the very Pacific Northwest. I hope you enjoyed your recent visit through our area. Blaine is home to the Peace Arch. I love that we live in an agricultural area with raspberries, corn, potatoes, and many other crops. I also love the slower pace of life her. You willbe happy to know that quilting is very much alive and well

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  158. My hometown now is more of my grandparents hometown. They are both gone now and I am still here for a while. It is Waterloo, Ia. It hasn't changed to much in 50 years and as I drive around town I can still remember roads that have been changed and the memories of places like their big house on the Cedar River that isn't there anymore. Even though I want to move back to Missouri, I guess this has been my home to in more ways than just presently. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway and all of your designing work.

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  159. My hometown is a small community in Northeastern Utah. I love how close we are to beautiful mountains, bubbling streams, clear lakes and pine tree forests. It's a great place to raise a family. I enjoyed seeing your hometown and especially the tranquil cabin where you work. No wonder you receive such great inspiration for fabrics and quilt patterns in a peaceful and inspiring location. Thanks for sharing.

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  160. My hometown is Columbia City, Indiana. We do not have a quilt shop here, but I am only about 45 minutes from several of them. I am doing one of your BOM quilts, "Birds Eye View". Cheryl from Heaven on Earth is holding this class. I love the quilt and next week we will be on #8, so getting close to being finished.

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  161. I love my hometown Basel because it still has like a villagecharakter even it is a city. And I love the Rhein passing through in the middle of the town. Lovely!

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  162. Wow our lives couldn't be more different. I live in a large city in Australia. I've never been to a rodeo. Think I've only ridden a horse a handful of times. Leaving your car with out locking it is not the done thing. Your cabin is a slice of heaven, beautiful and so are your fabric colors. thanks for sharing your home town story. I live in Melbourne, Australia in a suburb called Pakenham, in our suburb we have over 40,000 people. I still am known by name at our local quilt shop which makes it feel like a community. :) Thanks again from Toymum

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  163. My name is Tina and I am from Taylorsville Utah. When I was born Taylorsville was a farming community but over the years has grown and Grown and GROWN in to a suburb of Salt Lake City. I really miss the small town atmosphere. Your town sounds lovely.

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  164. what I love about my home town are the two fabric stores and the community of sewers and quilter's!!!

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  165. I live in Safford, AZ a small rural farming community. My husband is a 4th generation cotton farmer. I love how most people are inter-related somehow, someway. The degrees of separation are usally only 2 to 3. It's a great place to live. I love your fabrics and how they are inter-related. I am making a Debbie Caffrey pattern using KT Favorites, Prairie Moon, and even some leftover Wildflower Serenade.... love your colors!

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  166. I live in a small town (for me) now and love the sense of community...so different from living close to a big city. Enjoyed hearing about your hometown...sounds like a great place!! TFS

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  167. I love the sound of your hometown. I live on the edge of a large city, but close to the Yorkshire Moors, which are just beautiful.

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  168. I live in Salt Lake City, UT, and I have always wanted to move to a coast city, such as Boston, New York, or Seattle. However, as I've gotten older I have realized the best part of the city I live in, is my family!

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  169. Hometown is Spokane Valley, WA. I love your quilts..Thank you.

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  170. I live in Reno, Nevada and the best part of living here is that it is so close to Lake Tahoe. Thank you for the opportunity to win some of your beautiful fabric.
    Tami

    tamiquilts at att dot net

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  171. I live in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. Best things about it: nice pace of life, just minutes from the countryside, and lots of quilting friends. Love your fabrics. Thanks for the chance to win.
    Debbie R.

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  172. I now live in Scottsdale, Arizona. I moved here as a teenager with my family from Long Island in 1968. It was quite an adjustment. The greater Phoenix area has seen a tremendous amount of growth. The city has lots to offer: hotels, restaurants, shopping, sightseeing, desert, mountains, lakes, hiking, biking, etc. Summers are a little warm though. But I love my friends, family and dogs most of all...

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  173. I live in a small town in NC. It is nice and quiet, but close enough to places with more "excitement".

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  174. I live in Turlock, Ca. and I really like the small town feel in this community!

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  175. I live in the land of loons and lakes, Northern, Wisconsin. Yes I am blessed.

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  176. I live in Yaphank New York, it's on the south eastern part of Long Island. I love that I could walk to our town park and the river that runs through it. ;-> Thanks for telling us about life in a small town. Toni Anne

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  177. I love the quietness of our small country town and like you everyone seems to know about you.

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  178. My hometown used to be like your hometown, I live in Gilbert, Arizona. But we had a building boom, and it is now huge. I wish I could move to a town like your town, but retirement is coming, and all the kids and grandchildren are here, and home is where the family is. Love your fabric.

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  179. I live in Helena, MT, and I love the seasons. My favorite is springtime when the plants begin to pop through after a long winter. I also like the fall when the air cools and leaves give one last surprise of color before falling. We also have lots of wildlife in our backyard, deer, rabbits, squirrels,and raccoons.I love your fabrics and patterns.

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  180. What I love most about my hometown is that it is not the City and that its close to go get the things you need.

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  181. My hometown is also very small - no stoplights, no WalMart, but we do have a McDonalds. I love the friendly people who are always ready to help someone out.

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  182. I love the small town feel of my hometown and that it is such a great place to raise my children.

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  183. I live in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and I love all the seasons except winter! We have beautiful pine trees and lakes and lots of wildlife. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  184. I live in Bella Vista, Arkansas. It is a retirement village in the wonderful Ozark Mountains. I love the woods all around us.

    Hope I win ! Thanks

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  185. I love our fresh sweet local strawberries in the spring/summer time. They are awesome!

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  186. I live in Salinas, CA, in the middle of lettuce fields. Town is only 8 miles away, but I love staying home and "playing" in my quilting studio.

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  187. I live in Lenoir, North Carolina. It is a small town near the Blue Ridge Parkway, very hilly, tons of trees and I love the views, the wild turkey, and the wild and tame blackberries. Very country, however town is known for the street sculptures from the many local artisians and designers.

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  188. I'm from Grand Rapids Michigan. I love everything about Michigan, the fall colors, the cool streams, the walks in the woods, the rolling hills and the Apples, OMG the Apples. I have Apples in my DNA and life is not worth living without Hot Apple Pie and Ice Cream!

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  189. Thank you for hosting this hop!
    I grew up in Vancouver, BC. My absolute favorite place to go was the "La Casa Gelato" ice cream parlour - 218 flavours of goodness all the time :) SO good. My favorite flavour was Kahlua. YUM.
    Now we live in Evanston, Illinois - and our favorite place to go here is the beach! The beaches in Chicago are beautifully kept, and there's a nice boardwalk to meander down with the baby stroller and dog in tow. Love it!
    Erin - mummyquilts@gmail.com

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  190. Where I live now (Jamestown, NY) isn't my my hometown but it's a good place to raise a family. We have an abundance of grapes and some pretty good wine made from them, including an Ice Wine, which is made from the grapes after they have been allowed to freeze on the vines. Thanks for the glimpse into life in Bennington!

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  191. I live in Walla Walla, WA... used to be a farming town 'walla walla sweet onions' but recently we have grown into a wine making mecca of WA state.. Good thing I like wine!

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  192. I've always admired KT fabric and I've used them many times. We moved to Russell, Kansas last Oct. from Portland, OR. Wow what a change. There isn't a fabric shop here, so I have to drive either 30 minutes west, or 50 minutes east to find nice fabric. I'm going to start using the internet to order. Thanks for the tour.

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  193. Love it! We really enjoy the peace and quiet of living outside of a small town - though it would be nice to have a few more quilt shops nearby!

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  194. I live in Phoenix, AZ. I love being surrounded by mountains, and I love that while I could be running around in jeans and tee-shirt at home, in two hours I could be playing in the snow (in the wintertime, at least). Thanks for the chance to win!

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  195. We live in Eagle Mountain Utah. The Pony Express used to run through here. I love being surrounded by majestic mountains. Thank you for the chance to win some gorgeous fabric!

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  196. HELLO FROM MONTANA,HOME OF SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ROCKY MOUNTAINS YOU'LL SEE! THANKS FOR YOUR POST AND GIVEAWAY! HAPPY STITCHING!

    msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

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  197. I live in the country with a mailing address of Baraboo, WI. I love the quiet of the country and the small town atmosphere of Baraboo---home of the Ringling Circus World. And, the next town from us is the Wisconsin Dells, where everyone loves to come to and go to all of the water parks!!!. Thanks for the chance to win such beautiful fabric. Love Kansas Troubles!!!!

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  198. I hail from Vancouver, WA (the "other" Vancouver)and while we have been a growing city this past 10 years, we still have a small-town feel. When we need big city entertainment we just hop across the Columbia to Portland, Oregon - 10 miles city center to city center. The best of both worlds.

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  199. My hometown is Fair Oaks, CA, near Sacramento. What I love about my hometown are my neighbors. We bought in an area built the year I was born, 1956, and we still have a few of the original homeowners on our street...they make the neighborhood homey, which is not easy in our fast paced, high tech world.

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  200. I live in Munich, germany, and there're so many things to love about my hometown. But one of the best things is that it has a cosy small town flair although it's a big city with 1.4 million people.
    Thanks for the giveaway and greetings from germany, Hildy
    hildy(at)ebertzeder(dot)de

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