Friday’s

A UFO Finish for Friday!

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Yes, I finished UFO #12 for 2021!

This seems like it was a difficult finish. First, I didn’t have the right red to go with the panel. That made is necessary to BUY fabric. I found some grunge and … it worked … and was perfect for enhancing this panel block!

Then I quilted it and was very pleased to be done … until I looked at the back … on the last 2 rows of swirls … GROAN … 2 and a half days later, the stitching was all removed.

I changed the needle and started re-doing the quilting … and I was checking every 12 inches or so … but it was fine! YAY!!! Doesn’t this look much better?? Perhaps this lesson taught me that I need to change the needle more often??

Yesterday, the binding went on … photo shoot happened and it is DONE!!! YAY!!!

I’m so pleased that it is done!!! Another UFO kicks the dust!!! This also means that I have completed the minimum number of UFOs to achieve my PHD in 2021. (HUGE GRIN!)

This quilt was made from 2 separate panels … one bought at St. Jacob’s in Ontario and other bought in Pennsylvania … probably a few years apart. The batting is Hobbs 80/20 and the quilting is done with Glide thread.

I was Featured

Andree from Quilting and Learning – What a Combo featured my Island Batik “Never Too Early” project! You can read about it HERE.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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PHD in 2021: June Report

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How are you doing with your PHD in 2021?

A couple of blog followers have commented on part of my weekly “To Do” list where I say “Do NOT be distracted by any SQUIRRELS.” And most of the time, I am not distracted by them!

Squirrels are those enticing projects that just want to be done NOW. You can read a blog post about them HERE.

So … how do I manage to (mostly) avoid squirrels? Well, as I wander through many different blogs, I get several new ideas, see new patterns, see cute quilts, and see tons of things I just want to do. I know that you all feel the same way!!! Right? The temptation is there!

I will take a screen shot, download the pattern, or something so I can remember the fantastic idea I saw. Then, I say to myself, “If I still am really wanting to do this in a few days (or a week), then I give myself permission to do so.” Well, usually it works. Usually. As you can see in my tally sheet, there is a LOT more “Starts in 2021” than my monthly Island Batik projects … but for the most part … they get done!

Another UFO was finished the other day! The town Table Topper. Once I fixed the mistake (see HERE) and finished quilting, it didn’t take long at all.

Linky Party

Link up and show us your PHD in 2021 progress:

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My Favourite Quilt this month!

Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs hosts a Favourite Finish Monthly Link up.

Oh, it’s HARD to choose my favourite quilt for this month? Is it one of the two quilts I made as an Island Batik ambassador using Accuquilt dies? Or the Follow Your Own Path quilt?

It was hard to choose! I put all 3 into the “tiled” image and it made the one with red maple leafs the biggest … so I thought I’d let the program choose! But then I had 2nd thoughts … and decided that I’d go with the Follow Your Path Quilt … I wasn’t sure how it would turn out with the background and I was super pleased with the result … so that’s going to be my choice for this month! (You can read more about the quilts HERE and HERE.)

Mystery Quilt

The Summer 2021 Mystery Quilt has started! Fabric Requirements were posted on Saturday. (See HERE)

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Final Friday’s Finish in June

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Oh WOW! It seems like this month has flown by! And how can that be? We’ve had a travel restriction for most of the month. We haven’t gone anywhere. We haven’t been visiting friends … but the time has gone by ….

This month’s challenge for the Table Scraps is the colour purple. And I made this coaster (similar to others I made) … eventually, I will have a very pretty collection! The embroidery pattern is a free pattern from Kreative Kiwi.

And … since I did Drop Everything And Make It … it also qualifies for this month’s DREAMi!

Yes, the coaster is made with Island Batik fabric and Hobbs 80/20 batting.

UFO Progress

Ugg … somethings take a lot of time! I was hoping to have this finished by today … but I have to do some unsewing! Do you see what the problem is? Thankfully, I hadn’t quilted those last 2 blocks on the right!

I was Featured

Susan, from Quilt Fabrication featured this quilt: (you can read about it HERE).

Have a great weekend!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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A Fun Finish

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This quilt was SEW much fun to quilt!!!

It is a panel from Paintbrush studio and Essem Textiles is selling it. (Hurry in, I hear the panels are going fast!) When I first got the panel home, I was very impressed with the feel of the fabric. SEW very nice. And it quilted like a dream!!!

It is backed with a “Fit for a Queen” flannel backing and Hobbs 80/20 is the batting. It is quilted with Glide, light grey thread. All of it quilted freehand on my domestic sewing machine (Janome M7). I did use a ruler for one block, can you guess which one?

Each block has a different free motion quilting filler … it’s always fun to play!

This quilt is now on display in the store (Essem Textiles).

I was Featured

Jennifer, from Inquiring Quilter, featured my 2 quilts from the Island Batik June challenge:

And Denise from For the Love of Geese also featured the same quilt(s).

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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New Finishes?

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No, not for me … well, at least not a new finish that you haven’t seen before. I posted these 2 quilts earlier this week for my June Island Batik Challenge “Spread Love & Joy with Accuquilt.”

UFO progress

I’ve been working on my UFO … these panels … attempting to put it into a quilt … lots of decisions … do I leave them like this? Separate them … what to do?

I decided that I wanted to highlight the small block with the horse and buggy … but, would you believe that I did NOT have any red fabric that was ‘right’ for this? All of my reds were too bright, too orange, too patterned, or too dark …

SEW … what’s a gal to do? Go shopping of course!! I went to Essem Textiles and bought the red and beige-brown grunge fabric. (The fabric in the corners of the star were from cutting the larger block panel.)

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Born to be Wild

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This fun Blog Hop is the inspiration of Carol from “Just Let Me Quilt.” Have you been following it? Tons and Tons of Wild eye candy!

When Carol first announced this blog hop, I immediately KNEW exactly what I was going to do. A few of you may remember that I went to Africa in Sept., 2019. I bought some fabric there. You can read a little about my trip HERE.

And wonder, of wonders, I mostly followed through on my plan for this blog hop!

Here’s a picture of the fabric I bought when I was in Africa.

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Things your friends tell you

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Sometimes it’s a lot of fun! Sometimes, it just gets you into trouble!!!

Four of us met in the park on a sunny afternoon to visit and show our latest projects. Part of the conversation went like this:

One: Did you know there’s a new store in town … a fabric store?

All of us: NO! Where???

One: gives us the address (downtown Cloverdale, across from where the liquor store used to be) Edit: 5625 176 St Cloverdale (Surrey) BC.

The rest of us: What do they have?

One: I’m not sure, the sign said fashion and quilting

The rest of us: We’ll have to check it out.

Yesterday, one of the gals checked it out … Today I checked it out.

It’s bright, cheerful and the owners were VERY welcoming!!! It’s called Essem Textiles. On a rack outside the store, she has some cute little tops that must fit a size 0-4 adult … um, not for me! But inside … See what I mean about bright and cheerful? (and yes, I ‘borrowed’ this picture from Essem’s Intstagram) AND, I LOVE all the notions on the back wall!

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Scrappy Irish Chain Class

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In March, I taught a scrappy Irish Chain class for a Chilliwack guild. Thank you to the guild organizers for having me teach this class via Zoom!

Here’s some pictures of some of the results:

This is Shirley’s quilt. Very scrappy!

And here it is quilted! I like the variety of straight line quilting!

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PHD in 2021: April Report

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How are you doing with your PHD in 2021?

Sometimes, people will ask me how I get so much done. I ALWAYS end up telling them the same thing: One stitch at a time. I was quilting yesterday as I thought about this. When I was doing the free motion, the stitches were fast a furious, and when I switched to doing the ruler quilting, the stitches were WAY slower and more methodical. But, in both cases, it was one stitch at a time.

I remember last year, when I was learning to piece curved seams, it was like an epiphany when I realized that curved seams take care and take time. However, when I’m putting binding on a quilt, I’m full speed ahead. But still, it’s one stitch at a time.

When I was working full time, sometimes doing 12 plus hours, plus the commute, I would come home and sew for 15 minutes. That’s all. Just 15 minutes. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish with little bits of time! And yes, it was still one stitch at a time.

SEW … if you are struggling at getting something done: Remember, it’ll get done One Stitch At a Time.

As for me? I’m steadily moving right along! My one UFO finish for April was the “Open House” wall hanging.

Linky Party

Link up and show us your PHD in 2021 Progress.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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My Favourite Finish this Month

Was my Island Batik “It’s All Up to You” challenge. You can read more about the challenge quilt HERE.

NEW BLOG HOP

That’s correct, Island Batik ambassadors are bringing you a new blog hop starting Monday! I’ll let you know where to go to see the awesome new fabric collections and the amazing quilts that my fellow ambassadors have made! AND there will be an opportunity to WIN some fabulous fabric!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Stitchin’ in the Kitchen Blog Hop

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Carla, from “Creatin in the Sticks” is the wonderful organizer for this week’s blog hop: Stitchin in the Kitchen.

I had several ideas of what to make … but none of them felt just right. Then I remembered this apron that was cut-out. It just needed to be sewn together. Nice and simple, right? And for once, it was a simple finish!!!

Here’s the front:

And the back:

The other bloggers in the blog hop:

Make sure that you visit them! Lots of ideas … (and you know that the holiday in December will arrive before you’re ready … you could get started now! )

Monday, April 19th

Tuesday, April 20th


Wednesday, April 21st


Thursday, April 22nd

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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SAHRR – Parade Finale!

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SAHRR is the Stay at Home Round Robin that happened on this and several other blogs. 7 bloggers got together and each one decided what the next round would be! SEW fun!

When you do a Round Robin, you are actually the designer. You are given a theme for the round and it’s up to you to decide HOW the round is done. The following quilts will show you the fantastic variety of what each quilter decided to do.

Enjoy!

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BBQG’s Jan/Feb Mystery Quilts

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I have a LOT of finishes to show you. In January, I hosted a mystery quilt for our guild (Boundary Bay Quilt Guild). It’s a lot of fun for me!!! This mystery was written by Sue P … a member of the Peace Arch Quilt Guild. I did it as a mystery several years ago. I repeated it again this year. Thank you, Sue, for permitting me to share this quilt pattern with the guild! This post is dedicated to YOU!!!

I absolutely LOVE how the same design looks SEW very different with different fabrics and different layouts! And THANK YOU to all the guild members that sent me their pictures!

This is Kathy S’s: I love the tree’s!

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TGIFF on the first Friday in April

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Yes, it’s TGIFF … I LOVE this linky party and host it every so often. It’s a great way to see other bloggers and what they are working on!

I know … I know … some of you are thinking “Wait, is it Friday? I thought it was Thursday!” And you’d be correct. I am posting this on Thursday – so that others around the globe can see it on Friday. Does that make sense?

Unfortunately, I do not have a NEW finish for today, but I have had several finishes this month! Don’t you just love finishes?

My favourite for this month is … well, I have 2. Both of them are made with Island Batik fabrics! The one on the left is my scrappy Starry Irish Chain that was made for March’s Island Batik challenge and the one on the right is my version of the SAHRR. You can read more about them HERE and HERE.

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Salt and Sand Blog Hop and Green Table Topper

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In January, Carol, from Just Let Me Quilt, announced that she’d be hosting this blog hop in March. Of course, I signed up immediately! And, even though I knew that I could change my mind (happens often), I actually had an idea of what I would make for this blog hop! And, surprise, surprise, I didn’t change my mind.

I made this cute little Zipper Bag … It is an Anita Goodesign called “Shadow Work Design.” I altered the design a bit, because I didn’t have any sheer fabric. All of the fabric is from Island Batik (are you surprised???) Most of the bag is made with Coconut – one of their wonderful basics – available all the time. The applique is a small piece from Nautilus Floral-Baja from the Mystery Collection. This is the same collection that I used in February for my “Create for a Cause” challenge. You can view that quilt HERE.

Since I wasn’t about to go to a wet, soggy beach, I took this picture in the front yard. If you use your imagination, the lava rock can represent beach rock and the side of the raised bed could be a log, right?

And, since we have a few flowers blooming, I had to take a picture of it with the flowers! And trust me, those hyacinths smell heavenly!

BLOG HOP

Here’s a list of today’s blog hoppers … Lots of eye candy for you!!!


Just Let Me Quilt
Websterquilt
Samelia’s Mum
Quilt Fabrication
Little Penguin Quilts
Just Sew Quilter
Inflorescence

Monthly Table Topper / Runner Challenge

I had a lot of fun making my March green table runner. I thought I’d try some of the improv blocks I learned from my “Speed Dating” class (see HERE). Using the techniques I learned, it was pretty quick, easy and fun to put together!!! And, no, the quilt I started in the Speed Dating class is not finished … YET!

This used Island Batik fabrics: light and dark grey solids, and the greens were: Marble Frog – BE, Celery, Bubbles: sprout, and 2 other greens that were in my IB scrap bag. The backing is a combination of Celery and Light grey solid. You can see the back HERE. Hobbs 80/20 Cotton batting was used and it was quilted with Aurifil #2600 (Dove).

I must admit that I had a super fun time making this!!! Improv is fun! I like the freedom – anything goes – within my own limits!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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Blustery Friday

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The wind is blowing … a LOT!!! I’m glad that I took pictures of my finished quilt the other day!

This is the Echo Lake T-shirt quilt. There are lots of different T-shirts. Some are repeated, in different colours.

As I was working on this quilt, I was continually amazed at the work / service that each T-shirt represents. From the inception of the theme, creating the artistic logos … wow!!! Then there is the various speakers each summer that address the theme, the campers and leaders that listen, the music and songs, the people in charge of activities (archery, climbing wall, crafts, etc), the kitchen staff, the caretaker and grounds people. So many people!!! And there are people that attend the spring clean-up, those that generously donate time and/or money. And, not to forget those that don’t set a foot on the camp grounds, but pray for the campers and all the workers. And, I’ve probably left out many more people that are also involved!

Our 2 kids went to Echo Lake years ago. When they first started going, it was tents on wooden platforms. I remember the first year they build the cabins … there was open rafters … our son broke his arm swinging from them! Don’t ask … if you knew my son, you would totally understand this! Tons and tons of memories!!!

Anyhow, it was an honour to make this quilt / banner. It is HUGE … over 8′ wide and about 5.5 ‘ high. It is far from perfect! Nothing I make is ever close to perfect, but the T-shirt fabric added an extra challenge!

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A Friday UFO Finish!!!

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I made the Moorewood Mystery, designed and hosted by Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs. This pattern is extremely well written. The monthly instructions are easy to follow and very doable during the month! The pattern is available on the website. Thank you Cheryl for this unique and fun design!

This quilt counted as one of my UFOs because it could not be completed in 2020 … (my own rules as to what makes a UFO).

Quilt Stats

  • Size: 60.5″ x 72.5″
  • It is quilted with a beige thread – Aurifil 2000.
  • The quilting is simple swirls in the background and all of the coloured shapes are outlined. Nothing fancy … but I really like how it looks!
  • The batting is Hobbs 80/20.
  • The fabrics are Kansas Troubles that have been sitting in my stash for … um … well … ya … at least 10 years … I think!!!! And, for some reason, the container with the Kansas Troubles fabric is still pretty full!!!

And a closeup of the quilting:

I was Featured

Jennifer featured the quilt with all the ruler quilting on it. You can read more about it HERE.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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Lets Talk about Ruler Quilting!

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Did you see my Scrapbusting Challenge for Island Batik for March? You can see it HERE.

The following is about one of the quilts I made for the challenge. I was scheduled to take a Ruler Quilting course through the guild with Silly Moon Quilting Co. I grabbed some of the Island Batik neutral stash builder rolls so that I could make 5″ squares. I wanted something light so the quilting would show. Then, instead of making a placemat or table topper, I choose to make a small heart quilt.

Well, as soon as I had the heart done with the blue around it, I decided to make it bigger … and borders were added … then more borders. All of a sudden (after a few hours), I had a quilt instead of placemat.

By the way Silly Moon Quilting Co. is a Canadian company, family owned and is located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. You can order rulers directly from them or from various locations across Canada. They offer ruler quilting classes on their rulers. Did I say that I’m in LOVE with their rulers?

Ruler Quilting

The owner of Silly Moon lead the class on Zoom. She was a great instructor! Very patient and clear with her instructions. I have taken a ruler class before, with Amy K. and she’s fantastic as well. Anyhow, the blocks inside the heart were quilted during the class and used “Charming” and “Edgie” rulers.

I wanted to quilt this whole quilt using Silly Moon rulers. It was fun!

The blue border below was quilted using “Charming,” the neutral border to the left used “Turkey” and “Charming.”

Below, you can see how “Charming” made the scallops on the outside border. Cupid 3″ made the hearts that are in the blue and white border. “Turkey” made that neat small square/large square in the next blue border. (And yes, if you look closely, I still need to practice more!)

Here is the full quilt!

Hobbs 80/20 batting was used, Aurifil #2610 – Light Blue Grey, and Schmetz needles were used for piecing and quilting. (All of these were provided by Island Batik and Industry Partners).

Spare Time

I have been asked several times about what I do in my spare time! This picture says it all! (Sorry, I don’t know the original source, it’s from my cousin’s Facebook Page … if anyone knows the original source, please let me know and I’ll give credit to the original artist.)

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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Friday, Finished and an Unfinished

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Finish

I did finish the Raggedy Andy doll for the “Show your Stripes” Blog Hop. Thank you everyone for your kind comments! He was a fun finish! You can read more about him HERE.

Unfinished UFO

I’ve got a lot of T-shirts cut and interfacing on them. They are temporarily laid out on the bed. I hope to get sewing them together soon! There are lots of small spaces that I will use bits and pieces of the T-shirts to fill in.

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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I can finally show you …

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I organize the mystery quilts for the quilt guild (Boundary Bay Quilt Guild). Of course, I HAVE to make each mystery prior to presenting it to the guild. Our latest mystery was designed by Sue Pontifex (of Piece Arch Quilters) and I originally made it around 2013.

Here it is! It is an alternate layout to Sue’s original. And yes, I used Island Batik fabrics, Aurifil thread and Hobbs fusible 80/20 batting. The free motion quilting is a simple hook with flower petals around it.

Here’s the original one I made in 2013, following the directions!

Members of the guild that have made this quilt will be forwarding me their finished tops and I’ll put them all here on the blog. From what I’ve seen, there’s going to be some pretty fantastic quilts!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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Another Squirrel and TGIFF

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Yup, I was distracted from my focus of working on, um … er … 5 quilts at once. And just HAD to start something new.

If you’re not familiar with “Squirrel” when it comes to quilt projects, check out THIS BLOG POST, where I explain it.

I like having various containers to hold things, clips, pieces of blocks, and a zillion other things. I saw the Petit Four Baskets byAnnie. It’s a FREE pattern and you can get it HERE (look under free patterns).

SEW … of course, I HAD to make one (or two) just so that I have more baskets!!!

I started looking through my Island Batik scraps. Voila! In no time at all, I had with 2 pieces of Primo, designed by Ebony Love for one basket and Opalescence (light mauve) paired with a nameless Island Batik fabric in soft pastels with turtles and seahorses on it for the other.

If you have extra 10″ squares, you can use them for this bag!

After, picking out the fabric and cutting what I needed … I was an extremely good girl and re-folded the scraps and put them neatly back where they belong! MIRACLE!!! It was obvious that this squirrel was meant to be!!!

In a very short time, I had my 2 little baskets … aren’t they cute?

TGIFF

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Island Batik Blog Hop

Have you been following this week’s Create for a Cause blog hop? There are some pretty fantastic quilts!

Check out Island Batik’s blog for a recap of this week’s quilts!

Plus you have an opportunity to win!!!!

You could win one of 2 Fat Quarter Bundles of Citrus Sun! Make sure you enter the rafflecopter …a Rafflecopter giveaway

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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