Jo Avery – the Blog

Stitch Gathering Goody Bag GIVEAWAY!!


Did you miss out on coming to the Stitch Gathering this year and instead had to gaze with envy at all the photos of the amazing goody bags??!!
Well here’s a chance to win yourself the very last GOODY BAG!!!
It’s packed with fabulous stuff – let’s take a closer look at some of it, like the fabric!
There are beautiful fat quarters from Michael Miller, Cloud 9 Fabrics, Amy Butler from Coats UK, Dear Stella and Lewis and Irene! Plus a bundle of 4 FQs from my Kaufman/Windham supplier Anbo. AND to top it all off the lovely folks at Blend Fabrics included a bundle of 8 FQs from their The Makers line by Cori Dantini!!
Thank you so much sponsors!
Ooops I guess this should have been in the last photo because we also have a pack of Liberty Tana Lawn pre-cut hexagons (28!) from Duck Egg Threads. I’ve already been using mine, see below.
Every bag also got a copy of Love Patchwork and Quilting, this one has all the useful paper pieces for the free gift (and includes my Buffer Wheel quilt pattern!). There’s the always very popular Frixion pen from Pilot and the very welcome pack of Nairn’s Oatcakes, both sponsoring our event for the 3rd time – thank you Pilot and Nairns! Also supporting us for a third year (with something in each photo!) are Coats UK with this fab bag pattern. Plus a sachet of Soak for you to try out at home.
Lovely Alex Veronelli from Aurifil has also been an enthusiastic supporter of all 3 events, this year sending everyone a large #50 spool and a spool of floss! Alex also sent 2 thread selection boxes for the Tombola, thank you Alex! Coats also included cotton thread and Millwards needles. DMC sent a skein from their lovely Colour Variations range of variegated stranded cotton. And myBearpaw popped in the pack of beads 🙂
Thank you so much to all our wonderful sponsors! We couldn’t do this without you!!
Before we get on to the Giveaway nitty-gritty, let’s have a look at some pretty EPP hexies! I used up the Duck Egg Threads pack and added a few more. The papers came from a previous issue of Love Patchwork and Quilting. This is being slowly turned into something. Very slowly…

So how do you get your hands on all that booty!!!

I spend my whole time sewing (with a few breaks for a little crochet and knitting!), I will swing between EPP, Improv piecing, needle turn applique, strip piecing, foundation piecing – I love them all! And embroidery and sashiko! But how about you? Am I very unusual? Do you prefer one technique over all the others? I’d love to hear your thoughts in a comment!

For a large number of entries do one or all of the following:
1. Leave me a comment telling me something related to the last paragraph (if you can’t think of anything just say hi!).
2. Blog, Facebook, tweet or Instagram about the giveaway and tell me what you’ve done in a comment (with links if possible). Please #stitchgathering2015 and tag me if you can – up to 4 separate entries here!

Giveaway open to International entries and ends midnight on Friday 16th of October.

Good luck!!

myBearpaw 139 comments

139 comments

  2. I have commented here, shared it on Facebook, shared it on Instagram, I haven't got Twitter but I told a few birds and they are tweeting it across the city!

    Whoop! I'm in it to win it!

    Reply

  3. I'd so love to be able to join any of these gatherings some day. Sigh! Oh, and I'm always swinging from craft to craft as well, except embroidery and sashiko. My embroidery skills are pretty non-existent and sashiko I've never tried yet. Thanks for the chance! x

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  4. You were able to get some very kind and generous sponsors this year!
    I too flit between one technique and another without having a favourite. At the moment I have a number of WIPs to pick up depending on what I feel like doing: EPP, cross stitch, knitting, patchwork, dress making, crochet. Always plotting the next project too!

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  5. I really love EPP, cross stitch, bag making, and cushion making. I do make the occasional quilt too. Thank you for an amazing giveaway. x

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  6. Oh my goodness – what amazing goodies! So glad you are accepting international entries ? Thanking you, and enjoying your patterns here in BC, Canada!

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  8. Looks like such a great goodie bag! Haven't found any expos or retreats near me so this would be awesome. EPP looks so tedious but fun and I hope to delve into it soon. I cross stitch, crochet and now quilt/light sewing! Luckily I have a designated room that I get to share with my husband and a dad that can build me wooden organizing shelves! Thank you for the opportunity to win such a generous loot!

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  9. I spend most of my limited free time sewing, I flit between different techniques too. This last year I've tried foundation piecing for the first time, I've started embroidery, and I'm just getting bits together so that I can knit for the first time in years!

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  11. I tend to switch between projects and I am looking forward to trying EPP again with my purchase from massdrop. This is a very generous give away- thank you

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  12. I have my hands full with quilting a bunch of projects at different stages in the quilting process… It would be too much if I started knitting or embroidery projects too!

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  14. Such a great goody bag … if only! I do try lots of techniques (just bought a sashiko sampler) but I seem to circle back to patchworking every time! Thanks

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  15. I am definitely a quilt sewer. Crochet & knitting are my worst nightmare but I love my sewing machine. Keep telling myself I need to try EPP but haven't quite managed it yet – the quilt WIP list is too long!

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  19. Well, I am as bad as you… Love knitting, have at least 2 projects, crochet the same, love epp, applique, machine patching and quilting…. Bag making…. At least there is always something I fancy to do!

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  20. Well, I am as bad as you… Love knitting, have at least 2 projects, crochet the same, love epp, applique, machine patching and quilting…. Bag making…. At least there is always something I fancy to do!

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  22. Well, I am as bad as you… Love knitting, have at least 2 projects, crochet the same, love epp, applique, machine patching and quilting…. Bag making…. At least there is always something I fancy to do!

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  23. Best goody bag yet. Sorry I missed the event. I do whatever I learn from the classes I go to at My Bearpaw. Not done foundation piecing yet but I'm sure you have a class which covers that.

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  24. Ive tried to expand all my areas of quilting. I tend to give everything away! Whether it's a gift, charity or donations. ….in fact, the only thing I've sold is a small wristlet bag I created and I was very uncomfortable doing that! It was because the person asked! Lol
    The one thing I have not done and want to learn, is shashiko stitching! I LOVE the look!

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  26. I like machine piecing and free motion quilting things myself, no sending projects away. Just learned to hand bind though, my first attempt at hand stitching anything.

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  28. I mostly quilt but I love trying a bit of everything else that I can!!! Mostly I need more hours in the day ? Thanks for the chance to win!

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  29. Your "last paragraph" describes me to a T! I swear, I've tried every kind of thread or fabric creating that's possible. I love embroidery, and big stitch quilting with pearl cotton, machine- and hand-piecing, knitting, crocheting, domestic machine quilting, EPP, FPP, and machine- and hand- appliqué. Oh, and I've tried needlepoint, chicken scratch, huck weaving, macrame, tatting, latch hook… have I missed anything? Oh yes, and smocking and heirloom sewing. (Gosh, aren't you sorry you asked?!) Thanks for the chance to win.

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  30. I try to use the best matching technique but have to say i did nit try everything so far. There is stil so much to discover. Some things just scare me so i postpone them (applique, epp quilt) but one day i will just do it – because i can!
    The stitch gathering must have been an amazing event. I have seen so many pics!

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  31. I was so sad to miss the Stitch Gathering but was away walking the West Highland Way in glorious sunshine, took my knitting and some EPP with me for the evenings to compensate for missing out. Jo has been instrumental in getting me into all things quilty, loving all of it and extending my quilting/sewing horizons. Thanks for a chance at the goody bag giveaway sounds awesome.

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  32. I was so sad to miss the Stitch Gathering but was away walking the West Highland Way in glorious sunshine, took my knitting and some EPP with me for the evenings to compensate for missing out. Jo has been instrumental in getting me into all things quilty, loving all of it and extending my quilting/sewing horizons. Thanks for a chance at the goody bag giveaway sounds awesome.

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  34. My favourite way to sew is by hand. I have and use a machine – mostly for gift quilts. If it's fabric I love and I plan on keeping it I do it by hand.

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  41. Wonderful goodies! I think I am like you, doing different things and using different techniques.I just think this is so much fun and never time enough to do everything i would love to make,lol!
    Hugs from Switzerland, Martina

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  48. I love lots of different sewing techniques aswell with a handful of crochet thrown in. What an amazing giveaway – would love to be in with a chance of winning all those wonderful goodies!!

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  49. Shared on FB personal and FB business and instagram too – I want as many chances as I can to get my hands on this stuff!!!!! Thanks for a great giveaway.

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  50. I discovered quilting recently so all my energy has been spent into improving techniques. But I still love to EPP, cross-stitch, sashiko and some knitting thrown in. Multi tasking, multi project management. What wonderful goodies! Shared on FB.

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  51. Quilting, baby clothes, bags, toys, cross stitch, knitting crochet, glass bead making to name a few. about to embark on curtains and neon light bending. I try too many thing and rarely get things finished! :-/

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  54. i have a few favourites, recently taken up EPP and love having a sofa project. I think a lot of it is to do with time pressures and other commitments, I need headspace to try new things and that is quite rare! thanks for a great giveaway

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  58. I'm a one-at-a-time kind of gal. One kind of craft at a time, but I get obsessed. Once it was scrapbooking, now it is quilting and I'm over the top. Up to and including a longarm. I've found my spot..

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  59. I like trying lots of different techniques and types of sewing (quilting, hand embroidery, soft toys, bag making etc) and some I enjoy and go back to and others I realise I'm not so keen so I try something else instead. But I think it's good to try as many things as possible as you never know which will resonate with you.

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  60. I just love fabric and sewing of all kinds and knitting too. I just am really bad about finishing a project before I start something new! Hoping to join you all at next years gathering.

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  61. I mostly sew, but I do tend to jump from project to project with multiple going on at once. Have just recently started enjoying embroidery again as well. Thanks for the lovely giveaway!

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  66. I like to have a range of projects on the go to appeal to my sometimes limited attention span and time. At present I have an EPP bag project, an unfinished dress with hexie pockets, and 5 quilt projects. The good news is I just finished a quilt in full this week – woo hoo!

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  68. Sewing wise I like sewing bags the most but I also sew softies and I'm just learning to sew clothes. I embroider, crochet, weave and make jewellery and bake and decorate wedding and special occasion cakes. I also love painting. I have lots of wips which drives my husband mad! I hope to learn to epp soon, thats something I've never tried. The goody bag is amazing I wish I could have gone on the retreat!

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  69. I think that like you, I spend most of the time I have sewing and then a little bit of time on other crafts. I love all things crafty. This goody bag is amazing. So nice of you to have this giveaway.

    determineddebby at gmail dot com

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  70. I just love fabric and sewing of all kinds and knitting too. I just am really bad about finishing a project before I start something new! Hoping to join you all at next years gathering.

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  71. I just love fabric and sewing of all kinds and knitting too. I just am really bad about finishing a project before I start something new! Hoping to join you all at next years gathering.

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  72. I like to have different crafts going on every day. I quilt mostly by machine and do cross stitch so I can sit with the family. Haven't crocheted in a while. Love to do that when the weather is cold.

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  74. I bounce between long arming, machine piecing, a bit of hand appliqué, lots of fused appliqué, and I am considering turning a machine pricing project into a hand pricing project (which I love). I also have a goal to knit socks for the world…well, for those in my small part of the world, and I enjoy embroidery and beading. And this is an amazing giveaway! Wow!! for the lucky winner!

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  75. I love machine piecing and quilting but due to limited space and having three pesky kids at my ankles the machine doesn't come out half as often as I'd like. Recently though I've started LaPas which I'm finding easy to pick up and put down again. I've also started knitting again as we've managed to lose the blankie my grandmother in law made my Benji and she's not quite well enough at the moment to make another one.

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  76. I love machine piecing and quilting but due to limited space and having three pesky kids at my ankles the machine doesn't come out half as often as I'd like. Recently though I've started LaPas which I'm finding easy to pick up and put down again. I've also started knitting again as we've managed to lose the blankie my grandmother in law made my Benji and she's not quite well enough at the moment to make another one.

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  77. I love machine sewing, hand sewing, EPP and embroidery amongst other things so you're not alone! Sashiko is next on my list after I finish some Christmas presents x

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  79. That's a great goody bag. I flit between knitting, crochet, quilting,dressmaking, bagmaking patchwork, paper cutting and anything else that takes my fancy.

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  81. My main crafts are knitting, quilting and cross stitching. Right now I seem to be in a knitting phase, but I LOVE EPP and have been dreaming of hexies. Hexies with Liberty actually. 😀 Thanks for the giveaway!

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  83. I machine stitch and quilt during the day but any hand sewing, binding or epp. i do in the evenings if I'm not knitting. Not enough hours in the day for everything I want/need/like to do!

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  84. I love to repurpose old things to create beautiful new things. My latest make which I finished this week (admist starting a new full time job and mum to 3 little ones) was a cushion cover. It included applique, quilting, Suffolk puffs and utilising old crochet doilies from a car boot. I'm always looking for inspiration and would love this goody bag!!

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  85. sewing….day dreaming,night dreaming, waiting for the kids at school, surfing the net while cooking dinner, my mind goes to the happy place were i can be selfish in my craft time… so a goody bag is a good inspiration

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  91. You are so not alone! I can't imagine life without all that variety. ;o) I seem to always have multiple projects on the go and running the gamut – from quilting and clothing sewing, to crochet, embroidery, needlepoint, beading… with the odd bit of knitting in the mix as well. Pure bliss.

    Amazed at the creative loot in this ever so generous giveaway – thanks for the chance!

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  92. I can crochet and do cross stitch, I have tried knitting but I don't care for it. I am currently learning to quilt and hope to try my hand at Applique. I would actually like to learn embroidery also, but one thing at a time. Have a great day, and hello! dawnm1993(at)gmail(dot)com

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  94. I love hand sewing, applique, scrappy quilts, improv, bright colours, and sometimes chain piecing is the most relaxing!! The goodie bag is very exciting! Your tiny hexies are fab 🙂 emilyste7ens at gmail dot com

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  95. You are definitely not unusual РI love all the above plus raw edge machine appliqu̩. I have to have several projects on the go (and another 2375 ideas in my head) and be able to switch between so I don't get bored! I have calculated roughly I need to live and retain my eyesight to at least 350 years old!

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  96. You are definitely not unusual РI love all the above plus raw edge machine appliqu̩. I have to have several projects on the go (and another 2375 ideas in my head) and be able to switch between so I don't get bored! I have calculated roughly I need to live and retain my eyesight to at least 350 years old!

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  97. I think that's pretty standard – I know over time I like japanese patchwork, hand sewn, machine quilting, embroidery … the list goes one! And knitting and dressmaking too of course!

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  99. Wow, that is one amazing bag of goodies! I quilt and am just trying my first needle turn appliqué quilt. I knit too but have discovered how much quicker crochet is! ?

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  100. What a fab bag of goodies. You are not alone. I flit between different crafts. Often thinking I'm a bit of a Jack of all trades – master of none. I've just started to learn knitting so that's another distraction. I always think I'll get really proficient at one skill but another distracts me first!

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  103. I'm like you, I like to move between different methods and techniques. At the moment I'm pretty hung up on foundation paper piecing. Thanks for a great giveaway!

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  105. I'm like you – I love it all! And applique is probably my favorite. I love your hexie something! Thanks for the awesome prize package. The Stitch Gathering must have been wonderful!

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  108. Quite an incredible, generous prize! I have the love of sewing in common with you, Jo. I could spend almost every waking moment in my sewing room. I love to sew garments, bags, quilts, anything with fabric! The good bag would be put to good use with me!!

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  109. Oh My, what a fantastic goodie bag. I've been wanting to try hexies and the Starburst pattern is just the thing. Can't tell, is that an old or new issue?

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  111. What a fun giveaway. As for me, I love English paper piecing. I have made one table runner out of scraps of fabric and a few wallhangings where several of the hexies have small embroideries on them-it was a fun way to include another favorite hobby-hand embroidery!

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  112. HI, I stitch about everything, machine+hand quilting,embroidery,redwork,crocheting! Lately I have been working on Baby Charity Quilts for a local Unwed Mom's group;also have a Christmas Table Topper going:all machine piecing+quilting. Love your Blog+inspiration for all things "Stitchy"! Thank you for sharing a neat giveaway also ! msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  114. Wow, what an amazing selection of goodies!
    I like to have a variety of projects on the go: maybe some machine sewing for the day time, and some hand sewing, knitting or crochet for the evening. I enjoy any kind of hand work the best, but it takes too long to be commercially viable.
    Teresa x

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  116. I've done some crochet, sewing crafty things and dabbled with free motion doodling with the sewing machine. I'm learning how to piece and quilt. What a fantastic and generous giveaway – thank you for the chance to win!

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  118. I generally have several projects in various stages of completion. I sit at my sewing machine and work on a project until I have to iron, then I go to another project and do the same thing – then I take my piles to the ironing board and do it all at once. I always have my hexie kit handy when I'm watching television to keep my hands busy. Thanks for the great giveaway!! jacklynnsteven at netzero dot com

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  120. Hi Jo, much like you I do spend most of my time, relaxing sewing and quilting. Occasionally knit a beanie or a pair of mittens. I want to knit myself a pair of wool socks as my toes are always cold:) Just learning to foundation paper piece to absorb some scraps I've been stashing. although I do find it can require bigger scraps:) I've not tried crafting Hexies, or EPP. See, You're perfectly normal:) and HELLO From the USA, Commonwealth of Virginia.

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  121. I love switching between the different needlework "disciplines" too! I mostly quilt, piecing and quilting by machine, but I'm working on one project entirely by hand. I also cross-stitch, embroider, needlepoint and crochet. I have one Swedish weaving project started too … Thank you for the awesome giveaway!

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  126. Please pick me! I am a Jill of all trades – quilting, sewing garments, embroidery and baking! But no cross stitch as I seem to be unable to count….

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  129. I also go back and forth between knitting, machine sewing, hand quilting, embroidery, etc… That way there's always something you feel like doing!

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  131. Would love to win these – i have so many half ifinished patchwork (hand and machine) and crochet projects – maybe more lovely fabric and goodies will help me finish some 😉 ?!

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  132. I tend to go with my mood! Which probably explains lots of half finished things…. I swing from normal piecing to EPP or embroidery anything that takes my fancy and helps me destress

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  136. I also change between different hobbies – quilting, cross stitch, embroidery. I love them all and could spend all day total immersed. Thanks for such an amazing giveaway!
    lin.web.28 at gmail dot com

    Reply

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