January 30, 2015

Happy First Anniversary, Shades of Bold Blog, With Giveaway




This contest is now closed.

Wow, has it only been one year?  One year ago today, I wrote my first blog.  It was hard to write a blog that no one else might read but it gave me time to figure out the ropes.  How many hits would I get on my blog in the first year?  I had no clue.  I was hoping that somehow over the year I might eventually get 5,000.  Well, all of you wonderful people who have a been a part of my blog by stopping by have amazed me.  I reached 20,801 hits in my first year.  Thank you all so very much.

I have made so many new friends in this blog year.  Friends from all around the globe.  So many different backgrounds but all drawn together by our passion for sewing.  You all inspire me everyday and on the difficult days, you push me forward.  For that I thank each and everyone of you.

Now is my time to give back.  How about fabric??  Funny thing is, we all have "too much fabric" but "not enough fabric" at the same time.  Don't even try to figure it out.

I am giving away six 1/2 yard pieces of fabric from my stash.  That is 3 yards total to one lucky winner, US or International.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post to enter.  One comment per person, please.  A random number will be drawn on Tuesday, February 3rd and will be posted on my blog.  Please make sure that I have a way to contact you.  Here are the fabrics:



Set one.



Set two.



Set three.



Sorry the last picture is fuzzy.

Good luck to everyone.  Thanks, again, for a great first year.  On to year #2.



155 comments:

  1. Happy First Birthday to your blog, Marilyn, and may you have many more!! Your bag projects inspire me--I love coming here to visit and look and learn. Looking forward to what the next year brings! :)

    Krista

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    1. Thanks, Krista. I always look forward to seeing what you are up to, also.

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  2. Happy Anniversary! I have been following your work for a while and you have always been very inspiring! Looking forward to see more this coming year! I absolutely love all your handbags, you are super talented!! :)

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    1. Thanks so much, Alida. I appreciate you stopping by.

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  3. Wow, has it really been a year already. I can't even remember how I found your blog, but I always look forward to what you are going to show us. You have "mad" skills when it comes to making bags and I find your work inspiring. Thanks for the chance to win, but even greater thanks for the postings and eye candy pictures you give us.

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  4. Congrats Marilyn for offering us a whole year of inspiration! I love those prints and colors!
    Cheri, the quilting nanny
    quiltingnanny(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  5. Congratulations Marilyn!
    I've been following your adventures for a while and didn't realise you were in your first year of blogging! I'm looking forward to year #2 !

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    1. Thanks, Gill. It took me a long time to have the courage to blog....what was I thinking???

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  6. Congratulations on your first year of blogging!! You've picked some very pretty fabrics for your giveaway and you are so right in saying we seem to never have enough fabric... I would never say that I have too much (but my DH would beg to differ!! lol)

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    1. Thanks, Michele. I don't think I have too much fabric either but others (those who don't sew) think I do.

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  7. Congrats! I enjoy seeing the bags you make. Makes me wish for more time for that kind of sewing.:)

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    1. Thanks, Melissa. I haven't been sewing as much as I would like lately. Back to more sewing in the new year.

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    1. Good for you, Barbara. I was late to the show...but loving it.

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  9. Congratulations on your first year! You are such an inspiration!! Thank you for the chance to win the loveliness and I cant wait to see what you make in your second year!

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    1. Thanks to you, Torieassa. I can't wait to see some of the new things that I will make this year, too. But I'm sure I'll make some old favorites, too.

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  10. Congratulations on your first year. I thought it was longer. I always look forward to coming over and seeing your creations. My bags were a bit drab but thanks to you I'm venturing out into more colour. Those fabrics are fabulous especially as two of the sets have blues and browns. Thanks for the chance to win and I'm looking forward to your second year of blogging.

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    1. Thanks, Maria. You know that you have been a big inspiration to me. Love seeing the pops of color I am seeing.

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  11. Congratulations on your first year! I have been a follower for a while and really enjoy your blog. I look forward to all the fun in the upcoming year! You are so right, we never can have to much fabric. Thanks for sharing some of your happiness with your readers.

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  12. Congratulations on your first year. I like your projects, thanks for sharing your talent and providing inspiration. Thanks for the great giveaway too. Your fabrics are lovely. I've also shared your giveaway on my Giveaway List for just sewers & quilters at wowilikethat.com. Thanks again. (debbie at wowilikethat dot com)

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    1. Thanks, Debbie. I removed your duplicate entry because one per person.

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  14. Congratulations on your first year. I just found your blog and am happy to say I'm a follower via email. Thank you for the chance to win (the giveaway prize is awesome). Have a wonderful day!
    dawnm1993(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. Congrats on your first year! Happy Blogiversary!

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  16. Great fabrics! Happy First Year!

    lenelson(at)mail(dot)com

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  17. Many more blogging years to you! and keep making those bags! Great inspiration for me. I am a beginner and haven't attempted a bag yet!

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  18. Congratulations! It's great reaching milestones. I don't know if we can ever have enough fabric. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  19. Those are some nice fabrics! I'm just starting to sew, so trying to collect some nice fabrics. Thank you for the giveaway, Amber. Email: amberkw24 at hotmail dot com

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  20. Congratulations on your anniversary! I love your choice of fabrics. I am a quilter who is starting to make some cute objects out of my treasured cottons.

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  21. I especially love the pinks!
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  22. Happy blog-aviversary! The fabrics look beautiful! Thank you for the chance! msmissy02 at gmail dot com

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  23. Has it only been a year? Wow! Congratulations. I never thought myself I ever had blogging friends. So cool to share about our common love: sewing bags.

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    1. Thanks, Norma. I love seeing what you are making, too.

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  24. Happy Happy !st Blogiversary!! Wooohooooo!!! Love your Blog...and wishing you many more years of sharing with us all!! Thanks too! :)

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  25. Congratulations on your blog milestone!

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    1. Thanks, Jeneta. Good luck on the fabric giveaway.

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  26. Congratulaions on your 1 year blog anniversary! I'm surpeised youcan part w/ such pretty fabric! Thank you for sharing with us and I wish you continued success with your blog! cknapp3626@sbcglobal.net

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  28. Happy Blogaversary Marilyn! And congratulations on the huge number of hits! No wonder - your handbags are gorgeous! Thanks for generous giveaway. What a delightful assortment of fabric!

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  29. I love your blog! Happy anniversary!

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  30. Congrats on your Anniversary....the fabric is sooooo summery......can't wait for warmer weather.....

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    1. I am with you Linda. This is the time I start thinking about lighter, brighter colors.

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  31. 20000 followers in one year? You did awesome writing your blog. I love the fabric too. cdahlgren at live dot com

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    1. Thanks, Cindy. I am so grateful for all of my readers.

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  32. Congratulations! And the final fabric pairing just tickles my fancy; delightful!

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  33. Congratulations on 1 year! What have you come to learn/appreciate since you began blogging? :) Thanks for the great giveaway, and I love how you picked pairs of fabrics! sarah@forrussia.org

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    1. I've made great friends, everyone is so very helpful and a passion for sewing can bring so many people together, regardless of where they live.

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  34. Congratulations on year 1. Yes there is never enough fabric. These would be great for charity quilts.

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  35. Congratulations on your blog! I'm starting mine up soon but finding it so difficult... over 20,000 hits! Now thats impressive. Oh, by the way gorgeous fabrics!
    babyboet@gmail.com

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    1. Good luck to you. I hesitated so long to get started on my blog because I was afraid I might make mistakes. I was a little overwhelmed. I set a date to get started and jumped in. Now I wonder why I was so hesitant.

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  36. Happy blogaversary, I ope you celebrate with cake and maybe some new fabric too for yourself. Thank you for a lovely giveaway. x

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    1. Thanks for participating, Kay. Good luck.

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  37. Thank you for the chance. theyre lovely.

    sblake1[at]student[dot]framingham[dot]edu

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  38. Well done for your year's blogging.
    Lovely pairs of materials....thanks for the chance to win.
    Best wishes
    WBooth-Boyd@hotmail.com

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  39. This fabric is so cute. I love the floral prints!!!
    shivercarla at gmail dot com

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  40. Congratulations on your first anniversary! Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  41. Happy Birthday on your first of many more to come.

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  42. Happy Anniversary, your blog add so much inspiration to the world of quilting, thanks!

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  43. Yay happy anniversary!!!!!! Love the variety in the fabric:-) would look great in quilts!!!! sonjasmith76@yahoo.com

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  44. Thanks for the giveways. Congratulations on your first year of blogging darling. These fabrics are really pretty,would love to win them. Thanks.

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  45. Happy blogiversary! I hope I can get up to 20,000 in my first year. I really like set #1.

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  46. Congratulations on your first year. That gives me inspiration to just keep on learning and sewing.

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  47. Happy Anniversary! I'm glad I found your blog, and I always love looking at your bag creations. You have such a great sense of what works for fabric combinations, and your work is impeccable! Looking forward to more posts from you!

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    1. Thanks, Grandma G. On to year #2. Good luck to you.

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  48. Congratulations on you first year! Great fabric choices. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  49. Congrats on your first year! Wonderful fabric choices! Thanks for the chance to win!
    wigglypup2 at yahoo dot com

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  51. One year down, hoping for many happy blogging years to come. Tarnia.hodgesATgmail.com

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  52. Happy Blogiversary, Marilyn. The prize fabrics are so yummy - your stash must be amazing :-)

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  53. Congrats on your first year, Marilyn! I enjoy coming over and seeing what you have been up to! I love your take on the bag of the month purses....Great giveaway! Thank you because you are correct, you can never have enough fabric!

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  54. Thanks for the chance to win fabric!! The fabric would make a cute table runner:)

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  55. Happy Anniversary! Thanks for the chance to win these pretty fabrics! I'm a costumer who's just breaking into quilting.

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  56. Congratulations on your one year blogging anniversary! And thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win.

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  57. I hope I'm not recommenting....but internet issues intervened just as I was saying how much I enjoy your blog and hope you'll have another year even better than the first!

    t_ktl at yahoo.com

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  58. Thanks for the giveaway , congratulations on your anniversary... Carol02@gmaildotcom

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  59. These fabric are so pretty! I would love to use them in a bag project like yours. I can never have too much fabric!

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  60. I was so pleased to find your blog on a link party just as I was getting interested in making bags. I've only made one so far that wasn't just fabric, but I've been gathering materials and will be making more. Your blog inspires me and I was so pleased when you felt well enough to sew again. Congratulations on your one year anniversary.

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    1. Thank you, Sarah. i have better days than others but sewing keeps me moving.

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  61. Congratulations on your first year anniversary!

    wlinda_ca(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  62. Happy Anniversary! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  63. Congrats on your milestone! :) Happy to have found your blog, and thank you for the chance at your giveaway! :)

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  64. congrats on your first year. You have a lovely and inspiring blog
    cooladam1 at live dot com

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  65. Congrats on your 1 year anniversary. The fabric looks lovely. Thanks for the chance.

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  66. Congrats! 1 year of blogging is great - hopefully there are many more to come! Thanks for the giveaway chance, what a great way to celebrate :)

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  67. I know just how you felt as you started out in the blogging world. It's a bit intimidating knowing you are writing and posting photos of your work and have no idea who in the world (literally) will see it and/or like it! You're doing just the right thing since you hit a milestone at one year and so many followers! Congrats!

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  68. Congrats on 1 year at your blog!!

    And you can never have too much fabric!

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  69. How quickly a year flies by. Congratulations for your wonderful blog - I love seeing you bags.
    This fabric looks great, I'd love to win.

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  70. Congrats on your anniversary! Here's to many more years to come. And many more followers!

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  71. Congrats- I admire anyone who takes the time to write a blog and share all the wonderful inspiration, tips and tutorials with the rest of us! Thanks! Love the fabrics! Sarah: crjandsbj(at)netzero(dot)com

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  72. Happy 1st year. Hope you have many many more. I love your blog, and I always come to your page for new ideas. These color are beautiful. Congrats again. Alicia: alicia(DOT)ware987(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  73. Congratulations on your blogging milestone! Your comment about too much fabric but not enough fabric made me smile. If only husbands understood it!

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  74. Happy Blogging!! Enjoying your writings...
    churcae(at)auburn(dot)edu

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  75. So glad I found your blog. I too love making bags and enjoy looking at your beautiful work. Thanks for the opportunity to win a couple of your fabrics. Jan sewwhat46 at yahoo dot com

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  76. Wow! What a great first year. Thanks for all your support and comments as I began my blog this past year. You continue to inspire me. Love the fabrics you are giving away. And even if I don't win, I will continue to follow your blog.

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  77. I think you must have a gorgeous stash!! It would be fun to sew w/those cuts!

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