Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Whew, one crazy notion off my To Do list . . .

So, if you stop by my blog on a regular basis, you've read where I ran a few half marathons this year. At the beginning of this year, after I knew I would be running 3 half marathons, I got this idea that maybe this would be a good year to try and run a full marathon. And if you're going to run a full blown 26.2 mile marathon, why not pick a good one, so in February I signed up for the Chicago Marathon, and didn't tell a soul. Because really, signing up doesn't mean you have to run it, especially if no one knows you signed up. Well after two successful half marathons I decided to go ahead and commit to the training and go for the full blown marathon.

My official marathon training started in June, and for the last 4 months I've been running in the country, watching the corn grow, dry, and be harvested. I started my training with empty cornfields and ended with empty cornfields, and look what it got me.

Ta Da!



I actually did it. Sunday, 10/9/11, I ran the Chicago Marathon. It was harder than I expected, definitely a once in a lifetime experience for me. And what an adjustment, going from running solo down country roads to running with 45,000 folks from every state in the nation and 103 different countries, surrounded by skyscrapers not corn.

Training for a marathon is sometimes a selfish thing, you have to put yourself and your training first, which, as a woman, wife, and mother isn't an easy thing. But I'm glad I did it, I was worth it, and so was running the race.

I think this calls for a celebration!

This is big Picnic from Carrie Nelson's latest book, "another BiTE OF SCHNiBBLES"


I think it may be my favorite pattern in the book, but as you know, I'm going through a bit of a basket phase.

There are a wonderful variety of 24 quilts, one to please you I'm sure.

And if none of the patterns appeal, reading the pattern book will, it's a fun read with amazing pictures. Those quilts in the book got to spend an amazing vacation at the beach.

When I pre-ordered my book I ordered two, one for me and one for you! ( plus that qualified me for free shipping!)



So to celebrate the fact that I was able to not only finish my first and last marathon, but to live to tell about it, I'm giving away one of these books.

To qualify just leave a comment about a goal you set for yourself and achieved or hope to achieve. I can hardly wait to read all about it.

You have until the end of day Saturday, October 15th, I'll announce the winner on Sunday!


CnD disclaimer - Carrie Nelson did not pay for this book or pay me to giveaway or promote this book. I'm doing it just because I like the book and thought you would too!!

105 comments:

  1. Congratulations!! To be honest I've just about given up setting myself goals as I never seem to achieve them but I did challenge myself to finish what at one point felt like a never ending quilt so that I could enter it in a show - I did it!! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  2. Congratulations on your amazing accomplishment! And look at that - they made the ribbon red just for you. :)

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  3. OMG!! You are THE woman!! I so admire you. That is something that I will only ever wish I could do. I used to be a runner when I was younger, and have tried so many times since then to start up again, but just can't seem to do it. But a marathon, that is just fabulous! Congrats to you!! You deserve a celebration. I think throughout life we all should set goals and I do on a daily basis, that is what keeps me in check.

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  4. Great job!!! I couldn't even imagine running to the corner. My goal - as a single mom of a 6 year old living in a less then perfect home and recovering from thyroid cancer, is to buy our own home within the next year. I want to provide my son with a stable environment, that is my only goal at the moment!

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  5. Congratulations, what an accomplishment. Most of my goals tend to be about work. I'm a teacher . My last goal was to find a job in Europe and I've done it. I now live and work in BULGARIA! Not a marathon, but still an awesome experience.

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  6. congrats I am so proud of you! what a major accomplishment.
    oh I have been wanting to order this book, I have been inspired (because of you ) to move up from little quilts to schnibble size quilts so now I want to make them all!
    thanks for a great giveaway....
    Kathie

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  7. Congratulations! I certainly can't even imagine running a full mile, let alone 26.2 miles! Way to go!!!!

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  8. Congrats! That's amazing! Sometimes I dream of the same thing but as you said, it is a major commitment. As a goal I have accomplished, I was determined to teach myself to knit and feel I have done well (lacy shawls, sweaters, cables). My next big goal is to teach myself piano.

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  9. Thelma, Congratulations! That is just amazing! I remember watching the marathon from our son's balcony...they lived at the corner of Wells and Grand in downtown Chicago and I was there twice for the marathon. What a thrill! You are amazing!

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  10. You are AMAZING! CONGRATULATIONS! My one long term goal is to retire from work in two years. My short term goal is to reduce the stack of quilt tops sitting on my quilter! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  11. Way to go!!! My goal is weight related. Not near as exciting!!

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  12. Congratulations! I remember waiting at the finish line with champagne and hot chicken soup for my best girlfriend as she finished the Marine Corps Marathon 10 years ago. Thanks for the memory. As for my long term goal - it was to totally hand stitch a quilt for our bed. It took me 9 years, but we used it this Summer!

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  13. Wow, sticking with the training and running the marathon. Go Thelma! You have every right to be VERY proud of your accomplishment!

    Almost three years ago I met a blogger from Australia who created beautiful quilts. At the time I didn't pick up a sewing machine since my high school sewing class. I have an interior design/art background and thought that quilting would be a good outlet. So I set a goal to make my first quilt. I figured if she could do it, so could I.

    But thanks to tons of quilting bloggers I made my very first quilt -- all by myself! Just from what I learned online.

    I've come a long way from that day three years ago... still have a long way to go now. but I'm so happy I took the risk and dove right in. No regrets

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  14. Wow!!! Congrats on the marathon!! That is something I know I will never do, and I really admire anyone who does it. I'm doing good to get in my 5 miles per day!! lol

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  15. Congratulations! Very well done! I do itty bitty goals for myself. I have finished one commission quilt this year- for the son of a police officer killed in the line of duty, made from her uniform shirts, tee shirts, sweatshirts, etc. I am working on another commission quilt for a fundraiser for the local historical society and just have to finish quilting it before the 28th of the month. Then my next goal is to make a quilt out of a bag of shirts of the late husband of a friend at work.

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  16. Congratulations! You are inspirational. Thanks for having the giveaway. All my life I said I wanted to make a quilt before I died. Well, I finally did that and succumbed to my current all consuming obsession! Other than that, I guess I need to get more goal oriented!

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  17. Congratulations on such an amazing accomplishment! I have to admit that most goals that I've set for myself over my lifetime have been achieved, except for one. My entire life I've been overweight, and I'll bet I've lost several people in weight over the years, but I'm still struggling to obtain that goal, yet I still keep plugging away hoping someday I might accomplish this one goal. Thanks

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  18. I already have the book so don't include me in the drawing. I just wanted to say YOU ARE AMAZING!

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  19. Congratulations on your accomplishment! That is huge for anyone, but for people over 18 years old, it's even more incredible!
    My goal this year was to completely finish 12 old (and some are really old) UFO's. I am delighted to report that I am doing very well...my commitment hasn't wavered, but some time issues have put me a little behind my schedule. At this point in the year I should have finished 9 and I have only finished 8. I am hoping to double up my efforts once the colder weather comes so I can cross the finish line with a solid 12!

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  20. Congrats to you! Quite an accomplishment! I'm a goal setter - big and small. One of my biggest was to write a book - and I've done it!

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  21. Congratulations! This is such a huge accomplishment, I can't imagine how wonderful it feels. All my goals right now are personal, self improvement-ish things, or things related to quilting. I believe in setting goals, I need something to work toward, even if it is as simple as getting the Bee blocks out on time! I come up with a list of short tern things every week, and keep a list of long term goals that I check pretty regularly.

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  22. Wow...congratulations on this accomplishment! You are truly and inspiration! Secretly, one of my goals is to run a 5k (sounds pitiful next to a marathon!). I am not a runner, but I WILL accomplish this goal one day!! I would love to win this book...thanks for such a generous giveaway!

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  23. Congratulations Thelma!!! What an accomplishment! I think I have two goals. One is to quilt all of my UFO's, and the second it to use up my considerable fabric stash. I'm not sure I can accomplish the second one, but it is my goal to try to accomplish the first one by next year! So excited about your giveaway. I love Carrie's Schnibbles patterns, and would love to have her new book :-) Thanks!

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  24. As the wife of a runner, I know about the commitment it takes to train for a marathon and run it - Congratulations! Wish I could have been there to cheer you over the finish line. One goal I have right now is the de-clutter our basement. We have moved 3 times in the past 10 years and there are boxes I still haven't opened! It's not as big a goal as running a marathon but sometimes it's hard to get down there - I'd much rather be quilting!

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  25. Going back to school at 48 to become an RN was hard but soooo worth it!! You are never too old to follow your heart's desires!!! Patty E

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  26. My goal, to live a more active lifestyle. That's it, nothing too flashy.

    Good fo you on the marathon!

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  27. Congrats on running the Chicago marathon! I was a spectator there last year as my daughter ran her first marathon...it was amazing to watch and I can't even imagine actually running it! I have only managed a 5k so far...
    I love the Schnibbles patterns and would love to own this new book. I bought the last one and have made a couple of quilts from it already.

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  28. Way to go Thelma!! My goal is to someday make it to the Buggy Barn Quilt Show...I may do some running while I am there...like running from quilt to quilt!! Good for you Thelma!!
    Take care!
    Paulette

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  29. Wow how amazing is this, congrats to you. This is quite the accomplishment.

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  30. Congratulations on such an amazing accomplishment! I set a goal to learn to quilt, and not only have I learned to quilt, but I purchased a long arm machine because it's so much fun!!

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  31. Congratulations! One goal I did was take a ballet class for a year as an adult with my 16 year old daughter. We finished it, and were even in the recital together.

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  32. Congratulations!!! That is awesome!!! I feel into my goal by accident. My brother-in-law signed up for a marathon and then convinced me that I should sign up for the half. I don't run, so I said I would walk it. My goal was to walk the half in the time it took him to run the full. I was very nervous. I almost chickened out, but my bro-in-law was very encouraging. I did it! I finished in 3:38 and he finished in 3:50. At first I wasn't sure if I would do another one, but now I think I might!

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  33. What a memory you created and what a wonderful accomplisment. My goal is simply to complete one UFO per month and so far I have completed 12 since last January. Good feelings all around. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity and I love the Schnibbles. Judy C

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  34. Wow! Congratulations - that is amazing! I can't believe you didn't tell us that you were training that whole time. I wish that I liked to run...I can hardly drag myself to the treadmill to WALK! I think the best goal that I have set is when I started Weight Watchers. I didn't really name a specific goal, but I lost 40 pounds and feel so much better (but I HATE to exercise!).

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  35. Way to go Thelma! I do hope to be able to do military push-ups as long as I live...into my eighties at least. Quilting goals are a lot more fun. I'd like to publish my own book of designs someday. Carrie's books are some of my favorite and I haven't treated myself to her latest. Her first Schnibble book was so much fun to read. I even made two of the designs.

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  36. Congratulations Thelma ! You are AMAZING ! My goal is to lose 15 lbs before my daughters wedding. She is getting married November 2012

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  37. Wow! A full marathon is downright incredible (impossible in my world). Congratulations! I am so impressed. My goal for this year has been to finish some of my projects--something I rarely do. So far I'm doing ok, but have started even more, so I'm not sure if that's a full win or not.

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  38. WOW! What an accomplishment! You should be quite proud of yourself.

    Just yesterday I finally duplicated my Grandmother's apple butter recipe. I has taken me 6 years to do it, but I did and I'm happy. Now to duplicate her fried chicken...

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  39. Congratulations! Getting finishing my paralegal studies was a goal I sometimes wanted to abandon but am so glad I didn't! I'd love to win a copy of Carrie's book - I love Schnibbles big and small! o:)

    dlwharp@yahoo.com

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  40. Wow - congratulations! I have SO many goals - learn yoga, hand quilt at least one little thing, pay off my credit card, go para-gliding. With any luck (crossing my fingers here) most of these will get checked off in the next 12 months. Well, except the credit card - that's gonna take about 24! (ouch)
    LOVE SCHNIBBLES - and you!!
    sunshdws@yahoo.com

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  41. Way to go!! That was such a huge accomplishment! I have many goals, but my first priority one is losing weight. I'm making progress, but have a long way to go.
    I would love to win the book!

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  42. Congratulations! What a wonderful achievement. I don't usually set goals as I'm not very good about working towards fulfilling them. But I do need to start living healthier - eating better and moving more. Baby steps.....

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  43. Congratulations, Thelma on your huge accomplishment. Applause, applause - please take a bow.

    Don't enter my name in your drawing :-)

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  44. Congratulations! 5 hours, 12 minutes, 35 seconds. A skosh over a 12 minute per mile pace. AWESOME!

    You don't need to enter me in your contest, the patterns/projects look a little... oh I don't know, familiar to moi. I just wanted to leave a comment expressing CONGRATULATIONS and ATTA GIRL!

    Goal? To be as cool as that Cupcake woman. :)

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  45. My main goal is to have a happy life and so far, so good! My other goals are smaller, like finishing each quilt I start. Congratulations on your marathon! That's just not something I could ever see myself doing and I marvel at those who can. It's a tremendous feat!

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  46. Congratulations Thelma!!! You are awesome!!! Honest. You are so inspiring. I have been toying with the idea of running a marathon next year. I may hit you up for some helpful hints.

    Please don't enter me in your giveaway. I already have the book. :-) Just wanted to say congrats!

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  47. Way to go! My goal is to lose 100 lbs. So far I'm down 64 lbs. so it's still a work in progress.

    Deb S.

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  48. Congratulations Thelma! What a fabulous accomplishment! I keep thinking that the half-marathon medals are cuter ;).

    I do not need the Schnibbles book. I'm a sucker for Schnibbles and I already have it! Thanks for the giveaway spirit, though. I think my goal is to make every quilt either in large or small size in the first Schnibbles book!

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  49. I so admire those people who can commit to running such a distance! Congratulations!!

    The goal I set for myself was to get my PhD. While I have not accomplished it yet, I am in the middle of my first semester as a doctoral student. It is the hardest thing I've ever done, but it is also one of the most amazing feelings too.

    Thank you for sharing your life with all of us. It is inspiring!

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  50. Indeed it does call for a celebration--and a long nap I think. I'm amazed and proud of you, Thelma. That is quite an accomplishment. Me, I'll stick to marathon quilting. Congratulations. :-)

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  51. Congratulations on your marathon. I too am on a marathon, of a different sort. I have been heavy my whole life, and after so many years and different diets, I thought that it was a useless cause. But, I started my journey again this year, and I've lost over 50 lbs. I am not going back to my large sizes, ever again. I am determined to be healthy and a normal size. Who knows, maybe I'll start running too! Michele G mgailey623@gmail.com

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  52. Congrats! You are awesome! Goal settng is so important, and it's so much fun to finish them! I did a triathlon once, I was so proud when I crossed that line that I burst into tears. It was amazing!

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  53. MY GOAL is to finish my cranberry/white table runner for my daughter in time for Christmas!
    Thanks for sharing a giveaway every quilter wants!
    Happy Quilting!

    jldouglas@wispwest.net

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  54. Congratulations on achieving your goal of running a full marathon! That is amazing to me. Good job. My current goal is to revamp the food I eat from processed, white flour and white sugar to good for me veggies, fruits and proteins. Lots to learn on this journey. Thanks for the chance at an awesome book.

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  55. Congratulations! What an accomplishment; this coming from a nonrunner. I guess my goal in life is to be a little more active. Walking from the sewing room to my ironing board probably doesn't count. Again, congrats!!!

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  56. Hooray for you! Wow! What an accomplishment! Marathons are sooo not for me, but my current goal is to exercise on a regular basis. I have no plan, and until that happens, there is no hope of reaching my goal. But this morning the doctor said BOTH my daughter and I need exercise, so she and I will work something out very soon.

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  57. WOw congrats on running a full marathon! Wow!! My goals are to get better, lose weight, and get pregnant..

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  58. What a woman! Congratulations on your marathon run. I know that I have set goals in the past, completed them and knew that it was a one time deal - but I can't remember what they were, right now. I think that my goal now is just be happy, not worry so much. Again, congratulations and thanks for sharing.
    cindy cke49 at yahoo dot com

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  59. Congratulations! I reached my goal of losing weight since last November. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  60. Congratulations on running and finishing the marathon! This year I was going to pick up some crafts again that I had put aside the past few years. One of them being quilting. I'd love this book as motivation.

    Janine

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  61. My goal is a very simple one...get back to my regular exercise program to keep my joints flexible and my immune system and strong as possible. I've been away from it for a while now and I can really feel (and see) the difference in how I move and feel. So...this Friday, it's back to as brisk a walk as I can manage every day while the weather holds, combined with visits to the gym for either water aerobics or the ellipticals.

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  62. I know it is not a inspiring goal, but I was determined to have the "test we all dread" when we reach our 50's this year. I did, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I would not be afraid to do it! All clear for 7 years!

    Congrats on your run!! Awesome!

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  63. Wow, congratulations on the marathon! I thought you were going to say that you signed up for the Boston Marathon. I didn't know there was a Chicago one... evidently, 45,000 people did know!LOL Congratulations on your amazing achievement.

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  64. I HATE running lol, so I can't even imagine.
    Good for you though!
    I have set a goal to make a quilt for each grandchild (fairly inexperienced quilter here) and have almost finished first one. Only 5 more to go lol...

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  65. Congratulations on finishing the marathon. What an accomplishment! My goal would be to do a little quilting every week and to lose weight. The weeks seem to fly by and my machine sits idle.

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  66. Congratulations on running the Chicago marathon. I used to walk 3 miles a day but started having trouble with my feet & stopped. Now that my feet are better I need to start walking again. But I have been successful at getting to the halfway point of my weight loss goal of -40 lbs. Thanks for the giveaway. I love Schnibbles.

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  67. WOW Thelma!!! Congrats on the marathon. I set daily goals for myself, but the biggest goal I have ever set was starting a blog. I'm horribly shy and it was so hard for me to do, but I did it. And I've met so many wonderful people by doing it. I have many, many other goals, and although they are big, it keeps me motivated to keep trying! I'm so happy you finished your marathon...AMAZING!

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  68. Thelma, I think it is just wonderful that you picked a goal and saw it through. Be proud of yourself. I don't need to be entered for the book as I have one coming, just wanted to congratulate you.

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  69. I'm so proud of you for running the marathon! You rock!

    I'll pass on the giveaway. I have the book and am anxious to get started sewing.

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  70. Congratuations on running the Chicago Marathon. That is quite an accomplishment. I reached a goal last year by making all of my sibling a quilt. shejen22@msn.com

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  71. Congratulations and way to go! That is an awesome accomplishment. I can't think of any goals right now, but I think I need some. I doubt running a marathon will be one, but maybe walking a half-marathon would be a good goal for me.

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  72. I just came to visit. I didn't know there was going to be a giveaway! The next book I was planning on buying too! Anyway......CONGRATULATIONS!! What an accomplishment :-) Way to go girl :-) Very impressive!!!!

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  73. Congratulations on completeing the race. My son is a runner and it really takes alot of dedication.

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  74. Congrats!! What an awesome accomplishment - you rock girl!! I think that a big accomplishment for me was getting my driver's license at the age of 32 - I'm still really nervous about hwy driving, so that is another goal to work on!!

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  75. Congrats....truly wonderful! I don't know that I could ever manage a marathon but have managed many military moves...for me at times was a huge accomplishment mentally. I tell ya...leaving family and friends...not pretty!

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  76. Congratulations on such an amazing accomplishment!! You are truly an inspiration! Since I am not doing well so far with my current goals regarding health and fitness, I will comment about a past goal I achieved, of which I am extremely proud, and to which I know you can relate.

    I made it my goal to pass the CPA exam in my first sitting in Nov 1993 and with only the use of my own materials and my own study skills and I did it!!! To this day, that is one of my proudest accomplishments.

    Congrats again on the marathon. I have the first Schnibbles book and just recently put this one on my wish list on Amazon, so I would love to win!

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  77. Ah Girl! You are such an inspiration. I set the goal to learn to run because of your first princess run. I am currently running in 2 minute intervals for 35 minutes and working to increase that interval.
    The large Picnic quilt is one of my favorites in the new book. I HATED making my small Picnic when I did it for A Year of Schnibbles and I am kicking myself because I am loving that large quilt. LOL!

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  78. I'm giving you a BIG standing ovation, Thelma! What an achievement!!! That is awesome! There are a couple of goals that I set for myself. One being - find a new job. I got laid off in April and I've been at my new job for almost 2 weeks now. Love it! My second big goal is to lose 50 pounds. I've been at it since January and have lost 22.6 pounds so far. Slow but going down so I'll take it! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  79. Congrats on the marathon, that is a huge goal. My goal right now is to finally finish my degree, which I started in 1980!! I sure wish I would have realized then how much harder it would be to do when I'm almost 50. The goal is in sight, only 7 more classes to go. This has turned out to be my marathon. I think I can, I think I can.

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  80. I am so very impressed! That is an amazing accomplishment. Many years ago I set a goal to run in a local 10k...I trained with friends and husband and did end up running a few 10k's. What a feeling of accompishment when I crossed the finsh line...just a smidgen of what you must have felt! I am in love with schnibble quilts...i am working on making schnibbles from Carrie's first book and would love to be the lucky person to win the second book. Thanks for the chance!

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  81. Thelma,I am so impressed!!!!!!!!! What an accomplishment! My goals are to finish my UFO stack-lol- lose 25 pounds and do some traveling. My son is getting married Feb.4 so I need to make a wedding quilt too.

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  82. My knees hurt just thinking about running a marathon. I am in awe. My goals right now are to whittle down this load of UFOs.

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  83. Congratulations on running the full marathon! You are amazing, and a real inspiration to us all. I have a few goals. The first is to get fit and then stay fit. Have started going regularly to the gym -- it feels good, and I want to keep it up. My second goal is to make time each day for quilting -- it's my passion and obsession, but it seems nearly impossible to do more than actually think about it longingly. Finding even 15 minutes a day would be good for my soul. Of course there are more goals, but they're still just in my head at the moment, and not ready to be said out loud, and thus, committed to -- something I know you'll understand.
    Debbie R.

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  84. Wow, that is impressive! Congratulations!! Today I feel like a big bloated sloth, so yeah, I need to make a few goals here. I'm not exactly sure what they are yet, but I'm so impressed with your accomplishment that I feel motivated to start with something, maybe just walking daily.

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  85. Thelma - That is incredible! Good for you. I can only imagine what that experience was like. I too am a big fan of the picnic pattern.

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  86. OMG. What an inspiration. I just lost 80 pounds and I have another 20 to go. I just needed an extra push to join a gym and start an exercise regimen. I like to spend my free time quilting but quilting doesn't offer much in the way of exercise. How nice to see that you can raise kids, exercise and also quilt.

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  87. My goal of loosing 50 lbs is almost done. I just have 12 to go. I have done it very slowly hopefully it stays off. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  88. WOW! Thelma! The Chicago Marathon...you rock and congrats!! I just can't imagine running to the end of my driveway much less a marathon :) Last fall, I set a goal for myself to make a Christmas quilt for every bed in my house in a 3 year time period. I have two done and 3 to go! The third one I'm currently working on...the one I bought from you :) Love Schnibbles! :)

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  89. that is fantastic!!!!!!!!!! i try to run with my dogs regular but get burned out what motivates you !!
    how do you keep running
    thanks for all you create that motivates me
    diana y

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  90. Good for you, Thelma. As you were running, I was sending you a cake recipe...HHMMMMM. My goal is to find balance in my life. I tend to be an all or nothing kind of person and while being this way sometimes gets stuff done, more often a lot of things get neglected...if that makes sense. So far, finding balance means slowing down and really judging how I am feeling emotionally and physically instead of being on auto-pilot. Very hard for me to do. I would love to win the book, but hardly deserve it. I have her first one and have yet to do a quilt from it! Thanks Thelma...you are an inspiration for me and sounds like many others.

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  91. Congratulations!! I like the new pattern, I've been going thru a basket craze myself...would love the book.

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  92. Congrats! I used to walk and do a little running and had gotten away from it mainly because my knees tend to give me trouble. This summer though I committed myself to walking. After a couple weeks, the knees started to feel better and I managed to keep walking 2-3 miles almost every day. I can only dream of having the time and dedication it takes to do even a half marathon. Good for you.

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  93. Congratulations on setting a goal and reaching it! How impressive that you ran a marathon! I'm loving Carrie's new book, too. (I have the book. Please don't add my name to your drawing) I want to knit socks. It's my goal for this year.

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  94. Congratulations, what an accomplishment. This year I was determined to finish hand stitching a block of the month program I purchased 2 years ago. I did it! It sure feels good to get at least one project off the list. Sherrell

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  95. Wow, I applaud you for finishing a full marathon, but even a half marathon is quite an accomplishment! For me a couple miles on the treadmill is about it for now, but I hope to do more, much more. Anyway, my goal, beginning last month, is to finish an isolette quilt each month for our quilt guild. The Guild donates the little quilts to local hospitals for premature babies.
    Rita in CA

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  96. Congratulations on running the entire marathon! WOW...what an accomplishment! My goal....I want to make a yo-yo quilt for my king size bed and I want to have it completed within 6 months. Yo-yo's remind me of my Grandma, and she recently passed away so I would like to do this in memory of her.

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  97. My husband got certified to scuba dive when we just got married. I was too terrified to join him and happily stayed on dry land when he went diving. Now our boys are teenagers and they wanted to get certified this summer. We found an instructor that would do the pool classes in our pool. I figured I could do anything in six feet of water and decided to join them for just the pool classes. There was no way I was going to dive in the actual ocean. After the first pool class I told my husband I felt way too panicky and would definitely not be joining them for the open water dives. Well, the day came to get on the boat and dive in the ocean. I decided to join the family on the boat but not get in the water...maybe I would snorkel. Well, our divemaster was this wonderful woman, who was probably a psychologist in a previous life, because she somehow talked me into suiting up and got me to go under the water. I actually did two dives that day! I went from the goal of just getting through the pool classes to becoming a certified diver. If I never do it again, I at least know that I did it.

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  98. Wow what an accomplishment! Way to go! I, I should say we have a goal to get in a financial position to move to the mountains in 3 years and for my husband to start his own business.

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  99. Congratulations on your marathon finish! One goal I am working on is to not buy so much random fabric. I am doing better but it is still a work in progress, lol!

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  100. Well it should go without saying that I'm jealous of your books! My goal is to try to have all the tops in Chloe's fall/winter wardrobe be ones that I've made. I've gotten 6 done and have probably 5 more in the works. Plus a few pairs of pants and dresses. At 4 she still gets excited that I'm making something for her so she's fun to sew for, nothing makes her butt look big. :D

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  101. I wondered if you were out running again since you didn't blog for a bit. Way to go with the marathon. My trainer is running the marathon in Athens Greece next month. Anything Carrie does is delightful.

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  102. I'd love to win this book as it's on my list to buy and that would just save me more money for fabric! Congratulations on the marathon! I don't understand the whole running thing, but admire those who can do it.

    As for current goals, I'm working on a king size quilt for our newly renovated bedroom. I started on it at a quilt retreat last week and my goal is to get it made and quilted by Thanksgiving. It uses Little Gatherings fabric for the top and I'm just loving how it's coming along!

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  103. Congratulations on completing ths Chicago Maraton.
    My goal - at the moment - is to finish the piece I started today at a Janet Bolton workshop before the end of the month. It is a complete departure from anything I have ever done before and I am excited and a little apprehensive about how it will turn out.

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  104. Hello, Madeline.

    CONGRATULATIONS for completing your marathon and your goal!!

    My goal is to complete some UFOs so that I can start new projects. Seems the piecing of the top is "fun", completing the quilting "not so much fun". Several of the projects are tablerunners and these will make perfect take-along projects at doctor appointments and hospital stays. My husband has been diagnosed with a serious illness and we are working toward a successful recovery.

    Love to read your blog!!
    Sorcha girl.

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  105. What a great gift package that you are offering up! I, too, love the look of Birdseye. Although it is a bit intimidating. Only having quilted for a couple of years now, and not being very fast, and not devoting enough time to it, are all my "excuses". I'm currently working on an Eleanor Burns quilt for my mom for Christmas, and I wish you were here to help "Thelma-ize" it! It needs some sort of medallion in the middle... I'm not sure I can pull it off but you could!

    I've been looking around at patterns and really like the True Blue from Miss Rosie (from a few years ago) to make for my 20-year-old son. It looks more masculine to me somehow, and will look lovely in browns, tans, and navy blues.
    *sillysally* aka choc chip addict

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