Etsybloggers April Birthdays

April is almost here, and with it, we see flowers beginning to bloom. Our Etsybloggers are blooming as well. We have 2 birthdays coming up on the 6th of April - let's help them celebrate their birthdays as their shops bloom with spring time items!

Victoria from Visart Polymer Clay Studio Tuesday Apr 6






Allys Attic Tuesday Apr 6 (other 2 shops are on vacation)


Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Handmade By Sandi

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival: Cabin Fever? Planning a Garden?

Welcome to the March 29th edition of the EtsyBloggers
Blog Carnival! Follow our teammates' links below as they've blogged about one of these Spring
topics:



1) Cabin Fever - What do you do or what are you looking forward to doing
to escape the doldrums?

2) Planning a garden this year? Tell us how you plan or prepare. Do you start
your own seeds and how?

(This edition's Blog Carnival topics were suggested by a former teammate
and lovely person LazyTCrochet.)

Jane Poh presents Etsybloggers March 26th Blog Carnival posted at Projects by Jane.

Liz Howell presents You'll know when I have cabin fever... posted at Liz's Wares.

BeadedTail presents Cabin Fever posted at beadedtail.

Erika presents Shiny Red posted at NICO* Designs.

storybeader presents Etsybloggers Carnival - March 26, 2010 posted at Stroll Through Storyland, saying, "Happy Spring!"

Elizabeth presents Escape is at Hand! posted at Thoughts from an Evil Overlord.

Nancy presents Cabin Fever - Blog Carnival posted at NanjoDogz.

Ruthie presents Escaping Cabin Fever posted at A Jedi's Musings.

Margaret Freije presents Spring Fever posted at Splendid Little Stars.

Maggie Knight presents Gardening for Lazy Dummies (like me!) posted at Magpie Night.

JacBerKitsch presents F*A*S*H posted at Jac-Ber Creations.

A Keeper's Jackpot presents Cabin Fever posted at A Keeper's Jackpot.

Charlene Zatloukal presents Cabin Fever posted at Another Painting Blog, saying, "I do hope I did this right! But..I guess I'll learn from my mistakes:)"

Jannifer Long presents This Year's Garden posted at ChipmunkHollow, saying, "I am resubmitting my blog carnival."

Cheryl Patterson presents Is it Spring Yet?! posted at FeltSewGood.

Amy Combs presents Etsy Bloggers Blog Carnival- Gardening posted at red maple studio.

Tammy presents Gardening & Seed Starting 2010 posted at tamdoll's workspace, saying, "I love starting seeds! It's like magic when they grow to something edible."

TiLTcreations presents Etsyblogger Carnival posted at Crafts, kids, home and life.

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Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Joey & Aleethea, EtsyBloggers Admin & Team Leader.

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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Spring Birthday Greetings

Ah, Spring - according to the calendar, it's finally here! Some of the early flowers are peeking through the ground, the trees are budding - can't you just smell spring?? Ah, snow - some of us still have snow on the ground and spring seems far away. Never mind - it's always spring in our hearts! Please, wish these lovely ladies a happy springtime birthday!

Sherryl from Skylar's Candy Clips Wednesday Mar 24


Madison from Cookie Monzter Creations Thursday Mar 25


Rose from Random Creative Saturday Mar 27



Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Handmade By Sandi

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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Friday Feature -- Dizzy Dragonflies & Knitting Dragonflies

As a dragonfly lover myself (exhibit A: my avatar!) I was tickled to see that the featured Etsyblogger for the month of March is Vicky, the owner of Dizzy Dragonflies. (She also runs Knitting Dragonflies, but right now, only her Dizzy Dragonflies shop has any items in stock.) But her shop isn't about dragonflies -- it's about yarn, which is another thing I love! I especially liked this Spring Violets hand dyed yarn.

Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?


I have been knitting since I was about 4, my grandmother taught me. So I have always played around with it. After years of making gifts, and requested items for friends and relatives this seemed a natural outlet.


I just recently started spinning and dyeing my own yarn, and I learned everything from the internet. It is so much fun to be a part of the entire process.


I love doing the spinning, knitting and dyeing. So I end up with more yarn and knitted items than I need.


I have a fast paced, high stress job, and find that creating is necessary for me. It relaxes me and lets me enter a different world. I just let go and start having fun.


2. How did you get involved with Etsy?


I read a lot of blogs, mostly knitting ones. Then I decided to start one myself, I met so many nice people, and many of them had shops on etsy. I started shopping there and then thought "what the heck" I'll try a shop myself.


3. What inspires your creations?


Nature is my inspiration, especially for the colors of my yarn that I dye. My husband and I love to camp and hike, and I take photos and sketch (and knit) during that time.

I'm also working on some spring/summer knit wear items, that I came up with during a hot weather camping trip.

4. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

Promoting! I enjoy the creating process, but didn't think about how important networking and promoting was.

5. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite?

As a knitter I tend to use a color to excess and then move to another. Right now I'm in my red/orange phase. After a winter of clouds and rain, I needed some bright colors. Turn It Down a Notch is one of the colorways I'm most pleased with.


6. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

Stick with it. The economy goes up and down. Get out there and network. Add a link to your shop in your emails, and social networking sites. Let people know you are here. And photos!, Keep making them better, get some books from the library, study others that have good photos. Something not getting hits? Try taking different shots.

7. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations? (blog, website, flickr, facebook, twitter, etc…. please provide relevant links)

http://knittingdragonflies.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/knittingdragonflies/
http://www.ravelry.com/people/knitdragonflies
http://twitter.com/knitdragonflies
http://www.plurk.com/knittingdragonflies







Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Mama's Magic Studio

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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Happy St. Patrick's Day to our Birthday Gals!

On this, the wearing of the green day, we are sending happy birthday wishes to all of our Etsybloggers members who have a birthday today or this week!

Cindy of Devine Designs Jewelry Wednesday Mar 17


Tara of Jewelry By Tara Thursday Mar 18


Stacy of Candycrack Creations Thursday Mar 18


Alice of Crazy Day Saturday Mar 20


Rmenda of Rowanmayfairs Design Saturday Mar 20


Beth of Create a Thought Sunday Mar 21


Antonella of Zucchero Filato Sunday Mar 21


Robyn of Are Kay Elle Prints Monday Mar 22


Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Handmade By Sandi

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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March 15 EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival

The March 15 EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival is published over at Made By Melissa's blog!


Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Made By Melissa

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Etsyblogger Birthdays to Celebrate this week!

As we look forward to spring time weather, we need to remember to change the clocks ahead 1 hour this weekend. We have some birthdays to celebrate today, and others for right after the clock change. Hope ya'll will drop in and wish happy thoughts to all our birthday gals!

Shabana of Papaver Jewelry Creations Wednesday Mar 10


Kim of Tinyhearts Designs Wednesday Mar 10


Odin's Bead Hall Thursday Mar 11


Maggie of Magpie Night Monday Mar 15


Maggie of Lefty Loops Tuesday Mar 16



Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Handmade By Sandi

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Meet Dizzy Dragonflies ~ Where Spinning and Yarn are Abundant

Vicki is the woman behind Dizzy Dragonglies and Knitting Dragonflies. She states on her shop that she has always loved creating items. While her passion is yarn, knitting and crocheting, she has branched out with spinning, and hand dyeing yarn.


By accident she started selling her hand knit items when people offered to pay her to make them something.

In my journey to become better acquainted with Vicki, I found her photostream on Flickr to be the best resource where she is showcasing various projects. I am in awe of the detail on this particular project...


In addition to running two online shops, Vicki also maintains Knitting Dragonflies Blog.

Congratulations, Vicki on being our Featured Etsyblogger for the Month of March 2010!




Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Spotted Cow Soaps

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Happy Birthday to some March Members

The following members are Pisces - Imaginative and sensitive, Compassionate and kind, Selfless and unworldly, Intuitive and sympathetic. You could say that the above fits most of our members :D Happy Birthday gals!!

Hippopotame Jewelry Saturday Mar 6


Red Maple Studio Monday March 8


The Curious Pug Tuesday March 9


Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Handmade By Sandi

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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Blog Carnival - Take a trip!

I am so excited. I am the host of last weeks Blog Carnival - in honor of my vacation to Jamaica. I asked the members of the Etsybloggers Street Team to write about their favorite vacation, or where they would like to go on vacation.

Wow, what a great bunch of bloggers we have. Check out the list of posts, on my blog - fascinating reading.

http://www.sandists.com/Wordpress/2010/03/for-this-blog-carnival-im-the-host/

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Handmade By Sandi

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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MiniMonday: bwsilver

BWSILVER

One thing I truly love about doing the MiniMonday’s with Jackie (AKeeper’sJackpot) is that I am finding great new (well, new to me) shops that I might have otherwise missed. Our featured MiniMonday Blogger is bwsilver: http://bwsilver.etsy.com – the bw stands for Brittany Wende.

Brittany has some very beautiful and unique pieces in her shop. Not just a novice to designing with silver, Brittany who just graduated in 2007 from Texas Tech U, has a degree in Art and Metalsmithing. Although it was not exactly her major in college, Brittany was quite taken by the creativity one can have in the designing and construction of working with metal. As she says, “I love jewelry so why not make my own?!”

In between her metalsmithing at the University, Brittany took a little time to marry her husband, a US Marine; who gave her the encouragement to start her own jewelry business – hence, bwsilver!
All of her pieces are OOAK and limited editions, each of which show her passion for her work, as Brittany states in he shop, “everything I made is crafted by hand, heirloom quality and made with love.” Although she mainly works with silver, she also works with other metals upon request. She mainly works with a type of silver called Argentium, a more modern Sterling Silver alloy with less copper content, using instead a type of metal called Germanium – which makes it a purer metal, and less resistant to tarnishing. Although she says it may make her work a little more expensive, seeing the beautiful pieces in her shop, shows that it is well worth it! If you hurry up, Brittany is having a 15% Sale on a few selected items in her shop.

You will also find some interesting articles and a few different pieces of her jewelry on her blog: http://bwsilver.blogspot.com

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: MagdaleneJewelsSee EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com
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EtsyBloggers Team Treasuries!

Note from Joey & Aleethea: Let's all say hello and give a warm welcome to the author or this post. She is the newest author of our team blog...TheArtOfJoy. She is now the official "EtsyBloggers Treasury Blogger", so whenever you create a team treasury, send a convo and a screenshot to TheArtOfJoy to let her know so that she can blog it here! And now let's move on to some more fun:

TheArtofJoy here:
I'm so excited to share some wonderful treasuries curated by our fabulous EtsyBloggers team mates!

Treasury One
"Spring must be here" (This is one is live right now... So check it out!)
by peacoxcreations





Treasury Two (Last Week)
"Tropical Oasis on Etsy!" by spottedcowssoap







Treasury Three (Last Week)
"Longing for Spring"by ebogie






Treasury Four (Last Week)
by mysticwynd





Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: The Art Of Joy
See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com
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Birthdays Galore at Etsybloggers!!

Send warm greetings to our newbies with belated birthdays in February!!

Marie of BluePandemonium Thursday Feb 4


Elan Vital Anthology Sunday Feb 7


Sunshine Handbags Wednesday Feb 10


Sosae of Virtue Natural Friday Feb 12




And don't forget our established members who also have birthdays this week!!

Kathy of Ametista Thursday Feb 25









Poppy Place Monday Mar 1








Becky of Red Bird Jewelry Tuesday Mar 2


Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Handmade By Sandi

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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Birthday Greetings from Warm Jamaica

I just had to get away! But I didn't want to forget our special birthdays for this week! Please send warm greetings to our birthday gals.

Sandy of Punky Jane Wednesday Feb 17


Dani of Pumpkin Haus Sunday Feb 21


Pamela of LadyBug Jewels Monday Feb 22



Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Handmade By Sandi

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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February 15th EtsyBloggers Carnival is Up and Running and Ready to Read!

Welcome to the February 15th, 2010 Edition of the EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival. Team members had the opportunity to blog about one of the following topics:

1) February 14th is Valentine’s Day. What is your best childhood memory of Valentine’s Day, or what childhood tradition do you now carry out with your children?
2) February is Heart Health Month. What is your best heart healthy recipe? What do you do to stay heart healthy? How do you promote heart health?

Following are the links to the EtsyBloggers’ posts on one of these topics, along with the links to their fabulous blogs.

Lois presents GO RED for Women! posted at Foxy G’s Den of i-KNIT-quity.

Sarah Buckingham “Finding Charm” presents EtsyBloggers: February 12th Carnival posted at Finding Charm.

gilliauna presents Heart Healthy… with Chocolate? – A Rare Post By Leal posted at The Meandering Musings of a Consummate Shopper.

MagdaleneJewels presents Carnival Blog: Valentine’s Day Wish posted at MagdaleneJewels’s Blogs.

Patti presents F………ebruary Heart Health (and update) posted at peacoxcreations.

cindy devine presents How many ways can you prepare a chicken breast? posted at Devine Designs Jewelry.

theashgrove presents Monday Motivator: Heart Health posted at Notes from the Ash Grove.

BunnyKissd presents Diary of a Crazy Rabbit Lady, Too: Valentine’s Day Traditions posted at Diary of a Crazy Rabbit Lady, Too.

storybeader presents Etsybloggers Carnival – Feb 12, 2010 posted at Stroll Through Storyland.

Linda B presents Valentine’s Day – Blog Carnival posted at Linda B’s Blog.

Jen presents Valentines posted at Mama’s Magic.

veryverdant presents Valentines Day Traditions posted at Very Verdant.

Elizabeth presents Valentine’s Day from a Teacher’s Perspective posted at Thoughts from an Evil Overlord.

Antonella presents A new Valentine’s tradition posted at Zucchero Filato.

CREATEaTHOUGHT presents Valentines Carnival posted at CREATEaTHOUGHT.

UberArt presents Be My Valentine! posted at UberArt Shop.

Mary presents Heart Health Month Recipe: Tuna and Red Onion Spiedini posted at Misobel: Handmade Hooligan with a Mystic Touch.

Two Zany Zebras presents It’s all about the card… posted at Two Zany Zebras.

Trina Baker presents Etsy Blog Carnival » gallery32 posted at gallery32.

Melissa Sinisgalli presents Think About Your Heart posted at Made By Melissa.

Cathy Dean presents Etsy Carnival posted at Candles & Caffeine, saying, “I hope I did this right! ”

Alicia Mae presents Heart Healthy – An EtsyBlogger Carnival posted at Crafts and Cooking.

HomeMadeOriginals presents Valentine’s Memories posted at Home Made Originals.

A Keeper’s Jackpot presents Heart ? Health posted at A Keeper’s Jackpot.

Enjoy!

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Foxy G. Knits

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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Friday Feature -- Tilt Creations & Tilt Too

This week's featured Etsy artist at Mama's Magic Studio (cross posted for your enjoyment!) is the owner of not one but two great Etsy shops -- Tilt Creations and Tilt Too. She's also the Etsyblogger of the month for February! Congratulations, Theresa!

I really like this casual backpack -- the colors are such fun!


And this clutch would be perfect with a Valentine's outfit. Plus, it's on sale!


Enjoy the interview!

1. Please tell us about the items in your Etsy shop. What do you make? How did you learn your craft? What is involved in your creative process?

I make handbags, purses, backpacks, messengers bags, clutches, zip pouches....I am starting to narrow my focus to backpacks, clutches and coordinating zip pouches. Along with these I will (slowly) be adding more home products such as quilts, table runners, coasters, pillows, embroidery piecs, etc.....maybe even painting.

I am self taught, unless you want to count that one home-ec class back in 7th grade in the early 80s...I mean mid...um, let's just say a while back :) When my oldest was about 3 he wanted to be Robin Hood for Halloween but I could not find a costume, so I just made one....then I got hooked. He's too old for costumes now, but I still sew.....same machine too.

2. To which Etsy Teams do you belong (if any)?

Etsybloggers

M.I.C.E. (Michigan Indie Crafters of Etsy) BDC (Big Damn Crafters...fans of Firefly & Serenity) Etsymoms (although i have not been as active as I would like)

3. How did you get involved with Etsy?

I think the main reason was a push from friends & family to start selling. It may be possible they were just tired of all the bags they kept getting as gifts, who knows :P But I started reading up on selling crafts and this "Etsy" place kept popping up in all my resources - so I checked it out - shopped a bit there - liked it - and opened shop.

4. What inspires your creations?

I really do not know. Every creation is different. Some bags come from a "I need something to do X"...so I make one.

5. What is your biggest challenge related to your Etsy shop?

Pictures. My house has horrible lighting - even with added lamps that are supposed to work well - and no blank wall for a nice background. But I make do...plus, I am getting to be good friends with my editing program :) And time. Time to list & promote...I fall short most days.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop (currently for sale or previously sold)? Why is it your favorite?

I love my Buffy messenger bag. It took FOREVER to embroider, but so worth it. It has been gathering cobwebs in the shop, so I may just snag it for myself, we'll see.

7. What advice do you have for other folks selling or buying on Etsy?

Don't give up. I hear so many people grumble when they don't start selling right away or "only" sell one thing a week. Etsy is a big - huge - giant - place. It can take time. Get to know the place & the people. Join teams. Tweek when necessary - change up pics, tags, promotions & sales. I spend lots of time searching for items to promote on my treasury blog...it's a great way to understand the search engine so you can better tag your items for others to find.

8. Tell us two (or more) other interesting things about you.

Interesting? Hmmmm....I used to be in the sciences...after I stopped studying art early on in my college career. I love to paint, but am not very good. So I thought I'd just keep the brushes to myself & switched to biology...another love of mine that has more job possibilities. I studied immunolgy/microbiology at the PhD level and worked cardiac rehab as an exercise scientist. Quite different from what I do now - mom and crafter. After I spent 6 months on bedrest with my youngest, I decided to stay home until he is in school all day. One more year to go. Crafting has kept my sanity.

9. Where else can we find out more about you and/or your creations?

Blogs:

Crafts, kids, home & life http://tiltcreations.blogspot.com

Tilts creations http://tiltcreationstoo.blogspot.com

My treasury blog: Tilt Treasures http://tilttreasures.blogspot.com

My giveaway finds blog: Tilt's Giveaway Finds http://tiltsgiveawayfinds.blogspot.com

Facebook: me: http://www.facebook.com/theresa.tilt

my fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TiLT-creations/56395604288

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tiltcreations

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tiltcreations

Plurk: http://www.plurk.com/tiltcreations

10. Is there anything else you'd like to tell us about your shop or your work?

I do custom work as well. While I am going to be focusing on the backpacks & clutches, I will work with someone who may be interested in another bag of mine. I will also be creating more works with hand embroidery & painting sometime in the Spring.

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Mama's Magic Studio

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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Are you a February Baby?

As Valentine's Day approaches, we want to honor those Etsy Bloggers who have a birthday this week. While you may not have a birthday on Valentine's Day, we want to send you a heart filled with love!

Sarah of Finding Charm Wednesday Feb 10


BabyLove by Jackie has a birthday on Mon Feb 15, Jackie has had to take down her listings due to time constraints at home. Don't worry - she'll be back!

Charissa of Mimi's Babies Tuesday Feb 16



Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Handmade By Sandi

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Happy Birthday to Regina, a new Etsyblogger

One of our newest members, Regina, from The Ash Grove, is having a birthday this Friday. Please head on over to her shop and let her know how special her birthday is!



Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: Handmade By Sandi

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MiniMonday: Cut Your Heart Out

The EtsyBloggers Team Mini-Monday line-up couldn't have timed out any better for Jessica, owner of CutYourHeartOut, with Valentine's Day quickly approaching!

Her self-proclaimed wickedly sweet designs are made with love, like this My Heart is Rubber and You Are Glue Necklace. The title says it all, and wouldn't you love to own this piece on Valentine's Day!


Jessica is a wife, mother, and therapist in New Jersey. A very interesting and creative woman, with an interest in the quirky, creepy, and slightly offbeat things in life, such as tattoos, loud music, creative arts, and psychology. She says that not just one particular thing that inspires her work, but her inspiration can come from several different things such as her mood that day, a person, a television show, a story, a piece of art she's seen...

I literally laughed out loud at her answer to my question of how she came up with her shop name. She said, "It was an old screen name that evolved from my non-committal dating days. My friends used to always say that I would cut boys hearts out and stomp on them."

Her designs are nothing she couldn't afford or wear herself! Each item she sells features a quote or poem in the description. You can tell she puts a lot of thought and love into her work.



Look for her second Etsy shop in the works called Mox.ie and Mis.chief (MoxieAndMischief) for children's clothing and accessories.

Fan her on Facebook and get entered into her monthly drawings.

Want to see more? Follow her Blog!

Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: A Keeper's Jackpot

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Feb 1 Blog Carnival!

The Feb 1 EtsyBloggers blog carnival on snow, snowflakes, and winter fun is up at my blog Crafts and Cooking! Click here to read it!

To all my fellow EtsyBloggers...you rock! :)


Posted for the EtsyBloggers team by: AliciaMae

See EtsyBloggers team membership requirements here: etsybloggers.com

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