Friday, 11 January 2008

Presents and RAKs 2008


From Sisu.

Received 8 Jul 2008.

* * some lovely black fuzzy socks ...... (Goth Bed Socks !!!!!!)
* * Fractal 10 by Cross Stitch Collectibles
* * Undo what you did by Susan Saltzgiver Designs
* * 22" x 23" piece of 28ct antique white evenweave
* * and .... a package called "Mel's Sex Slave Audition Kit"

I think I'd better leave that one until I get home tonight to open it .......


208 comments:

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Paula Hubert said...

Pretty threads! And I do love the Kats by Kelly!

Paula Hubert said...

She's adorable! And I love the colors in the threads and beads!

Paula Hubert said...

Pretty! I love the colors!

Karen R said...

Wow, that's what Gail's patterns look like? Very nice! Good stuff! I've actually had that thread/cat thing - a spool was unwound all over the house one day - orange, if I remember correctly - and the last 3 feet of it were wet, as they had been inside the cat :( (picture a goofy black cat fighting his gag reflex as I'm pulling and winding... nice picture, huh? You had to be there)

Hilary Syddall said...

Very attractive!

Hilary Syddall said...

Not my choice but a great RAK all the same!

Hilary Syddall said...

aha! Another one of these for the train! and the flossies are nice as well!

Claire EJ said...

Interesting design:) Nice to see a BAPXSer branching out :)

Claire EJ said...

Ooh, those Crescent Colours look lovely. I haven't seen them before.....yummy!
lovely giftie.

Claire EJ said...

Ooh, more floss and a cutie "Kats" ....lovely gifties:)

Denise Hicks said...

pretty colors, lovely shades of green

Denise Hicks said...

This one should be great to stitch up, beautiful colors.

Denise Hicks said...

I like this one, great colors and chart

Melissa Hicks said...

Good grief Charlie Brown! 13 replies before I even get the album edited and finished! Oh well that's what I get for falling asleep at the keyboard on a Friday night.

OK all pics edited with words now - so you lot can go back and have another look :) :) :)

Melissa Hicks said...

I think all owners of cats have been there at one point of another. I know I certainly have with more than one cat !!!

And yes Gail's charting and presentation looks very professional !! I was quite pleased with the size and clarity of the chart. If it wasn't for the "fear of rayon" everybody else has instilled in me, I would be tempted to start this one this afternoon .....

Terri England said...

What a wonderful Rak

Jodie Hill said...

I like the Kats picture! I haven't done any of those yet, hopefully I can keep Emily from seeing those otherwise I'll be doing them! Love the threads too - especially the blue, green and yellow one!

Stephanie Flynn said...

Only took me 4 months to put it in the mail....lol. Enjoy...saw it on your lust list.

Melissa Hicks said...

That's called morning glory :) I really need to stitch up some of the Kats by Kelly - that way you'll be likely to have the WIP pics on the screen when Emily walks past :)

Stephanie Flynn said...

Glad you liked it....packed it so long ago didn't remember what color's I'd sent! LOL

Melissa Hicks said...

You've seriously been very very busy!

Terri England said...

What a wonderful Rak

Terri England said...

That is an awesome bday pressy

Stephanie Flynn said...

Let's ignore the fact that I was ON VACATION for 2 weeks during this time and had ample opportnity to go to the post office. Just don't like the post office...lol

Claire EJ said...

Ooh that's mean LOL....

Teasing poor little Emily like that..

Shawn Medrano said...

That is a wonderful RAK!! I'm sure you'll have fun stitching on her!!

kay jones said...

Lovely colours. Super RAK

kay jones said...

What a wonderful RAK. Congrats

kay jones said...

Lovely pressie. You should have enough KATS to stitch on the train for quite a while. When do we start seeing them?

Melissa Hicks said...

Hopefully sometime this year. They are ideal train projects - I'm just tossing up whether to do a lot of small projects in my train stitching - or whether I should take one big (but easy) project like Dutch Beauty or the Papillon mystery sampler from GOS.

Lori M. said...

Congrats on the RAK! This chart is really fun to stitch - enjoy!

Debbie Lord said...

Lovely pressie, can't wait to see pics!!

Debbie Lord said...

Enjoy!!

Debbie Lord said...

Lovely threads & I have "strung out" in my stash

Claire EJ said...

Ooh, That looks like "Frog" to me...lovely Opal Rainforest yarn. Can be washed at a 40 but I usually use a 30 on this kind of yarn. Lovely.

Claire EJ said...

LOL....you're so worth sending good hand made stuff to! Tell them and gloat muchly:)

Lovely socks, beautiful floss, enjoy.

Claire EJ said...

I already have the Margaret Sherry cats on a q-snap LOL. I swapped out the yucky aida for a small piece of a leftover hand dye in a pale blue. It will be the project I take away with us to the Lakes.
I do like the "ordered knots".....could work up beautifully. I'm envisaging a green palette..what are you thinking of honey?

Trish Froggatt said...

Lovelt RAK! You'd better hang on to those socks - looks like everybody is coveting them (me included!) LOL Cheers

Trish Froggatt said...

Very nice Mel! Isn't Kay the best?? So thoughtful. Cheers,

Lyne-Elizabeth Blodgett said...

You better watch - I might fly down there and steal those lovely socks!

Karen R said...

WOW - very cool! Socks, thread, and chocolate! I could live the hermit's life with such things :) Love the orange/green thread....

Karen R said...

Knots is on my LL - can't wait to see what you do with it!!! Chocolate with chili??? That's a new one on me - must look for some of that!

Karen R said...

Neat group of stuff - I see a Queen in there? Love the castle!

Melissa Hicks said...

Its just called Elizabethan Lady - but yes it appears to based on Lizzie I.

Melissa Hicks said...

Info noted and filed :)

Melissa Hicks said...

Ring me from the airport so I can hide the socks - I mean make up the guest bed ..... love to have you to visit - any time!

Nancy Murdock said...

Lovely RAK's!! You have some very caring friends here!

Terri England said...

Those socks are great. I love it all. Great Rak's

Terri England said...

Wonderful Rak

Julie Nemitz said...

Some lovely gifts there Mel. I'm sure you'll enjoy them!

Kerry Dustin said...

They're lovely. The Victorian and Elizabethan ones are from the series of historical blackwork I told you about. The castle looks rather nice and I like the lady with the parasol. I must try some blackwork this year.

Melissa Hicks said...

Yup - Kay knew I was having difficulty tracking these down - I suspect that's why she sent these to me - she knew they were right up my alley and I was actively seeking them :)

kay jones said...

I'll keep my eye out in charity shops. These mags sometimes turn up there.

Laura Landis said...

Mel, looks like you've had a RAK filled January! Congrats on the lovely gifts!!

Melissa Hicks said...

Thanks Laura - and thanks for keeping an eye out Kay - that's soooo sweet of you :) :)

Michele Anderson said...

Rayon is so easy to use! I did all of Marlitt Floral in Rayon. Use shorter lengths and dampen the thread first. It dry really quick and it is a lot less likely to kink on you. I always used the loop method but if it has shading in the threads just hang on tight to the hole of the needle so the threads don't slip out. Oh and drop the needle a LOT more frequently than you do with regular floss to keep it from twisting.

Chele

Melissa Hicks said...

Thanks for the advice Chele - I will come back to this project in a couple of weeks have an RR and some time in on the Castle to do first (but don't tell Mistress Kay).

kay jones said...

I HEARD THAT..............................................

Claire EJ said...

Lovely RAK! The CMH chart is gorgeous, reminds me of the Lanarte Arabian Lady.

Terri England said...

What a wonderful Rak

Hilary Syddall said...

Very nice RAK indeed!

Karen R said...

Very neat!

Sisu Lull said...

I like Desiree best, but they all made a wonderful RAK. Congrats!

Melissa Hicks said...

You're trying to get me addicted to HAED's so I will be just like everyone else - right?

Thanks sweetheart she's beautiful !!!!!

Claire EJ said...

You're welcome:) Just wanted to find you a little pick me up and I do adore Selina Fenech's stuff.

Paula Hubert said...

Ohhh - she's beautiful! Not a bad stich count, either!

Claire EJ said...

Was thinking she'd be nice on a coffee coloured fabric where you could avoid the background stitching and have her stand out from it.

Karen R said...

I don't usually like "people" designs, but this one is really cute!

Melissa Hicks said...

Hmm - will have to check the stash ......

Sisu Lull said...

D'oh! Why did I have to look at this. Now of course I HAVE to see if there is a K for Katie, an N for Nathan, and an S for me. Beautiful design! I love it.

Melissa Hicks said...

{LOL} I suppose I need to look for a D for Denise too and a C for Claire ....

Sisu Lull said...

Lucky me, I could not find them, LOL.

Melissa Hicks said...

Here you go Sisu - a link to the entire alphabet:

http://www.heavenandearthdesigns.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=193_199_200

Denise Hicks said...

YES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sisu Lull said...

Double D'oh!
Thanks Mel (I think).

Melissa Hicks said...

Hey it feels good to enable a master enabler :) :) :)

Claire EJ said...

I adore Laurel Burch stuff and last year, bought one for you, me, and Teegs. She'll get hers on Thursday:) They're fun cats, highly stylised which isn't usually my thing but I do find them such fun and they always make me smile.

The HP stamps were supposed to be sent as Christmas stuff but hey, memory like a sieve here.
Enjoy!

Claire EJ said...

She is the sweetest person alive!

Claire EJ said...

Grrr, sitting here sniffing so much I can't see through the tears....{{{Chele}}} for being just who you are:) and for understanding other people so well.

Michele Anderson said...

(((Blush))) I am amazed it is there already. I mailed it on the 16th! So glad you are going to take my message and the chart to heart! Enjoy stitching it and I am sending you a hug with every stitch you make!

Luv,
Chele

Karen R said...

Awwww!!! {sniffle, sniffle} Well said, Chele!

Laura Landis said...

Oooooo, pretties!! Love the MH Treasures

Laura Landis said...

Great bag! How fun!!

Laura Landis said...

LOL!

Laura Landis said...

I can't believe how long this took! That's just ridiculous!!

Laura Landis said...

Mail service is amazing, huh? I love the semi-precious beads. Let me know if you need any more -- they still have a few left and were thrilled that I bought all of these!!

Laura Landis said...

What a sweet chart!!

Paula Hubert said...

Yep - what they said! You're pretty amazing yourself, 'Chele!

Laura Landis said...

Aw, how sweet!! AND, we do love you, Miss Melly -- just as you are.

Melissa Hicks said...

Its just because I feel sooo good that I don't flay you alive for this one. This is one of the very few nicknames I do *not* tolerate .....

But thanks for the sentiments :)

Claire EJ said...

Yeah, I remember using that once and getting a tongue lashing! LOL

Melissa Hicks said...

Thanks again for these Laura - Wizards Inkwell is going to be next new start now !!! I know I have the fabric and I *think* I have some/most of the threads ...

I'm going to dig it out tonight - thanks to you ladies my stitching mojo is BACK !!!!!!

Shawn Medrano said...

That is a very nice RAK with great timing! I must agree......Chele said it very well!

Nancy Murdock said...

I could stand in front of the treasures sections forever and look at them all!!

Nancy Murdock said...

oooooh, I may have to go look this one up!!! I like the one in the very middle best! And I know someone that would be perfect for!! LOL

Nancy Murdock said...

Ah, very sentimental and very sweet of her!

Melissa Hicks said...

I am stitching one of these up for a friend :) I planned to start it while watching the cricket on the weekend but stupidly left the parcel at work!

Karen R said...

You can never have too much subversive cross stitch around. She needs to put out a second book :)

Laura Landis said...

Oops! Sorry 'bout that!! BUT, you should know that in the southern states of the US, using Miss in front of the name indicates respect and affection. (Although I'm sure it's the Melly part that had you cringing) Did that help any?



Oh, and did you catch the movie reference in the original post? One of my favorite movies...

Laura Landis said...

Mel, since I knew you were stitching from your stash, I thought it would be fun to get you something I knew you could use with your current stash!!

Melissa Hicks said...

It was indeed the Melly part that had me shuddering. I genuinely dislike it.

Miss I've often been called. Dad calls me Miss as a contraction of MelISSa, my mum called me Miss Lissa, Claire calls me Miss Gothy and all the kids at my last job called me Miss until I taught them to call me Ms .....

Melissa Hicks said...

Awww you are sooo sweet - thank you !!!!!

Claire EJ said...

Very very nice. Those little cat details are gawjus! Enjoy!!

Mariann Mäder said...

I love the little cats, too, Mel! Great RAK

What do you think about the Madeira threads you'll need? I find them quite okay to stitch, but they do knot a bit more easily than DMC or Anchor...

Lori M. said...

What a great RAK! This is stunning! Happy stitching!

Paula Hubert said...

I like this one! Enjoy!

Karen R said...

Wow, great RAK!! This one is on my list, too! 138 x 138 has that many pages of instruction? Wow!

Debbie Lord said...

Have a lot of her gardens in my stash including this one, enjoy!!

Melissa Hicks said...

Debbie - you're alive ??? Great news !!! You've been off the radar for a few weeks - everything OK?

Sisu Lull said...

You'll be fine Mel! I am sure the many pages of instructions are just to make each specialty stitch clear and easy. Great RAK, and I like those little black cats too!

Melissa Hicks said...

Actually yeah - there are lots of instructions and the chart itself is printed nice and big so all the quarter stitches are *clearly* visible. All in all I'm impressed on first glace - we'll see how good the specialty stitch instructions are when I actually start stitching it ...

Melissa Hicks said...

I'm using Madeira silks for my Dutch Beauty project - but I got to confess I'm finding them harder and harder to source around here. I might need to make it a priority stitch until its finished just because the floss is getting so hard to buy locally.

LTD uses Madeira cottons, Glissengloss Rainbow Blending thread, Madeira Lacquered Jewel and Madeira Burmilana wool in this project.

She gives Maderia to DMC conversion for the cottons and last night I found a Rainbow Blending thread to Kreinik Blending filament conversion chart ... so I can change those to stuff already in my stash .... but I have no idea what to do about the Lacquered Jewel or the Burmilana wool blend.

I can either chuck the lot on my threads Lust List :) or I can leave this project until later when I can afford to source the unusual threads.

As it is, I'm thinking of changing the Madeira cottons to silks - even if I don't just use DMC ......

kay jones said...

Lovely chart and it will look gorgeous stitched up. Look on the Madeira (UK) website for details of their Burmilana threads. They give details and colours so you will have more idea of what to sub for it. On the other hand there is a firm called Silken Strands in Wales who seem to supply all the madeira range.

Melissa Hicks said...

Oooh thanks Kay - I'll keep that in mind .... maybe as a present to myself for my birthday - trying to be fiscally responsible for a little while first .....

Laura Landis said...

Mel, on her site, LTD lists
17th c Irish Garden Specialty Fibers
Price: $7.50

This pack contains only the specialty fibers needed to complete this needlework. Chart, Madeira cotton, and fabric not included.

http://liztd.com/cgi-bin/detail.pl?garden&Historical-&HGS06SF

You might email her and check the cost for shipping. As an alternative, I'd be happy to order it for you and send it along.

Melissa Hicks said...

Great idea Laura - unfortunately for $7.50 woth of stuff she wants $6.50 postage. I'll leave it until later and buy another or something at the same time to make the postage worthwhile .....

Karen R said...

Very nice!!

Karen R said...

Great card, and I think I need to get a couple of skeins of that Cupid myself - it's such a pretty red!

Karen R said...

SAL - absolutely! I'll get this sometime this year, though she's only got about 15 others I want, as well :)

What fabric is the model done on?

Rebecca Jankowiak said...

What a nice gift. Have you started them yet.

Becky J

Melissa Hicks said...

Its all DMC threads on Wichelt Jobelan 28ct China Pearl. Design size 250 x 150 stitches.

As well as the main chart she gives 11 separate bonus charts. Some are tiny for needlebook covers or biscornus, but others are small samplers in their own right - the largest being 120 x 70!

kay jones said...

Lovely. These should keep you out of mischief for a while. la la la la

Shawn Medrano said...

What a great RAK!!!! The fairies are really prettier than the pictures let on....have fun!!

Debbie Lord said...

Great RAK enjoy!

Mariann Mäder said...

Absolutely lovely this one! Great gift from the Anonylistmum!

Melissa Hicks said...

Lori - do you happen to know which of these threads I need two skeins for?

Yes I am kitting them up now! I received a piece of Zweigart 32ct Copper Penny in my Fabric of the Month Club yesterday and I think it would be perfect!

I have another 2 fat quarters on layby (lay away) with Stitching Post (ex Dragonfly Dreams). I figured that hand dyed fabric is like hand dyed threads and can vary from batch to batch so I'm picking up enough fabric from the same bolt to do all of the fairies on ....

I'm sure I can skip dinner for a night or two each week so I can afford this {LOL}

Sisu Lull said...

Cool Kitties. I am not big on cat designs in general, but this one looks neat! Good luck Mel!

Hilary Syddall said...

This one will look wonderful when done! Are you going to do it in the original colour way or change it?

kay jones said...

Welcome to the Crazy Club........ Lovely chart. Hadn't seen this one before. Now get it started........

Melissa Hicks said...

I was thinking about this one in bed this morning and decided I will do it on a cream background. White is simply too harsh but I couldn't think of a hand dyed that wouldn't detract from the impact of the image - so I've decided a nice warm cream fabric.

So 25ct Cream evenweave or linen (20" x 21") will be added to the Lust List.

Fatema Y. said...

Lovely RAKS

Fatema Y. said...

Wow this is lovely..another great RAK. I think I will join you on the SAL, I have to still get it though with another gazillion charts.

Fatema Y. said...

beautiful card and lovely floss colour too.

Melissa Hicks said...

Please do - we wont be starting until next year :)

Laura Landis said...

Really sweet! Enjoy!!

Laura Landis said...

that's what Mum's are for!! I hope the color works for you.

Laura Landis said...

great RAK! I can hardly wait to see how it works up

Melissa Hicks said...

Oh definitely - I was looking through her site again today and seeing all the charts I really want to stitch :)

Paula Hubert said...

I somehow hadn't seen these smaller ones, but I've had a blast browsing her site and imagining several of those pieces hanging on my wall at work! :)

Melissa Hicks said...

After some deliberation I have included my first finish from these in my 2008 Finished album !!!!

Rosanne Derrett said...

I love this to bits! I would be banned from having it at work but, hey, I'm not at work for the forseeable future.

Mariann Mäder said...

Oh, it got there!!! Great!

Jim Westlake said...

I'll have to ponder the ramifications of this stuff.

Later!

Paula Hubert said...

Oh I LOVE it!!

Karen R said...

I love mine, too, but since I still can't my scanner to talk to my new(er) computer, you'll have to take my word for it :) Unless I can clear a spot off big enough to take a picture.

I thought about hanging mine on the back of my office door, where I can choose to hang my coat over it, or not, should someone be in and the door is closed.

Melissa Hicks said...

I have a cubicle instead of an office and I have been specifically forbidden to bring this into work by my supervisor. Personally I think he's a spoilsport - but he thinks I'm there to raise morale not lower it .....

Julie Nemitz said...

That's just great Mel. I love it!!!

Lyne-Elizabeth Blodgett said...

I would love to have it at work, but since we just got a whole lecture yesterday about being there to help teachers, and not showing when they are frustrating us - etc....don't think boss would allow it for me either.

Mariann Mäder said...

You could always hang it inside your locker, if you have one, and every time you open it, it will do the service it's intended to, LOL

Shawn Medrano said...

Oooooooooo, that's great!! :) Seems like the perfect tool for taking on teenagers. lol

Denise Hicks said...

This is lovely, great work Mariann. You can't take it to work????

Sisu Lull said...

I love it, LOL. Very cute. Good job Karen and Mariann! Mel, I think you should stitch it and stick it in a handy drawer so when someone is feeding you a line of ummm, bovine byproduct, you can crack open your drawer just a bit and look at it.

Melissa Hicks said...

I'd be cracking open that drawer so often I'd need to have it on a spring :) :)

Ah well - time to take the plunge, have a shower and head to work ..... Mondays always make me feel like Garfield!

kay jones said...

Its great. Shame about not being able to take it to work. HOWEVER, I just may have found something you MAY be allowed............... Just wait and see.................

Terri England said...

This is great.

Carolyn Ford said...

This is fabulous! Excellent work Mariann! Are you stitching it already Mel? Looking forward to seeing this one up, even if you can't display it at work (and I wouldn't be able to, either, but I like Sisu's idea of the drawer! = )

Melissa Hicks said...

Nope. got a couple of projects that have time constraints at the moment - but its certainly sitting there not so patiently !!!!!

Mariann Mäder said...

Thanks for all your complements, guys :-) I sent three of these out, all personalised. One went to Karen of course, she gave me the idea after all, LOL!

Trish Froggatt said...

That cap is hilarious! I wanna see it on you. And I think I'll have to pick up that 'seed of life' chart - looks amazing. Great RAKs Mel and Kay! Cheers

Sisu Lull said...

Love the cap and of course half the charts as well. I think I already have Emerald Cross on my wishlist, but Seed of LIfe looks like a 'must have' as well. Great gifts!

Karen R said...

Love the Vickery charts, and I look at Seeds, but I always try to picture it in stronger colors - not sure I'm up to that challenge :)

kay jones said...

I want to see a pic of you wearing it. On the other hand you could always keep it at work and when you see your wonderful colleagues storming towards you to complain/grumble or generally moan, then put it on. It will stop them dead in their tracks........they'll forget what they came for and probably die laughing. Glad it finally arrived........

Milly Dunaway said...

Nice stash!

Lori M. said...

What a great RAK! That shower cap is hilarious!

Terri England said...

Absolutely perfect. Cannot wait to see the shower cap on.

Nancy Murdock said...

Great gifties and I can honestly say I have never seen a shower cap like that!

Denise Hicks said...

Some LOVELY charts there Mel, maybe X's and Oh's Seed of Life and Vickery Collection Celtic Emerald CrossI will migrate to my place after you have finished with them

Melissa Hicks said...

What - the charts or the finished pieces ????

Denise Hicks said...

The Charts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laura Landis said...

A very 'Mel' package! Congrats on the RAK to the giver and the receiver!

Sisu Lull said...

Those are gorgeous cats! Nice chart Ellen!

Sisu Lull said...

Herb Goddess is pretty. The butterfly would look stunning in high contrast. Gold on black or some such. Nice goodies!

Sisu Lull said...

I like the Brittercup animals, very cute. What a nice RAK!

Debbie Lord said...

Lovely RAK Mel, enjoy!!

Debbie Lord said...

Another lovely one, the goddess piece looks interesting!!

Debbie Lord said...

Lovely patterns!!

Claire EJ said...

Oh cool, they did arrive...neato.

Claire EJ said...

Nice one Voldeminion! She's great! Had to enlarge it to read the note, very sweet.

Karen R said...

Very nice!!

Karen R said...

Pretty - I don't think I've seen either of these!

Karen R said...

I've seen this chart before - those blue Siamese eyes really jump out, don't they?

kay jones said...

Lovely RAK. Great timing.

kay jones said...

Herb Goddess looks VERY interesting. Whom by???????

Melissa Hicks said...

Golden Hoop

Lori M. said...

Great RAK Mel! I love the Herb Goddess!

Lori M. said...

Fantastic RAK! I love Brittercup designs!

Shawn Medrano said...

How lovely is that RAK? Love the look of the butterfly!

Shawn Medrano said...

Another great RAK!!

Nancy Murdock said...

Lovely RAK, tell me more about the *diary*????? For personal stuff or cross stitching?

Melissa Hicks said...

it appears to be an ordinary diary but it has pictures of lovely Maia items all throughout it. 'll take some pics of some pages for you on the weekend.

Terri England said...

They are great

Shawn Medrano said...

Very nice Mel!!!

Sisu Lull said...

I would lean towards the variegated too. If it is supposed to look like a black opal, the variegated colors might look more natural.

Lori M. said...

Congratulations Mel! This is a great RAK!

Sisu Lull said...

And what dear Mel didn't mention is that is a CD case it is in, so you can guess the condom is about 3 inches in diameter, LOL.
Sorry Mel, but when I saw these 'balloons' at a local overstock clearance store, I knew I had to prank someone with it. The whole Cabana boy chained to your throne thing made me decide it would be you!

Lyne-Elizabeth Blodgett said...

OMG - haha

Paula Hubert said...

PMSL - great job, Sisu! :)

Tina Starke said...

ROTFLMAO!!!!

RoseAnn Lockman said...

TOO FUNNY! But oh so correct!

Michele Anderson said...

This is fantastic!! LOL!

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