Sunday, January 25, 2015

Grow Your Blog 2015

Welcome to my little corner of the Grow Your Blog Party ............

2 Bags Full



Click on the link and it'll take you to the list of around 400 bloggers who have joined the party, and will introduce themselves, and write about why they blog, and their interests. This is a great way to find new blogs and meet new and wonderful people.  

I'm a retired social worker, and live in Australia in a small country town in northern NSW.   I have 2 children, a son and a daughter and 4 grandchildren....3 girls and a boy and 1 great-granddaughter, all of whom live in Ohio, USA.  My son lives in Sydney.  

So with family spread out and far away.....I share my home with this lot......great companions and never a dull moment.
clockwise from left......Neesa, Velvet and Molly and Mirrhi
I started my blog as a way to connect and communicate.  I was suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder, and the associated depression and anxiety, and found it hard to be in social situations. Blogging was a good way to have some social interaction,and stay connected to the outside world, but on my own terms.  Those days, thankfully, are behind me now, but I continue to blog about my sewing and gardening, ordinary things, my day to day life, things that interest me and people and places I encounter when I step outside my front gate.  I've made some good friends through my blog, and some I've now met outside of cyber space as well.

I enjoy an eclectic array of handwork......quilting, embroidery and stitching, I dabble in needlefelting, and like to make dolls and toys.  I have a Pinterest board called Creative Miscellany of Things....this sums up pretty well what I like to do.

Here's some pics of various things I've enjoyed making......

Quilts and table-runners
dolls and soft toys
 I give most of my toys to charity, and they go variously to Knit 4 CharitiesMirabel Foundation and Uthando.  I knit as well, and these items, mainly beanies, go to Knit 4 Charities  as well, an Australian on-line group which knits, sews and crochets thousands of items a year to go to the homeless and needy.
Handwork -healing doll, crazy patchwork, kantha stitching
I enjoy living simply, and as sustainably as possible and I do this by growing as much of my own food as I can, I cook from scratch and make my own bread, soap and cleaning goods.  I'm passionate about my garden and growing and this is as important to me and my life as my needle and thread are.


I enjoy travelling and posted here about my recent trip to Tibet, a deeply satisfying and life-changing trip.
Mt Kailash

I wondered when I signed up for the Party what I'd write about....obviously I had no trouble and could probably go on.  If you'd like to know more, take a wander back through my blog, or you can email me at belleg9atgmaildotcom.

To celebrate Grow Your Blog I'm having a give-away, and anyone who comments will go in the draw to win a small prize.  I have two bundles of pretty batiks to give away, and embroidery threads to go with them.  All you have to do is comment on this post, and you're in.


The draw closes at midnight on February 14 AEST and winners will be drawn and announced here on February 15th.  Please make sure you're not a "no-reply" blogger so I can get in touch with you if you're a winner.

....til next time


39 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness - you have so much to write about - you are a very interesting and giving soul!! I learnt a little more about you through your post and I will chase down those photos of the wash-a-way scarves tomorrow afternoon!!! lol!!! Enjoy your tripping around the GYBP!!!

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  2. Good day Nanette! On behalf of Vicki and the GYB Party, welcome aboard! I am one of Vickis helpers, checking around to see if everyone has their post up. You have done a lovely job and given us a good taste of what your blog and life are all about. I'll be back again later for a longer look-around, but I can already see we'll get along as we have lots in common -quilting, love of cats and the color blue! Welcome once again, and we hope you have lots of fun with the party.

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  3. It is very hard to be away from family. So happy to read your story

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  4. I'm visiting today from Vicki's blog party and having fun meeting bloggers. Hope you have a great day.

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  5. G'day Nanette, I'm visiting from the GYB event, and from just across the ditch in NZ. Those cats are very cute, and I share your interests in simple living, so I'll be back to read more of your blog. I also belong to the Down to Earth forum, do you?

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  6. Glad to meet you! I am having a lot of fun seeing all the great inspiration, so many new ideas! Happy to hear you found an outlet to communicate. Looking forward to your future projects. L

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  7. A good introduction of who you are and the thoughts reflected in your blog. Liked the retrospective of your work.

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  8. Hello. Found your blog thru RSC15, but I will check out GYB as I am thinking about starting a blog. Love your animal pictures and the fabrics you have bundled. So pretty. quiltingbean1@msn.com.

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  9. Hello from Pennsylvania. I love meeting new people on these blog hops.

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  10. Greetings from Canada. So nice to meet you via the GYB party. I'm a new follower. Great blog!

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  11. HI nanette...nice to find your blog through the GYB event. I'm a new GFC follwer and live in Oregon, USA. I hope ya stop by and if ya like what ya see..follow too as I love your variety of interests. Val from myplvl.blogspot.com

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  12. I´m visiting via the GYB hop. Pleased to have found your pretty work. I too enjoy embroidery, stitching and quilting. Hope you will find time to visit me.

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  13. Hi! Uou need a gallery tab so we can see all your wonderful projects. The blue batiks look so pretty. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  14. I knew I was going to feel right at home when you introduced your "family members" right off the bat. You make stunning quilts. I especially like the heart you showed, because that is my kind of art. I agree that your work is eclectic, but that's what kept me interested to the end. And of course, I swooned over those batiks.

    I really enjoyed visiting your blog.
    http://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/2015/01/grow-your-blog-blog-hop-event.html

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  15. I love your scrappy quilt projects....exactly my style! Visiting your lovely blog through GYB!

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  16. I am so happy that blogging has helped you with PTSD, anxiety and depression. I have been suffering from anxiety and depression really bad lately and just got into blogging. Hopefully it will help me too!
    Thank you for the chance to win the lovely gift!

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  17. I enjoyed visiting your site and reading about your quilting and lifestyle. I look forward to reading more about your interests.

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  18. OMGoodness ... I could make some beautiful flowers with your giveaway. Promise!
    You throw a great party. Thank you for inviting me!

    So that you know, I've become a Follower and when time permits, I'll be back to see what other beautiful things were made by your hands!

    What this party is all about is to GROW your blog and I'm hoping to do the same. When you get to Section One, check out A Country Chic Retreat and SuZeQ Creations, my personal blog, in Section Fifteen I'd love for you to follow and subscribe to.

    Happy crafting!
    SuZeQ

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  19. visiting from GYB...you are a busy lady! This is my second year participating in the hop...so many great blogs I follow for enjoyment and inspiration! Welcome aboard...check out my blog too! And, your giveaway...thanks so much for the chance. I am learning to make crazy quilts this year and those fabrics look like just what I need and the floss...exactly what I need!
    Cheri, the quilting nanny
    quiltingnanny(at)yahoo(dot)com
    www.fabricandmemories.blogspot.com

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  20. Hi Nanette, it's lovely seeing the photos all your beautiful projects...very clever and creative person that you are :-) Your pets are gorgeous...but you know that! The fabrics and threads in your Giveaway are so pretty.

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  21. Hello, it is nice to meet you! I signed up to follow you with google plus. I love those little dolls you made, and look forward to seeing more of your work. Thank you for the giveaway. sarah@forrussia.org

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  22. I love your dolls with the little beanies. So cute! Its nice that you can donate so much to charity.

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  23. You have lots of talents! (and lovely kitties. :) It's a pleasure to meet you!

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  24. So nice to meet you!! I have you added to my Bloglovin' feed so that I can keep in touch with your many talents!! Your fur babies are so sweet too!

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  25. I enjoy dropping in to your blog, Im already an email follower but I hadn't fully realised the reason why you had started blogging. But am pleased it has given you a safe place to communicate from and judging by your Nepal trip, I'd say youd conquered a great deal en route lol

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  26. Visiting from St. John's, NL Canada via GYB. Nice to meet you. You have been busy! I also have a giveaway on my blog. Pop over when you get a chance.

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  27. What sweet toys you make!

    alexis @ cobcottagecraft.com

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  28. Blog hopping with “Grow Your Blog”. I am a new followers Its so great to meet you. Wishing you the best!!

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  29. Your wee dolls are so cute - I'm sure they are a delight to many little girls. Thank you so much for having us over to visit with you.

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  30. Lovely to meet you - I'm visiting from the UK
    I'm off to find your blog post about your trip to Tibet - I would love to visit!

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  31. I hope it'll let me in at last.... I've been tryin to comment for days! I did enjoy reading all about what made you start blogging, what makes you tick and what motivates your creativity. Having met you, it's a fun insight and broadens my understanding. I've come to enjoy batiks late in life, so I'd love to win some. Here's hoping I'll be lucky! Kate xx

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  32. What a fun blog!! I am so glad I decided to check it out. I'll be back often.

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  33. Those batiks are beautiful! So is the picture of Mt. Kailash.

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  34. Hello, I love the bundles you put together. The picture of Mt Kailash is beautiful.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  35. Love visiting your blog. You have a great story.

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  36. Hi Nanette, nice to visit you! I'm still making my way thru the long list of bloggers (I started at the bottom and worked up!) in the GYB party. You do have an eclectic and wide variety of crafts...I can so relate to that! My daughter may be studying in Australia next year for a semester of college; I'd love to visit her there if she goes! The batiks in your giveaway are so pretty!

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  37. Your dolls are adorable! Hello from NYC! Thank you for such a generous giveaway. I've got you bookmarked. :)
    - afistfuloflemons @ gmail.

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  38. I just followed you from a comment on Rhondas blog, and realized that I was not a follower! Gosh glad I found you! I often relate to your comments there and had another Nanette that I followed. Those fabrics in the giveaway are awesome. I also have a grandson far from home. I have some cute finger puppets on my giveaway for the GYB party.

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  39. You are living with some very nice furry fellows! I like you garden too.

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