Sunday 25 January 2015

Grow your Blog Party 2015....

..... Woo Hoo!  It is party time, Grow your Blog Party time that is.


Now, this is the third year, I have taken part in this wonderful, online party, hosted by the lovely Vickie from 2 Bags Full.

I will have to apologise in advance to previous partygoers as I steal a little of previous year's posts for this one.

Welcome to all of the party goers - I hope that you enjoy visiting everyone's blog.  Please follow this link to see who is partying with me.

For those of you who are new to my blog, I will tell you a few things about myself that is not on my header above:


I have had this blog, Kitten Stitching for over four years now and I absolutely love it!  In it I chronicle the ups and downs of my life (and if you scroll back a few posts you will see that I have had both in the past week or so; the highest of highs when DS1 was married on January 10th and the lowest of lows when my DFIL passed away unexpectedly on January 16th).

This is me, congratulating my new daughter-in-law.



 In many ways, I find writing this blog to be so very therapeutic.  It is strange, even though blogging is a global forum, I actually find it very intimate and  I have made so many good online cross stitchy friends who have enriched my life immensely and give me so much support through the good times and the bad.  I cannot thank each and every one of you enough!  Thank you, to all my lovely bloggy friends.

How did I start? Well, my dear online friend Ginny, started me on this blogging journey when we "met" when I was searching for a Henry VIII Cross stitch pattern.  Funnily enough, Ginny doesn't blog all that much anymore but we still keep in touch on FB - Thank you, Ginny.

Now, talking about Henry VIII - I am mad for the Tudors, so I have several Tudor WIPs and I started a FB group called Tudor Tuesday SAL - if you are on FB, love the Tudors and would like to join, just let me know - here is a link to the FB group.

                                

                         

Oh, and by the way, Henry and his six wives is still very much a work in progress four years later - but I do not want to write about how very many WIPs I have but I can tell you that there are too many!

Basically, I am a passionate historian and luckily for me, that is what my job is now.  I work as a publisher of History (and other subject areas) books for a large educational publisher here in Australia.  It is a great job and I love it - although working full time does cut into my stitching time!



As well as stitching, I read a lot - around 100 to 120 books a year.If you are on Shelfari  you can see what I have read/am reading there or you can see what I am reading on my Shelfari shelf on the sidebar of my blog, if you like.  I always read several books at once but my main books at the moment are The Goldfinch and The Miniaturist.

This year (as every year) I am trying to be more organised with my stitching.  I am involved in a number of SALs and one exchange so far and the SDUCJC2015 challenge in honour of SoCalDebbie who unexpectedly passed away last year. (I am trying to have 59 starts over January/Feb but since Life has got in the way big time, I am going to have to do it over January/Feb/March.  I usually find that I am one of those people who the busier they are usually the more they can achieve!  


Lastly, I wish to have a mystery Giveaway for reading this post.  Well, the same as last year, the mystery is that I have not yet decided what the Gifts will be!  And yes, I said Gifts, because the same as last year, I am going to have two Giveaways: one for Australian bloggy friends and one for Overseas bloggy friends.  So, here are the rules:
  1. You must comment on THIS POST only, telling me that you would like to be entered in the Giveaway.
  2. In your comment, please tell me if you are an Aussie or Overseas bloggy friend and please include your email address and your blog address.
  3. The Giveaway closes on Feb 14th, winners' names will be drawn on  Feb 15th.
So, thanks for visiting, enjoy the Blog Party and good luck for the Giveaway.

hugs, 

49 comments:

Jayne said...

Let me be the first to join your party, I have been following your blog since last years party, I enjoy seeing what everyone is upto.
I would love to be in your giveaway I am from overseas.
jaynenelson@sky.com
wow.jaynesstitchingtales.blogspot.com

DJH said...

Love your post!
You are a busy woman!! So much going on.
I would love to be entered into the giveaway. I am an Overseas bloggy friend who has been following your blog for awhile now.
Have a great day!!

Emma/Itzy said...

Even though I am not taking part in the grow your blog party this year it is always nice to read these posts :)

I have also just sent a request to join the facebook group xx

Ariadne said...

It's so great to be in this this year myself and see so many friends around! I'm so sorry your happiness was suddenly darkened by the death of your FIL. We had a funeral this week too, my brother's FIL died!Anyway I'd love to take part in your giveaway so I am from Greece and here is my e-mail and blog. ariadnesky(at)hotmail(dot)com and http://AriadnefromGreece.blogpost.com
AriadnefromGreece!

Margaret said...

I enjoyed reading this post. I love history too, especially the Tudor period. Loved The Goldfinch and The Miniaturist both! So are you on Goodreads? That's where I go. I don't know about Shelfari. Anyway, it was fun to read your post!

Carm said...

I enjoy reading your blog and looking at all your stitching! I'm an over seas follower. Please enter me in your give-away. Carmie
haircarm@live.com

AnaCristina said...

Hi Kaye! Give me in giveway...I´m overseas....from brazil.
I love your blog!
Thank you for share you life with us.
kisses
:-D


Stitching Noni said...

I just have to join in and wish you a happy blog party... and say please count me into your giveaway :o) Having been a previous winner I know how wonderful they are so how could I not want to join in again this year :o)
It is lovely to see you back posting again after your sad news.... i do hope that you are all ok xx
hugs xx

jhm said...

Kaye
Great Post. I have already written mine and it will appear in about 20 minutes or so. I was not as "talkative" as you though. You don't need to include me in the give-a-way. I "won" the Lizzie kate "Life's a Stitch". from you. Today the first stitched version went towards a quilt that a group of us are doing for a friend and fellow stitcher. In a few days or so I hope to start the 2nd version for me.
Jackie from Indiana

butterfly said...

Great reading your blog Kaye and getting to know you more hugs.

Christine M said...

I always enjoy seeing your beautiful cross stitch projects, Kaye. I'd love to be entered into the draw. As you know, I am from Melbourne. That is a lovely photo of you hugging your new daughter in law.

Roses, Lace and Brocante said...

Hello Kaye

I'm visiting on behalf of Vicki to welcome you to the 2015 GYB party and to thank you for joining in again this year!

I'm in awe of the amount of stitching you have on the go!
The Tudors are a very interesting topic and by the sounds of it will keep you fully occupied for months to come!


Please enter me in your lovely giveaway - a surprise is always lovely!
I'm in NZ - is that counted as overseas?!!!
I'm already one of your followers and I am in a stitching group too - we meet once a fortnight!

Have fun and enjoy the party.

Hugs
Shane

CJ said...

Truly loved your post. I agree with you about blogging being intimate and I also love the on-line friends I have made. I would love to be entered in your giveaway and I live in the US. Have a wonderful day.

CJ

Christine said...

Great post! I do love a mystery, please count me in. I'm in England

Kate said...

Nice to meet you, Kaye, and I enjoyed your post. I'm visiting from Canada and would love to be entered in your giveaway. :)

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Tell me something I don't already know LOL. You are so right about blogging, I really feel that some of my blogging friends are the people who know me the best!

Sheryl said...

Hi Kaye, this blog hop is just what you need to keep your mind off sad recent events. Please enter me in your giveaway, I´m in Spain and perhaps you would like to enter my giveaway too!

Bea said...

Good post Kaye - learned a few new things too. I'll pass on the giveaway - let some new friends have a better chance.

Emily C said...

Hello from Pennsylvania. I would love to be entered into the giveaway.

Roses, Lace and Brocante said...

Hello Kaye

I've noticed you haven't included a link to Vicki's Grow Your Blog Post.
Could I just ask you to do this so that people who visit you and are not participating in the party can still visit Vicki and the other bloggers who are participating.
This is the link to use:
http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.co.nz/2015/01/welcome-to-2015-grow-your-blog-party.html

Thank you so much Kaye!
Good to see you've had lots of comments!
Have fun at the party.
Hugs
Shane
PS - I sent you an email last night.

Phoebe | Lou Messugo said...

Hi Kaye, I'm visiting from the sunny south of France in this lovely blog party. Happy to meet a fellow Australian on Australia Day! I'd love to enter your giveaway.

Mouse said...

hellooo .... I am enjoying bobbing around at this party ... nice to see all the different things about each of you ... working full time is bah humbug to the amount of stitching we can get done doesn't it ...
well you know me ,I am overseas ..lol love mouse xxxx

Linda said...

I am not part of any blog part and I just found your lovely blog today. Beautiful photos. You and I are just two years apart in age. Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada.

Kay said...

Lovely to see you today on the blog hop. I love reading and cross stitch too. I would love to be included in your giveaway and live in England. Happy stitching. x

lynda said...

Hi Kay...I'm already a follower but just wanted to say hi from the blog party. I would love to be entered in your giveaway. I am an overseas blogging friend...my blog addy is
http://acozylittlplaceforstitching.blogspot.com
lyndamarie.a@gmail.com

craftingpaws said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog!
You have a lovely blog and I am envious of all books you are able to read. (I always try to read more, but usually end up falling asleep.) Anyway, I look forward to reading your blog.
Oh, I would love to be entered into your giveaway. I am an overseas (USA) friend.

Brigitte said...

So nice to read this blog party post about you. YEs, working full time is not really helping with one's stitching time, but it helps with your stash enhancement, lol.

Gill said...

Lovely to meet you!
As a Tudor lover too I'm sure you would enjoy Wolf Hall which is being shown on TV here in the UK
Please count me in your giveaway!

KimM said...

Hi, Kaye! Fancy meeting you here ;0) This is my first GYB party and I'm having a blast. -er - you know I'm a follower as we're SFFs. You know I love your blog and vivacious/creative self. Please don't include me in your giveaway. Hugs from across the pond -

Thoeria said...

Oh Kaye.....I'm so sorry to read about your dear FIL's passing {{HUGS}} I know you loved him deeply
Congratulations on the wedding :) I
ve been offline a bit so missed all the posts.....will have to go back and catch up!

Cheri the Quilting Nanny said...

Visiting from GYB...and now following! I'd love to be in the giveaway "hat"! I am in California USA. I look forward to hearing about your life's travels. I know I will never make it to Australia..but it is one place I have always thought I would like to go...so...I'll let your blog take me there! I love learning about other countries from people like me..just ordinary everyday kind of folks!
Cheri, the quilting nanny
quiltingnanny(at)yahoo(dot)com

Sue Kosec said...

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

Peggy said...

I'm a new Bloglovin follower - found you on the Grow your Blog hop.
I live in Florida. Nice to meet you.
Peggy
peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

Heather said...

Hi Kaye! I'm visiting via GYB from Illinois, USA. I would love to be entered into your giveaway. Now I'm off to find out more about the SDUJCU2015 group you are involved in! What Is it? I'm curious! Off to see if I can find the answer!

Heather said...

Oh, and my email address is gunterheather at yahoo dot com

Sue Kosec said...

Thanks for the gentle nudge, Kaye ... somehow I forgot to answer your questions.

YES! please include me in the giveaway chance. I'd love to have something from you clear over here in Texas!!!

Thanks again!
SuZeQ

Linda H said...

Hello Kaye
Dropping by on the GYB party, waving hello from snowy cold eastern Canada - a long ways away! Yes please include me in the giveaway draw, and pop by to enter mine as well at Stitch Lines.

Lija Broka said...

Hi Kaye, tell me about it! work! I am averaging at about 60 per week at the moment and absolutely loving it (minus the pain ... I had to have some serious mirror inspections to see if my shoulder was inflamed ... not sure if it is as I can barely see after staring at the computer for so long). Anyhow January almost over. How is the Miniaturist? Any good? I bought it recently on impulse (it was rather cheap at the time). Still need to find the time to start. I am also attempting to read several books at the moment (well hem I think it is four but one can't be sure). The latest is 'Cat out of hell' by Lynne Truss ... it is meant to be comic, but in my opinion is more of a horror story (not too gruesome). Can't wait till weekend (when I hopefully will have some time to visit the blog party participants at the moment only visiting people who I already know). I would absolutely love to enter your giveaway (and come over for mine ... I am UK). Sorry in advance if you have already visited ... I was planning on answering people once the January craziness is over ... just blowing the steam off before bed.

Cathy said...

I'm following you on Bloglovin. Please add my name to your hat. I'm in California, USA and my blog is stitchinggrandmacathy.blogspot.com.
Congratulations on your son's marriage and commiserations on the passing of your FIL.

Judy Cooper Textile Artist said...

HI, I'm a textile artist, visiting, via GYB, from St. John's, NL Canada. Nice to meet you. I'm enjoying my visit to your blog .

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Nice to meet you! I enjoyed seeing your little furry house guest in your previous post - our tuxedo cat Cosmo now is living with our son and his wife after DH suddenly developed allergies. I miss him, but know I can visit him anytime I want. Thank you for having us over for a visit. Oh - and I live in southern Ontario in Canada and would love to be included in your giveaway.

Joyce Carter said...

Hello Kaye. I am visiting you from Georgia USA and I would love to be included in your giveaway. Thank you so much.

Brigitte said...

Lovely blog post, Kaye. And you are so right about blogging, it is something intimate and after a while of reading blogs you get the feeling that you really know the people whose posts you regularly read.

Linda said...

Oh my goodness Kaye. I can't believe that I didn't comment on this post. I loved learning a little more about you.

I hope everything is okay - you haven't posted in a week.

I would love to be entered in your giveaway but I don't remember where I live. LOL

xoxo
Linda

Jessica said...

Hi Kaye! I am very slowly making my way through the GYB Party! Thank you for commenting on my blog. I am now following you, I think I have been here before, but then I stopped stitching for awhile. Now I am back at it! hugs, Jessica

Jessica said...

Whoops! Forgot to say that I am in USA~California! My blog and email are in my profile.

Arianna M. said...

I'm so sorry for your loss! I live in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Annette-California said...

I enjoyed your post. I do enjoy reading,learning and all movies about the Tudor times. What a emotional times for you. Sending you hugs and encouragement to keep getting through everyday.
I'm in California, USA. My blog & email are in my profile. I would love to be entered for your giveaway. I know that my blogging friends & our community of stitcher's are a blessing!!!
love Annette

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Visiting from the GYB hop, I don't do a lot of stitching anymore, mostly I quilt, sew, cook, stamp and read. Just an aside, I find that your side bars background make it hard to read your sidebar notes. I see some books there, are those linked to reviews? A bit hard to see. Anyway, enjoyed visiting! Thanks for the opportunity to be in your givaway.

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