This year is off to a flying start! People everywhere seem to be joining quilt swaps, block swaps and challenges such as blogging or drawing! PayItForwards are popular too. I’d heard that the Chinese Year for 2014 was the year of the Horse. I’d also heard that it meant major change or challenges, and that if you weren’t challenged then you would be sitting right where you are 10 years from now! While that information may be incorrect, it certainly applies to many around me. I can’t help but think that 2014 was a terrible year for many. I know in my circle it was a tough year. Perhaps that’s why there is so much determination to be awesome this year! I’m no exception, (at being determined that is..) I’ve joined up to make an Aussie Hero a quilt, as a sign of respect and support for those in the services which is also my version of PayItForward. I’m in a creative challenge, a blogging challenge and I also came across the Grow My Blog challenge. I manage a facebook group Textile Art Collective, which shares info and creations and has a PlayDayInMay, which can be a Doodle a Day, a photo a day or Play Each Day. I run 2Sew with my friend Sue Duffy (and awesome quilter!) and I have a page for Addicted to Fabric on facebook, and I’m very proud to say I have a piece travelling in an incredible exhibition titled “Living Colour” at the moment. Phew! 🙂
Grow Your Blog : Australia Day (Rhymes with GiveAway!)
Everyone who has a blog is invited —
this is an international event.
Wherever you live~you are invited to party with us.
Organised by Vicki at 2BagsFull, the aim of the Grow Your Blog party is simple – we blog and get to visit the blogs of like minded people and today is the day. Which is awesome because it’s Australia Day as well, or at least it will be when the rest of the world wakes up to post!
I’m a Textile Artist and I love it! It means I get to use paints, threads, fabric, dyes, stencils, inks, and all manner of things to make my art, which usually takes the form of Art Quilts. I’ve written some articles that were published in Down Under Textiles. I’m currently madly trying to finish pieces for an exhibition in April, and the best part of all is that I get to play (& eat) with wonderful ladies in my art group, Reddy Arts Textile Group once a month!
What are you up to this year? What’s going to make it special for you?
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GIVE-AWAY!
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To share the love and as a way of saying thanks for visiting, I’m giving away some textile items that you can use in your own creative endeavours! To be eligible, just leave a comment on this post and I will randomly draw the prize and announce it in February. Postage is included.
The give-away includes:
6″x8″ Fabric print of “flash” which can be made into a pin cushion, a mini cushion or perhaps a journal cover.
Dyed Silk Cording that can be used as embellishment or make tassels, book wrap cords or Page Markers.
A Peacock fabric covered button that could embellish a journal, clothing or a bag.
Fabric Shells. These have been treated with textile medium and are not washable, but they can be repainted or dyed a colour to suit. They are great for decoration, bag embellishment or to attach to a beachy art quilt.
and because it’s Australia Day, a 16″x21″ piece of Indigenous designed quilting cotton. Called Mungungalyi by Nutex.
Happy creating and thanks for visiting and don’t forget to click on that FOLLOW button if you are likeminded!
I wish you all the best in 2015 and beyond…
Brenda xx
I’m waiting for Living Colour to open in Auckland next week, and even more delighted to be able to see one of your pieces in real time. Congratulations on your work being in this exhibition.
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Oh, u live in Auckland! I used to live there for awhile… The exhibition was lovely in person. Some of the ones that looked uneventful in print were incredible in the details! I’d live to hear what you think after seeing it!
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Going to go some time Saturday 31st – will let you know. Love Always
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I loved the Living Colour Exhibition. Congratulations again on your work being accepted. The curating was incredible with each work, silently speaking to those around it, while still standing in independence. I hope you will get an opportunity to see it. We spent two hours looking at the 32 works – finding similarities and focus on different aspects. I was really taken by the composition of backgrounds, the many and varied painting techniques used across many of the works, and the incredible stitching details that drew me in to colour palettes that don’t usually resonate with me. I’ve got some photo’s of it that I could share with you through dropbox if you would like to see. I don’t think I photographed everything – but captutred the ones I was intrigued by and some gallery images showing the overall hanging. Let me you if you’d like to see. (veronicahhampton@yahoo.com)
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Great post Brenda – and a great giveaway! Hope I’m lucky!
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I will cross my fingers for you Kate!
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Hi Brenda. Great to learn a little about you. I’ve seen articles on the Living Colour exhibition and it looks fantastic. Congratulations on having a piece in it. Cheers, Tracy
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Thanks Tracy, I felt very honoured to be accepted!
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That cat pincushion is great! You’ve got a lovely blog.
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Thanks for visiting! your piecing is wonderful!
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What amazing work, love it! It’s been so much fun to meet you. 🙂
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And to meet you Grandma Gail,
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Good morning, Brenda – nice to meet you! I live in the mountains of Idaho and blog over at Mountain Quiltworks. What a fun blog hop to get to know others! What an adorable pin cushion! And all those embellishments just get the creative juices flowing. Have fun, and stop by if you have a minute.
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I will definitely visit!
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What a great assortment of goodies. I love the fabric that looks like “hooked rugs” I love to “Hook”, and the shells are especially nice. Thanks,
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Wow! Hooking is awesome! I once tried it as a kid, but didn’t have the patience!
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Kathy what is your blog ?
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Blog hopping with “Grow Your Blog”. Its so great to meet you. Wishing you the best!!
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Thanks Cindy, lovely to meet you too!
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Cindy which is your blog please ? your click sends me to facebook to a random
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Hi Brenda! On behalf of Vicki @ 2 Bags Full, welcome to the 2015 Grow Your Blog hop! Great giveaway, and I hope you have a lovely day!
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Great blog ! lovely colour! following with interest!
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Hi I am visiting from eastern South Dakota! Thanks for the chance to be a winner:)
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You’re welcome Julie! I’m going to google Sth Dakota later 😉
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Love art quilts. Often think about trying my hand at it but know i don’t have the patience for the detail work. Such a lovely quilt I see you working on. Perfect time for your giveaway – my birthday!
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I hope you had a great birthday Diane. You will have to give art quilts a try! Patience is not always required! Lol, sometimes a free spirited burst of enthusiasm is just the right touch to making art!
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Hi! Visiting from Grow Your Blog. So glad to have found your lovely creations! Amazing quilts! We have some Australian design cloth in our quilt shops here and it is so colorful and vibrant! I am a novice quilter and am so inspired by your work! Glad to have found your blog! A new follower… Rhonda
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Thanks for the lovely comment Rhonda ! Aren’t we all lucky to have a hobbie that brings people together!
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How fun to wander over here via the GYB party and get a peek into your wonderful world.
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It is fun isn’t it Deborah, I’m still on the blog train! 🙂
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I was very impressed with your blog and how great it was that you are working on an Aussie Hero quilt. I wish we did something similar in the States. I’m sure real quilters like yourself probably have done it, but I’ve never read about it.
I thought the cat print was REAL when I first saw it, then realized it could be turned into a pin cushion.
http://alteredbooklover.blogspot.com/2015/01/grow-your-blog-blog-hop-event.html
but be aware, my e-mail is not working properly.
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Thank you for visiting! America does wonderful quilts for injured soldiers, I know of two – quilts of valour and hero quilts. They are for soldiers coming home effected by the war…
Thanks for stopping by! Xx
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I love your positive attitude! Sounds like a fun quilt group to be in too. I’m visiting from the GYB hop.
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Thanks for visiting! I’m loving his challenge! Still!
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What a great giveaway! Thank you for the chance!
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Glad you like the giveaway! I wish you luck!
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Hello from New York. I wanted to say your work it gorgeous, and I love the cat pin cushion!
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Hello New Yorker! Thanks for visiting! I’m still finding new and wonderful blogs to follow! Xx
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Just stopped by and am impressed by your work!
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Thanks Alexis, what a lovely comment! Xx
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Hello from Canada ! I’m trying to visit as many bloggers as possible with GYB Party today. Great stuff !
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Hello Canadian! I’m still trying to get around to them all! Lol it’s great fun isn’t it!
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Hello Brenda! I’m a dollmaker so textiles is a must! Also my one and only sister Is Brenda! Jan
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Then your sister must be lovely! :-)) thanks for visiting!
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Very pretty things you’ve added to your give-away…very creative and unique! My plans for the new year (the first month is almost gone….ack!) is to make a table runner for each major holiday. I’d love to have one in the cabinet ready to pull out to celebrate a few weeks in advance. So far, I’m not doing so well on this plan as Valentine’s Day is just a few weeks away and my job is keeping me exhausted!
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Hope your job is letting up! It’s a pain having to keep food on the table isn’t it! Lol, why can’t we just get paid for sewing! 🙂 I look forward to seeing your table runners!
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What beautiful fabric shells!
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Thanks Sarah!
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Visiting from St. John’s, NL, Canada via Grow Your Blog. I’m trying to visit as many bloggers as I can. Thanks for the giveaway.
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Thanks for visiting! I’m still trying to get to all the GYBers!
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Wow – those items will certainly stimulate anyone’s creativity! Visiting from Sunny Alabama!
mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com
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thanks for visiting form sunny BRISBANE! Xx
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Great post & giveaway Brenda! Hope 2015 brings good things for you.
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..thank you Linda. Best wishes to you in return! Thanks for visiting!
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Greetings from the Pacific Northwest! I enjoyed visiting your blog and am a new G+ follower. The cat pincushion is great! The best cat I have ever had was a tuxedo cat!
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Thanks for following I’m new to G+ but finding it fun! I will have to look up a Tuxedo cat! I’ve never heard that term!
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A hahah! I have a tuxedo cat! Well I’ve learnt something new today! Thanks!
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Thank you for your lovely blog!
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Thanks for visiting Jenna.
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Hope you had a wonderful Australia Day and am thrilled to have found you, I reckon we may well think alike lol
Am following by email : )
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Thanks for visiting, I did have a great day and got to fly the flag with great friends! Following in return!
I think you are right! 😉 we are alike!
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Linie, what is your blog? If i click your name I only get to Gravatar. can’t seem to find you from there!sorry
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The give away is very generous…thanks for the chance.
Poor cat!!!
You have a great blog.thanks
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Don’t worry, he didn’t feel a thing! Lol thanks for visiting!
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Great to meet you Brenda – I’m visiting from England
I love what I see and I’ve signed up to follow you!!
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Thanks Buntyw! Isn’t it great that we have all come together and not restricted by geography! Xx
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I don;t know if I could stick a pin in the kitty! but it’s very cute. And what imaginative ideas you have for giveaways. I hope Australia Day went well for you! was that the reason for the fireworks at the Australian Open?
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Yes I think so! We don’t get to use them privately here, so if there is an event and an excuse we like to light up the sky!
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Good luck getting ready for you upcoming show. I know how crazy it can get when you’re trying to finish up work and all of the last minute details that crop up. I enjoyed looking through your blog and thanks for stopping by mine! Susan
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Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a lovely comment. It was great visiting your blog and your Giveaway items are just gorgeous!! Love your kitty cat…beautiful…and quite at home amongst all those lovely items! lol
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The shells are gorgeous! (so is everything else, but I especially love the shells 😀 )
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Ah! A woman after my own heart! I thought I’d put a mix of things in so that hopefully something appealed to someone! Xx glad you like the shells!
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I’m so happy to have found your blog via the Grow Your Blog hop! I’m from NYC but have managed to visit Australia/Tasmania four times over the last 8 years. I truly love it there. I visited Hervey Bay, Byron Bay, and Tasmania. If I could I’d move there!
I’m an artist and am trying to perfect my knitting, embroidery, and other fabric work in my spare time. I can’t wait to see what other treasures your great blog has to share!
– afistfuloflemons @ gmail.
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How cool is that! I’ve travelle to NYC twice and love it too! So vibrant! So much history everywhere!
I will be watching your blog with delight! Thanks for visiting! Xx
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Hello Brenda…we’re almost neighbours, I live just over the border in Murwillumbah. I’ve seen and admired your work in Down Under Textiles so feel like I know you. Great giveaway, love the kitty pincushion idea. Your blog’s great, very energetic and vibrant, I’m going to follow!
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Thanks Nanette! You’ll have to check out this edition of DUT too! My art group is in there! Thanks for following!
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Thanks Nanette! Sorry quick response and the long reply time! I’ve been head down trying to finish some more articles and exhibition pieces!
You have such a great blog! Very natural and interesting ! I’m following via blogger! Xx
We are nearly neighbours
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Hello Brenda, nice to meet you at GYB-Party… the cat on the fabric looks like one of my black-white cats! 🙂
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Hello Knettycraft, thanks for stopping by! I didn’t realise till a blogger made a comment that b&w cats like this are called a Tuxedo cats!
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I would love to win Flash… He’s exactly like my boy Philly! .. The other items are gorgeous as well. . 🙂
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Looks like so much fun. I love your blog. Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks !
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Had a lot of problems finding information on seo tips
google places, glad I came across this though…so helpful
Grow Your Blog : Australia Day (Rhymes with GiveAway!) – The newest addition to my RSS feed
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Thanks Daniele, it’s always nice to hear positive feedback! Xx
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