Saturday, January 25, 2014

Welcome to "Grow Your Blog" 2014

Welcome to each of you who are here to visit, make new friends and to grow your own blogs! We have almost 500 blogs participating in this second international blogging event.  I am so very excited to once again host this "party" and to provide you all with the opportunity to help make your blogging experiences more rewarding~

For those of you who do not know me~~

Photo taken at the Montreal Botanical Gardens
"Chinese Lantern Festival"
I'm a lover of yarn -- actually it's an obsession. Well,let's just say that if there was a 12 step program for yarn addictions, I would have to be there!  The colors and textures fascinate me. My husband and I have been blessed to be able to travel the world -- and for me that includes visiting yarn shops everywhere we go~

~when you are obsessed with yarns and your craft room is overflowing -- you need to find a project. My love for yarns is more than just the textures,~ I am in love with the knots and tangles-- for me it is the way the colors mesh together so beautifully and the way each fiber seems to tell it's own special and unique story. When I am not knitting -- this is what I do with my beautiful yarns~ 

(you can read more about my nests on the sidebar of my blog)

or sometimes I do THIS~




yarn shopping in Montreal, Canada



Blogging has changed my life. When I first started blogging, I had no idea that I would meet people from all over the world and that we would form friendships that are so very special to me. I remember when I first started my blog and I had NO followers.  I desperately wanted to reach out and bring people to my blog -- but I did not know how.  Some wonderful bloggers went out of their way to help me~ their efforts rewarding me in so many ways, that still, to this day, I am so very grateful for their help. Thank you again dear Lynn and Dawn~xoxo

This party is my way of giving back to the world of blogging. I will never forget what it was like to go for almost a year with 3 Followers.  In most cases it is not "cool" to say "please follow my blog"-- but this party is THE exception. This is your unique opportunity to Meet and to FOLLOW and to GROW your blogs.

~~ 

Some notes in reference to the blogs that are participating~

1. the blogs are listed in categories based on the number of Google Followers that are shown on their blogs. (If you do not have Follower gadget then I used the number that you gave me when you signed up.) I have made small (random) divisions in each catagory so that it will be easier for you to keep your place on the list as you visit the blogs.

2. if you are participating in this party and there is an issue with your own blog that needs to be corrected -- I am here all day.  Just send me an email and I will correct it ASAP.  Don't panic -- just email me~~ You can email me at
vboster1@windstream.net

3. This post will stay up indefinitely -- after a while I will place a link to this post on my sidebar.  So don't feel as though you need to quickly make it through all of these blogs -- you can take as long as you wish -- last year's party post is still on my sidebar and continues to get visits. To this date the 2013 Grow Your Blog party post is my all time most visited post -- those blogs are continuing to get new readers and followers:)

4.  If you find blogs that have "forgotten" to participate properly in the party --- don't worry.  I have a wonderful group of volunteers who will be helping me to visit every blog the first day. I will delete those blogs who are not properly participating -- so please allow me 24 hours to make that right. 

5. Those of  you who are hosting a giveaway on your blogs -- please remember to make the drawing on February 15.  There should be no requirements of any kind to win the giveaway -- and the contest must be open to everyone regardless of where they live.   ~My own giveaway will be shown at the end of this post~

 6. In loading in these blogs I noticed that many of you still do NOT have a Follower gadget, or email sign up -- or any way for folks to sign up to follow you.  If you are one of these folks -- I would urge you to add something to your blogs so that your new friends can sign up to continue to follow you. Without that availability on your blogs -- this may be a disappointing party for you. (and we want everyone to have fun!!)  

7. and lastly~~ please try to remember what it was like to be a new blogger.  Please show support to those blogs who have only a few followers and if possible offer inspiration and advice if asked to do so.   Those of you who are listed in the  "LESS THAN 50 FOLLOWERS" category -- this party is truly FOR YOU!!  (because I will always remember how hard it was to struggle for Followers -- and my desire is to help you get a better start with your blogs.  It's just no fun if you think no one is out there for you!)  Perhaps you might try to show great support to each other within this catagory so that you can more quickly
Grow your blogs~


A loving THANK YOU to my friend 
for the unending support and encouragement
that she gives to me - always~
and for creating this beautiful badge for the party!
(without her help -- I'm just a fool sitting in front of a computer!)
xoxo

Grow your Blog 2014 participants
~~


Less than 50 Followers

1.
Musings of the Puppet Lady
my meller
Needle Arts on Paper
Nonnie's Observations
One Creative Cat
Patching Pixies
Piece*Love*Quilt
Peg's Place
Pepsi Max addict

 ***************
8.
Petite Armoire
Pickles Quilting
Pieces of My Heart
Pinnylea Creations
Pookledo
Plum Hollow
Purrfect Lady Muses
Purple Cobwebs
Putting the Pieces Together
Quilt Paradigm
Quilted Chocolate
Quilter's Playhouse

 ***************
9.
Rai Rai's Stitches
Ramblings of a quilter
Rambling Prose
Reconstructed Fabulousness
Red Door Quilts
Scene by Minerva
Scrappy Pieces
Seams To Be Sew
Sew Knit Create

 ***************
10.
Sew Much and More
Sew we go
Sewing After Seven
Shabby Royale
Shauna's World
shhdesigns
Shroo's World
Slightly Off Quilter
Smelly Nelly
Spices up your Life!
Spruce It Up Quilting


***************
11.
Steam Fairie Craft
Stitches and Seeds
Stitchings of a Raving Lunatic
Susan's Scrappy Domain
Susan Studio Arts
Susie's World
Tangle Street Studio
Tanya Quilts in CO
Tasty Textiles
Teacups and Toadstools

 ***************
12.
thebeautifulmatters
The Baul Crochet and Loom
The Country Witch's Cottage
The Crafthopper
the east coast desi
The Drowsy Bee
The Invisible Piper
The 7 Pillars Home
The Phantom Zucchini
The Polka Dot Chicken
The Ravell'd Sleave of Care
The Writer's Pipe
This Country Life
Through a Glass, Darkly

 ***************
13.
Tidbits and Treasures
Time 4 Tea and Cake
Todolwen (new blog)
Tosty's Quilting Tidbits
Val's Quilting Studio
View From the Teapot
Viv's Crazy Quilting Journey
Walk The Wheel
Wendy's Quilts and More
Wired Nan



Kathy In Ozarks Pages 
Katie's Salt Marsh Path
Kluless
Knitalatte
Silver Nik Nats


201-500 Followers



A huge thank you to my "party helpers"
who have assisted me in reading all of your blogs,
(checking that your links all work, and that everyone is participating properly --
making this the best of experiences for everyone.)

 Last year's event was huge -- but this years party -- is even bigger! 
There is NO way that in this first day I can possible visit almost 500 blogs --
(I work full time, have a busy life, play with my Grandbabies, and 
I'm in the middle of nesting season!)
~~
I will be by to visit each and everyone of you - but please understand
 that it might actually take me a couple of months! 
~~
These wonderful folks will be visiting you all this morning on my behalf --
they are all listed above in their respective catagories --
but you can meet them all again- here in this space~

 Maureen -- (Victorian Studio)
Elizabeth --(Sew in Love)
Kathy--(Kathy in Ozarks Pages)
Loreena -- (my way of...)
Shanna -- (Sparrow in Flight)
Shirley-- (Shirley Stitches)
Karen-- (Todolwen)
Karen -- (Cotton Spice)
Kristen -- (Meadowbrook) 
Marjorie-- (Marjorie's Busy Corner)
Beth -- (E Lizard Breath Speaks)
Lorraine-- (Colour Complements)
Pat -- (Life in the Scrapatch)
Shannon --(Around the Homestead)
Patty--(My Mountain Blessings)
Melody-- (The House on the Side of the Hill)
Marcheterre--(Comptonia)
Linda-- (Crafty Gardener)
Andrea --(My Everything Corner)
Monique-- (A Half Baked Notion)
Valerie - (Val's Quilting Studio)
Tanya -- (Bead and Needle)
Silke - (Metamorphosis)
Angie -- (A Quilting Reader's Garden)
Marti -- Aunt Marti and 52 Quilts 
Suzy --(Suziqusthreadworks)
Sandra -- (Thistle Cove farm)

 My Giveaways for the party~


This year's giveaway prize allows me to support my friend and Author Karen Gass.  Karen (who is also participating in this event) has written a series of books that will touch your heart.  Everyday people -- faced with everyday challenges -- a series of books that bring faith and encouragement into the lives of each of us who read her beautiful stories.  Karen is donating 2 autographed sets of her Morningshine series books. You can find Karen at her blog
 Cotton Spice-- and you can read more about her books here. 


and---


once again I am sharing some wonderful sweet treats from my favorite lady bakers -- these cookies will be shipped freshly baked to the home of one of my lucky blog readers.  These are one of my very favorite cookies and I wanted to share them with you~
~~~
the drawing for prizes
will be held on February 15~
the winners names will be announced 
on that date
HERE.
~~

 UPDATE FEBRUARY 15-
1. the winner of the cookie selection is
Nicole from My Garden Diaries. 

 2.  the winners of the books written by my friend Karen Gass
are Bird from Bird's Earthly Spirit
and also

This contest is now CLOSED.



Thank you for visiting here and participating in this year's
 Grow Your Blog party~~
~~
a most heartfelt welcome
to those of you who have signed on as Followers
and wish to spend a little more time with me
here at my blog
2 Bags Full~ 
xoxo
Vicki


If you would like to follow me on my Facebook page ~
you can find me here~
Posted by Vicki Boster at Saturday, January 25, 2014

225 comments:

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Amber Lyon Ferguson said...

Hello is it too late to join? I have been looking for something like this for a while! What a wonderful idea. I am checking out some of the newer blogs this week!

Amber @ junkaholicsunanimous.blogspot

Sunday, February 02, 2014
Lija Broka said...

Thank you so much for hosting this event! I do understand how you felt with those 3 followers (as do most bloggers here most likely). One of huge issues I faced (even more that having limited followers) was getting into the crafty community ... how would one find all those blogs to read? Random blog blogger clicking used to make me go insane! I found quite a few good friends on here last year. Hope this year will be as fruitful.

Monday, February 03, 2014
Anne said...

Wow! What an amazing venture you have started! Too bad I missed the ...next year for sure! I'll still visit people though and join their blogs since I know what it was like too back when I started!!

Monday, February 03, 2014
Karrie said...

OOh! That book looks so good! Thanks for the chance to win! ksmith8@emich.edu

Monday, February 03, 2014
Cache-Mire said...

Vicki, I can't believe I forgot to thank you for this awesome party! I got so excited trying to visit more than 500 blogs that everything else was put aside. So THANK YOU for creating this lovely experience.
Hugs and Blessings,
Terri

Tuesday, February 04, 2014
Osage Bluff Quilter said...

I found you from Kathy in the Ozarks. So much reading for me now! Thanks!

Tuesday, February 04, 2014
deborah lyn said...

Hi Vicki - I really appreciate all your work to put on the Grow Your Blog Party!! Thank you! I want you to know I'm having a great time meeting new friends, becoming their follower and having followers added to my Blog! Wonderful event! I am your new follower too. Thank you again. Best, deborah I am at: http://deborahstanleyinspirations.blogspot.com/ maybe you would like to be my follower too.

Tuesday, February 04, 2014
~ Toni ~ said...

Vicki thank you so much for organizing this event once again. I am having so much fun visiting all the different blogs as much as I am thrilled to see the number of my followers increasing by three times at this writing. Thank You, Thank You!!! What a wonderful gift you are offering for your giveaway. Have a splendid day, Toni

Wednesday, February 05, 2014
♥Cherie♥ said...

Hi Vicki,
How exciting! This is a lot of effort that you take besides working full time and all the mundane house chores... Thank you for doing this..

I am so excited to jump right in and meet wonderful bloggers like yourself.
Ruth @Shabby Chic Crochet

Thursday, February 06, 2014
Elita@Busy Needle Quilting said...

Vicki, thank you, thank you, thank you! For your time & generosity and bringing us all together in a fantastic party! Big hugs to you & all of your sweet helpers!

http://www.busyneedle.ch

Monday, February 10, 2014
Nilde said...

Hello Vicki, I am Nilde, from Venezuela, I would like to be in this party but I don´t understand so much what I have to do to participe, I think this is a great idea, and I am going to post this in this moment, sorry for my english if it has mistakes, thanks you1

Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Jeanne Gwin said...

I am really enjoying this. I am a bit slow to get around to seeing blogs each day but I see you are leaving it up indef. Like that. Thanks for a chance to win your giveaway.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Dasha said...

Oh my Goodness! I was so busy going through the list of blogs, I didn't realise that there was more of YOUR post past that humongous list. I must thank you for organising this. For me, and for most of the others it has been hugely successful. I have gone from 12 followers + 3 via email to 42 followers + 12 via email. Lots of traffic and lots of comments. I have found some lovely blogs to follow myself. So thank you, and bless you for organising this. Dasha

Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Linda H said...

Vicki, this GYB Party has been SO much fun. I have gained a number of new followers plus have found so many new wonderful blogs to follow myself. I can't thank you enough for doing this and I will certainly participate if you decide to do it again another year. I know and appreciate how much work and time you have put into it. "Thank you" hardly seems sufficient!

Friday, February 14, 2014
Diann said...

What an enormous undertaking this must have been. You did a great job.

Friday, February 14, 2014
prince snow farm said...

It has been such fun! Thanks so much!

Friday, February 14, 2014
LesleyAnn said...

Thank you for the party. I've had a nice time with it. I've still not visited all the sites but I will ...

Saturday, February 15, 2014
Bird said...

Wow! Thank you so much! I can't believe I won one of the books that you were giving away. I can't wait to sit down with it with a cup of tea and read through it. Thank you,
Bird

Sunday, February 16, 2014
Foxhollow Studio said...

Just wanted to thank you for hosting this event. It opened the opportunity for me to find so many new blogs as well as open up my blog to the world. What a wonderful idea you had! Thank you again. I look forward to next year!
Teresa
www.foxhollowstudio.com

Sunday, February 16, 2014
Wendy said...

Hi Vickie,

i have just finished working my way through the list and realised I hadn't left a comment for you! How rude of me, my apologies. Thanks so much for organising this hop, I have found so many new blogs and have loads of new followers so thanks so much! I look forward to next year...

Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Mom E. said...

Vicki,
Thanks again, So much for this wonderful opportunity to meet new bloggers. I am so happy to get to be the winner of the book series, autographed and everything! It sounds like a series I will love! You are so generous with your time and your heart! Your hard work bebefits so many bloggers. My life has been blessed by your efforts! Thank you, Thank you! I emailed you back!
Hugs,
Betsy!

Saturday, February 22, 2014
a maidenhair fern said...

This is a fascinating concept. I'm joining the party late, I hope there are still some refreshments. Any chance I can be added on? I have 176 followers.
http://amaidenhairfern.blogspot.com/
Looking forward to meeting everyone. Thank you.

Saturday, March 08, 2014
Cathy Kennedy said...

Is it too late to join in on the fun? Last fall, I moved from on blogger blog to another. That's like starting all over again, number-wise. And, now I have done it yet again. However, this time I'm using WP as my blogging platform. A decision that I have toyed with for 3-years. At the moment, I have LinkyFollwers, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, & Linkin as a way to follow. I'm still changing up things on my blog to make it easier for others to connect with me. Hopefully, I won't scare anyone off with the arranging/re-arranging that I am doing. lol Here's hoping I'm not too late to join in. Have a good day! ;) Curious as a Cathy

Thursday, March 20, 2014
Anonymous said...

Vicki, when I first visited your page for Karen's party this weekend, I promised myself to stop by again and take a look at Grow Your Blog. What a wonderful blog party idea. I hope I can remember to participate if you host another next year. I have blogged for over four years, but switched pages and URL a few times until I finally felt comfortable with what I'm doing now. That in itself can lower our stats, but I'm very grateful for the few strong blogging friendships I've formed along the way.
I look forward to visiting so I've added you to my blogroll.
Much love!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Jacqueline Frances said...

Hi there Vicki,
I have just found your blog and noticed you have this 'grow your blog event' for January 2015. Would you be able to let me know how to apply for this? I have 83 followers and write a blog primarily about quilting and embroidery.
By the way, I also used to live in Montreal, but have been back home on the West Coast for 20+ years!
Anyway, please do take a moment to let me know about the 2015 event.
With many thanks.
Quilty Huggs,
Jacqueline

Monday, November 10, 2014
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