Saturday, January 25, 2014

Grow Your Blog

Thank you to Vicki from 2 Bags Full for this wonderful idea to meet new friends.  




Why blog?  I had never even heard of blogging until I started my online fabric store. My little brother was a computer nerd/techie and he suggested I start a blog to promote my business. That was in 2008 and I am still going strong.  He is not with me anymore but he would always say how proud he was of my business and blogging. He would tease "for a soccer Mom, you sure know a lot about computers!"
It was true. I started to blog about fabric., hence my blog name Jane's Fabrics but I love to use those fabrics so Jane's Fabrics and Quilts was born.

It was a slow start. I would blog hop, leave comments and find others with common interests. I am a little OCD about organization so I decided to host several swaps. They were very successful and I saw my blog grow. I would host giveaways and I saw my blog grow. I got involved in quilt alongs and saw my blog grow. I did blog hops and saw my blog grow.
I joined flickr groups and saw my blog grow. 
Many of the original bloggers I first connected with are still in my life. Many wonderful friendships have come from blogging. Some bloggers have come in and out of my life. But all have helped to make my blog what it is today. What started out as a business opportunity turned into a joy.
I have learned more about my craft in these years of blogging that all the 30+ years of quilting before.
I even print my blog yearly.  It is a chronicle on my life.  I share me.  I share graduations, College choices, Weddings, showers, new grand-babies and of course my quilting.
The business side is still there but now my blog has become my diary of sorts. Things I would tell my next door neighbor while we talked by our backyard fence  

(google image)

And that is what I do, I get up, pour a cup of jo' and check out my blogs!

About me, Let's see, my name is Jane. I have been married for 36 years. I have three daughters. My oldest, married, high school teacher, husband principal at the same school. They have my two grand-babies and a third due in June.
My middle, married, finishing her PHD this year and on her way to being a Professor.
Our third, senior in High School and on her way to Grinnell College in the fall.
I learned to sew from my Mother. I could make blouses with covered buttons, lined jackets and "hot pants" but once my first baby was due I tried my hand at making a baby quilt. That was 30+ years ago.  Love bloomed and has never left.  I probably could not make a blouse even if I wanted to!
I love to hand piece. The machine and I get bored.  Last year I hand pieced and had quilted my favorite quilt of all time...

My Katie...King Size




I also hand pieced and hand quilted this Christmas Quilt.  I did quilt her in circles but I afraid you cannot tell with the print. 



I afraid I only hand quilt (no idea how to machine quilt) and I did this Zig Zag one with Presencia Thread.  My youngest daughter grabbed that one right up!




I just finished My Quilty Barn all hand Pieced and getting ready to be quilted.



I also joined "The friendship Swap" posted on my side-bar where I have met some of the kindest ladies. This is the block we are working on with a color scheme my partner and I choose.  Each month we make the same block in different colors from our color choices.




This is what I am working on at the moment. Again, hand piecing.






I also love to embroider and just finished a "For The Love of Hand Embroidery Series." Every Monday I would have a guest blogger share their love of embroidery. It was amazing, the talent these ladies shared. Take a peek at some of those posts, listed on my side-bar, you will be glad you did!

I may not get as much done as I would like but I enjoy every minute of what I do.

My point is whether you have 12 or 1000 followers if you enjoy what you do and share "you" that is what really counts.
I thank you for reading my story and I hope you come back and look around and visit! I have so much I would like to share!

Speaking of sharing! How about some Fabric, hexies, and thread! I will send one winner a surprise pack!  You do not need to follow, just leave me a comment. International bloggers welcome. Sorry no-reply comments will be deleted. I know some of you like being a no-reply if that is you, just leave an email.

Thank you and enjoy all the new blogs today!

Click HERE to see the list of 500+ blogs that are participating!!

84 comments:

  1. I am so impressed by the lovely quilts you make - all by hand! Are you doing your friendship blocks by hand too?

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  2. OK, I did not realize you only hand pieced as well as hand quilted. See I can learn something new. I love to do both, but I do love my machines, too.

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  3. I did some hand piecing and hand quilting at first, getting more confident on my little sewing machine. Follow you on Bloglovin. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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  4. Hi Jane, already a follower of yours and have been for a while. Nice to know a little bit more about you and your family. Love the quilts and all hand quilted! I must admit I have not had a go at that yet but will when I get some more time (something I am always looking for!) Have a lovely weekend. Susie x

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  5. Love your hand quilting, wish I could make mine so neat and even - I obviously need to practice a lot more.

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  6. Hi Jane. I love your work and the beautiful scenery in your photos! I will return to follow your progress. thanks for sharing.

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  7. I really enjoyed reading your blog today. I love to hand piece and hand quilt also, it's very relaxing to me. I love all your quilts and pictures.

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  8. I love reading your blog. Thank you for sharing your story. tx(dot)angela(dot)Gibson(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. I have been enjoying your emails lobbing in my inbox for a good while now, your hand sewing is amazing, love the barns, oh heck love them all. I am always in awe of anyone skilled with a needle and thread :)

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  10. Wonderful post Jane! Your pictures are beautiful as always. I`m not fully back and probably won`t be for some months, however your blog post was a great way to start today. Thank you.

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  11. It's been fun getting to know you over the years. We've been blogging about the same length of time. I think you're one of the kindest and most enthusiastic bloggers I've "met." Your quilts and happy and fun and I think that's a reflection of you. Please let others win your kind giveaway. :o)

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  12. I've been following you for a while Jane but it's good to learn more about you!!

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  13. Good Morning Jane! Nice to read about how you started!

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  14. Lovely quilts. I am a follower but I usually don't comment. I just love to see what everyone is up to and get inspired.

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  15. :) Your projects are so inspiring! Bright and cheerful...love your barn quilt!!!

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  16. I am a follower. I have never tried hexies. I do hand quilt but have never hand pieced. Love your blog

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  17. Wow! I have been following your blog for a few years and I just never knew all this about you and your family; and how you began this adventure. I really enjoy following your blog and smile every time I see your header!!

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  18. Hi, Jane! I love your blog and the colors you use in your quilts. I'm already a follower, though. Hugs!

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  19. What a lovely story! I'm looking forward to going through the links in your sidebar.

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  20. Hi Jane. I have followed you through 2 email names(I got hacked) Although I have followed you for a while now, I learned a lot more about you today. Thanks for the giveaway,too. I found you from the hops Madam Samm does.

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  21. Good morning - been following & enjoying your blog for a while now. Thanks.

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  22. I have been a follower of your blog for sometime. Love reading it and today was such a learning experience. Learned so much about you. Do you really sew the quilts by hand? All those seams by hand and then hand quilt? Glad I was sitting down when I read that. I have a hard time keeping the seam straight when I use a machine oh dear what would they look like by hand. Totally amaze me. Keep it up

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  23. Lovely post Jane. I'm one who loves what i do so much, i wake up in the middle of the night realizing i was dreaming of buttons....blog buttons that is! haa
    Love your beautiful hand pieced quilts! Wow...
    :) karen

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  24. Yes a really lovely post and whilst popping in for myself, Im also a GYB volunteer scouting ahead of Vicki so expect her to drop in later on too!
    Like you I prefer to hand stitch but that's cos Im not much good at FMQ : ( ah well hand stitching is therapeutic to me!)
    I have hexi-itus so hexis of any size are an addiction to me so please drop my name in the hat for the draw lol
    I will be back to quote a well known film but in a far less sinister role lol

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  25. Hello from another Jane!! I love your projects and dream about one day hand piecing a quilt! Now all of my stuff is by machine! I also have a blog:
    janekuchuk.blogspot.ca

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  26. You have beautiful quilts.
    Campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  27. Hello I love your blog heading! and that zig zag quilt is to die for love the bright colours you are clever!
    .....popping by as part of the 'grow your blog day' Its such a lovely way to find super new blogs to read...I am joining along with you too
    bestest weekend wishes
    Daisy j

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  28. I love your projects Jane. It's so nice to be reading about all the support out there for quilters. Love your Christmas quilt. The colors in the pile of pieces are so beautiful - your finished project will be really stunning!

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  29. HI,LOVE YOUR PROJECTS!
    HAPPY TO FOLLOW!
    THANKS FOR A NEAT GIVEAWAY!

    cobaltt16@yahoo.com

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  30. Hi Jane,

    I enjoy coming to visit your blog and the great projects and blog hops you share.

    Have fun with the party and come and visit me,

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  31. What beautiful work you do!!! Love your Quilty Barn!!! Thanks for sharing :)

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  32. I have followed you for a while and enjoy seeing your quilts

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  33. Hello ,

    Nice to meet you.:)
    I would like to take part in your giveaway.Lovely presents.:)
    petitearmoire2@gmail.com

    Greetings.
    Bernadett

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  34. I love a good surprise…..kmcassie@gmail.com

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  35. I always enjoy reading your blog via email and I sure enjoyed taking part in the love your embroidery hop , such fun. Thanks for a great blog !

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  36. Hello from another 'grow your blog' participant. Are you enjoying this party as much as I do? I love your work!
    Evalina, This and that...

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  37. Hi. Jane...I have been following you and as usual your lovely work is sew inspiring,

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  38. Im a new follower, love your blog, and all you are working on! I found your blog through the hop, stop by if you get a chance. http://www.domesticdeficitdisorder.blogspot.com/

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  39. Hi Jane!! Stopping by from the hop...absolutely love your scrappy barns and that chevron...I'm a new GFC follower and look forward to getting to know ya! Stop by: myplvl.blogspot.com

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  40. long time follow , always enjoy your blog

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  41. I have never tried hexies, they seem to be more difficult than regular piecing. In the early 70's when I was first quilting all I did was hand quilting. Once I get over my joy of restarting quilting after over 25 years I might go back to hand quilting at least special items.
    thelady at hotmail.com

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  42. Your quilts are incredible! I can't even imagine hand quilting a large quilt. Do you find it therapeutic?
    Thank you for the chance :)

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  43. Just found you from the party-I love your quilts Jane they are beautiful-I especially love the barns. I love to hand quilt but I am soo slow but I do enjoy it. I have an 1830s quilt I want to make I decided I would try hand piecing that one. love your giveaway-sounds awesome. if you get a chance-stop by my blog as my giveaway is my hand dyed fabric Kathy

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  44. Great post! Love your quilts. Thanks for participating in the Grow your Blog Hop.

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  45. I've been a follower for awhile and love todays blog. I used to only hand piece and quilt but I've been machine piecing for the last several years. I admire anyone who has the patience to do it all by hand.

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  46. I enjoyed my visit to your blog.

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  47. I've followed you for a while and love reading what is going on in your life and your quilt projects. thanks for sharing.

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  48. Hi, Jane ... great blog post. I feel I know so much more about you now. Thank you for sharing. Enjoy the hop ... :) Pat

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  49. Isn't it funny how things start, and then turn out? Your quilts look wonderful!

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  50. I am so glad to have found your blog through the GYB party. You have a new Bloglovin' follower!

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  51. i am loving the shot of you in front of the church showing off the quilt ... always a fan of churches & their architecture. why i have a blog for that ... enjoy your weekend!!

    hi there. i'm Beth from E. Lizard Breath Speaks - so nice to meet you through the Grow Your Blog get together/party. ( :
    elizardbreathspeaks@gmail.com

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  52. Wonderful post! I still haven't tried hand stitching quilt pieces, but hopefully I will get a chance to try it sometime soon.

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  53. You have a lovely family, I have been married for 36 years as well. I haven't tried hexies yet, it is one of the items on my list for this year.

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  54. enjoyed this post. I love that outdoor photo of you and your awesome quilt. I so enjoy your blog.

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  55. Hi Jane: I love following your blog. You've had some really fun posts to read. I enjoyed the embroidery showcase you
    hosted last fall.

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  56. Oh my goodness! I can't even imagine hand piecing anything let alone a king size quilt! That's amazing!

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  57. I enjoy reading your posts. Love seeing the the quilts you made.

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  58. I'm glad you started blogging!

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  59. What an interesting and informative post - it's really nice to read about you. You have made some beautiful quilts I have always wanted to make a quilt but never got around to iit. One day!!!
    Thanks for visiting my blog - I really wish we had a King Arthur's Flour in this country I love their website.
    I'm following you too now so I'll definitely be back.
    Have a great day!! :))

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  60. Lovely story! I've enjoyed watching your blog grow over the years.

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  61. Thank you for sharing, I enjoyed reading your story, and I loved looking around at your work!

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  62. My goodness I admire you & your hand quilting.
    Beautiful quilts, love your blog.

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  63. Thanks for sharing your blogging story. Like you, I have learned so much from reading blogs. I have not started one of my own yet, just pondering it. But, really reading quilting blogs is such an education. I have gotten quite the education without stepping foot into a classroom. Such is our modern world!

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  64. HI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLOG!
    (follow on Blog lovin')
    LOVE YOUR HAND QUILTING!
    THANKS FOR SHARING A NEAT GIVEAWAY!

    cobaltt16@yahoo.com

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  65. Hi Jane,
    I have been a follower for awhile now , and always look forward to seeing your quilts . You are inspiring. I have only hand quilted one large quilt and I guess it took me so long to finish it that I haven't done one by hand since. I think I am a "top maker"..lol But I love it and love the challenges.
    cheers
    maggie

    maggiemine42@gmail.com

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  66. I love your barn quilt.. might copy that! Thanks for the inspiration! I will go find your follow button! Thanks for the giveaway...I found you from Grow Your Blog...I am at www.fabricandmemories.blogspot.com

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  67. Hello. I love your blog. I am a new follower. I would love to win the surprise package. That is such a awesome idea.

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  68. awesome quilts. I love them all, but the king size one is just so so pretty!!!! Thanks for the chance.

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  69. Hi, I really like your blog and have saved it to my favorites. I am planning to make a wall hanging with an embroidered bumble bee and have been considering adding a hexagon border, so your giveaway is perfectly timed for me!

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  70. I love your quilts! And if they make you happy and you have learned from them then there is nothing wrong with them!

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  71. Beautiful quilts, I see why you are so proud of them!

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  72. Just dropping by from the GYB party. Love your quilts. Very pretty. My very 1st quilt block had hexies in it. Happy blogging. Stop by for a chance to win my nifty fifty giveaway.

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  73. Enjoy your blog and am in awe of your hand quilting. Love the idea but not sure whether I would ever get a quilt finished. My mother spent her winters hand quilting and was so productive like you. Dian gdavidhoffman@yahoo.com

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  74. Hello Jane! Nice to meet you along the blog party route. And what wonderful quilting you do here! Hope you are enjoying the party! Aloha

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  75. I am a follower via Bloglovin'. I always enjoy reading your blog! Nice to "meet" you officially. :)

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  76. Hi Jane Pleased to meet you and find your blog., , I´m visiting via the GYB hop. Amazing quilts you have here. I´m busy making hexies at the moment, can´t imagine making a quilt with them though. Hope you enter my giveaway also.

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  77. Your quilts are beautiful and I love your reason for blogging. Please enter me in your giveaway. Thanks Jackie jackie.vernon@sbcglobal.net

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  78. Greetings from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Nice to meet you. Lovely quilts. Thanks for sharing and the giveaway.

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  79. Loooooove your Blog...& I am a Follower already, thru Bloglovin. : )

    All your work is Awesome...you do grrrrrreat work!

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  80. Thank you for the opportunity to meet you and your lovely family - your work is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

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  81. Greetings from the Pacific Northwest. I enjoyed visiting your blog. Loved the old Carson, Pirie and Scott box with valentines. I was raised in Chicago and remember that store so well.

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