Saturday, January 24, 2015

Grow Your Own Blog

Welcome to my Grow Your Own Blog party!  I realize I've been remiss on keeping up my blog so I decided to make a fresh start.  And I'm promising myself that I will keep this up quite a bit more often.  Life is finally settling down for me and I plan on getting back on track with both my stitching and my blogging.

Dave and recently moved from Phoenix to Denver.  It's been a big change and I guess I've finally realized that while I like it here, I will always consider Phoenix home.  That's the reason I will not change the name of my blog.  Once a desert rat always a desert rat.  

Here's what you should know about me.  My name is Bettelou but most everyone calls me Bette.  I won't reveal my age but I have 3 grown children and 2 grandkids, one of whom is going to be 2 weeks old tomorrow.  I'm going to Minneapolis next week to see him and my granddaughter and of course my son and daughter-in-law too.  I've been married to a wonderful man (I know you're reading this, David) for almost 36 years.  I have a beautiful calico cat named Squeak and a great dog named Annie.  

I love to do all kinds of needlework.  I've tried Hardanger and Brazilian Embroidery, I've dabbled in needlepoint and I knit and crochet.  My mom taught me to do basic embroidery when I was 7.  I remember that she drew a Santa on a piece of muslin and taught me the outline stitch to stitch him.  When I was 9, she taught me to knit when I was bored in the summer and looking for something to do.  I taught myself to crochet in college and I crocheted my way through many boring classes.  But my passion is for cross stitch.  I'm a frustrated artist and can't draw a straight line if my life depended upon it.  But when I take a blank piece of fabric and use my thread to create a picture with floss, I really feel like I'm an artist.  I often change colors or use different textures in my work and that makes it feel even more like it's my creation.  So cross stitch will always be my first crafting love.

I also love to make jewelry.  I love the look of chain maille and hope to do more of it.  I also love to work with seed beads (more so than the larger beads and stones) and have made several pieces that I really love.  I've even tried crocheting with wire and beads and love the look of a cuff bracelet I made.  Once again this fulfills my need to be an artist.






 I also love to write.  I've written several novels which will probably never see the light of day but I had fun writing them.  I also (believe it or not) love to blog.  Although I haven't done it much lately, I do enjoy it and also enjoy reading other blogs as well.  I get inspired when I see what other stitchers are working on.  I love to read blogs from all over the world.  I live vicariously though them.


So I guess you will see a little of everything in my blog.  I don't plan on just blogging about my crafts but my life as well.  You'll hear about my kids and my pets and what I'm working on.  Hopefully you'll get to know me a lot better.  You'll see pictures of my work and and whatever else I think you'll find interesting.  You never know what you might find here so I hope you've visit me often


And in honor of this letter get-together, I'm having a giveaway.  I'm putting together 2 surprise packages of stitchy stuff.  Anyone who leaves a comment on this post is eligible.  You don't have to become a follower (although I would love it if you did) of my blog to take part in the giveaway.  Leave a comment by Feb. 14 and I'll draw a name on the 15th.  Make sure you leave your email in the comment so I can contact you.


Well, now you know a little more about me.  And I hope you'll visit me often.    You never know what you'll find here.






28 comments:

Fil said...

Hi Bette
Lovely to meet you here .... I'd love to be included in the draw for your giveaway ... I'm a knitter and sometimes do embroidery and whatever I come across in charity shops ... Like yourself I'm a frustrated artist ... and the colours of wool is the closest I'll get to painting anything :)
Best wishes
Fil Fil’s Place - Old songs and Memories
My email is fil@filcampbell.com

Lupe Meter said...

Hi Bette! Your blog caught my eye on "Grow Your Blog Party". I am a desert rat too! I live in Surprise, Arizona...just moved over from Glendale, AZ. I am also finally back to blogging again as well. I would love to see your jewelry sometime. Perhaps go through some of your old posts to find them? I used to cross stitch years ago and I have done a little crochet...mostly adding trim to baby blankets. Glad to meet you! Please enter me in your giveaway...would love to win your beautiful stitchy stuff! If you get an opportunity, please visit my blog: http://gesmpccorner.blogspot.com

Lupe Meter gemmeter12@gmail.com

Cathy said...

I'm happy to say that I'm already a follower and have been for a while. As a fellow stitcher, I always like to see what people are up to in the cross stitch world. I'll be back to visit!
Cathy
CraftyCat

LuAnn @ BackPorchervations said...

New follower from the Grow Your Blog link-up! On behalf of Vicki, the hostess at "2 Bags Full", welcome to the party! :O)

I enjoy (or at least appreciate) a lot of the same crafts that you do. Are you on Pinterest? I'd love to see some more of your work!

Jeanne said...

Bette, well I can see why you haven't blogged as much over the past year with all that has been going on in your life. My 2014 was awful but I'm hoping for a better 2015 and also vowed to get back to active blogging again.

I hope you'll be happy with your new life in the Denver area. That will be a big change from the Valley. I do like Colorado it would just be tough to deal with cold & snow again after getting spoiled in the desert. :-) Maybe youll find a stitching group or something to join to meet some new people. Also hope your husband's new job works out okay, I know how crazy the Aerospace business is as I have worked for Honeywell for 20 yrs and can't wait to retire! Please include me in your giveaway, I've been a follower for a few years now. (Although I have enough stash for 3 people already LOL!)

Unknown said...

Hi Bette; It's lovely to meet you through your blog. Your stitching looks lovely but I'm no expert. My passion lies with polymer clay and jewelry making but I do appreciate other arts as well. I'm following you and look forward to seeing all of your art. Happy partying!

Emily C said...

Greetings from Pennsylvania. You can have some of my snow =) We have more than we know what to do with right now.3-5 inches this week and more coming.

Jennifer's Vintage Paperie said...

It is nice to meet you during this blog hop. I hope you find lots of new crafty friends in your new city. I love to make cards, jewelry and do needlework. I hope you will visit my blog as well. Jennifer www.jennifersvintagepaperie.blogspot.com gandjlav@leru.net

Sanderella said...

Hi!! Nice to meet you, and love your cat and dog names...Squeak and Annie! I have two cats Romeo and Rose, and one that has been hanging out for over a week outside he prefers...always looking for lizards...I call him HoBo.

I learned to embroider too at a very young age, and really need to get back into it, it is beautiful work. Hens Teeth on FB and a few others especially out of the United Kingdom do just stunning things with threads.

I would say your quite the artist, lovely items I saw on your blog.

Hopefully you will mesh with your new home. Keep Phoenix in your heart though, I lived there too in the 70's and loved it. I lived in a new housing development at that time called Moon Valley...Kauffman and Broad homes.

I am in California and have been for years now, I love it.

Keep in touch, visit my page when you can www.sanderellascrochet.com and don't forget to stop by my Fan page on FB facebook.com/Sanderellas

Always a lot of free crochet and knitting patterns!!

Take care,
Sandy

Heather said...

Hi Bette! I also have a love of cross-stitching! I've never learned much embroidery, but I can do outlining with back stitch, running stitch and stem stitch...good for red work anyway!

gpc said...

You have so many different talents! Your work is lovely. It's been a pleasure to meet you. :)

Mokki said...

Nice to meet you bette, ive started getting into embroidery and crochet. I havent done any cross stitch since I was little though.I love to make jewellery, soft sculptures and I love sewing bags. One day ill start a blog so I can show the things I make.

DJH said...

Howdy Bette! Love your stitching, just beautiful.
I cross stitch but do not have any other hobbies.
I would love to be included for your giveaway, my email is kalisti@comcast.net.

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

lynda said...

Saying hi from the blog party!I would love to be included in your giveaway, and am looking forward to reading more of your blog and seeing all your stitching!

Little Wandering Wren said...

Hello Bette - Woo hoo I've just become your 100th Follower AND you should be so impressed with me I wanted to track you down after your lovely (is that the right word?) comments on my blog (that thong thing is just between us right....?!!!!! lol) so I went back to the original sign up comments at Vicki's I'm guessing there are not too many Bette's and here I am!
It was lovely being able to go back a few years through your posts, I can see you've had a few big changes in your life and I will look forward to reading your posts from here on in!
I hope you have a wonderful week connecting across the globe
Wren x (wrensrambles@gmail.com)

Cheri the Quilting Nanny said...

Visitsing from GYB...welcome to the blog hop! This is my second year...SO much fun! I follow others and have a a blog of my own in the mix! You sunset picture caught my eye...was in taken in Arizona? I used to travel I-10 east often from california to texas...no better sunsets in the world than on that route!
Cheri, the quilting nanny
quiltingnanny(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ann C. said...

I just stopped by through Grow Your Blog. I will be back to look at more of your cross stitch. If you would like to stop by my blog it is at www.ColourfulCrossStitches.blogspot.ca
FYI - Sue Hillis has a beautiful chart about the Rainbow Bridge, I did it several years ago as a tribute to our many pets (hamsters, guinea pigs, birds and fish) it might make a lovely tribute to Rosie. :)
please add me to your giveaway you can find me at CrossStitcher at rogers dot com
Happy Stitching!

Shannon Meyer said...

Nice blog, I will be following you now:) I'm also a stitcher, crochet-er and just beginning to be a knitter. I'm visiting from www.withworkinhand.blogspot.com

Judy Cooper Textile Artist said...

Visiting from St. John's, NL Canada via GYB. I'm a textile artist but I knit, crochet, sew, felt - you name it and I have tried it along the way. I have a giveaway on my blog too.

tktl said...

Like your blog name!

t_ktl at yahoo.com

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Hardanger is on my list of things to learn but for now my passion is crazy quilting. It's so nice to meet you and to visit your blog.

Gill said...

Lovely to meet you Bette - have a great time visiting your new grandbaby!!

Peggy said...

I'm an avid cross stitcher. Need to get off the computer so I can get to my stitching-LOL.
Thanks,
Peggy
peggy_verdongibbs@att.net
http://keepmeinstitches-peggy.blogspot.com

Joyce Carter said...

Hi Bette.Your stitching is very beautiful. I love to do embroidery, but there doesn't seem to be enough time to do everything I love. So I use a lot of it in my quilts. That way I can combine two of the things I love. Please include me in your giveaway.Thank you so much.

Kaisievic said...

Hi Bette, Lovely to meet you - I am cross stitch crazy, too. I have to ask, why the move from Phoenix to Denver? Just curious. Love for you to come visit my blog - http://kittenstitching.blogspot.com

hugs, Kaye

Tami Von Zalez said...

My kids were born in Arizona but now we are Californians.

Popped by from GYB.
http://thriftshopcommando.blogspot.com/2015/01/grow-your-blog-and-repairing-vintage.html

Anitha said...

Hi Bette.. i know i'm kinda late at visiting but i'm happy i get to know you and your blog. I love crocheting and also embroidey sometimes. Have a wonderful day!