Grow Your Own Blog and ......Giveaway too

Now this is a great start to an event I was so  looking forward to participating in !!! 

I forgot to post in time for the start!!    DUHHHHH 

Id blame the snow but having read Suziqus blog post already I dare not use it an excuse, since she bless her, has fire threatening her home with temperatures of 45 degrees!
http://suziqusthreadworks.blogspot.co.uk/

When you visit blogs on a tour like this, its a great way to see who is out there and view blogs that you wouldn't have stumbled on ordinarily.

So pull up a chair and grab a cupper/coffee/glass of wine or whatever and browse some amazing sites and see some inspirational folks out there in the cybery spaces.


SO HELLO fellow followers and anyone new that pops in from the 
Grow Your Blog Party organised by the kind and by now I hope, more relaxed Vicki at

http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/welcome-to-my-grow-your-blog-party.html

A little about me....

I first took the plunge to blog because Id seen so much that was helpful on other blogs and I hoped that occasionally, I might repay with an odd insight or two that I knew about.
I hoped I might meet some new folks along the way that might become bloggery friends and I have! 

So a resume of me first....

I came late to stitching but had a NEED to make, when I was just a teenager. I didn't work out until I was an adult, that my need to stitch was a form of therapy for me...........but it certainly is!
I was an Air Load Master in the RAF before marriage and motherhood and the Queen, gawd bless her, sent me round the world on a VC10 aircraft.

 I was responsible for roleing the aircraft and flying with her en route, working out her weight for the captain to take off, fly and land safely!

Naturally it was hell going to Bermuda, Nassau, Belize, Midway island, RAF Gan( the Maldives - sighhhh), Calgary, Hong Kong, Kathmandu plus many others ..........
and YES...........I still SO miss that job!
Before that job though, Id been police and store security, so I've certainly gotten around a bit..........never let grey hair fool you!!
( esp if its dyed over.........)

I am employed ( at least until 31st march...long story that ) in an artistic role devising and making tactile resources for visually impaired children, a job that allows me to recycle and use all the various craft skills I've picked up along my creative journey. 
I love doing it too, thinking laterally and employ as much recycling as I can.
It's like Blue Peter with Braille..........almost.

a matching and sorting activity above

and 

the Lighthouse Keepers Lunch childrens book model below

Little Lumpty another childrens book

and an empty pc box which is now his wall

I like to stitch, knit, crochet, make mixed media and the odd art doll .........yes, I am a dabbler BUT.............its not my fault!

Its my 'Creative Gene' who is my muse............who chirrups in my ear what I should do next...

I quite like her and I seem to work well enough in her undisciplined way...but although I periodically sell under the name of 'RecycLin'.........
I accept that 'Creative Gene', doesn't want to earn a fortune.
That's fine by me too..............unless I am without a job as at April 1st......then she and I will have to rethink life!

I am going to give someone amongst you the chance to win a bundle of something and since I'm late starting here, I haven't photographed it yet!

 So please pop back and see the collected items later on if you'd like a chance to win!

But as a teaser...........it will be Japanese and will be silk............

All I ask is that you tell me what was the very first stitchy or crafty thing you ever made.........be it a success or not!

I will post worldwide and although you don't have to follow my blog,
 if you felt we had anything in common it would be so nice to have you along for the journey too : )
There are some lovely folks following along already and you'd have chance to meet them too!

I love felting and driftwood...........wolves and hares

I have a dog ... he has corgi legs and spaniel markings and must have once been human.....£15 from a dog rescue and money well spent!
Oh he didn't unravel the white stuff! 
Its from our local Scrapstore and I was rolling it up into balls ............it crochets and knits up beautifully...... so watch this space....

and I also have two ruined rescue cats...
left over from 20 years plus cat rescuing. 

I'm currently hexing but 'Creative Gene' is whispering knitty and crochet  ideas so I may have to down needle for a week or two.....

Okay............IF you've waded through to here.........you should have been rewarded with a photo of the Giveaway which I have yet to photograph - so please pop back for the update piccy!

UPDATE!   I'm giving away 2 silk sleeves from Japanese hauri jackets, both lined with silk and a scrappy bundle consisting of all silk, Indian sari and silk offcuts. See pics below.....

I'm off to attend a candle lit vigil to make a stand against the breeding of beagles locally and worldwide for experimentation...........
so unless I'm arrested for stood standing in contemplative angst............
I will post the Giveaway piccy later this very UK day!
I promise!

Thank you new folks for dropping in ..
......and Thank you too, to those who follow along already......
I wish we could meet up for a cupper and natter along in real life!
Other blogs participating are..

There are hundreds of blogs to visit but I'm not sure how to link multiples into this post........so please nip over to Vikis blog for direct links to participating blogs..........and check out Vikis wonderful nests whilst your there!!

http://vicki-2bagsfull.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/welcome-to-my-grow-your-blog-party.html