Sunday, January 25, 2015

Grow Your Blog 2015 & Giveaway!

~A blog post especially for Grow Your Blog 2015~
Hello, and welcome to my blog!  My name is Heather, and I live in the St. Louis Metro area of Illinois, USA!  I've been happily married, a proud (recently retired) Army wife for 21 years and the mother of 2 wonderful college students!  I spend the majority of my days piecing, longarm quilting, and chasing after our 2 dogs, Suki (a 7 year old hound mix) and Baylee (1 year old Beagle).  I also scrapbook, cross-stitch, embroider (sometimes) and have begun to dabble in crochet (but I'm not so sure I'm hooked, haha)!
Grand Illusion (Quiltville Mystery)
If you check out my archives (left sidebar), you can see that I've been blogging since 2008, though I've stepped up posting in the last few years to several times/week.  Why do I blog?  Well, originally, it was to keep in contact with friends and family (as we made our military moves around the world), sharing our travels and my quilting & scrapbooking projects.  Now, I blog more for me, to keep a record of my quilting, and also as a way to continue to share my projects with friends and fellow bloggers.
Women of the Bible (Hoppin' Bobbin Quilt Along)
I've become a more active blogger, due in part, to the various online Quilt Alongs, Linky Parties, and other Just For Fun things going on in the blog-o-sphere.  Check out my right sidebar to see what I'll be participating in for 2015.  Maybe there's something there that will catch your eye and you can jump in, too!  I've often found new groups by doing the very same thing...linking from another blogger's page!  Oh, and many of the fun things I've joined in the past are also shown at the bottom of my page.
Spools (RSC 2015)
Often, I use my quilty powers for good and donate several patriotic quilts a year to a wounded warrior unit in Missouri.  I also donate baby quilts to an Army hospital neonatal center and pillowcases and quilts to a shelter for abused women & children.  I've recently gotten a few ladies, locally, interested in helping me in this endeavor by making blocks for the quilts and it's so nice to have a group joining together in the name of helping others!
Wounded Warrior Quilt (group project, donated)
Well, I guess that's enough about me for now, so now... onto the "quilty" giveaway (hint, hint)!  One winner will be drawn via random number generator on February 15th and here's how it works:
(1)  This giveaway is open to all (international friends are very welcome)!  Just leave me a comment below and you're automatically entered!  Don't forget to leave your email address if you are indeed a "no-reply blogger" so that I can contact you if you win.  Need a prompt?  I'd love to hear about some of the bloggy groups you participate in (Quilt Alongs, Linky Parties, etc.)!
(2)  If you decide to follow me, or if you are already a follower, you may have another entry by leaving a second comment telling me what method you use to follow my blog!
Good luck, everyone!  
Baby Quilt (donated to GLWACH Army Hospital)
I know all of you are busy visiting as many new blogs as possible, but I'd love to invite you to come back and visit me here again soon!  Thanks you for stopping by!  Happy blog hoppin'!

Heather

55 comments:

  1. Heather, so fun to learn a little more about a "UFO Challenger!" Welcome to "Grow Your Blog" day!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Heather. Thanks for visiting my blog. Your quilt projects are amazing. I haven't quilted in some time now, but I do so enjoy quilt shows and stopping in fabric shops just to see all the beautiful designs. I will be sure to stop by again to see what you're up to!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello Heather! I will certainly be back to visit again! Your quilts are fabulous! Thank you for visiting my blog too... I hope you will come back again! Hope you have lots of visitors! :) x

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm getting ready to make my very first quilt for the QoV project. It will be at my first Mystery Quilt sew-in in early February. Have fun on the GYB party! Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I came across your blog through the Grow Your Blog post. I have been a follower (I think!) but I am behind on my blog reading. I quilt, sew and love photography. I follow Marti's UFO challenge on 52quilts.com as well. My blog is WAAY behind right now, but there is always tomorrow. www.aserendipitiousretirement.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love setting goals with A lovey year of finishes and The Finish Along for 2015. And of course who doesn't love Friday Finishes.

    Your work is wonderful, love them all.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful quilts Heather, and som many for good causes. see that we are likely to meet on the RSC15 linky each week. So here's till next Saturday!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've just subscribed to your blog by email.

    ReplyDelete
  9. stopped by from the grow your blog party, and i just love the boldness of your "grand illusion" quilt. fantastic colors!

    ReplyDelete
  10. added you to my bloglovin' feed as well! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi i am a quilter from Ga. came over from Vicki's and am now following you

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello Heather. Thanks for visiting my blog. I see you and I both link to Slow Stitching Sunday, and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. But I have also done Friday Night with Friends and the Threads of Memory BOM.
    See you sometime soon.

    ReplyDelete
  13. And I have just followed you, so you might see me a bit more often :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congrats on joining the party!!! I do some quilting too but nothing traditional. Glad you have joined the Fun!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Heather (a great name) really enjoyed finding your blog and yes I will also enjoy following you.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello Heather! Thank you for visiting my blog with the GYB party and so wonderful to visit yours! I have always wanted to try quilting as I love to sew but just haven't begun yet...some day. ;)

    I love your pieces and I think it’s amazing how you donate some of them to good causes. Just wonderful!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your quilts are beautiful. Very nicely done. I really like the heart quilt. What a perfect valentine's day gift.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thanks for the giveaway. I love reading your blog. Such pretty quilts!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous9:39 PM

    I follow on Bloglovin

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous9:41 PM

    I am new to quilting so I am trying a few quilt-a-longs
    If you'd like to see, I have put them all together on a blog http://asssowip.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hello! I love your quilts! I have not participated in any quilt alongs, etc. I am fairly new to quilting. sarah@forrussia.org

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh my goodness, Heather, that first quilt is quite simply amazing! It dances with colour and pattern. It was a pleasure to have you visit my blog. I can see that I am going to have to pull up a comfy chair, make myself a bottomless cuppa and return for a bo peep at all the other lovelies you fashion!

    ReplyDelete
  23. You do beautiful work! It's been a pleasure to meet you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. That sweet heart quilt is lovely. I havent taken the plunge into blogging yet. Its nice that you work so hard for local charities.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Heather ... 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

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi Heather ... 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

    ReplyDelete
  27. We are a retired navy family. Thank you for your service. Love your quilts.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Heather. I enjoyed visiting your blog.You have made some beautiful quilts. I love looking at BOM and seeing what is made on QAL, but I am one who likes to do their own thing so it is hard for me to follow along with someone else. Thank you for sharing and for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hello Heather, thank you so much for visiting my blog. I have a couple of regular features on my blog - things I've found on Google searches or one other blogs I read. Happy Homemaker Monday is fun on Mondays and it's a Linky-type so you can visit the other participants to see what they have planned for the week. I signed up for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge as well. There is a link on my sidebar.

    ReplyDelete
  30. My ex hubby was Army..been there done that! My hat is off to you! I too donate to QOV--every soldier needs a quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Visiting via GYB from St. John's, NL Canada. Lovely work. Thanks for sharing and a giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Heather! Thanks for visiting my blog. I enjoyed stopping by your blog, too. Love that you have a group who get together to make quilts for others!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Great quilts. You sure are busy with all your charity groups.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Thanks for visiting my blog Heather! I like yours too! I've added you to my blog list, we are definitely kindred spirits!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Well, this is crazy! My name is also Heather, my husband was a Marine and I live in the Metro East area! I also donate patriotic quilts but to Quilts of Valor. I think we need to be blog friends at the very least😉. http://heathermantz.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Glad to have stopped by!

    t_ktl at yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love the charity sewing you are doing! Keep up the good work! :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi Heather, thanks for stopping by my blog Julie's Lifestyle yesterday. I'm visiting via the GYB and I like your blog and I'm now following by Bloglovin. Thanks for your lovely giveaway too. I do hope that you will stop and visit my blog often too at Julie's Lifestyle. Thanks new blog friend.
    Julie @ Julie's Lifestyle

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love that you donate your quilts. You do good work and your work is good. :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. I'm following via google friend connect. Happy hopping!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. That so neat that you are using your quilting skills to give back! I have not spent a lot of time quilting but I love quilts. I've made two so far but am hoping to gain a few more quilting skills and make some more. It's such a neat skill to have.
    Naomi
    http://sewknitcreate.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hi Heather! Thanks for your comment on my blog! I am not a quilter but you make very bautiful quilts!AriadnefromGreece!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Nice to meet you! When I started blogging it was a means to keep my kids up to date on what I was creating/doing...then it morphed into a way to keep track of my projects, and now I realize that I'm really blogging for me. Thank you so much for inviting us over for a visit.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Good to meet you Heather - I'm visiting from the UK!
    Your quilts are fabulous - I too have recently begun to dabble in crochet!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hi Heather. Returning the visit from the GYOP party and so glad I did! Your work is beautiful! Quilting is such an art and your work shows it. I will be back :-)
    ~Terri

    ReplyDelete
  46. Good morning, Heather! Thank you for visiting my blog ... I am now following you via Bloglovin'.

    One of my previous craft obsessions was quilting. In fact, I still have a set of squares for a lazy rail (?) quilt sitting in a cabinet. I just need to join them, back them, and quilt them.

    I love your red/white/blue quilts ... love anything Americana!

    Now, I am into papercrafting. I've even tried to piece paper in a quilting fashion on a card front.

    Enjoy your day!

    ReplyDelete
  47. What beautiful quilts. I know how much work goes into all that and I'm in total awe.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Anonymous1:43 AM

    hi Heather,
    your quilts are exquisite.. very pretty indeed. thank you for stopping at my blog earlier on.. :D Happy blog-hopping

    ReplyDelete
  49. Love your Grand Illusions quilt - such beautiful colors. Impressed by al your finishes.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I am now a new follower hoping to be spurred on to my own finishes.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Hi Heather, stopping by from GYB, I can't believe I'm only on section 10! There are so many great things to read on your blog too! Great quilts!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Your quilts are great! Love the blue spools! Hi from the Pacific Northwest!

    ReplyDelete
  53. New bloglovin follower: Nicole Sender

    ReplyDelete
  54. Hello from NYC! I'm a Heather too. :) Great quilts! Thank you for your generous giveaway.
    - afistfuloflemons @ gmail.

    ReplyDelete
  55. I used to sew with my SIl and a cousin. But life has gotten so hectic that we rarely get together anymore. It's a shame too, because we really did a lot of sewing when we did it together.

    ReplyDelete

I love to read your comments and I'll try my best to answer any questions. Please, just let me know you've dropped by!