Mosaic Monday and Around the World Blog Hop

Photos taken on our trips to France over the years.

I have been invited by my friend Barbara of

http://barbaralilian-infrance.blogspot.com/

to take part in this

"Around the World Blog Hop".

Barbara and I became friends earlier in the year through 

another blog party.

I was delighted to see a blogger from France taking part!

It's no secret I am enamoured with all things french -

one could even think it was fate 

that brought Barbara and I together!

Barbara's blog is about everything I enjoy and then some.

She gardens, is a very talented artist

and has a beautiful gîte for rent on her property!

If you are planning a trip to France contact Barbara!

Please pop over to her blog and say hello

she would love to meet you!

Chateau d'Ancy, A village lavoir, A gate bell, Chateau Fontainebleu.

As part of this blog hop I have four questions to answer!

1. How does my writing/creative process work?

Because I've joined several weekly blog parties

my posts relate to the topic or genre of the party.

Every Monday I join Judith of Lavender Cottage

for her party, Mosaic Monday.

I enjoy photography, editing photos and making mosaics.

I also join Donna's "A Personal Photo Challenge"

once a month.

Donna gives us a topic and provides tips and advice

on helping us to meet her challenges.

It's great fun and a good way to learn more

about taking good photos.

Photo taken by me of my granddaughter skipping up the steps at Fontainebleu Chateau - France!

2. Why do I create what I do?

Very simple - mostly for my granddaughters.

I enjoy creating and making things for them

so they have a little piece of me with them in France.

On my side bar there is a photo of a

Nursery Rhymes boardbook I made for my eldest

granddaughter when she was two!
It's been read and played with by three little ones now
so it is getting a little tatty!

I've always enjoyed creating things.

3. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I don't really think of my blog as having a particular genre!

Four years ago I started blogging 
because my daughter was living in France
 this was a way of keeping

in touch with each other.

My posts are usually photo heavy with limited writing.

I'm always aware that we have a small

window of opportunity to grab the reader's interest.

There are so many amazing blogs out there

and we are all like butterflies

flitting from one blog to another to see

what everyone is up to

while we sip our morning cup of tea or coffee!

4. What am I working on now?

I have several projects on the go including

an on-line class of Nellie Wortman.

I'm making a fabric and lace book

about my mother.

I'm also finishing a Miss Maggie Rabbit

a pattern I bought on-line from Posy Gets Cozy.

It's a Christmas present for my youngest granddaughter, 

I have always had an interest in patchwork

and I have joined a class at my local patchwork shop

Patchwork Passion on English Paper Piecing.

I'm making a Brigitte Giblin pattern

of a little hexi bag!

(My cousin made the bag on the left - I'm making the same one)

I'm hoping you're still with me because.......

now it's time to introduce you to 

two other New Zealand bloggers

I would like you to meet!

Carolyn of Draffin Bears

has been blogging since 2007.

She has a beautiful blog and writes it

from her home on Waiheke Island.

Carolyn's was one of the first blogs I joined

and we both say we will meet up one day!

If you're a teddy bear lover then you are in for a treat

as she makes exquisite bears and this one is called

Miss Emmanuelle Avatar!

My second New Zealand blogger is

Julie of My Threadbear Life

Julie lives on a farm and has a large country garden.

She also has a cottage in her garden full of

tempting goodies she has made!

From angels to gollywogs and much, much more...
she has an amazing talent with needle and thread and

this is what I won in her Giveaway a while back.

I also invited my dearest friend Dagmar of  Studio D
to join us - she accepted with great excitement
even though she is due

to leave on a cruise in a couple of weeks.

However, she has since had to decline due to

family circumstances beyond her control.

Please pop over and meet Dagmar

you will love her blog
it's full of colour and joie de vivre!

She is one of the sweetest people I know.

Thank you Barbara for inviting me to take part

and thank you to both Carolyn and Julie

for bravely accepting my invitation!

They will be posting on Monday 22nd September.

I'm sorry you couldn't make it Dagmar

if you would like to join in later

that would be great too!

I'm joining Judith for Mosaic Monday

please pop over and see what everyone's

posting today - we would love you to join us!
If you need help with making mosaics
I'm only too happy to help.

Merci à bientôt
be kind to one another!

♥ Shane ♥