Saturday, January 19, 2013

Grow your blog party . . . and a giveaway!



I want to start out by saying a big huge thank you to Vicki for hosting this blog party.
She is one of the sweetest people I know that I have never met in person.

Welcome to my little place in the blogosphere, I wasn't really sure where to start,
so I thought I would just start from the beginning.

Once upon a time . . .

I started a blog
in hopes of sharing and documenting a project
a photo a week for 52 weeks
the beginning of my photography journey
that turned into so much more
making friends, connecting with like minds
who also have a need to create
finding beauty and simplicity in nature
and in my everyday
photographs that help me express
how I feel about life
that sometimes words cannot
  what I didn't expect
  what I've discovered along the way
is my voice
in the written word through photographs
. . . they really are worth a thousand words


And this is me, Kim, 
a 50 year old learner of life
  photographer, and jewelry maker
who likes to garden
a wife, and mother of  2
my favorite place to be is at the beach
exploring, discovering
my favorite color is pink
(yes, that is pink in my hair)


I have also been having fun with digital art and adding textures to my photos. One of my favorite weekly link ups is on Fridays for Photo Art Friday.



And in the party spirit, I have a gift for you that I will give away on Feb. 1.  I thought it would only be fitting to make a beach themed necklace. It's hand crocheted, with a non-tarnish craft wire and different types of coral, shell, and pearls and  a toggle clasp in the back for easy on and off.



You can always check out the "You might also like this" posts at the end of this post or on the sidebar under Popular Posts for a better idea of what my blogging style is. A comment below that you were here is all you need to be entered into the giveaway of the necklace pictured above, that's all.  You don't even have to be a follower. But if you have a no-reply email I will have no way to contact you if you win. I appreciate very much that you stopped by and look forward to visiting you too!

You can also find me on instagram at KIMATPICKINGPOPPIES and on my collaborative blog at Focusing on Life (you can find the link button on the sidebar at the top).

Another big thanks to Vicki at 2 Bags Full for putting together and hosting the party!
Make sure you check out all the other blogs too.

Love, Kim
XO



75 comments:

Silvina Soave said...

Preciosas tus imágenes, Kim!!Muy bello el brazalete y me encantan tus fotografías con texturas!!Feliz fin de semana!Abrazos.

Unknown said...

I have loved getting to know you & your style while reading your blog.
I, too, love the beach & wish I was just a little closer to the shores of Lake Michigan......but alas, I'm within an hour of them, so I take what I can get.
Your photography inspires me to work more on my own & better my skills.

Southern Gal said...

I'm so glad I found you. Your photography is such an inspiration. I know I need to take more time to actually shoot and learn more about my camera. You inspire me to keep at it and be me!

(I'm having a giveaway at my place, too. And I'll be 50 in July. I think it's going to be fantastic!)

Jeanne said...

Love your post here Kim, and that portrait of you is just awesome. Love that streak of pink in your hair! I always love reading your blog and seeing more of your 'take on life". Blessings to you in this year and keep on enjoying this wonderful photography experience. What a great necklace that you have made! Have a wonderful weekend

Gill said...

What lovely photos! Just perfect on a cold, gloomy day here in England!!

Sherri B. said...

It has been such a pleasure getting to know you via your blog and Instagram...both your photos and your lovely way of expressing yourself are a joy to see/read. What a beautiful necklace! Thanks so much for the opportunity, Kim (and that's a beautiful picture of you!). :)

Barbara said...

Beautiful photos and what a gorgeous necklace. The beach is my paradise, too.

Cathy H. said...

The necklace is beautiful! It shows your love for the beach. I wish I lived close to the beach! I can only visit there through your blog!

Unknown said...

lovely photos and blog. I love the beach too. hugs

Eusebia Blumenstengel said...

I'm so grateful Vicki had this GYB Party idea! You've got such a nice blog and the things you're "working" (sorry for my bad english) are just gorgeous and so extraordinary. I just found my place in your Follower- Board :-)The necklace ist just beyond words for it and - born at the coast- I would be more than proud to wear this. Have a good time, warmest regards from Germany and from my heart to yours...
Ines
E. Blumenstengel

Sandra Kaye said...

Great blog...love the shell bracelet!! I found you on IG...and I'm following you :):) Hugs

Linda/patchwork said...

I enjoy coming to visit your blog. Your photos are an inspiration. I especially love the sunrise/beach shots.
Keep up the good work.

manomij said...

Wow gorgeous fotos and what an inspirational artist you are! Glad to have found you. I am looking forward to reading and seeing more.
ManonX

SKCPhotos said...

Thanks for sharing more about you and your beautiful work.

Deanna said...

Oh just perfect each and everyone...I am smiling!!

Marcie said...

What beautiful imagery...and wonderful to get to know you!

The Sage Butterfly said...

I am so happy to meet you through the Grow Your Blog party. Your photos are wonderful, and I share in your love for images. And being in the prime of life, 50+, seems to be the best so far. ;) I would love to be included your drawing for the giveaway...gorgeous. Have a great weekend!

EvalinaMaria said...

You have a lovely blog, thank you for sharing. I am a new follower and 'Grow Your Blog' participant. Have fun at the party!

Evalina, This and that...

My Garden Diaries said...

Your photos are outstanding! I have so much to learn in that area! Beautiful blog girl! I'm excited to follow along on your journey!

Chubby Chieque said...

Hi Kim,
Thanks God you found me too §:-)

I am so happy to found Vicki too so we bloggers could hook up to each other whether we have the same urges in our online lives journal.

Hope to see you again.

P.S.
I am having a problem with my new Ultrabook (laptop. I will link your blog in my fav list and will back soon.

Kmcblackburn said...

I love this shot of you!

Socrates said...

Lovely blog, nice to see the beach at this time of year. Your necklace is fabulous. Beautiful work. Come and visit my blog too, for a vintage lace book giveaway. I think you['ll love it. See you there!

Sherry said...

Thank you for introducing yourself...love your blog and your amazing photography!

kathyinozarks said...

I so enjoyed your blog post, I enjoy beautiful photography, your jewelry is gorgeous.
I live in Missouri, am retired, and enjoy creating in fibers. I blog about all my doings in the ozarks, Kathy

Dotti said...

I love, love, love the beach collage! I, too, am a beach lover, albeit landlocked. Heading to the beach in late May ... can't wait. Actually, headed to Hawaii next month so I won't have to wait until May, will I? Love the necklace, too. This blog party is COOL! :-D

xo

Kathryn Dyche said...

Always such beautiful images, makes me miss the sea. I'm going home to the UK in April/May for my brothers wedding and I'll get to feel the sand between my toes then. He's getting married right near the beach where we used to go for family holidays. Love the necklace and its inspiration.

geetlee said...

Hi Kim,

I'm a big fan of your photos on Instagram, so nice to see you here in the blogosphere :)
I LOVE the pink in your hair! Can we have a few more self portraits please :)You are beautiful!
Hope you are enjoying your weekend.
xo
(@Gitanjali on instagram)

Elizabeth Edwards said...

stopping in from the blog hop - nice to meet you. gorgeous views. wishing you a great weekend. please stop by my blog. take care. ( :

Anonymous said...

Kim, I'm so glad that I've had the pleasure of meeting you at the hair salon a few years ago. When I started following you on your blog I was blown away with the many talents you have capturing lifes beautiful moments! I have learned so much reading your post and admiring the awesome photos! Thanks for sharing, and BTW...you don't look a day past 30!
Hugs:)
Susan

Anonymous said...

Kim, I'm so glad that I've had the pleasure of meeting you at the hair salon a few years ago. When I started following you on your blog I was blown away with the many talents you have capturing lifes beautiful moments! I have learned so much reading your post and admiring the awesome photos! Thanks for sharing, and BTW...you don't look a day past 30!
Hugs:)
Susan

Lorraine said...

I was only going to look at a page or two, but I kept clicking away all the way back to September. Your photos are wonderful and your writing is also very inspiring. I'll be back to explore more.

Sharlotte said...

Hi Kim! I'm from the Houston area too! It's very nice to meet you! I love your photos...the lily and seagull...oh my, you are truly talented! I'm going to spend some time looking around and following too!

Di@Cottage-Wishes said...

Such great stories and pictures, I would love to be included in your giveaway. Thanks Di@Cottage-wishes

Carol said...

Kim, what a beautiful photo, you are as gorgeous as all your photo art. Your giveaway is lovely, very summery, which is what we are feeling here in the Southern Hemisphere. I love your beach photos ... And the birds, and the flowers...

Nicki said...

Fabulous self-portrait and I love the pink in your hair. I have so enjoyed following along with your blog for awhile now, continually being inspired (to say nothing of being impressed).

Unknown said...

I am participating in the Blog Party also...Love your style and that necklace is gorgeous. I have a deep love for the beach myself. Your photos are fabulous!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

I am pleased to meet you through the GYB party and am a new follower. Your photography is wonderful and I hope to learn to do textures myself one day.
Judith

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous necklace... I'm you're newest follower and rss subscriber...

Carolyn ♥ said...

Enjoyed my visit here... love your blog title. So nice to "meet" you!

A Creative Grace said...

What an amazing post Kim, and I adore that portrait of you (and the pink hair too, wonderful!) :)

Laurie said...

You have a very peaceful blog and your jewelry is just lovely! I hope you'll get a chance to visit my blog too, during the party. (I'm currently landlocked but grew up on the water and miss it so much!)

liniecat said...

What a delightful blog to visit via GYB and with such stunning photos too.
Your jewellery looks superb and how wonderful to use beach gems : )

Donna@Gardens Eye View said...

Kim how nice to meet you and see your lovely blog...I enjoyed reading your story...you have such an artistic gift and that is such a lovely necklace. I have subscribed to your blog and hope to get to know you and your blog better.

pippirose said...

Your photographs are gorgeous! And I`d love to enter your wonderful giveaway.

pippirose59 at gmail dot com

hueisei said...

Great post! I love your lovely giveaway...
Thanks for the chance to win.

Bernadett said...

Hello,

Nice to meet you in this party.:)

There is a giveaway on my blog,too.

http://petite-armoire.blogspot.com/
betikarauski@gmail.com

All the best.:)
Bernadett

AJ Lauer said...

Hi Kim! Found you through GYB. Love the photography and design of your blog :) Come visit!

Neesie said...

OH MY WORD Kim, I'm hyperventilating looking at your photos. Eek...apologies because that sounds rather creepy, but they are brilliant!
Since I started blogging I've evolved with my photography and loving it but still have so much to learn.
I'm your latest new follower from the GYB party but I certainly won't be the last. It was such a delight visiting and meeting you.
I need to look over your previous posts now and I know I'm going to have a wonderful time.
Thank you for sharing your passion :D
Neesie ♥

Unknown said...

I am just loving that photo of you Pink hair and all. I have to say I love stopping in here and reading your blog. You are a wonderful writer and your photos are fabulous. And I just know you are going to get tons of new followers.

Hugs~

Lily Whalen said...

Hi Kim, I love your photos! I enjoy taking pictures, too, but I'm not at your level, for sure! That necklace is beautiful - thanks for the chance to win. I'm not sure if my e-mail is attached to my blog, but it's writeon[dot]sue[at]gmail[dot]com, just in case you need it! :)

Shane Pollard said...

Hello Kim
I'm here via Vicki's GYB party.
What an amazing header photo - superb.
Then I saw your seashore mosaic... WOW!
And the little shore bird - that's what I've been trying to capture all summer - I need to allow myself more time to sit and wait. Sadly my v ordinary little camera doesn't have a good zoom either.
I usually join Mosaic Monday over at Mary's Little Red House, but didn’t have time this week.

Anyway, I'm hooked on your blog - do pop over and see me - I'll get out mt prettiest teacups and we'll sit down for a cuppa and a nice chat - can I pick your brains please and ask you to follow me too!!?

Enjoy the party
hugs
Shane ♥
PS your G/A necklace is divine!

Anonymous said...

The picture of the lily and the pic of you -- just extraordinary! So beautiful...

Comfypjs said...

I follow your blog, I follow you on Instagram and read your articles on Focusing on Life. Sounds like I'm stalking but I just love your photos (even the creepy insects) LOL!

Viv@Thoughts from the Desktop said...

Kim I have got to know you through Focusing on Life and the groupies FB page I love visiting you to see your lovely photographs of the sea . And your necklace how beautiful...

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Beautiful post Kim, beautiful portrait of you too! Your lily photo is stunning!

Katherine McNeese said...

your necklace is lovely

Patty said...

Hi Kim,
I very much enjoyed learning about you and can't wait to read more! Your necklace is exquisite. I would love to win it. Thank you for stopping by! I am following you too!

Donna Heber said...

Hi Kim,

It is so nice to meet you. Your blog is lovely and your photos are amazing! I'm still making my way through visiting everyone from Vicki's Grow Your Blog party. I hope you will stop by to say hello.

Eaton Bennett aka Berenice Albrecht said...

Every photo all the way down to here is gorgeous... I particularly like your beach collage. :)

Gabriela said...

Hi Kim! So glad I found your beautiful blog!I look forward to getting to know you! Love the photos! The beach is my favorite place also..but I now live so far from it!Come visit my blog!!!!!

Maggie said...

you are so talented with BOTH of your passions! Both your photography and your jewelry: just stunning! I love the necklace...i also love the beach. Just got back yesterday from a little beach get-away, but at a different coast than yours! (I live close to the ocean in Oregon). The delicate shells combined with the crocheted wire is beautiful!

I'm having a giveaway on my blog, too. Hope you can stop by.

maggie
www.themagrag.com

sandy said...

I'm here from the GYB party. I love your photos. They are beautiful! And I'd love to wind your lovely jewelry! The beach is MY favorite place also!
sandy @ Hob Nobbers

Thistle Cove Farm said...

visiting via Vicki's GYB Party and the necklace is beautiful! I've knitted a bracelet, tough on the hands but beautiful when finished.

Jan Thomason said...

your photography is amazing as is your giveaway. the ocean is the place i go for respite so i absolutely love your necklace.

and, you're in houston.
i'm in the hill country.
texas talent.....:)

suziqu's thread works said...

Wow Kim
Such a beautiful blog and so adore your header being a gardener myself
especially of roses.
I loved your battle re-enactment photos - fantastic!
Your collage too is so very beautiful!
You just may like to come on over to visit my blog also if you are interested in Vintage lace collages.
Wish you all the best with your blog. It's beautiful and you know I think every photo we take is a learning curve.
Suzy

kareninkenai said...

Hi Kim, what a beautiful blog. We have passed with KK and Bonnie over the last couple of years. I don't know if I have joined your site, but I will - and, for some unknown reason I thought you lived in Wasilla. Goodness. Great to see your beautiful site. Please stop by if you haven't already and sign up for my giveaway. (I'm tardy because my motherboard died and went to the grave!) But, I have a replacement now! Hugs from Alaska. Karen

www.alaskabluemoose.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

You rocked the selfie Kim!!! And your new header!! wowie! I haven't been here in forever..I've got some catching up to do! xo

Tanya said...

Working my way up from the bottom of the final listing on Vicki's GYB Party...sorry it took me so long to find this FABULOUS blog. Your photography is exquisite (I'm captivated by those tiny fish in your hand up there)...and the jewelry ROCKS! Count me as a new follower - I love it here. Happy Tuesday - Tanya

mybearsnme said...

LOVE your photos - they really get the creative juices flowing :) What a great expression 'learner of life'...
I found you through the blog party - if you need a giggle - come and visit me at
http://leftoverchocolatestitches.blogspot.ca/
:)

hula-la said...

What a pretty blog! Your photos are doing the trick here in the northeast where we are in the throes of winter. And I love your beachy necklace. Having fun at the Blog Party...hope you are too.

Aloha from Vicki

sandy said...

I love that seagull in motion with the little fish in his mouth and his foot is just too cute. My daughter and I went to Galveston a long time ago and went swimming in the ocean and actually caught little fish like that with our hands. I have been swimming in a lot of different oceans, but this is the only one where we could actually go fishing with our hands lol What fun we had!

So nice to meet you and I loved when you wrote how you photographs can explain more than words, this is so true.

Love your sweet little hat and of course the pink in your hair and your necklace too♥

Maureen said...

Wow Kim, your photos are awesome; such an inspiration for someone like me who is just learning to use her new DSLR. And your jewelry is lovely! So glad to have gotten the chance to find you thru Vicki's party! Following now!

Sherrie {Bird Lady} said...

Stopping by from the GYB party. Always trying to improve my photography and post processing. Love your photos and think I could learn something from your blog.

~ Sherrie (Bird Lady)

http://www.birdladyblog.blogspot.com

Lululiz said...

I am so impressed by your photography, and love reading about it on your blog. I really got to stay a while and explore some more.

Cache-Mire said...

Wow, your blog is just beautiful! I am visiting from the GYOB party and so glad to have found you. Will be following :-)
~Terri

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