Friday, January 18, 2013

Grow your blog - intro


Welcome, to anyone who might be reading as a result of the Grow Your Blog project. If you're someone who knows me and has read my blog for a while, I hope you'll either bypass this post, or else read it and discover some things you didn't know about me. I can't promise they will be interesting, though!

I have been blogging for a long time now - over 10 years - though on this blog, not for as long as that. I began blogging in July 2002, on my family blog, more or less when I stopped working. The idea was, I think,   just to have a way to impart information to those far and wide - I had two small kids at the time (rather than the 3 rather larger kids I have now) and a dial-up internet connection.

10 Years later, and I no longer have dial-up - and I no longer have a single blog.  I do still have the family blog - in ten years I've posted 1288 times, apparently.  Not a bad average, although this year I'm trying to post more often. I talk about my family, my house, trips we take, days out, cooking, art and craft the kids do, the weather, books, and so on. It's a family blog - does, as they say, what it says on the tin.  In 2012 I blogged our family meals, with recipes, which was great fun, but also hard work, so this year, I'm not dropping that idea entirely, but I'm only blogging photos of the food and a little chat about them with no recipes - avoids all the copyright issues, too...

I started this blog, my art blog (which used to be called just Kate's Quilting, hence the URL), in August 2006 (you can see my first post here, if you fancy it - and indeed, can view any of the nearly 2000 posts by checking out the archives in the sidebar), and in addition, I have several other blog that I am involved in or run - the one for my mini-quilt swap (Another Little Quilt Swap) - which has just wrapped up its 7th round (aside from a few quilts still lost in the postal ether), and one specifically dedicated to scrapbusting ideas for quilters. I've also been involved in various blogs related to challenges and projects, like the one for a Stay-at-Home Round Robin I ran for a few years, and so on. Blogs come and go - though I think this one is here to stay.  I sometimes think I should just have the one blog, but I don't want to drop either of them, and I think a lot of my quilter friends wouldn't be all that interested in my family blog - and vice versa. People can always hop around if they want to!

I always hate trying to tell people about myself, especially unprompted, so it occurs to me that if you really want to know, I did an interview about 5 years ago on Carina's blog, which probably answers all the questions you could conceivably ask...

Anyway. Welcome! Enjoy, relax, comment.  I'm here blogging anyway, so it's nice to have you along for the ride...


Oh, and I meant to say, there will be a giveaway related to the Grow Your Blog project!  Leave a comment (make sure you are contactable) and you'll be in with a chance to win this lovely(?) set of 6" squares - there are actually 51 in the pile, because I apparently can't count, and at least 44 of them are unique. There are a few repeats, but nothing more than twice. All cotton, from various sources, mostly regular quilting cotton, but a few from my dad's Hawaiian shirts and other such projects.  I'll draw a winner probably on the 1st of Feb.

20 comments:

Lynne said...

I did read on, and did learn so,e things about you! Hope the "Grow Your Blog" concept is successful for all of us!

Lyndsey said...

Hi Kate, I know you having followed your blog since I started mine back in April 2012 and taken part in ALQS7 but it was nice to learn more about you.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

I enjoyed your post and getting to know you better...I was surprised to read you had been blogging for 10 years! Wow...but then I did the math and I've been online for 6 and a bit and before that I was on BQL...so yep the time adds up!

Unknown said...

Me too - I never fail to be inspired by your many and varied ideas - have just posted a pic on fb of the baby quilt I made from the basket weave quilt you kindly shared a while ago - will blog about it later - keep blogging Kate - when the rest of us drop into a bit of a hiatus (and I've been very guilty of that this past year) you keep on sharing your ideas - thank you

Fuzzy Slippers said...

Nice to meet you! Wow, 10 years!!! Congratulations, I'm off to wander around and admire your creations. :)

Elizabeth Braun said...

Nice to meet someone whose been blogging longer than I have. I began in June 2005 and have 442 posts on my main blog since that time - but I did delete about 100 that weren't worth keeping once!!=)

Gill said...

Hi Kate
I've been reading your blog for a while but I didn't realise you'd been blogging for 10 years!
Keep going!

The Sage Butterfly said...

Lovely blog with so many lovely projects. It was a pleasure to meet you through the Grow Your Blog party. Have a very nice weekend!

Marei said...

I, too, read the interview and learned a bit about you. I always enjoy reading your blog (been a follower/lurker for over 2 years) and love seeing all the stuff you do. I get a lot of great ideas from you.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

wow, you have been in the blogging world for a long time that is great!! Congrats on that. i'm very new. so it is fun meeting you. please stop by my blog when you get a chance. have a great one. take care. ( :

EvalinaMaria said...

You have a very lovely blog. I would love to follow your blog but, for some reason I can't find the 'Follow' button... Have fun at the party!

Evalina, This and that...

Anonymous said...

10 yrs is a long time blogging. I'm enjoying browsing thru your posts.

Needled Mom said...

It is always nice to learn something new about bloggers that you already follow.

Kathy H said...

Looking forward to following your blog. I like the quilts you have finished.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kate, it is nice to meet you. Blogging for 10 years is what I call dedicated! :D I love the quilts you have finished, OK, except for the binding (in my book that is finished, after all that work the binding is nothing, lol!)
I am your newest follower and look forward to a proper visit once the blog party is over.
Off to visit more blogs now...
Hugs,
Beth P

hueisei said...

Nice to meet you at the party!
Beautiful blog and I love your lovely giveaway... I am a quilter too :D
I am looking forward to more inspiration posts from you :D

pippirose said...

I look forward to reading more of your blog. I'm a newbie quilter, and can use all the inspiration I can get!
:o)
Rose
pippirose59 at gmail dot com

Thistle Cove Farm said...

visiting via Vicki's GYB Party and enjoying your blog; the fabric is lovely.

lynda said...

Finally making my way through all the wonderful blogs from the party...looking forward to reading more of yours...would love a chance in your giveaway too. thanks!

mybearsnme said...

Love your creations! I found you through the blog party - if you need a giggle - come and visit me at
http://leftoverchocolatestitches.blogspot.ca/
:)