Well here is my first ever blog competition to celebrate my 100th post which should be coming pretty soon. I started this blog on the 1st October 2007 and oh my, I have learned soo much and met a bunch of wonderfully creative and inspiring people. The reason I decided to start one was that I had found a couple of other designers had pages and I got great pleasure reading what they had been up to and seeing little snippets of their work. So I decided I would do the same! It has been such a delight making contact with people all over the world and forming electronic friendships, Flickr, and of cource you showed me ETSY! So thank you! My business is now growing much faster and wider than it was with just my website and I am motivated on a daily basis to create something new.I would say my top bloggin tip is to share as often as you can and want to, and show a picture of something, whether it's something you have made or something that is inspiring you. I love sneeking little peeks into other peoples creative worlds! And my next tip would be to find a cluster of like minded folks whos blogs you like and comment on their posts. I remember the first comment I recieved and it warmed my heart that someone out there, from another country had found little old me!
Anyway enough about me, this is all about YOU now! Tell me why you started your blog and your top blogging tips, and in return I'll draw one lucky person and design and make them their very own Bloggin Bracelet! I will use your blog as a theme as inspiration for colours and style.
So get thinking, typing and spreading the word!
I will close the competition on Monday the 31st of March and announce the winner on Tuesday 1st of April. (This has nothing to do with April fools day, the date just falls with when I should be writing my 100th post!)
GOOD LUCK
xoxox
25 comments:
Congrats for your 100th!
I started blogging about my pregnancy of my first son. It was too time consuming that I dropped it all together after the first year.
BTW, I love your designs - it's very creative.
What a wonderfully friendly and warm post.
I'm Frances and I began blogging round about 7 years ago. I need to go abck and try and find the exact date.
I started out with one blog and now I have several including a meme, mobile and photo blog.
Glad I found you through the ultimate blog party roll.
Happy Posting
Share a blogging tip, huh? Well, mine would be similar to yours, I guess - use the power of photos! Show a behind the scenes shot of your work in progress - or your latest etsy buy - or your nephew playing with some blocks - or your neighbourhood or kitchen! I love knowing more about the person behind the work, which is why I read the blogs that I do.
I'll admit to relying too much on photos in my own blog, travel photos that have little if anything to do with my shop, but I enjoy sharing them so I like to think that people enjoy looking at them. I guess a good tip for myself would be to make sure to mention the ol' shop at least once in a while. Otherwise, you're not really promoting at all :)
Have fun with your competition!
- Letitia H.
How exciting about your 100th post! I think blogging is a lovely way of capturing memories- I bet it's nice to look back at your first ever post and see how far you have come.
I started my blog bascially to keep my sanity! I do art history at uni and dont have any time for any practical art anymore, my blog allows me to be creative for that 10 minuites a day.
A blogging tip from me would be to make your blog a little personal. It's nice for readers to know a little about who you are so that hey can relate to you better.
Sophie
blogging is everything you said! Lots of great connections, inspiration and fun. I started because I wanted to show my grandma what I was sewing, she has really slow internet and couldn't download the pics I was sending. It's been a road that only bloggers can understand.
I started blogging for a totally different reason to why I do now. I started to promote the things I make and to try and sell more. Now I don't make to sell anymore, just for pleasure and the blogging is for pleasure too. I've made some great 'virtual' friends and the support I've had- especially recently with all my wedding posts, has been overwhelming.
I've found blogging to be most rewarding when the posts are honest and reflect what's really going on in my life. I'm not one for soul-bearing in public, but when I have, the support has been very touching.
Congrats on your soon 100th post! Thats great I hope I can reach that goal someday, I just started blogging and honestly I started as a way to meet people with the same interests as me and a way to get my artwork noticed. Lets see the biggest tips I have learned over this small amount of time I have blogged would be to post often, show lots of pictures, and try to post on others blogs.
Take care- Sarah
Happy 100th Post! :)
I started blogging to keep in touch with friends and family in America. I married a wonderful Aussie man last March. We just celebrated our first wedding anniversary last week. So happy!
Hmmm...top blogging tips? I never thought of this before, I just blog. My top tip would be "Have Fun!" It usually shows on your post and in your blog when you are enjoying blogging.
You didn't mention if this is open to anyone or just the States. So, though I am currently in Australia, I do still have a Michigan address...so I hope that means I can still be entered in your giveaway. :)
I'm inviting you to party with me!
Win some chocolate from my-sister-in-law and I...we blog about CHOCOLATE...me from Australia...and her from Michigan. Here's the link: http://thechocolistas.blogspot.com/2008/03/ultimate-blog-party-2008.html
What am I doing in Australia? I married an Aussie...and moved to Brisbane, leaving my family and friends and all the right-side-of-the-road drivers in America.
Win a handmade pocket place mat from my blog Comfort Joy Designs. Here's the link:
http://comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com/2008/03/ultimate-blog-party-2008.html
Want to know more about life in Australia? Visit my A Cup of Joy site where I keep up with my family and friends in America. Here's the link:
http://acupofjoy.wordpress.com/
Happy Partying!
Fun! I started bloggin to capture & record memories of our Grace FULL days!
Welcome to the blog party! Now that you're here, let's get this party started! There are so many blogs to visit & friends to meet. What a pleasure!
Peek in on us at GraceFULL Days & say hi before you go! Skip over the Vicks Caring Tributes & vote for my Gracie Cakes story as one of their finalists~ Thanks in advance. http://videos.vickscaringtributes.com/videos/index.html
GraceFULL blessing to you & yours~
Carmen
http://gracefulldays.blogspot.com
wow! so excited to see this! congrats for 100th post!
Same here. I start blogging to share some stamping tips and my blogging tip is to use many photos. A picture is worth a thousands of words!!
:)
Laura, your jewelry is lovely! I'm so excited to learn that your giveaway is open to everyone. Thank you for replying to my question!
Sending you some warmth and sunshine from Brisbane!
Deborah @ Comfort Joy Designs
http://comfortjoydesigns.blogspot.com/
Congrats!!! I started blogging after the birth of my son to keep my family/friends updated. Blog often! Be creative and unique...
jasonncaryn at yahoo dot com
I started blogging two years ago to document the progress of my bead embroidery. A few months into it, I began incorporating music & images from pop culture as I went along just for fun. Needless to say, it kinda took off! :D
A successful blog takes a lot of time and commitment. But most of all it takes creativity. Find your own unique style and don't be afraid to show who you really are. You may even discover something new about yourself! :D
I started blogging not too long ago to share what I had to say and what I know with others.
My tips would be to follow and comment on bloggers not only who share your interests in what you do but also with those who write about blogging and marketing. They have a lot of information and helpful tips to make a blog even better.
Another tip would be to add links when referencing someone elses ideas or blogs.
And lastly, write about something you are passionate about. But, never be afraid to venture into something unfamiliar. Everyone likes to learn something new too.
I have started a couple of blogs before but quickly got tired of it and abandoned them, but now it seems to be sticking! I started blogging this time around as I began to spend more time crafting, and I want to keep a record of what I make as well as sharing photos with friends and family. Also, because I use recycled materials in my work I like to take 'before' and 'after' photos and share the whole creative process.
Once I got into posting regularly I started looking for ways to improve my blog and reach more readers. I have discovered that there is a LOT of help and advice out there but it can be hard to find. So in future I am hoping to develop my blog into a resource to help other bloggers. As a start my blog is linked to my del.icio.us account where you can access all the websites I have found helpful.
I have always wanted to be a writer and blogging enables me to do this for a small but growing audience. For now blogging and crafting are hobbies. In the future I would love for it to become my work - but there is still a big hill to climb before that becomes a reality!
My top tip: put a link on your blog to allow readers to subscribe to your RSS feed. It means they can stay up-to-date with your blog without needing to remember to visit your site.
Congrats!
Wow, I took almost 2 years to get 100 posts! Good job.
I have to say that I like to include a visual for interest in my blog.
I used to blog about family stuff but have since had to change that for personal reasons so I have a private blog for that now. I struggled at first about what to include and now that I keep it mostly business I have to say that I am really enjoying it a lot more.
You are off to a flying start, keep up the good work.
I am an avid art/design blog reader and started my own blog just to keep all the inspiration I found out there in an organized place. It has developed into something I never imagined - a space to promote independent artists and to inspire creativity not only in myself but in the readers. I love every moment of it!
My blogging tip is to write for yourself first and about things you love. Don't worry about your readers. That will come naturally. Really good images help as well!
What a fun idea! I started my blog as a tool to boost my handbag business. And what a boost! It's been a great outlet not only professionally, but personally too...and I've met soooo many wonderful people.
My blogging tip is to leave a comment when you visit others' blogs. Even a simple "Hello" will suffice. It's a warm fuzzie to the person you visited and it's more exposure for you.
I started my blog over five years ago when my daughter got married and moved away. It was a way to keep to share what was going on here at home. When I stared posting the craft projects I was doing, I got requests for directions on how to make things, so I started my craft blog. Now that both my daughters are married, I plan on really polishing my craft blog and etsy shop, getting them to be a bit more professional and with more frequent updates.
This idea rocks!! Well, lets see.....I started my blog because I thought it would help biz...but now....my blog is my window into the world! I never DREAMED it would connect me with so many wonderful, talented artists. The support, friendship,admiration and gratitude exchanged between us is my FUEL to keep going on the days when I do, in fact, question my talent as an artist and a seller. I think I use the blog to be my window OUT into the world and I also use my blog as a window IN to my world so that others may truely understand a part of me, why I do what I do. I always am hopeful that the buyer of each of my pieces will feel the love and gratitude I put into my work and radiate out from there. Okay!! That was deep!!!
Well, sure hope I win the charm! I'll probaby be making a purchase too! LUCK O" THE IRISH! Laurie Beggin http://www.lauriebethbeggin.blogspot.com
I've had a blog for a little over two years. My main reason that I started was community... I live in a small town and feel isolated much of the time... my blog friends ARE my friends!
I can't think of any tips! I do really appreciate this new way of communicating, though. It's become a habit and a diary of sorts...
I blog because I have lots to say about lots of things.
LOL
When I first started my business online way back in 96 I sent out a weekly newsletter. I did the newsletter for years and it was a bit of a poop having to keep up with who was enjoying and who wanted off the list.
Blogging is so easy and so much fun.
I actually have several blogs and keep to themes.
I find that the blogs I enjoy most are about real stuff. You know, people who talk from where they are in their life. Sharing from the heart and soul, and offering tidbits of wisdom and insights for others.
I think when you keep your writing style in line with who you are that comes across to the readers.
I also love spelling check.
I generally write my blog articles in a word processor program and check for spelling and basic sentence structure.
Most important, keep it fun.
Great idea you have here. I just might do a give a way on one of my blogs too.
Blessings,
Donna
FIrst of all, huge kudos to your one hundredth post!!! That's a ton of dedication! :) Keep up the good work. and here's to one hundred more! (virtual high five!)
I started blogging after a whole summer of being obsessed with etsy and cool etsy sellers. I peeked and stalked many inspiring people, and gathered inspiring images, and found what I now call my "style" or what I like. After looking at my photo's folder carefully, I found that I could totally do this too! So I picked up my old blog, and gave it some new love and attention! And guess what?! You were my first real blog friend! :)
Heehee! Thanks for all the fun! :)
Good luck with your contest! I hope you get many more contestants!
Congratulations on the 100th post!!!
I started my blog about a year ago just for the sheer desire to share my daily adventures in the domestic aspects of my life. Plus, it's so great to get to know people from all over the world.
It's always wonderful to get comments, so I guess my advice for bloggin' is perhaps to consistently blog. I tend to enjoy blogs that get updated regularly. Hope that helps. :D
I started my 2nd blog almost a year ago after finding Etsy. It really started out as a marketing thing but I was 'pimping' all my Etsy friends and not really getting into regular posting. I've made a concerted effort over the last 2 or 3 weeks and am starting to get much more into it now. Tip - try not to talk about Etsy all the time - a permanent recurring advert for Etsy is just not that interesting - mix it up a bit more. Oh and post regularly - it definitely helps :)
I like your blog, just rss'd you a week or so ago so missed this post originally.
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