Sunday 21 July 2013

One year of blogging (and a giveaway!)

UPDATE - GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED

Today it's been a year since I started blogging!  It's so funny to look back at my first few tentative posts and see how things have changed.  20 finished quilts, nearly 30 mini quilts, cushions, and other small projects later (not to mention all those WIPs), and I've learnt a lot.

Blue and green should never be seen?  I don't think so!

These are some of the things I've discovered in the last year:

- Writing a blog is pretty weird to start with.  The more you write, the more natural it feels.  I think participating in Blogtoberfest last year, and challenging myself to write a post every day in October, was the best thing I could have done to help my writing flow.

- I am pretty terrible at predicting what people will like.  The response to items I have made often surprises me (usually in a good way).  This leads me to two conclusions - I probably shouldn't go into retail, and I should just keep making the things that I feel like making, rather than trying to predict what other people will like.

- People are more willing to help you than you'd think.  Any time I've asked for help or advice on my blog, the response has been fantastic.  Similarly, without the help of the people in my real world life, I would struggle to write this blog (or at least to have any photos to post!).

- Quilters are awesome.  I am still constantly amazed by how friendly, welcoming, generous and funny quilters (online and in real life) are.  Next time I travel (somewhere, anywhere), I will definitely have a bloggy friend or two to catch up with (and hopefully introduce me to their LQS!).

- I am a creative person.  A year ago I would have denied this, because I've always seen myself as a very pragmatic, analytical, low-key person.  I'm still all of those things, but I recognise that they are not mutually exclusive with being creative, and that using my creative energy makes life a lot more fulfilling.

Rainbow bright

Thanks for joining me on my quilting journey so far!  I'm looking forward to my second year blogging and lots of new quilts!  Now, onto the thing you've been waiting for - the giveaway!

I have three lovely prizes for you.  The first is small but perfectly formed - a fat quarter of each of these very special fabrics.  These are hard to let go, but I know they will be enjoyed by the recipient, so I'll be happy to send them off to the winner.

Ruby star risingRuby star rising

Next up is this bundle of Prints Charming for Spotlight fabrics in cool colours...

Prints Charming cool fat quarter bundle 

... and this bundle in warm colours.

Prints Charming warm fat quarter bundle

There are 6 metric fat quarters in each bundle - which adds up to a metre and a half of fabric - definitely enough to make a baby quilt top or be the base for a larger quilt top.  Or, you know, just add it to your stash!

A different person will win each prize.  To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment, any comment.  If you want, you can get an extra entry for each of the following (just leave an extra comment for each that applies):

- following my blog through google friend connect or a feed reader like bloglovin' or feedly (new and existing followers both count);
- liking my facebook page; and
- sharing this giveaway via your favourite social media (you could blog about it, share it on facebook, tweet about it, whatever!).

This giveaway is open to everyone (including international participants), but if I can't contact you, you can't win. If you are a no-reply blogger, please leave your email address in the comment.

The giveaway will stay open until around 10 pm Sunday 28 July 2013 (New Zealand Time), and I will use the random number generator at random.org to pick a winner for each prize then.

Good luck everyone!  By the way, I usually respond to all comments, but giveaways can be a little overwhelming, so I hope you don't mind if I don't respond to your comment on this post.

Some of you may have heard about the strong earthquakes that have struck Wellington over the last few days.  The largest one, at just after 5 pm this evening, was the strongest earthquake I've ever felt, and has left me and my family (including the cats) a bit jumpy but otherwise fine.  If you are interested, you can find more details here.  Neither my house nor my parents' house has suffered any damage, although I have taken a couple of things down off shelves as a precaution.  This is the first earthquake in my memory that has actually caused damage in Wellington, though it's not in the league of the devastating earthquakes in Christchurch in 2010 and 2011. 

UPDATE - GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED - THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED

229 comments:

1 – 200 of 229   Newer›   Newest»
sarah elizabeth :: {no} hats said...

So glad I jumped online during breakfast before diving into my studies today! Congratulations on a year (and really, you've done all that in a year?!) Looking forward to keeping up with and being inspired by you for many to come, friend!

andri. said...

Happy Blogiversary! That's a lot of projects in merely a year! Amazing! :D

sarah elizabeth :: {no} hats said...

Oh, and I follow via bloglovin. And, to keep things interesting, I just had a very "Whaaa?!" moment when I saw a snippet of the Nov. 2012 "Another Man Quilt" post (the hallway shot), only to realize I'd seen that very image on *another* blogger's page last fall... hm hm! ;)

andri. said...

My fingers are crossed for those special MM!:) I'm following via Bloglovin

Chloe grice said...

Hello & congratulations!! Would love to win the warm bundle :-) chloe at ymail dot com thanks for the giveaway!

Nat at Made in Home said...

Whoohoo! Well done! What a great giveaway!

Nat at Made in Home said...

I follow you on Facebook!

Lia*s Handmades said...

Congrats on your blogaversary! :D
Not too long and I have my first birthday coming up too. So exciting!

Lia*s Handmades said...

I'm also one of your loyal followers, first through GFC and now through Bloglovin :)

Lia*s Handmades said...

Am also a Fan of your Facebook Page

Angela Bullard said...

Congrats on your one year! It looks like you've accomplished quite a bit :)

Nat at Made in Home said...

And I tweeted (@noaslibellule)!

Angela Bullard said...

I'm a follower through bloglovin.

Lia*s Handmades said...

Also posted this to my FB wall: https://www.facebook.com/wolfgirl28/posts/10152027035758943

Emma's Daughter said...

I follow you on Bloglovin and love your blog. Happy blogiversary! Rcoyle@olemiss.edu

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

What an amazing year - I'm always impressed by how productive you are. Happy blogiversary!

Sewing Mom said...

What a lovely giveaway! Blogging is fun and you've found many things that we can all relate too over the year. =)

Sewing Mom said...

I follow your blog through GFC. =)

Sewing Mom said...

I'm a new FB fan. =)

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

I'm a happy bloglovin follower

Sewing Mom said...

I shared your giveaway on Fb. Thanks again.

alli b said...

I follow you on Google friends. Thanks for the giveaway. I used to live in Newtown and only experienced 1 quake when we were there but it wasn't that strong. It was also when they made that emergency preparedness show that showed the airport flooded, newtown on fire & the CBD a sea of glass. I'm glad you are safe after the quakes. Here's hoping that was enough to quiet things again.

Unknown said...

Congratulations. I am a follower via Bloglovin.

Unknown said...

I liked you on Facebook.

Unknown said...

Congratulations. I am a follower via Bloglovin.

Jessica said...

Congratulations!

Jessica said...

I follow you on Bloglovin!

giddy99 said...

Your blue-green "make" mosaic is quite lovely! I'm fascinated to read about other quilters, especially those so far away (I'm in Tennessee, in the U.S.). Congrats on your blogiversary, and stay safe!

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation said...

congratulations of your one year blogiversary! I have loved getting to know you better through the blog hop, and I love reading your posts.

:) Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

giddy99 said...

I follow you on Facebook (giddy99), aka Giddy Stokes.

giddy99 said...

I tweeted! https://twitter.com/giddy99/status/358939135471398914

Anonymous said...

A year! Awesome. You've done really well and I'd love to be where you are in a year.

Anonymous said...

I liked you on Facebook.

Mary Ann said...

Congrats on a year of blogging.

Anonymous said...

I follow you on Bloglovin'

Great giveaway!

Mary Ann said...

I am a follower on feedly

gtcoursey said...

Congratulations on your Blog anniversary. I've tried to keep one, but I started back to work full time, and it has been neglected since.

gtcoursey said...

I have been following you on bloglovin'

gtcoursey said...

I also liked you Facebook page.

Judy H said...

I follow you on bloglovin

Judy H said...

One of the best (and greatest) things I ever did was to publicly acknowledge myself as an 'artist'. Once I did that it was like the whole world opened up. Congrats on one year and may you have many creative years more.

wobblybobbin said...

20 finished quilts?! In one year?! That's impressive! I've enjoyed following along, looking forward to more fabric-y adventures!

wobblybobbin said...

I follow your blog with bloglovin :)

Joyce said...

Wow..I have also been blogging for almost a year....but with far fewer finishes! I love following you on Google friends!

Joyce said...

Also like your FB page!

Jusmom1 said...

Happy Blogiversary! Thanks for the chance to win such wonderful give-aways!

Jessica said...

Happy blogaversary! Glad I found your blog and that we've become bloggy friends :)

Jessica said...

I follow via GFC!

Jessica said...

I also like your FB page!

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures said...

Congrats on one year blogging milestones, great work and fun posts!

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures said...

I follow you via BL and FB

Ali said...

Well done on a year of blogging!

Gill said...

Congratulations!
It's lovely to see all your projects together!

Ali said...

And I follow you with bloglovin

Gill said...

I'm a happy GFC follower!

Shauna said...

ohhh such lovely choices, thanks for the chance and congrats on your anniversary

mvink said...

Ooo so pretty!! Thank you for the chance! :-)
Congrats!

mvink said...

I follow via bloglovin'

Unknown said...

Congratulations on One Year Blogging, and thanks for the chance

Unknown said...

I follow you via bloglovin

Susan at TheBoredZombie.com said...

I just wanted to say congrats! You have a lovely blog and do lovely work. :)

Kathy MacKie said...

Congrat's and thanks for the giveaway.

Aideen said...

Love your blue/green finishes. Happy blogiversary :)

Fran said...

It's good to read about your process as a blogger, I find that stuff really interesting. I also like bloggers who detail the process of quilting & other projects. Well done for year one, your blog certainly seems much more mature than that (in a good way!). Thanks for the lovely giveaway.

Fran said...

I follow you via Bloglovin, yay! And thanks for the extra chance to win.

Anna said...

You have made so many lovely things! :) I age about the quilting community- everyone is so open and generous and friendly. :)

thanks for the giveaway!

Anna said...

I am also a follower (through feedly... Ad probably bloglovin and google friend connect, but I read through feedly :))

Anna said...

And I liked you Fb page!

Sheryl said...

Congrats on your one year of blogging. Your quilts are gorgeous (though I hope you already know that!)

Sheryl said...

Also, you are already in my feedly. :)

Debra Lee said...

Congrats and thanks for the lovely giveaway!

Debra Lee said...

I follow by Bloglovin!

Debra Lee said...

Tweeted here: https://twitter.com/DistractedDebra/status/358984095717531649

*Cornelia* said...

congratulations on your first blogging year, I totally love your quilts, they are so colorful

*Cornelia* said...

I already follow you with google connect

*Cornelia* said...

and im a facebook follower now

Trish said...

Happy Bloggiversary! I'm glad you are your family are safe and your homes are withstanding the earthquakes!

Trish said...

I follow via Bloglovin :)

Trish said...

I like you on FB!

Unknown said...

Happy Blogiversary!!! :) So glad to 'know' you and your blog!!

Unknown said...

I follow you on Bloglovin! :)

Unknown said...

I liked your FB page! :)

Tanyia said...

thanks so much for the chance and congrats on your Blogoversary!

Tanyia said...

I followed via GFC as I read all my blogs through my dashboard!

Tanyia said...

I am a new liker on FB :)

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

Congrats and wowie-zowie those are delicious prizes!!! I hope you don't get any aftershocks from the quake and I am relieved for you My Nana lived in California and they went through many without too much to report, thankfully. I know how families worry when they hear which areas have been affected.

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

I am a flower... I mean follower :)

Mareenchen said...

Congrats! Time simply flies by when you're creative, doesn't it? It's always fun to read along. To the next year and further. x

barbara woods said...

congrats!!! great giveaway

barbara woods said...

i follow you on facebook

barbara woods said...

follow on gfc, thanks

heart of charnwood said...

It is a great thing to blog and meet new friends, and look how far you've come in that time. :o)

heart of charnwood said...

And you know I'm a follower, I love to see what you're up to :o). Thx for the fantastic giveaway, and happy blogiversary

Melissa at My Fabric Relish said...

Happy Anniversary!!

Melissa at My Fabric Relish said...

I'm already a follower on bloglovin! :)

Michelle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michelle said...

Congrats on your one year blogiversary! What a great accomplishment. I need to get on the blogging bandwagon myself.

detroitgirl77 AT gmail DOT com

Michelle said...

I follow via bloglovin!

detroitgirl77 AT gmail DOT com

Michelle said...

I am a facebook fan!!

detroitgirl77 AT gmail DOT com

Susan said...

Great reflections Adrianne. One year and all those quilts! Amazing!

Laurina said...

Congratulations on your 1-year anniversary.

Laurina said...

I'm following you on Bloglovin'

Julie said...

Congratulations on 1 year of blogging - I have almost just made the three month mark in mine. Glad you are ok after the earthquakes - would have been a bit scary for you all. Thanks for the chance.

Margaret said...

congrats on one year of blogging. Thanks for the giveaway

Margaret said...

I follow you by blog lovin

Margaret said...

I already liked your facebook page

Margaret said...

I tweeted;https://twitter.com/schind67/status/359062616154456065

Nikita said...

Your quilts are bright and beautiful!!!!

Nikita said...

I follow via blogger

Nikita said...

I like You FB.

Nikita said...

Also shared on FB.

Cindy said...

I'm so glad to have met you through Flickr and hope you are still happy with your sewing machine cover! Happy one year anniversary and thanks so much for the chance at an awesome giveaway!!

Cindy said...

I absolutely follow you on Facebook!!

Anne said...

Happy 1 year of blogging - looking forward to more inspiration in the coming year!
(majesticjenkinsATgmailDOTcom)

Anne said...

Follow you on Bloglovin'
(majesticjenkinsAtgmailDOTcom)

Cindy said...

I just shared on Facebook! :)

Erica said...

You are definitely a creative person and I am so glad that you started your blog so that you can share your creativity with the world.

When I saw the news about the earthquake I did think about you and I am glad that you are okay! That is so scary. We have fairly regular earthquakes here, but they are really small and are usually just one or two jolts. The strongest that I have felt was actually when I was in the hospital in labor with my son and there was pretty strong earthquake that felt like it lasted forever. They are so scary!

Erica said...

I do follow you on Bloglovin!

Erica said...

And also facebook!

cakegirl said...

Congratulations on 1 year. I love your plan to blog everyday for a month...very inspiring. Thanks for a great giveaway.

Linda said...

HAPPY TO FOLLOW YOU ON FB!
lindadouglas.35


msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

Linda said...

HAPPY TO FOLLOW YOU ON BLOG LOVIN'!

msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

Linda said...

HI! WHAT NEAT FABRICS!
THANKS FOR SHARING!

msstitcher1948@yahoo.com

Rachelle said...

Hi from Christchurch, glad you guys are ok.

Rachelle said...

I follow your blog on Bloglovin'

Rachelle said...

I already like you on Facebook

Dominique said...

Happy Blogiversary, Adrianne!

Leigh Anne said...

So glad to hear that you and yours are ok!

Congratulations on your anniversary and thanks for the giveaway :)

Leigh Anne said...

I follow you on bloglovin :)

Annabella said...

So glad you are okay Adrianne! I love your blog and the beautiful things you create - congrats on your 1st year :) I totally get the not predicting reactions thing too. Here's to lots more years. Keep safe.

Annabella said...

I follow very happily through bloglovin'

karen k said...

I've recently been aware of your blog. I enjoy all your posts. Glad you started your blog...congrats!

karen k said...

I follow you on Bloglovin.

Haly G. said...

Congratulations!!

DeborahGun said...

Congratulations - I really can't believe you have only been blogging for a year :-) I love all your quilts - they are so colourful and always look so perfect. Thanks for sharing with us.

DeborahGun said...

I follow you on Bloglovin :-)

DeborahGun said...

I follow you on FB (Deborah Gunthorpe)

Lisa said...

I'm a follower!

Sarah @ mila+cuatro said...

Congratulations on your Blogiversary, you've made an awful lot of great things in that time. Fantastic giveaway too.

Sarah @ mila+cuatro said...

I follow you on Bloglovin'.

Meg said...

Those quilts are so inspiring :)

Meg said...

Also I follow you on bloglovin!

Jan Baker said...

I haven't gotten up the nerve to do a blog yet but love to read them. They have helped my quilting so much.

SheilaN8 said...

Congratulations on one year of blogging! I hope that you and your family continue to be safe! Earthquakes must be scary!

SheilaN8 said...

I follow you on bloglovin'

SheilaN8 said...

Aaaaaand I like your Facebook page👍

Peggy said...

I would love to win any of these beautiful fabric bundles. I follow through Bloglovin'.
Thanks,
Peggy
peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

Peggy said...

I already like you on FB.
Thanks,
Peggy
peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

Joanna Jenkins said...

you area very productive and creative quilter! Your work is beautiful and inspiring. i've been quilting for about a year and a half and realy enjoy it... i just wish i had more time for it.

congratulations on yout anniversary!!!
lookinh forward to many more years and quilts.

thanks for the giveaway, jj

Joanna Jenkins said...

ps and i'm a follower.

Stephanie @ Quarter Incher said...

These are fantastic giveaway bundles! Happy Blogiversary!

Stephanie @ Quarter Incher said...

I follow you through Bloglovin

Stephanie @ Quarter Incher said...

I'm a FB fan :)

Stephanie @ Quarter Incher said...

I pinned your giveaway

anne said...

Wow what a lot of eye candy. Love all the colours and quilts you have made. May you have many more blogversarys.

Rachel said...

I'm so glad to hear you're doing ok after the earthquakes! Did you get a day at home? Love all your quilts, and looking forward to seeing what you get up to next! ;)

Nikki said...

Happy blogoversary! I only discovered your blog about a month ago, but I'm loving it! It really inspires me to quilt.

Molli Sparkles said...

Happy blogiversary! Woohoo, sparkles rainbows and unicorn dust thrown in the air for you! I'm so glad I found your blog because it has such a clean, crisp and bright style to it.

Molli Sparkles said...

And of course I follow through Bloglovin, and just can't get enough. Now where have I left those Pom-poms?

Martha said...

I love reading your blog through Bloglovin!

Carla said...

Well hello there! Happy day to you. Thank you for the great prizes .i must have discovered you at the beginning of your blog because I recognize all those quilts : )

Carla said...

And yes I follow

Unknown said...

thanks for the giveaway ^^
my email is: elisa.marchetti1@gmail.com

Fran said...

Happy blogiversary, hope you stay safe in the earthquakes.

Fran said...

I also follow in bloglovin!

Anna said...

Happy Blogiversary! Thanks for the give away!

Anna said...

I also follow your blog with Feedly

nicole said...

Congrats on your blogversary Adrianne! I always love popping in to see what you have going on!

nicole said...

And of course i'm already a follower on bloglovin!

Camilla said...

Goodness what a lot of comments! I was going to comment anyway to say that of course you are creative and what a happy discovery to have made! Perhaps quilting is a particularly good creative outlet for the more pragmatic and analytical amongst us somehow!?

Camilla said...

It's been a great year, such a lot done! I do enjoy following you via Feedly and I was so glad to hear Wellington is largely still intact!

Heidi said...

Thank you for sharing all your fantastic creativity with us & cheers to a great year!

Heidi said...

I enjoy Bloglovin you :-)

Kelsey said...

Holy dyna look at you go lady! So many incredible finishes in a year, I can't wait to see what you come up with next! Congrats on year 1 :) so relieved to hear that you and your family are doing okay after the earthquakes! Take care

Kelsey said...

p.s. I'm a bloglovin' follower :)

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the 1 year blogaversary and thanks for the giveaway.

(smjohns63 at yahoo dot com)

Anonymous said...

I follow you with bloglovin!!

(smjohns63 at yahoo dot com)

Chelsie C said...

Congrats on 1 year! You have gotten a lot more done than I have in this past year :) Thanks for the giveaway.

Chelsie C said...

I follow you on bloglovin. Thanks again for the giveaway!

Anonymous said...

I liked your FB page.

(smjohns63 at yahoo dot com)

Tammy said...

I am allready following your blog via Bloglovin.

Tammy said...

I am all ready a follower of your facebook page as well.

Tammy said...

Happy 1 year Blogoversary. Thank you for the chances to enter your Blogoversary giveaways. WHat beautiful fabrics.

Sarah J. said...

Happy one year! I really enjoy your blog and everything you make. Keep it up!

Sarah J. said...

I like you on FB too.

Lourdes said...

I'm a follower via Bloglovin'

Lourdes said...

I'm a follower via GFC also

Lourdes said...

And I have already liked your facebook page

bee said...

happy 1 year! it does get easier/smoother the more you post and so fun to be inspired & motivated by everyone's projects.

Sarah said...

I can't believe you've only been doing this for a year! Your blog is so professional.

Sarah said...

I follow you on bloglovin

Lianne said...

I have just discovered your blog so congrats on 1 year I love the cool colours and I also love your quilts

Elise Lea said...

Congrats! Keep up the good work!

Elise Lea said...

I follow you on bloglovin'

JillB said...

What a fantastic milestone! It would interesting to know how many blogs are started and how many are still going after one year - Congrats!!

JillB said...

I have been following via Bloglovin

Sandra Dee said...

Woo hoo! I love following you especially being a Kiwi living in Australia, you are my link to home :-)

Sandra Dee said...

Woo hoo! I love following you especially being a Kiwi living in Australia, you are my link to home :-)

Sandra Dee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
craftykat said...

Congratulations Adrianne! Can't wait to see your future projects

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