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 |
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.
... and this bundle in warm colours.
- 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»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!
Happy Blogiversary! That's a lot of projects in merely a year! Amazing! :D
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! ;)
My fingers are crossed for those special MM!:) I'm following via Bloglovin
Hello & congratulations!! Would love to win the warm bundle :-) chloe at ymail dot com thanks for the giveaway!
Whoohoo! Well done! What a great giveaway!
I follow you on Facebook!
Congrats on your blogaversary! :D
Not too long and I have my first birthday coming up too. So exciting!
I'm also one of your loyal followers, first through GFC and now through Bloglovin :)
Am also a Fan of your Facebook Page
Congrats on your one year! It looks like you've accomplished quite a bit :)
And I tweeted (@noaslibellule)!
I'm a follower through bloglovin.
Also posted this to my FB wall: https://www.facebook.com/wolfgirl28/posts/10152027035758943
I follow you on Bloglovin and love your blog. Happy blogiversary! Rcoyle@olemiss.edu
What an amazing year - I'm always impressed by how productive you are. Happy blogiversary!
What a lovely giveaway! Blogging is fun and you've found many things that we can all relate too over the year. =)
I follow your blog through GFC. =)
I'm a new FB fan. =)
I'm a happy bloglovin follower
I shared your giveaway on Fb. Thanks again.
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.
Congratulations. I am a follower via Bloglovin.
I liked you on Facebook.
Congratulations. I am a follower via Bloglovin.
Congratulations!
I follow you on Bloglovin!
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!
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
I follow you on Facebook (giddy99), aka Giddy Stokes.
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/giddy99/status/358939135471398914
A year! Awesome. You've done really well and I'd love to be where you are in a year.
I liked you on Facebook.
Congrats on a year of blogging.
I follow you on Bloglovin'
Great giveaway!
I am a follower on feedly
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.
I have been following you on bloglovin'
I also liked you Facebook page.
I follow you on bloglovin
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.
20 finished quilts?! In one year?! That's impressive! I've enjoyed following along, looking forward to more fabric-y adventures!
I follow your blog with bloglovin :)
Wow..I have also been blogging for almost a year....but with far fewer finishes! I love following you on Google friends!
Also like your FB page!
Happy Blogiversary! Thanks for the chance to win such wonderful give-aways!
Happy blogaversary! Glad I found your blog and that we've become bloggy friends :)
I follow via GFC!
I also like your FB page!
Congrats on one year blogging milestones, great work and fun posts!
I follow you via BL and FB
Well done on a year of blogging!
Congratulations!
It's lovely to see all your projects together!
And I follow you with bloglovin
I'm a happy GFC follower!
ohhh such lovely choices, thanks for the chance and congrats on your anniversary
Ooo so pretty!! Thank you for the chance! :-)
Congrats!
I follow via bloglovin'
Congratulations on One Year Blogging, and thanks for the chance
I follow you via bloglovin
I just wanted to say congrats! You have a lovely blog and do lovely work. :)
Congrat's and thanks for the giveaway.
Love your blue/green finishes. Happy blogiversary :)
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.
I follow you via Bloglovin, yay! And thanks for the extra chance to win.
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!
I am also a follower (through feedly... Ad probably bloglovin and google friend connect, but I read through feedly :))
And I liked you Fb page!
Congrats on your one year of blogging. Your quilts are gorgeous (though I hope you already know that!)
Also, you are already in my feedly. :)
Congrats and thanks for the lovely giveaway!
I follow by Bloglovin!
Tweeted here: https://twitter.com/DistractedDebra/status/358984095717531649
congratulations on your first blogging year, I totally love your quilts, they are so colorful
I already follow you with google connect
and im a facebook follower now
Happy Bloggiversary! I'm glad you are your family are safe and your homes are withstanding the earthquakes!
I follow via Bloglovin :)
I like you on FB!
Happy Blogiversary!!! :) So glad to 'know' you and your blog!!
I follow you on Bloglovin! :)
I liked your FB page! :)
thanks so much for the chance and congrats on your Blogoversary!
I followed via GFC as I read all my blogs through my dashboard!
I am a new liker on FB :)
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.
I am a flower... I mean follower :)
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
congrats!!! great giveaway
i follow you on facebook
follow on gfc, thanks
It is a great thing to blog and meet new friends, and look how far you've come in that time. :o)
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
Happy Anniversary!!
I'm already a follower on bloglovin! :)
Congrats on your one year blogiversary! What a great accomplishment. I need to get on the blogging bandwagon myself.
detroitgirl77 AT gmail DOT com
I follow via bloglovin!
detroitgirl77 AT gmail DOT com
I am a facebook fan!!
detroitgirl77 AT gmail DOT com
Great reflections Adrianne. One year and all those quilts! Amazing!
Congratulations on your 1-year anniversary.
I'm following you on Bloglovin'
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.
congrats on one year of blogging. Thanks for the giveaway
I follow you by blog lovin
I already liked your facebook page
I tweeted;https://twitter.com/schind67/status/359062616154456065
Your quilts are bright and beautiful!!!!
I follow via blogger
I like You FB.
Also shared on FB.
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!!
I absolutely follow you on Facebook!!
Happy 1 year of blogging - looking forward to more inspiration in the coming year!
(majesticjenkinsATgmailDOTcom)
Follow you on Bloglovin'
(majesticjenkinsAtgmailDOTcom)
I just shared on Facebook! :)
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!
I do follow you on Bloglovin!
And also facebook!
Congratulations on 1 year. I love your plan to blog everyday for a month...very inspiring. Thanks for a great giveaway.
HAPPY TO FOLLOW YOU ON FB!
lindadouglas.35
msstitcher1948@yahoo.com
HAPPY TO FOLLOW YOU ON BLOG LOVIN'!
msstitcher1948@yahoo.com
HI! WHAT NEAT FABRICS!
THANKS FOR SHARING!
msstitcher1948@yahoo.com
Hi from Christchurch, glad you guys are ok.
I follow your blog on Bloglovin'
I already like you on Facebook
Happy Blogiversary, Adrianne!
So glad to hear that you and yours are ok!
Congratulations on your anniversary and thanks for the giveaway :)
I follow you on bloglovin :)
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.
I follow very happily through bloglovin'
I've recently been aware of your blog. I enjoy all your posts. Glad you started your blog...congrats!
I follow you on Bloglovin.
Congratulations!!
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.
I follow you on Bloglovin :-)
I follow you on FB (Deborah Gunthorpe)
I'm a follower!
Congratulations on your Blogiversary, you've made an awful lot of great things in that time. Fantastic giveaway too.
I follow you on Bloglovin'.
Those quilts are so inspiring :)
Also I follow you on bloglovin!
I haven't gotten up the nerve to do a blog yet but love to read them. They have helped my quilting so much.
Congratulations on one year of blogging! I hope that you and your family continue to be safe! Earthquakes must be scary!
I follow you on bloglovin'
Aaaaaand I like your Facebook page👍
I would love to win any of these beautiful fabric bundles. I follow through Bloglovin'.
Thanks,
Peggy
peggy_verdongibbs@att.net
I already like you on FB.
Thanks,
Peggy
peggy_verdongibbs@att.net
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
ps and i'm a follower.
These are fantastic giveaway bundles! Happy Blogiversary!
I follow you through Bloglovin
I'm a FB fan :)
I pinned your giveaway
Wow what a lot of eye candy. Love all the colours and quilts you have made. May you have many more blogversarys.
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! ;)
Happy blogoversary! I only discovered your blog about a month ago, but I'm loving it! It really inspires me to quilt.
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.
And of course I follow through Bloglovin, and just can't get enough. Now where have I left those Pom-poms?
I love reading your blog through Bloglovin!
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 : )
And yes I follow
thanks for the giveaway ^^
my email is: elisa.marchetti1@gmail.com
Happy blogiversary, hope you stay safe in the earthquakes.
I also follow in bloglovin!
Happy Blogiversary! Thanks for the give away!
I also follow your blog with Feedly
Congrats on your blogversary Adrianne! I always love popping in to see what you have going on!
And of course i'm already a follower on bloglovin!
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!?
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!
Thank you for sharing all your fantastic creativity with us & cheers to a great year!
I enjoy Bloglovin you :-)
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
p.s. I'm a bloglovin' follower :)
Congrats on the 1 year blogaversary and thanks for the giveaway.
(smjohns63 at yahoo dot com)
I follow you with bloglovin!!
(smjohns63 at yahoo dot com)
Congrats on 1 year! You have gotten a lot more done than I have in this past year :) Thanks for the giveaway.
I follow you on bloglovin. Thanks again for the giveaway!
I liked your FB page.
(smjohns63 at yahoo dot com)
I am allready following your blog via Bloglovin.
I am all ready a follower of your facebook page as well.
Happy 1 year Blogoversary. Thank you for the chances to enter your Blogoversary giveaways. WHat beautiful fabrics.
Happy one year! I really enjoy your blog and everything you make. Keep it up!
I like you on FB too.
I'm a follower via Bloglovin'
I'm a follower via GFC also
And I have already liked your facebook page
happy 1 year! it does get easier/smoother the more you post and so fun to be inspired & motivated by everyone's projects.
I can't believe you've only been doing this for a year! Your blog is so professional.
I follow you on bloglovin
I have just discovered your blog so congrats on 1 year I love the cool colours and I also love your quilts
Congrats! Keep up the good work!
I follow you on bloglovin'
What a fantastic milestone! It would interesting to know how many blogs are started and how many are still going after one year - Congrats!!
I have been following via Bloglovin
Woo hoo! I love following you especially being a Kiwi living in Australia, you are my link to home :-)
Woo hoo! I love following you especially being a Kiwi living in Australia, you are my link to home :-)
Congratulations Adrianne! Can't wait to see your future projects
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