Blog Hop 17: Advice from Fresh Lemon Quilts and Fabric Giveaway

Blogs to visit this week!
Sep 11
        Anne from SpringLeaf Studios
         Kristy from Cotton Addiction
 Sep 13
         Julie from That's Sew Julie
         Chelsea from Pins and Bobbins



Today's Advice for New Bloggers comes from the very talented Faith from Fresh Lemon Quilts.  Here is what she had to say:

Image from Fresh Lemon Quilts

What do you think is the most important thing for new bloggers to know?

Have fun!  A blog should be an outlet for your creativity.  Share what you learn, the successes and the failures.  Reach out to make friends with other bloggers on Flickr, Twitter or Instagram.  Go meet other bloggers in real life at your local quilt guild or blogging/quilting conference (such as The Sewing Summit or Quilt Con).  I love blogging, but even more than that I love the friends I've made through my blog.  When you start blogging, you become part of an amazing and supportive online community.

How did you find your blogging voice?

I basically have just tried to be myself on my blog.  I do like to keep my website a very positive and professional place.  I want my readers to come and feel inspired when they are visiting, not weighed down by drama or negative posts.  I strive to encourage new quilters to try new techniques, through tutorials or quilt alongs with LOTS of pictures, which I think helps build confidence when starting something new.

Image from Fresh Lemon Quilts

Any technical advice for us new bloggers - how to organize posts, how many topics per post, how to respond to comments, photography, etc. . .

I try to keep my posts to one topic at a time.  For example, I typically don't write one post with several projects from the week in it.  This obviously isn't a hard and fast rule, but it helps me organize my thoughts better.   I attempt to reply to comments/questions within the blog post comments so others can see the answers as well (as opposed to directly emailing the commenter back).  For photography, I like to take my pictures outside in the shade.  Natural light is so wonderful!  A lot of my block photos are taken flat on my wooden deck which provides a consistent background.  I also edit my photos and create my blog graphics using Photoshop, but any photo editing software would work.

How did you find your place in the vast quilting blogosphere?

Initially I just wanted to blog about my quilting/sewing journey.  I wasn't sure if it was something I would stick with but I wanted to document the quilts I was making.  Eventually I decided I wanted to "give back" to the blogosphere.  I had learned so much from other bloggers when I was starting to quilt, I strongly felt the need to share techniques/patterns with other people starting out.  I started posting free patterns and tutorials, then co-hosting quilt alongs...it all really snowballed after that!  

Image from Fresh Lemon Quilts

What is your advice as to what NOT to do as a new blogger?

Don't stress out over your blog.  At times it can feel like you HAVE to post x number of times a week.  You HAVE to finish a project to share each week.  If it stops being fun, change what you are doing.  

What do you wish you knew when you started your blog?

How much time blogging takes!  :)  Between sewing projects, writing patterns and tutorials, participating in blogosphere events like blog hops, answering reader emails...it's almost like a full time job!  I'm not complaining - I wouldn't do it if I didn't love it and I do love it.  But I'm shocked at how many hours a day it can absorb.  Sometimes I have to step back and remind myself that I'm a mom and wife first and a blogger second.  And that's how it should be for me.

Image from Fresh Lemon Quilts

Looking back at your early posts, what do you think has been the most significant change in your blogging style/life?

I'm scared to look back at my early posts.  LOL  I would say I'm more comfortable in my skin now.  More comfortable being "me" on my blog and less technical and impersonal with my writing.  I hope so anyway!

Thanks Faith for such thoughtful and informative advice!  Be sure to visit Fresh Lemon Quilts to see all of Faith's beautiful quilts as well as her patterns and tutorials including the Summer Sampler Series and the Solstice Stars Blocks.  Faith also has a FAQ section on her blog where she answers questions on everything from how long she has been quilting to what type of supplies she uses - what a great idea!  

Today's giveaway is from Amanda from Material Girl Quilts.  Amanda has a  wonderful blog where she shares her beautiful projects and is part of the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop (her date is September 25th.)   She also has an etsy shop where she stocks a fun selection of fabrics including Riley Blake's Chevrons and Moda's Simply Color.  For today's giveaway, Amanda is offering one lucky winner the chance to win Moda's Happy H "owl" ween Layer Cake.

You have 5 possible entries:

1.  Leave a comment (any comment) - if you want a topic, how about some suggestions for what to put it in a kid's lunchbox and/or your reactions to today's advice.

2.  My followers - old and new - get a second entry.  Leave an additional comment saying "following"

3.  Visit Material Girl Quilts and come back and leave a comment about your favorite thing in her shop.

4.  Amanda's followers - old and new - get an additional entry.  Leave a comment saying "following Amanda."

5.  Share this giveaway via your favorite social media and leave a comment about it for a final entry.

This giveaway will remain open until Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 8pm EDT and a winner will be chosen at random and announced in next week's blog hop news.  And please, unless you are sure that you are NOT a no-reply blogger, leave your email in your comment.

The winner of last week's giveaway from Christa Quilts is MelissaSeptember 3, 2012 8:12 PM who said:

"I'm still in love with Seaside by October Afternoon and Vintage Modern. There is a new spot in my heart for Bella though."  Congrats Melissa!  I'll send you an email soon.

    

Same as always:  Link up anything sewing or quilting related, visit each other (and say hello in a comment), add the button or a text link to this post, and when the link tool asks for your name, what about your favorite afternoon snack.