2nd Blogiversary Giveaway Winner Is...

Hillery of 22 Threads!!!  Congratulations Hillery!  Send me an email with your address and your prize will be on it's way to you this week.

Thanks to all of you who entered, to my long time followers and my new followers too.

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

I can't believe I've been blogging for 2 years today!  My husband says it's actually 1 year because up to a year ago I was a closet blogger and the only people who knew about it also outed me to my husband.  Dang kids and their big mouths!  LOL  I also can't believe I was embarrased to tell DH.  He's the one who's encouraging me to post things and asking if I received any comments from this or that. 

Anyhoo, to celebrate this momentus occasion I would like to have a giveaway.  No hoops to jump through, though it would be nice if you were a follower.  I'll draw a winner on Saturday, January 15th, 2011.

Here is what the winner will score:

Naughty or Nice chart by Lizzie*Kate

includes 30ct. linen and buttons along with Magic by Mona finishing kit!

January is Cozy by Pine Mountain Designs

includes Pillow Sham & DMC threads

Faith by Lizzie*Kate

includes linen & felt for finishing

The Queen's Diamond chart by The Goode Huswife

Joyous Ark chart by Just Nan

"E" is for Empress Alphabet Sampler by The Victoria Sampler

includes accessory pack



Enchanted Mermaid by Nora Corbett

chart has never been opened!

Santa & Wreath felt stocking kit by Bucilla

Good luck to you all!

12 Days of Christmas Update & New Bloggers

Here is my progress on 4 Calling Birds:

I think some poetic licence was used by the designer for this day...I guess roosters are calling birds of a sort.  The colours really pop nicely though.

I would also like to introduce you to 2 new bloggers that have found me and in turn I was able to find them:

The first is Anne of Doll's Musings.  I love the fact that Anne is from the same city as me!  Anne is an elementary school teacher who hopes starting her blog will help motivate her to finish the stitching she's started.  With all the great support of all the wonderful stitcher's out in blog land she should have no problem with this goal!

The second blogger is Rhona of Tangled Threads.  She just started her blog on January 2nd of this year!  Welcome to blogging Rhona!

I hope you take the time to visit their blogs and say hi.

Also, Daffycat has an excellent post on user friendly blogging tips.

Not Sure if Anyone has Missed me...

In case you have, basketball season is now over (until the regional team starts up in April) so I'll have more time to dedicate to stitching and blogging of course!  I also have some updates on the craftroom/girl cave to post so watch for those!

BTW, my DD's Grade 8 Basketball team won PROVINCIALS on Saturday!!!!   Woot! Woot! 

How (I Think) I Became a Better Blogger

Now that I've been blogging for the last 8 months or so (and reading all of your fabulous blogs too) I've had a lot of time to reflect on which type of blog set up I like. For instance what kind of colours, fonts, spacing and backgrounds make all of our blogs easier to read AND one of the most satisfying aspects of blogging...COMMENTS!

A couple of months ago I found a great resource of blogging information. The blog is called Sneaky Momma Blog Design. While learning how to put borders around my photos, inserting links, etc. I stumbled across this post about Blogger Etiquette. Scroll down a little and you'll see a post called "Goldilocks and the Three Bloggers."

I have to admit I was a little apprehensive to read the entry and see what I've been doing "wrong" but I was so happy to have found the post because it helped my blogging immensely.

One of my favourite points that was made in the post was regarding comments. I followed the easy steps here (here is another great how-to) and now I receive your fabulous comments immediately at the Yahoo email address (so easy to set up, and linked to no personal information whatsoever!) I set up just for YOU, I even get the comments you leave on older posts!

My Yahoo address is also linked to my blog so if I leave a comment or question at one of your fabulous blogs, you can email me back! Don't you just hate it when you want to reply to a comment left on your blog and the email address is noreply-comment AT blogger DOT com???

If I've helped even one Blogger, my job is done!

Happy Blogging!

Heart Stopping Moment!!!

I just logged into Blogger to catch up on all my reading and had a huge scare...my reading list was empty and said that I don't have any blogs that I follow! Yikes. Thank goodness that they were all there when I signed out and then back in.

Has this happened to anyone else? If so, is there a way to prevent this?

Thanks!

Exciting day in Blogland!

This is a very exciting Blog day for me. Not only did I get my first THREE comments today, I have my first follower! I promised myself I wouldn't move the Followers gadget to the top of the page until I was lucky enough to get one. Now, thanks to Daffycat, that gadget sits proudly under About Me. Thank you ladies!!!