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| Image shamelessy borrowed from Quilting Jet girl and Red Delicious Life! |
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| My Happy mosiac from 2014 |
A Quarter Inch from the Edge
Ella & Nestas Little Room
Fluffy Sheep Quilting
Just Jude
Pennydog Patchwork
Neros Patch & Post
Slaney handcraft
Sew Fresh Quilts
Sew Giving
Sew Me
Things do change - change is inevitable! I know there are less bloggers overall writing regular updates and a lot of people are having lots of fun on Instagram. We talk about this from time to time (most recently Rachel's post @Stiched in Color) but I can honestly say that most of the blogs I follow and the bloggers I consider friends and must not miss are very active. So much so if I miss a weeks reading I have over 100 missed posts in my feedly feed!
I feel guilty sometimes not being able to leave a comment on all the blogs I read. I even save some for later to deliberately come back to if I am reading on my phone or my iPad but I seldom do go back. Bad, bad follower. I am rubbish at writing comments with my phone and I have a nice phone - I really just prefer the laptop keyboard. My ancient Mac has a lovely keyboard and I am dreading the day it dies on me!
Someone I admire for always supporting us with comments and encouraging participation is Yvonne @ Quilting JetGirl. Yvonne's commitment to her blog, support of QAL's and new bloggers and thought provoking topics give so much back to our community I wanted to follow Diana's lead and thank Yvonne for all the support since I first met her on the 2013 new bloggers hop! Diana's post Aspire to Inspire has had me thinking of how I've been inspired by others and how I can give back.
So instead of telling you 7 new things you might not know about me this post has become a thank you and also a confession of sorts on how I probably could give back more.
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| Evolution quilt with strips from Massdrop fabric purchase and background from LQS |
In the comments in that post there were lots of ideas on how we could come together more for our craft and the quilting industry. Some enduring themes seem to come around like being more welcoming at our guilds regardless of age and taste - I know we are fighting human nature in that it is natural to form groups and cliques but its not easy being new. Our hobby is expensive, fabric is not cheap (about $18 a yard here in Ireland) nor are good sewing machines and some had the idea of making a welcome package for young or new quilters. I love this idea and think it is a very fun way to pay it forward! Our guild is starting back in September so I'll be hoping to give back offline as well as online. Welcoming the new, encouraging and supporting our corner of blogland and thanking those that inspire, that to me, make for one lovely blog! I hope you will spread the joy by visiting those blogs in the links above and join me in thanking them and you all for reading, commenting and sharing over these past 4 years! Thanks a million!
PS: Pets on Quilts voting is open over at LilyPad Quilting! We're sharing the joy celebrating the furballs are there are prizes to be won so please click on the button!
My first comment is about Wilbur: I did a double take and thought, "Wilbur's 19!?!!!" before I realized he is #19 in the link up. :) Silly mis-reading brain! Leaving comments on blogs takes time and effort, and I actually think I have enough to say about it that I will put a blog post together. It is always a pleasure to read about your quilting journey and now that we are friends, I am so invested in your fur babies and other events, it is fun to feel like I have a friend across the ocean. We can all do better here and there, I am sure, and I like the way you are thinking about ways to be inclusive, welcoming, and support as many across the industry that you can. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great idea about spreading the love when it comes to how you spend your money across the quilting industry. I've taken advantage of Massdrop and Amazon and I like the idea of using that money saved to support a local business. That is something that I can easily do.
ReplyDeleteHi Ruth: I have always found you to be a very supportive person in the quilt blogging world and I agree with Yvonne that it does take time and we are all guilty at times of not keeping up. I find there is often so much on instagram that all i can do is like something. I enjoy reading your blog. It is one of my favourites. I mostly buy things in person and that is because I like to see what I am getting but I sometimes buy things on line....especially when I have won something because then I want to thank the on line store for it's gift. By the way I recieved my lovely fabric from your quilt along.
ReplyDeleteSo glad I caught this post Ruth - having been away from Bloglovin' for a few weeks I was tempted just to mark all as read but thought I would have a quick skim through ..... Whilst I have been active on IG this last few weeks (because let's face it it's sooo much quicker than blogging) I have really missed the many and varied conversation I had started to have with blog friends. I am definitely going to have a look through your links aswell!
ReplyDeleteThere are a few people who always stand out for their dedication to the quilting community. I agree wholeheartedly that Yvonne is one of the first I think of. But you head the top of that list too Ruth. Don't be too hard on yourself that you don't always take time to comment, only "heart" posts, etc. You can't be all to everyone--- you'd have no time for life or quilting. You really deserve the Lovely Blog Award and Aspire to Inspire.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea for welcoming newcomers to your guild! See - you are always brewing great ideas and working to help other quilters grow!
Guilty I think not. I find I keep posting to the blogs that I love and some others I just casually read. You're comments are thoughtful and I enjoy getting them so keep going! So happy that you loved that mosaic idea. Well have to do it again this year. I might steal Paddington Bear, I love those stories and his movie. I was the only adult laughing uncontrollably in the movie theater when it came out. Also, Go Wilbur!!
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