Thursday, September 25, 2008

Do I really want a blog?



Blog or not to blog, that is a question that I have been pondering for many months. I have enjoyed being a reader of blogs for well over a year. Many times I have been asked where is your blog and I have responded " I am content to be Anna NO Blog". I am still not sure about this decision to be the writer rather than the reader. Some of my reluctance comes from my limited knowledge of the technology that goes with being a blogger and the rest of it stems from whether I want to quilt or to spend my leisure time blogging rather than quilting. Like most people, I have a busy life that is filled with the demands of work ( I am a kindergarten teacher by profession) and home. Balance is not my middle name!!!!

However, it appears that I have chosen to leap into the blog world so I hope that you will bear with me while I find my way with the technology.

I first started quilting as a younger woman when I was pregnant with my son. He is now 20. My first attempts to make a quilt was a log cabin "quilt in a day" (more like two years for me) pattern. I used double polyester batting as the center layer. Quilting it was like wrestling with a bear to stuff it through my sewing machine arm space. After that, it was a good while before I quilted again. My son got bigger and I wanted to do something that I could do for my own pleasure so I returned to quilting - this time a little more seriously and I have been playing with fabric ever since. I have been an active quilter since 1996. I have tried a number of techniques, but I guess you would say I am a traditional quilter who makes colorful bed quilts - often large bed quilts . Remember what I said about balance!!!! I have lost count of how many - perhaps one day I will sit and figure it out for you :D

Picture: This queen sized quilt was made for a niece and her husband as a wedding gift in June. It was the first of three wedding quilts this summer.

Until next time,
Regards from a Western Canadian Quilter,

Anna

47 comments:

Chookyblue...... said...

welcome to blogland........if you get stuck just as me or someone else will try and help out.......can't wait for more.........

chook said...

Welcome to blogland
I am still on L plates with blogging after a year but it is so much fun LOL
I cant wait to read more about your quilts
hugs Beth

Red Geranium Cottage said...

Well your on your way!!! Great to see your new blog!!!!!

meggie said...

Anna! So great to see you in Blogland after knowing you for some time.
I am no expert, but if you have problems, there are so many wonderful people in the blog community who will be only too happy to help you.
I have loved seeing all your work, & this quilt is no exception.
Hugsxx

Silverthimble said...

Welcome to the world of Blogging! I am sure you will enjoy yourself. I love the wedding quilt!

Purple and Paisley said...

congrats on your blog, anna! and welcome to blogland!

May Kristin said...

Congrats on your new blog and welcome to blogland! Look forward for more!

Deb said...

Welcome to the fun world of blogging. I have only been blogging for a couple of months and have found it very addictive-so watch out.

Kim said...

Oh Anna! Your comments are always so thoughtful and well written--you're a natural for blogging! Glad to see you finally took the leap!

Julie said...

Well done on your blog. Everyone is very helpful if you get stuck on the technology side of things. I have just worked it out as I have gone along.

Sherri said...

Welcome to blogging...I'm a relatively new blogger as well...I've learned so much and been inspired by so many wonderful blogs.

Lorraine said...

Welcome to blogland....I was a reader of blogs and it took me a long time to decided to jump in and start my own....never looked back...I love it and I am sure you will too.....Enjoy!

StockdaleJo said...

Welcome, I very new tooo and it is kinda fun....love the quilt

Willow Grove - Kez said...

Now you have started you wont want to stop. You will find so many new friends as you go and it get easier. You blog looks wonderful. Well done

Kez xxx

Micki said...

Welcome to the world of blogging. Glad you jumped in and tried it. I loved your first post, and the quilt was beautiful! It's like quilting...you are hooked!
Looking forward to more posts.
Micki

Anita said...

Congratulations on getting your feet wet in blogland. Before you know it you'll be helping the next new person. Looking forward to seeing more of your quilts I also like the traditional quilts.

Daisy Jayne said...

Welcome to the world of Blogging!and friendship I am sure you will enjoy yourself.

Anonymous said...

Welcome Anna, always nice to find a new blogger. Thanks for letting me know. I love the quilt you have pictured and enjoyed your first of many posts I hope.
I'll add you to my bloglines so I can keep an eye on you.
Hugs Fiona xx

Perry said...

I second the welcome to blogland from chookyblue. Your blog looks good! I have seen some of your quilts before and they are all beautiful. Looking for lots of adventures from you.

trash said...

That is some quilt! Welcome to the blogoverse.

Lurline said...

Hi Anna,
Chookyblue steered me in your direction - welcome to Blogland! It is a nice place to be - worth the time and effort - lots of inspiration and fun friends are the outcome. Looking forward to seeing lots of quilts and newsy posts.
Hugs - Lurline.

Tonya Ricucci said...

congrats on starting the blog, Anna. Woohoo for you. I'll write a post soon addressing the question of photos and space limitations. cheers.

Joyce said...

Welcome to Blogging. You are starting out with a LOT of comments!

Unknown said...

Welcome, Anna to blogland. Look at the comments you have already. What a great start. I am not that up on all this technology either but have managed. It does take time though. Good to have some helpful friends.

ranette said...

Welcome from another fairly new blogger! I also started quilting when I was pregnant with my first born, over 20 years ago and I still love it!

Mistea said...

Whilst not a blogger I have just spent the first week of my holidays reading everyone's blogs, they are so inspiring and it is good to see what all the crafters of the world are up to. So hello from down under and I'll come by again soon. Yep Chookyblue sent me, she loves sharing!

Cathi said...

Hi, Anna! Welcome to blogland. Love the picture of the quilt!

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

Welcome!! I'm happy that you've decided to post now. I love that wedding quilt... you're one busy lady these days, I know those kindergarten students keep you hopping! My daughter-in-law teaches kindergarten too! Have a wonderful weekend.

Abby and Stephanie said...

Hi Anna! Welcome. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful projects. Lots of helpful bloggers out there. My 22 year old daughter held my hand through the initial blog process. She is a great teacher.

tami said...

Welcome to blogland. You're going to love it. There is a whole family out here.

crafty diane said...

Welcome to blogland! What a beautiful quilt! I like that you put the follower thing on your blog. I will be one of your followers. I have it on my blog but so far only one person has joined it. It seems so lonely for there to only be one person there. So I joined yours so at least there is two! LOL I'm sure you will have lots more soon!
Have a Blessed Day,
Diane

Lisa said...

Blogging is addicting!!! You meet so many people and learn so much! Originally from Ottawa but have spent almost 19 years south of the border now. Welcome!

Carole said...

Welcome to blogland! It is a wonderful place and you'll meet lots of generous quilters! As you have probably found out, it is expensive and does have hidden cost! I cannot begin to count the numbers of patterns or fabrics I bought because I saw it on a blog! Enjoy the process and don't stress about posting. It should be fun! Keep well!

Lynn said...

Hello - I'm looking forward to seeing more of your quilts. Technology is my downfall - but I've learned so much since I started my blog. I still have a hard time with adding links - but there's lots of nice people willing to help out there.

Quilting Memories said...

Hi Anna, and welcome to blogland, I have been blogging for about 2 years now and love it, I am really impressed with the number of comments you have. I have never had more than about 4-5, don't know what I am doing wrong, but I just can't seem to attract many readers.But I do love it , I still have lots of problems with pics and things. Will keep up with you, and want to tell you I love the quilt you posted. Great work.
Bobbin

Kim said...

Bravo, Anna! See? It isn't so hard and you have a lovely start. I will be happy to visit with you here in our quilters circle of friends who love to share about their love of quilting, stitching and life. Welcome!

Unknown said...

Welcome to blogland! I am with Carole, don´t stress about posting. You post when you have something to show us or tell us.

Sew Create It - Jane said...

Welcome to blogging...(just to warn you...it's addictive) but FUN! I've added you to my Google reader so I'll be back!

Thimbleanna said...

WooHoo, it's our AnnaNoBlog!!! Welcome to Blogland!!!

Laila L S said...

Welcome to blogland. You will soon find out the most important things to know and do when blogging. It`s not difficult, in my opinion. Ask us for help if needed, and you will get help for sure....
I`m looking forward to read more about you and your quilts.

Ozjane said...

welcome and that is a lovely quilt.
Have been pondering the problem of joining quilt as you go quilts with some rather nice machine embroidered (pellon base) blocks I have. I have decided there must be an easier way, so time will tell as I experiment. Only in my mind right now

Julie said...

Well, you've already had more comments on this post than I have EVER had on any post so you are off to a great start! Your blog looks good.

Pam said...

My goodness Anna - it is a good thing you started blogging - look at all these comments!!! Welcome - the wedding quilt looks great!

Linda said...

Anna Welcome to Blogland :)

Purple Pam said...

Welcome to Blogland. My goodness Anna, what a following you have on your first post! I am glad you decided to blog. It is lots of fun, but as someone else said, it is addictive. I hope you have fun with it. Glad you took the plunge!

Myra said...

Nice opener for a first blog entry! good for you! You will do fine with the technology as the rest of us... a lot of us are still trying to figure it all out, and when you think you have, Blogger will change/add things to confuse you once again... 8-)
Lovely Log Cabin as a wedding gift! Good stuff!

DAWNIE said...

welcome to blogland. Love your cats. I cannot believe how many quilters have them. They seem to go hand in hand