Monday, November 12, 2012

Let's Get Acquainted!! a blog hop!

Plum and June

I don't know if you have been enjoying the Let's Get Acquainted blog hop with Plum and June, but it has been so much fun to learn about and meet so many bloggers! Today is the last link up for the event, which has gone on all summer and fall. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do here! There is also a LOT to learn from all the helpful posts people have shared on topics that cover the board.

Also, be sure to stop by all of the other late comers who are also posting today! (I say that because I was a late comer, but Beth still let me jump on board and join in the fun anyway. Thanks Beth!) I've got some good friends on the list, so really, you should stop by. :)

Cynthia from A Quilter by Night
Michelle from The Quilted Tortoise
Kim from Quilty Doodads
Stephanie from Smalltown Dreamz
Cynthia from Quilt Doodle Doodles
Diane from from blank pages...
Laura from Waffle Kisses
Mary Ann from Rocknquilts
Angela from Angela B
Jaime from Stitches to Sprinkles
Allegory from {sew} Allegorical
Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts
Karen from Sew Well Maide
Christa from Christa Quilts
Lynne from Bouts Choisis
Nat from Made in Home
Francine from Mocha Wild Child
Lyanna from Purple Panda Quilts
Stacey from The Tilted Quilt


Alright, so if you are new around here, or maybe not so new, let me introduce myself a little. It's always fun  to get a little better acquainted. :) I have a wonderful hubby of almost 6 years! Love him. I have two little boys and a little girl. They are so much fun. and so crazy. I feel lucky that I get to stay home with them all day, well, most days. ;)

When did you start quilting? I started quilting when I was pregnant with my oldest boy. My step-mom quilts and taught me how. After he was born and I was home all day I opened my Etsy shop, but mostly made toys, games, bags and other children's items. I of course had to make a quilt for my next boy, but I didn't really get the quilting bug until I found out I was pregnant with my little girl! I fell in love with Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane collection and that was my first FQ bundle that I bought! I have bought way too many since then. lol. But that's where it all began! I started making small quilts for friends babies, and for my shop, and for fun.

What do you do/make besides quilts? I like to make quilt blocks. Last year I joined the do.Good Stitches Bee, which I LOVED! I did that for a while until life just became too much with three little ones, and a load of health stuff going on. At the beginning of this year I joined a lot of groups on flickr. I participated in a whole bunch of swaps, which is where I REALLY started getting involved with other bloggers, and other great fabric people. That is definitely what changed it all for me and really solidified my love of this blogging/quilting community! So besides quilts, I like to make bags, pouches, pillows, quilt blocks. I love to design patterns and share tutorials. Basically anything and everything! (except I have yet to dive into making clothes.) I also crotchet, am a beginner knitter, embroidery, etc. I love art and anything that has anything to do with creating. :)

What advice do you have for anyone starting out new in this community? JUMP RIGHT IN!! I was really intimidated when I first really started blogging, and getting involved on Flickr. I was nervous to post on peoples photos, or link up projects in link-ups (ok, that didn't last long and is pretty easy), but I definitely had a period when I first found my favorite quilting blogs, that I would sit back and dream about being one of them. Or dream about being in swaps and having those long conversations on my Flickr photos. lol. I guess a good way to put it, I felt like I was looking out my window at all the kids playing together, and I didn't dare go outside. Well, once I finally did get involved in swaps, and more blogging activities, everything TOOK OFF!! EVERYONE IS SO NICE!! Don't hesitate to comment on blogs, start conversations, ask questions. Join swaps, join bees. Some swaps and bees aren't so chatty, and you might not always make those tight friends right away, but keep doing and be involved and you will! Everyone will love you!! It is so much fun! :) I definitely don't know - in real life - a lot of people who sew and quilt, so as my husband reminds me, though I'm sitting on the computer or at my sewing machine, this is "my time" and often my "girl time". Since I can't drive over to a friends, it's basically the same. lol. ok, now I sound like a loser, but that is how it is a lot of the times, and I think that's ok! I love my "online friends"!! I'm so glad I got to really meet so many of them of them finally at the sewing summit. It makes all that computer time worth it! That was a really long answer. Basic version, don't be scared! Everyone will welcome you with open arms! and if you're not on Flickr, get on there!


Want some groups to get started in?

from blank pages... group -  lol. 
Quilting for a Cause - basically make quilt blocks as you can and as needs arrive. Need some help making blocks? Start a new thread and ask for help
Mark Your Calendar - share, or find out about all sorts of Events.
The One Stop Giveaway Shop - though the BLOG is better. 
Share and find out about awesome giveaways!

do.Good Stitches - if you are interested in charity quilting groups

and there are so many more! You can start following people and see what groups they share their photos in and go join those groups! You can find me HERE and be my friend. :)



Ok, so besides Flickr, what else do I have going on? I am totally going to do some shameless self-promoting here. lol. 

The Charming Travelers - two charm packs that travel the US and one is also Canada. The winner takes out what they want, then replaces those charms with some from their stash so there is always 56. You can see the map here of where they've been!

Mark Your Calendar linky as well as The Master List Linky - where you can share your events and linky parties.

The One Stop Giveaway - a different blog where you can share your giveaways


Ok. Enough of that. ;)

I don't have a specific tutorial to share, but instead thought I'd share with you a couple of older ones that might be useful to some. :)


I know a lot of people say they are intimidated by curves, or maybe haven't done a lot of improve cutting. I put together this fun little video to share how I do it.
fbp TUT improv piecing 
the picture is not awesome fabrics, but you can successfully make curves like shown. :)

Looking for a quick gift to make for Christmas? I like these little Tissue Covers or Phone Pillows - can also be used for any device!
fbp TUT tissue covers  fbp TUT phone pillow


Go here for more tutorials. Or here for patterns - free as well as for sale.
I have many more tutorials and patterns in the works as well. :)


Thank you so much for stopping by today!!
I sure enjoyed your visit and hope you'll come back soon! :)


Diane

13 comments:

  1. It is nice to learn more about you Diane. I found your blog through Plum and June's blog hop. I really like your advice about not being affraid... I have been blogging for almost a year but I still have to really dive into swaps, bees and Flickr. Thank you for the advice.

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  2. I need to check out those tutorials, Diane! Hope you're doing well!

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  3. Nice to meet you on the blog hop! I've yet to get involved on Flickr - you've given me food for thought. Thanks Diane!

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  4. Love our post, will check the tutorials!

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  5. Dropped by from P&J, great posts and tutorials. It's very early days for me on Flickr and I'm about to change phone to a smartphone so I can do more via that, some great advice there thanks for sharing, good to meet you :)

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  6. I liked getting to know you a little better through your answers. :) I also don't really have any local friends who are super crafty, so blogging really allows me to geek out. ;)

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  7. Love the online quilty community - and yep it definitely counts as girl time sometimes when you can't get out and see friends!

    Love the iphone pillow - what a great idea!

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  8. Ha - I love my online friends too! Great post!

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  9. Nice to meet you! I love the idea of the phone pillow, looks like a great present idea.

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  10. So nice to meet you on the blog hop - I am a fellow late-comer, but isn't that just life sometimes? The important thing is we made it and have met great new quilts friends!

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  11. Not new here but it's nice to learn some more about you! Thanks for the tips.

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  12. So nice to learn more about you Diane! Loved your post.
    Amanda

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