Happy Birthday to me!

A quick trip through some birthday presents while answering the questions asked by Sarah.
Are you ready? It could be long.......
Why did you start your blog?
Like many crafters the first idea to share my thoughts came after reading " The Crafters Companion". I had been looking at forums and blogs for a little while and last year on my birthday I received the book. I couldn't believe how much I related to what the contributors wrote about the urge to make things. It was so lovely to find people who felt the same as I have so rarely come across them in "real" life.

Wonderful Champneys smelly stuff.

How did you come up with your blog name?

I was at a Rilo Kiley concert with my husband and as it came towards the end of the evening I was tired and my mind wandered away from the music and towards a name. I just tried to sum up what I wanted to talk about. It needed to encompass both the things I make as well as other peoples handmade things. Its a fairly ordinary name really.

A traditional egg basket. Made in Gloucestershire.

Do your friends and family know about your blog? What do they think about it?

My husband knows about my blog as he helped to set it up but I don't think he reads it. He encourages me and makes suggestions for posts but that's about as far as it goes. No family or friends know about it but that's more because I don't think they would be that interested. I already bore them telling them about all the things I make!

My mum loves charity shops and car boot sales. My present from her each year is a large box of ribbons, buttons, beads, fabrics and other craft materials that she has gathered through the year for me.

How do your write posts?

I try to write every couple of days and it is usually based on a photo and bit about what I have been making. I have 3 children, 2 of whom are under 4 so I think about ideas through the day and write a post in the evening. They are usually quite short as evenings are when I do most of my craft. They are rarely soul searching but I am using them to try to understand myself more.

Tiny paper flowers.

Have you ever had a troll or had to delete unkind comments?

Short answer- no.....

Slightly longer answer- I only get a few comments, all of which I appreciate but I suspect my audience is very small.

A few books to inspire and there are a couple more to come.

Do you check your statistics? Do you care how many people read your blog? If you care how do you increase your traffic?

I am very inept on the computer and so I have no idea how to check my statistics. I am pleased to know that some people read my blog and it would be lovely to have more but I am trying to use it more as a chance to record what I am making as part of a journey. I have no idea how to increase traffic but I do try to comment often on the blogs that I like and hope that they will return and be interested in mine.

No more photos as I have reached the limits!

What kind of blogs/posts interest you?

I really enjoy all types of craft but mostly read textile related blogs. It makes my day if there is a tutorial or new idea though I am not very good at following instructions and tend to wander off to adapt patterns to my own needs. I enjoy reading the posts but I love to look at the photos as I am quite a visual person and the photo is far better than a description.

What do you like/dislike about blogging?

I love being part of the online crafting community and "meeting" other creative women. I am inspired daily and am forever adding to my list of things I want to do. As I am so inept on the computer then only way I can check for new posts on other blogs is to go through each one. This takes a long time but one day I may master how to have them as a "feed". That way I will get more crafting done!

so I guess all that leaves is to tag someone else...

Monika ( who showed me how to link to other sites! I told you I was inept)