Post # 1000 and a Happy Easter Sign

Wow. Published post # 1000 today !  

Today I am sharing my thoughts and observations about blogging (I began December 2007) following my Happy Easter Sign.

Sunday seems like a good day to add a bit of Spring Colour to the Welsh Dresser so I stencilled another sign. 

Easter/Spring themed decorations

Sequence:


• found a narrow board in my stash, it had a primer coat of white, 
  painted it turquoise
• (when dry) added dabs of yellow, green and red paint 
• (when dry) painted board white. 
• (when dry) sanded board so that colours showed through the white
• Stenciled (used ABC letters) Happy Easter
• (when well dried) Waxed with clear wax, waited awhile, then buffed

Supplies:

Board
various colours of chalk-clay paint
clear wax
paint brush, wax brush
clean rag for polishing
newspaper to protect counter
stencil letters (ABC)
sanding block
paper towel


To see my general sequence for stencilling look here.


What Have I Learned About Blogging since beginning in December of 2007?

I re-read many of my early posts and it is amazing to me to see how much I have learned since starting blogging in December of 2007. Little pictures, little text, hadn't figured out linking to parties, not much about leaving comments and not very interesting ideas, no tutorials, mostly pictures from my booths.

Now? Taking photos is a great pleasure and I am always learning. These rusty garden art pictures are part of my Thursday post on the 17th.

What Do I Blog About Now?

It took awhile for find out what I wanted to blog about. Since I  love writing about the collecting, repurposing and sharing of collectibles these became my focus.

I share projects, thrifted and garage sale finds, birthday cakes, gardening progress, my booths' contents and organization, sometimes my home organization progress and sometimes random relevant topics. I don't lock myself into 'only blogging about ..."

What Have I Learned:

Be true to yourself in your writing, do not try to be just like other bloggers you admire, learn from how they write, take photos, present. Think up your own ideas to post about. When you get an idea note it down or start a draft post to remind yourself. 

Plan and write your content and prepare your photos (I use PicMonkey) and then tweak everything until you are satisfied that others can understand and enjoy what you are sharing.

I have learned a great deal about photography and presentation, post titles, presenting clearly written content through practice and learning from other bloggers who provide lessons, great examples, strategies and inspiration. 

There is so much more to explore and learn and as a hobby I derive a great deal of satisfaction from blogging.

What would I say to a new blogger: 

Write in your own voice. Be honest. Never take other bloggers pictures or words or ideas as your own. If you want to share something from another blogger's post ASK their permission to link to THEIR blog rather than show their content on yours. 

Be honest, be polite, be kind, be true to yourself. Edit your posts carefully before publishing. Don't post just to get page views, instead share interesting content. Get to know the bloggers you share similar interests with by commenting on their posts.

Have fun. Blogging is a great hobby and so is photography. Sharing with friends you make while blogging, both the good parts of your life and the not so good and sometimes the very sad parts makes community and is important.


I looked back one year to my Ukranian Eggs Pysanka post. One picture borrowed forward from March 19.15.

Thanks for visiting today.

Happy dance this month. 
3 years cancer free. 
I know, TMI.

Sharing with:

Sunday
Love of Home, Silver Pennies, DIY Showoff, Creating My Way To Success, Rustic and Refined 

Monday
Dwellings The Heart Of Your Home, Made In A Day, Busy Being Jennifer, Coastal Charm, Lavender Cottage, Cozy Little House, Kammy's Korner, Home Stories A to Z, An Extraordinary Day, Kathe With An E, Stringtown Home, 

Tuesday
My Own Home, Bella Rosa Antiques, The Enchanting Rose, Stone Cottage Adventures, Winstead Wandering, DIY By Design, The Cookie Puzzle, My Salvaged Treasures, Savvy Southern Life, Fluster Buster,

Thursday
Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, A Delightsome Life, 

Friday
How Sweet The Sound