De-Clutter Project 2014 - Week 5

To see my Grow Your Blog post, click here.

I started with a bit of electronic clean up this week, deleting a bunch of old files from my computer that were obsolete and redundant. I also consolidated all the scraps of paper on my desk with my passwords for the various sites into one neat file, now hidden in one of my document folders. A small thing but long overdue.

I'm still fighting whatever bug this is going around and my energy level has been pretty low this week. The antibiotic set me in the right direction but I don't feel well yet, and seem to tire very easily. This cold, blustery weather is not helping, I'm sure.

Some progress had to be made on this de-clutter project though, so I decided to tackle my fabric stash. Not that I plan to get rid of much, if any, I just need to put it all in ONE place. So when I finally get to making the quilt tops I have been planning, I know where to go find all the fabric.

A lot of the bright, cheerful fabric was originally picked up to make dolls clothes with. Some of the other pieces were purchased from thrift stores or on clearance tables for significantly lower prices than 'new'. That is why you see such a mixed bag of colours.

The resulting quilt tops are going to be an interesting combination of all this material, plus a few other pieces that I'm sure I will find along the way. I seem to have outgrown my bin. I will have to get another one.

I'm looking for quick and easy block patterns, hopefully, using strip piecing methods. Maybe a scrappy rail fence design would work. There really isn't enough of any one fabric to do much else. Perhaps one like my friend, Yvonne, made. See below...

What area do you intend to tackle this week? What do you think you will find? More importantly, what will you do with it?

Components of a Successful Blog

To see my Grow Your Blog post, click here.

With a cup of tea in hand, I spent many hours yesterday visiting some of the blogs participating in the Grow Your Blog event. It was too blustery and cold to venture far from home anyway. I made some observations along the way and have composed a list of some of the components that I think are necessary for a successful blog. This is not a comprehensive list, just my personal reflections on the subject.

Let's first discuss FONTS. While some of those fancy fonts are quite artistic, many of them are extremely difficult to read, especially for anyone who is visually challenged. I understand that you want to express your individuality and creativity but, seriously, I simply navigate away from a blog that I have to strain my eyes to read.

With an aging population, and many of us baby boomers reading blogs, you want to make your blog as appealing as possible to keep people coming back. A lightly coloured font on a light or white background, white lettering on a dark background and type that is too small are major issues for me and most likely for others as well.

Keep your paragraphs short and sweet. Long rambling blocks of text that go on and on, seemingly forever, are difficult to follow along with. Set aside a lot of the flowery adjectives too. Minimize your words for a greater impact.

And don't forget photos, lots of photos! Human beings are visual creatures. We need the constant input to keep our interest. Using original photos you've taken yourself is the best option. You avoid any copyright issues that way. With a bit of practice and some rudimentary editing skills, you can create a visually pleasing blog experience for your readers.

Frequent posting is important. Twice a week would be the minimum I would recommend. I understand that 'life' happens sometimes but having weeks or months between posts is not good. You will quickly lose followers that way. Your posts don't have to be long, just interesting. You want your readers to look forward in anticipation to your next post.

Now comes my pet peeve for the day, people who sign up for a blog hop and do not follow through. I can't tell you how many blogs on the list I visited yesterday, that not only did not have a Grow Your Blog post up, but some had not posted ANYTHING for a long time. Why did they bother signing up in the first place? Kind of pointless, in my humble opinion.

Grow Your Blog Event

My name is Bonnie and I've been blogging since 2011. As well as promoting my small business, I like to share new product offerings,  business tips, tutorials, recipes, and some personal reflections too. I'm also on a mission to de-clutter and organize my house this year and I will be posting updates each week. I hope you can spend a bit of time getting to know me through this blog and you will see enough of interest that you will choose to follow it.

As a way to thank you for taking the time to drop in, I am giving away a surprise gift package, which will include one of my hand-made Tree of Life pendants. All you have to do for your chance to win is to comment on this Grow Your Blog post. The cut-off date to get your name in the draw is February 14th but you must comment on this post only. From all the entries, one winner will be randomly selected and announced here on February 15th.

You do not have to follow my blog to enter, but it sure would be nice if you did. *smile* Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it.

Special Note: A big thank you goes out to Vicki Boster of 2 Bags Full for taking the time to organize this event. You can check out the blogs of all the other participants here.

Focus on Life: Week 4

Week 4: Word(s)

This week we will focus on words. What word speaks to you,

makes you laugh, makes you feel good about your being

and who you are in that moment. 

Last year, while perusing on Etsy, I came upon a PRAY pendant that caught my eye and touched something within me. It is made by Tracee Dock of The Classic Bead. This simple pendant was created with stoneware clay and has a very rustic, hand-made appearance. I had to have it!

I made myself a necklace with lampwork and bone beads on cotton cord, and I wear it often. Not so much as a reminder to pray but as an affirmation of prayer and how it enhances my life.

What exactly is prayer? It is our way of having a conversation with our higher power. It can be a plea for help or guidance, an expression of gratitude and a forum to acknowledge our failings in order to overcome them.

Here is the necklace that I made with the pendant. Rather an unusual design, I admit, but I was experimenting with a new technique. Successful in the eyes of everyone or not, I really enjoy wearing it.

“You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.”
~~Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet~~

To see the words of influence in the lives of the other participants, check out the links below.

De-Clutter Project 2014 - Week 4

As I was frantically searching through my desk drawers looking for something this week, I came to realize that I need to de-clutter/organize my supplies.

So, I went to the dollar store and picked up some inexpensive plastic baskets to sort/store things in. It looks much better now, and I might actually be able to find what I'm looking for when I'm looking for it.

Into the trash went all the pens that no longer work, along with the dried up markers and glue sticks. The screw driver and pliers finally made it back into the tool box where they belong.

There were a lot of other items that were moved to their rightful places: knitting needles, doll accessories, buttons and yarn. How did all that stuff get into my desk drawers? Anyone care to guess?

I have to get into the habit of putting things away in the 'right' place, instead of just opening the closest drawer and shoving it in. That bad practice is what got me where I am now and necessitates the De-Clutter Project in the first place.

What area do you intend to tackle this week? What do you think you will find? More importantly, what will you do with it?