Looking back and some observations about blogging

Although I am still without a computer, I wanted to check in to let all my loyal friends and followers know I am still around. Luckily, I had already selected and saved all the photos for this post, so much of the work was already done. Since I'm currently "unavailable," I thought it would be a good time to look back over this year and show a few of my favorite and a few not so favorite pieces I made during 2011. Interspersed with that I thought I would share some thoughts I have on blogging and being a good blogger.

(Journals I made in January, 2011)

I've been giving this a lot of thought lately, ironically before I lost my ability to get on the internet due to a dead computer. At the time, which seems like eons ago, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue blogging every day or even every other day. What I decided was, if I didn't blog, I would miss it terribly. I love the social interaction I get with my readers and the people and friends whose blogs I read and visit. Obviously, I miss it even more now that the ability to reach out to my friends has been eliminated. It's analogous to being a bed-ridden shut-in whose friends have stopped visiting.

(Prizes I offered to OWOH back in February, 2011)

And since I really enjoy this blogging activity experience, I took a long hard look at what makes a good blog. Here are a few things I have learned and a few things I live by.

(About all I accomplished the entire month of March, 2011)

I am myself. I make no pretenses that I am someone I am not. I am reasonably articulate, write with passion and occasional humor, and love mixed media art and fabric surface designs. Other than that, I make no claims (except that I need a much better camera!).

(Rusty book cover I created in April, 2011)

I take responsibility for my actions. I try not to be offensive to anyone, but different people interpret things differently. I remember when I said I owned a gun, it upset some people. But I had admitted it, took responsibility for it, and accepted any flack that came my way as a result of my actions. Thankfully, much of it was either thought provoking responses or good-natured joking.

(Altered puzzle I made for Annette, who kindly allowed me to use this photo from May, 2011)

(From June, 2011, this quiltlet was made for Nicky during the second WOYWW PIF anniversary)

An action is one thing, foul language is another. I simply do not use foul language. I have never called anyone the "b-word," and don't use the "f-word." Since I would not do this when I speak with someone face to face, I would also never do it on my blog. For no reason! Never! By the way, the "b-word" is NOT Bleubeard.

(Summertime tea using everything that belonged to my Grandmother, July, 2011)

I tell it like it is. If I make a mistake or something turns out wrong, I don't rewind the day to make it better than it was. I let everyone know what to expect. After all, if it can go wrong, it probably will, and I will discover and report it.

(First time dyeing fabric using Sharpies and alcohol was in August, 2011)

I make things my way. Due to a limited art budget, I seldom have all the materials needed to complete a project I want to work on. That means I must improvise. In fact, sometimes I don't have any of the materials I need! If that's the case, I start with the original instructions and find similar materials. From there, I usually follow my own rules, often hoping for the best, and offering alternatives in the form of a tutorial.

(The mess I made the first time I used paint with my collographic plates was August, 2011)

I don't ask people to jump through hoops. Whether it's commenting on a blog post, or signing up for a giveaway, I like to keep things simple and straight forward.

(One of my first altered wood blocks from September, 2011)

Speaking of comments, I get so infuriated when I have to type in one of those senseless words just to leave a comment. I usually get it wrong and have to reenter it. Oftentimes I learn the comment will be visible after someone approves it. Why not just let us "publish, " since the approver must approve it anyway! And is approve r even a word?

(Nevr-Dull used to dull surfaces on magazine images in October, 2011)

My thoughts on leaving comments: If I visit, I leave a comment. I don't expect you to know I was there if I don't let you know I visited . To me, it is courtesy. And I love it when people leave me comments. However, one thing I am not inclined to do is reply by e-mail. I much prefer a blog reply and that means on your blog, not mine. I don't expect you to return to my blog to see what I have written in comments that might or might not pertain to you. If I must make a correction or addition to a tutorial, I do it in a blog post, not in the comment section of my blog.

(A piece I made for a Christmas gift, from Nov., 2011)

The focus of my blog. Although this is primarily an art blog, I also add a few (and sometimes more than a few) times I go out and about. I also add photos of my home and yard. Sometimes I wonder if these are distractions to my art blogging and tutorials, but there are days I simply don't make art, either because I'm gone, or I am in the process of making a piece that takes several days to create.

(one of several Christmas quiltlets I made in December, 2011)

That's my take on what makes a good blog and how I try to follow my own advice. What do you think makes a good blog?

I hope to be back online in the near future. I may even be able to post and visit many of you by New Year's day (which I just learned is tomorrow!). However, should that be unfeasible, I will now wish each of you, my dear friends who I have come to love, a safe, prosperous, and happy New Year. Let's start 2012 out with a bang, not a whimper!