Thursday, June 12, 2008

Blogoversary :-)

Yes, I survived a whole year of blogging, though it has not always been constant. Today is my Blogoversary! It was one year ago today that I set up my first blog so
that I could enter a swap (it was one for Hogwarts swap kit) and it has been very slow going, but I think I finally have the hang of it. In fact, it is now more fun
than it was when I first started, it used be like pulling teeth for me to come up with a subject, but now I love it.

Now it is time to try something new, so I want to hold a Blogoversary contest, this means I can try something new and celebrate at the same time. I have not hit the big time as far as blogs go, so if you are one of the few people who normally read my blog you will have a great chance of winning.

There will be two different kinds of yarn, the first person drawn can choose between a hank of lace weight yarn or sock yarn and the second person drawn gets the other yarn. I hope to have some other goodies thrown in, but who knows.

Here are the rules:
1. Leave me a comment and your name will be entered one time.
2. Mention my contest and link me on your blog and your name will be entered a second time.
3. Make a suggestion as to how I can improve my blog and will be entered a third time.
4. Come back and comment on at least two other posts and you will be entered yet another time.

The contest will end at midnight, June 22, 2008.

Good Luck, and Thanks for Entering!!!

61 comments:

evergreenknits said...

I put a post about your contest on WiKnit, my knitting contest blog, and hopefully you'll get a few more readers! Good luck with your contest!

Erin said...

Happy Blogiversary! I stumbled over here from WiKnit. Yes, I love contests. :)

wenat said...

Have you figured out how to knit and study at the same time? If you work on something simple, you can let your hands knit away while you're reading. I actually find that I learn better that way as I focus more on what I'm reading. (There. That might help you integrate your degree with your knitting.)

Darcys Knotty Knitter said...

I came from wiknits blog.Happy Anniversary:)you could change the background of your blog.My blog had a black background so I changed it and like it better now and people say it is more warm and homey and classical now.Hugs Darcy

Kristen said...

Hi! I found your post through WiKnit and my suggestion for improvement is MORE PICTURES (especially of your pets and knitting projects)!!! hehe. I'm a pet-lover and I found the pic of your 2 cute dogs from early May. But the cats need representation, too! Congratulations on the successful move with 5 pets.

helenlam said...

Thanks for holding the contest! I also came here from WiKnit.

Jenna Z said...

Happy Bloggy Birthday! Thanks for the chance to win some yarn, I am also visiting via WiKnit. :)

Elaine said...

Happy blogiversary. I am a terrible blogger, but the thing that keeps me coming back to a blog is photos, so that's my suggestion.

I will post your contest on my not very interesting blog, and I would love to win (so pick me)

Unknown said...

Happy Blogiversary! I am essentially blogless, but that doesn't stop me from offering advice since I do read them. I think you need a real focus to a blog and then people who share that passion get hooked. Yours is knitting, but I looked down several of your posts and many had no knitting content and there are no photos to draw people in. So that's my suggestion - stay focused and add pics.

I love contests too.

cthulhulovesme said...

Hey, there. I came here via WiKnit. Happy blogiversary! And I have to second the suggestion for more pictures-- good photos will always draw in readers. :)

Unknown said...

Ok I am a picture person. I hate to say it but I really do judge a book by its cover so... Pictures are a must to hook me into a blog. That is my only suggestion. I love contest like this though. Makes a lasting impression.

Ambermoggie, a fragrant soul said...

happy blogaversary
Only thing I'd say would be more pictures:))

knitmomma said...

Hi! Grats on the blog - you are doing better than I am! My one suggestion to improve would be more pictures.

I will also post about your contest on my sadly neglected blog, that I intend to work on. *grin*

Kitten With a Whiplash said...

Congrats on the first year. You're rolling along nicely. I'm hardly the person to give advice on blogging, but one thing I've noticed on a lot of blogs is really cluttered sidebars with the archives at the bottom. I think the archives should be near the top so I can easily read more of your posts. Instead they are under a lost of dozens of links away from your page. I came her from WiKnit's Contest Blog, and will post on my blog. I would welcome any advice should you drop by.

Bianca said...

Congrats on your first blog-anniversary. I hope many will follow :-)

purple-power said...

Yeah, well I'm one to give advice to about sprucing up your blog, but I always love pictures - that's what keeps me coming back!

Happy blogiversary - a year is impressive to me!

Becky G said...

Happy blogoversary! I also came from WiKnit. A suggestion to improve your blog is to add pictures! I tend not to stick with blogs that seldom post pictures. Good luck!

Unknown said...

Happy Blogaversary!!!!

I just scanned through the blog and I would agree with other people... more pictures, please!

Turtle said...

hi there, i linked for you. I have had you bookmarked but not visited in awhile (lack of time lately) so this time i stumbled back through witknit. I like pictures! i am guilty of no new pics myself lately but pictues are always nice!

Emily said...

Happy Blogoversary!

A suggestion for your blog: maybe a header that includes a photo that helps people know what your blog is about? Or including more photos in your posts?

Shirley said...

Happy Blogiversary. I'm here from WiKnit too. I like pictures but if the content is interesting enough then I don't need to see pictures.

Aunt Kathy said...

1)Congratulations on your Blogaversary. I had my year anniversary in March.

2)I have added a link to your contest on my blog.

3)I have to agree with the other comments pictures draw viewers. I try to post one picture on every blog post. But I try not to post too many in one post. But even without I think you blog looks great and...

4) I will be back.

Unknown said...

Happy Blogversary! This is such a good idea to celebrate your blog birthday!

Unknown said...

I would definitely suggest pics. People love to SEE what you're into and what your blog is about. Also you have to be regular (or semi-regular) about posting, I think. Even if you only post once a week, that's fine, but you should do it regularly so that readers know when to come back.

ikkinlala said...

Happy blogiversary!

One suggestion I have would be to choose a slightly more contrasting colour for the writing in your header. Your posts are easily readable, but, on my monitor at least, the title and especially the writing under it are a bit hard to see.

Elise said...

Hi! Happy Blogiversary! Normally I just "lurk" but I thought I'd make a special effort, just for you. : ) Anyway, suggestions you ask? Hmmm... pictures, pictures, and more pictures! They add fun and character to your blog, and they would let people get to know you better and faster too, because generally I've found pictures help reflect your personality. I shouldn't probably give blog advice, as I don't blog myself, but I have been considering it, if that makes any difference. Oh, and what about some kind of header photo? Like a close-up, tight shot of yarn or something that reflects what you generally blog about? That might be nice, too. Well, I need to get ready for church, so I'd better go... Like I said before, happy Blogiversary!

Grace said...

happy blogaversary i want to wish you lots of luck on your blog and I will post about it on mine!!

Me, Myself, and I said...

I just stumbled across your blog. It looks interesting. I have to admit that you hooked me with the contest. I don't have suggestions, yet, because I'm still perusing :-)

smariek said...

Happy Blogiversary! That's a pretty nifty counter you have to keep track of when it is.

I'm not the person to ask for blog advice, I'm still trying to figure out my own, lol.

One thing I think you can try doing is to increase the width of your sidebar because things are getting truncated. Like the what-your-birthday-means picture, the right side of that is chopped off. Widening your sidebar should fix that.

I also think you can use more photos. Of the 7 posts on your front page, there are no photos at all. However lack of photos won't preclude me from reading your blog. :-)

I've posted about your contest.

bonitapita said...

Hi! I came upon your blog because someone came to mine from yours...was it you? Anyway, looks like you've had a busy last few days (weeks?). Congrats on a year...isn't it fun? I'm looking forward to reading more about your new life in CO!

Donna said...

Hi, I came here via smariek's blog. Thanks for the contest. I was browsing around your blog and I loved the comment on getting your masters cutting into your knitting time. I know the feeling. Happy blogoversary.

Farmerjane said...

good blog. only improvement would be pictures!

Marianne said...

Happy Blogiversary!

More photos?

Connie said...

Found you via Smariek, nice blog too!

Sandra said...

Happy blogoversary! Smariek directed me over, so I'm off to read some of your archives and get to know you!

Tracy said...

Congrats on your blog-versary!!

patchworkhen said...

I found my way here from Rosekim Knits. I think I'll stay a while!

CC said...

Congrats on the Blogiversary.

alcatmom said...

Happy Blogoversary!! I came over from Smariek knits blog. I see you are in Summer of Socks too. I'm so excited about knitting socks again.

Ariel said...

Happy Blogiversary!!!!!

5elementknitr said...

Happy blogiversary!

Josiane said...

Happy blogiversary! Congratulations on your first year of blogging.
As for a suggestion, I agree with a lot of the other commenters: a picture once in a while would add some interest and a bit of colour! Oh, another thing I've just noticed as I went to publish this comment: enabling your commenters to login with something else than their Google/Blogger account would be nice. It would make things easier for you as well if you wanted to answer their comment, as they'd be able to give you their website's address (if they have one) for you to find them, instead of being limited to directing you to a possibly empty Blogger profile.
Josiane (kimianak on Ravelry)

MLE said...

Happy Blogiversary =D

Tally Knits said...

Like others, pictures! I love pictures on blogs.

Cactusneedles said...

Happy Blogiversary!

Dove Knits said...

Happy blogaversary! I just found your blog, but do plan on stopping by in the future :) I'd love to see some more pictures!

Marilyn said...

Happy anniversary. I admire you for blogging at all. It does take time. If I could give two suggestions: You definitely need pictures - WIPs, FOs, etc. And, all bloggers need to be regular (at least once a week).

MamaKnits2Much said...

Happy Blogoversary! :) I hope I manage to make it to my one year.. I'm really terrible at keeping up on my blogs. I linked to you from my two blogs.

Monica (aka monnibo) said...

1. Happy Blogiversary!! Hope you're enjoying all the responses from your contest.

3. A banner would be great -- visual and adds character to any blog. Email me if you have any questions about that.

Renna said...

Congatulations on a year of blogging! I only began blogging at the first of this year. I find it amazing that nearly six months have already gone by.

I found your blog through smarieknits. I started reading at the bottom and worked my way up, so I guess I've already posted on a couple of posts to meet that requirement for entering your contest.

I'll try and link to you on my blog, but I'm pitifully behind in blogging right now, so don't credit me for that right now, in case it doesn't happen. ;-)

Bluebird49 said...

Love the contests! And happy anniversary to you! I'll mention your contest over at my blog and link to you, and will try to get back over before time runs out on me! I got here by Grace--at http://lovincomfotknit.blogspot.com, as I do quite often.

I have to say I love picture heavy posts--if I don't see any for awhile, unless the writing is awesome, I sometimes forget to go back!

psmflowerlady said...

I got here from Smariek knits. Congratulations on your Blogoversary! Haven't been here before, but I'll be back! T

SissySees said...

Hello! Lovin Comforts (Grace) sent me, and I'll mention you on my blog later today. I think the idea of more photos, especially pet pix is great.

lizard_knits said...

Congratulations on your blogiversary!
Improvement - more pictures of pups and projects. I'll post about your contest on www.lizardknits.com. Good luck with your move/house search. I also have a leaky pup. I keep piddle pants on her - cheaper than replacing the carpet!

lizard_knits said...

Congratulations on a year of blogging! Found your contest at WiKnit. Improvements? More pup and project pictures. I'll post your contest on my blog. www.lizardknits.com

lizard_knits said...

Congratulations on a year of blogging! Found your contest at WiKnit. Improvements? More pup and project pictures. I'll post your contest on my blog. www.lizardknits.com

lizard_knits said...

Congratulations on a year of blogging! Found your contest at WiKnit. Improvements? More pup and project pictures. I'll post your contest on my blog. www.lizardknits.com

Nancy @ the Jersey Shore said...

Happy 1-year Bloggerversary. I came via Grace's blog, Lovin' comfort knits. I've not visited you before "hello!"
Since I haven't been here before, I can't give you much advice to improve your blog..but one thing I know that draws me in, is more pictures. :-)

Erin said...

Congrats on the blogoversary. I read your profile--and am also irritated by anything that cuts into my knitting time! :) erinknitnotquit on Ravelry

Jen said...

Happy Blogiversary! I'm thrilled to find a new blog to page through after reading about your contest on ChanKnits.

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday and blogiversary!!

neverenough on ravelry