This is my 500th post on this blog, which started April 2006, and I'm showing a few pictures from that era. The blog started as a collection of my random thoughts, to reflect bits and pieces of my past and current lives. Over the years, other contents slowly filtered out and knitting stayed. Now Fiber Arts Friday keeps me and my knitting organized, and I'm grateful for all the friends I met through the blog, Ravelry, knitting, dogs, and life.
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| Bucky was 10 |
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| Trinket was 11 |
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| Frode by Elsebeth Lavold |
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| Henry was 6 |
Now the fun part. The GIVEAWAY! Since the blog has been around for awhile, and I have been using this format for awhile, I'm thinking about making some changes. Last time I picked a new template I spent days editing older posts. I hope this time it will be less painful. I want to hear from you in the comments: is there something in particular you like about this blog, either content or format; is there an entry you particularly like; any tips and tricks you want to offer.
A few guidelines:
1. Entry starts when this post is published, and ends next Thursday June 28 at noon California time (PDT).
2. Each comment generates an entry, unless otherwise specified, namely for Ravelry China group since some members can't access Blogger thanks to the Great Fire Wall.
3. Please have something concrete to say in your comment. Just telling me "Nice blog" so you can have an entry would not count.
4. Leave your Ravelry ID or email address in the comment, and the country you live in if not US. If we are Ravelry friends most likely I will be able to find you.
5. Prizes include yarns, books, magazines, patterns and possibly more. Sorry I didn't have a chance to take pictures, but I do have things set aside for this giveaway, I promise. I have been knitting and stashing for a long time, there is plenty of good stuff to go around.
6. Drawing will take place next Thursday afternoon.
7. One, two, or three names will be picked, and I will decide what to send you based on how well I know you and your geographical distance.
8. Winner(s) will be announced in next Friday's entry.
27 comments:
Being first should count for something. Congrats on the 500th post! Love all you've shared -- wooly, furry and otherwise! I'm a good, good, good friend so I should get the pick of the lot!
I'm just browsing through your blog, of which I haven't seen much as I found you a short time ago.
Congratulations on your 500th blog entry. You sure are a pro. I like your blog because it is clear and unpretentious.
I think it is really nice of you to put your blog roll on top. ;-) It might even bring me a few readers. But this is your blog and wouldn't it be easier to go through it if the labels were on top?
My name on Ravelry is Babajeza and I live in Switzerland.
Congrats!
I love your blog. It's easy to read and I always look forward to the beautiful creations you have knitted. I love the dog photos too.
Honestly, I wouldn't change anything.
Oh, I'm the wonderwhygal everywhere I go ;-)
Hey Vivian! It's great that you've made it to 500. I just checked my stats and it looks like I've got a ways to go. We must have started blogging at about the same time. I love seeing pics of Bucky and Trinket. They were such cute little doggies. Not that Rascal isn't awesome...
Congratulations and have fun with your contest.
AllyB
500 posts and you are still blogging strong! I'm very glad that I stumbled upon your great little blog a little while ago. Seeing one of your posts in my blogroll is always a treat. My favorite thing about your content is the difficulty level of your projects, they are always so amazingly intricate and absolutely gorgeous! I hope to one day be as good of a knitter as you are. Congrats!
Vivian,
WOW 500. That's great. I like the new look. I especially like the I Spy on the right. Much easier to see and visit past posting. I don't like the numbered steps centered. Makes it much harder to read. But then that just might be the tech writer in me coming out. LOL
I so admire your knitting and love to reading your blog and FB posts. Your square in my friendship afghan is my fav. That afghan was one of the first things I brought with me when I moved to Sacramento.
Last week I was thinking about that fabulous afghan you made years ago. I think it was called Tree of Life. It was done in a natural colored wool. I looked in your projects page on Ravelry and didn't find it. If you remember the name of that pattern, please let me know.
Hope to see you next time I'm in SJ.
Hugs,
Cris
Babajeza, I use the blog roll a lot myself and not so much for the labels, guess that's why blog roll is on top :-)
Cris, it was Tree of Life afghan from Lion Brand, I made it for my inlaws' 50th anniversary in off white Encore. I'll see if I can find some pictures to add to my projects. The centered text bugs me too, but when I load pictures they are automatically centered. If I left-align the text sometimes it looks weird. If I left-align the pictures the format goes all wacky! I can fix it in html but I'm much too lazy for that. I'm hoping changing template will help this.
Congrats on 500 posts!!!! There are a few blog templates you could use to change your blog up a bit if you wanted to. I've tried but apparently I'm not very good at it so I've stuck with my tried and true.
The one that I've seen on others is this one: http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/
OhMyBob - 500 posts! Congratulations.
I love:
1. your use of photos
2. when you finish a project, your stats rundown right at the top of the post - very informative
3. I too like the blogroll where it is.
One thing I'd like to see:
1. A photo in your header. Practical and straightforward is good ... but so, too, is a killer visual to draw people in and let us know a little more about who you are. :)
You know who I am on Ravelry - we're buds. :)
Wow, 500 post! Something else to aspire to along with your beautiful knitting. I enjoy seeing your knitted projects because of their detail and how well they fit you.....what an accomplised knitter you are.
I also like the blog roll. I'm not so computer savvy.
I'm pacagirl on Ravelry.
Congratulations Vivian on your 500th post! Your blog is always interesting, but here is my suggestion: how about enlarging your photos? Everyone likes to see your projects, pooches, Henry, etc. Larger pictures would make it a little easier to see them.
Best wishes on your continued success with your blog from your really good friend!!
Carol (carolo)
Lynn, VdV, I'm trying out different templates and see if I can have a nice picture as background or header. Stay tuned :-)
Carol, do you know you can click on the pictures to see original size? Try last week's post, the pictures are huge. This seems to work on most templates I'm testing.
Congrats on the big 5-0-0. :-)
I crossed 500 this week too. Wish I would have had the foresight to commemorate... even with your post last week, it didn't cross my mind. lol.
I like that your blog is clean and therefore loads quickly. Sometimes there can be too many things going on for my taste... of course, I am an engineer. ;-)
I also like the details on each of your finished projects, and how well they fit you. Like most of the others have said... you are a very accomplished knitter and you offer much for the rest of us to aspire too.
I also really like the posts you do of your mom's work.
I'm Alpacamundo on Rav.
Whoo-whee, you have reached a huge milestone, your blog is great! I love seeing all your knitting expertise, and I especially learn a ton from your pattern modifications. Plus you always inspire me to check out new patterns. Love it 100%, congratulations!!!
Hello, testing, testing. It's been lovely getting to "know" you through Ravelry these past few years. You're such a prolific knitter and blogger so it's always fun to see what projects are your latest. Congratulations on hitting 500 and here's to another 500 or more! Go Team Made in China (hopefully the USOC doesn't take us down, haha).
Erm, apparently leaving a comment through a proxy site means I have to post anonymously. Anyway, it's me, voodikon, and also P.S. in case I win I'll be in the States this summer so you could use my parents' mailing address instead of sending stuff on the slow boat to China. :)
Hello, testing, testing. It's been lovely getting to "know" you through Ravelry these past few years. You're such a prolific knitter and blogger so it's always fun to see what projects are your latest. Congratulations on hitting 500 and here's to another 500 or more! Go Team Made in China (hopefully the USOC doesn't take us down, haha).
Erm, apparently leaving a comment through a proxy site means I have to post anonymously. Anyway, it's me, voodikon, and also P.S. in case I win I'll be in the States this summer so you could use my parents' mailing address instead of sending stuff on the slow boat to China. :)
It's funny that I haven't run into you more since I see that we have many of the same friends! I'm glad to be here today. I took a look back at a few of your older posts and the thing that comes to mind most is there is a lot of white. It does give it a clean feel, but it also can seem a little cold. I saw a suggestion about adding pictures to your header I like that idea too. Your content is interesting and well written with good pics - and that's what really counts isn't it? Good luck and congrats on 500. I'm RobinBrz on Rav - I look forward to visiting again!
Wow! I knew from China Knitters that you are a prolific knitter, but I didn't know how much! You're blog is very clean and uncluttered, and the simple format really let's your project photos stand out. I'll be interested to see what you come up with if you do decide on a change.
AKA -flybygal-
Congratulations!!
I would like to see some of your projects as a banner at the top of your blog. You have made so many wonderful things!! XXO-
Happy 500th! Since 2006 wow that is commitment! I want a mannequin too. I looked for one when I lived in China but no luck. I am still on the lookout for in here in Singapore.
Congrats on your 500th blog! Maybe I should take a blogging lesson from you, I can't seem to to find the rhythm to keep mine going... maybe it's called laziness ;-)
Love reading your blogs and truly admire your cable creations, look forward to the next 500 :-)
Wow, congrats on 500 posts! I was excited last night when I posted my 30th post, but I have a long way to get to your accomplishment.
As far as your layout, I like the minamalist format you have. Sometimes backgrounds can be too distracting.
I would just suggest that in every post where you talk about a pattern, you should put a link to it (possible the Rav pattern page), so that people who are just browsing your site have an easy way to add the same pattern to their own queue.
Congrats on your 500 posts! I like the knitting content on your blog the best because I want to knit as beautifully as you some day. I love that your posts have lots of pictures and your writing is clear and interesting. I can't see a need for change myself, but go with your own feelings - you're doing great so far! I'm in the USA.
greyowl60 at yahoo dot com
Congratulations on reaching 500 posts! I bet you must be proud - and as far as what I like about your blog, I'll be honest and tell you that I just found you through Ravelry so I've not been around long. I enjoy your writing and I love the fact that your blog is clean - sometimes too much clutter on the sides can get overwhelming and distracting. I like that you've kept it sleek and streamlined.
~ PprmntMochaMama on Ravelry
Im new to your blog. I WISH I had known for the awesome contest. Congrats on post 500. great milestone
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