Hello there! It's me!

If you are a regular at Sew Fresh Quilts, you may have noticed things have changed this past week. If you are prepared to hear the long version of the story, I am ready to share some news with you today.

After much consideration, I have decided on the addition of a new left hand sidebar. This new sidebar is primarily to allow for the placement of paid advertising (Blog Sponsors) and affiliate advertising (Affiliate Links). The layout of Sew Fresh Quilts is perhaps a little cluttered looking now and kinda squishy. But I wanted to be completely up front with you about my reasoning for this new addition. And to disclose to you, "What exactly does this mean????"

If you are reading this post by having it delivered to your email, you won't know what I'm talking about unless you click on through to visit my blog here....

https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com

Many quilters don't blog. And a lot of quilters do blog. Some quilting bloggers do so purely for their own enjoyment and to meet other like-minded creative people who are willing to share what they are making too. And then there are a few quilting bloggers who want to do that AND find that they enjoy it so much, they want to make it their business.

Over the years, I have striven to share quilting knowledge with the sweet people who read my quilting blog. In the early days I wrote a lot of tutorials and tips that you can see here and here. I felt that if there were new techniques I was learning, there would be others who would like to learn these techniques too. And that is something I wanted to share with my fellow quilters and those who, like I had been, were scouring the internet in search of answers to their quilty questions.

Mr. Google, "How do I ________________? "

It took me a while to develop my skills. And to develop friendships. The Let's Bee Social weekly Wednesday link up has been going on for over three years now and I am so thankful that my friends keep coming back. It's so nice to have you linking up, supporting the party and participating in making others feel welcome. Your visits to the others who link up mean a lot to me! I do appreciate it so much when I see the names of my friends in the comments on other people's blogs and read all the kind and encouraging comments that you leave. And this has made me very happy. Quilting makes me content. Blogging makes me feel like I have a place and a people that I belong. And together these things have taken me to new heights.

During the last couple of years, I have ventured even further. I started developing a style of my own. And to design and sell my own quilt patterns. And to get out into the real world and meet people in real life through offering trunk shows and workshops to guilds within my area. Really, this is what surprises me the most. I am a home-body by nature. I like my alone time. I live for the wearing of my pajamas. But I am having so much fun with everything that this new step has brought into my life.

My sense of independence has been restored. I feel like my life, once again, has a purpose beyond being wife, mom, head cook and bottle washer. For those who doubted it could be done.... For those who "gave me that look" - you know the one where they roll their eyes and snicker - when I told them I am quilting.... I am proud, happy and content to say that, "I am quilting as a business."

I don't yet know what tomorrow will bring, but I am so glad to be on this journey and to be sharing in your journey, too. Each day is a joy. And I'll do the dishes tomorrow.

But just because I am "quilting as a business" doesn't mean that I don't still want to have fun. For the last two years I have been hosting Quilt Alongs here on the blog, and those have been, and are, so much fun for me. Sure... I sell patterns, and I REALLY appreciate those of you who do make purchases from my shop. But with a quilt along, we interact! And I love to be able to see what you are making! And what fabrics you chose! And it's like one big quilt along party!

So.... Oh, ya.... What was I talking about again?

Quilting. Blogging. Business... Disclosure, ya! That's it!

This past year things have really developed. I reached the limit for how much you can earn without having to charge sales tax, so now my fellow Canadian customers will find that, according to your provincial taxation regulations, this tax is added to your online order. As a business owner, I want to be able to maximize my earnings. But I don't want to stop sharing the free stuff. What free stuff? Tutorials. Quilt Alongs. Quilt Blocks. Giveaways. All of this free stuff, in addition to the patterns I develop, take time to create, prepare, organize, write posts for, and stuff. So in an effort to earn more money, instead of ending the free stuff, I decided to add a sidebar with Blog Sponsors and Affiliate Links.

What are Blog Sponsors? Blog Sponsors are typically quilt fabric shop owners who are willing to pay to have their logo and a link to their website shared on your blog for a monthly fee. Do you ever purchase fabric online? If so, do you ever go to that fabric shop website by clicking on a logo found in a quilting bloggers sidebar? If you do, you are helping that quilting blogger to generate sales for their sponsors. And that makes everyone happy. The quilt shop sees that there is traffic coming from the blog they are sponsoring. So they are happy that their ad is working to generate sales. The blogger is happy that the sponsor is happy and wants to continue to pay to have their logo on the blog. And best of all..... The online fabric shopper is happy because they were going to make a purchase anyways... Why not support the blogger to make their business grow?

What are Affiliate Links? Affiliate Links are ads that link to the website of the advertiser/seller. Typically, these affiliate links do not provide the blogger with any monetary gain unless there is a sale generated from shoppers clicking on the ad and making a purchase. The cycle of happiness works much the same way as it does in the Blog Sponsor situation.

Now that I have rambled on all this time....

And if you are still here after all that....

Thank you for hearing me out. And I hope you can understand my reasoning for adding the new sidebar. I mean, there is no way I would add any Blog Sponsors or Affiliate Links that I didn't believe I would purchase from myself. I do! In searching out interest for blog sponsors, the first thing I did was reach out to those whom I have already been purchasing from for years.

Now then, my friend....

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME MORE FUN AND SOME MORE FREE STUFF?

Let's take some time to ponder the excitement generated by a GIVEAWAY....

Quilty Planner's Dream

Orange Peel Template Set and 4 FUN PATTERNS

Quilter's Patch book By Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts

First Blush Block of the Month book by It's Sew Emma Patterns

And 2 Sew Fresh Quilts patterns of choice

The Quilty Planner set, the Orange Peel Template set, the Quilter's Patch book and the First Blush book were all sent to me by Fat Quarter Shop as a gift, LONG BEFORE THE MENTION OF SPONSORSHIP OR PAID ADVERTISING WAS EVER MENTIONED. I know I won't use these items and I want to pass these gifts all along to my readers. I will personally be covering the cost of shipping these items to the winners. Paying it FORWARD!

There are 5 separate prizes and there will be 5 individual winners chosen.

How do you enter the giveaway contest? 

Follow the instructions on the RaffleCopter.com widget below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Giveaway is open internationally.
Winner will be randomly chosen on February 14th and notified by email.
Be sure to leave your email address on the Rafflecopter widget.




Good Luck in the Contest and....

Keep On Quilting On!

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Top 10 Tips to Grow Your Blog

You started a blog. You are sharing posts and pictures of your work. And now you wonder, "How do I encourage more people to leave comments? How do I gain followers? Is anyone even interested in my blog?"

Yes, I know. We all start a blog with the intention of recording our journey - our experiences - for our own record. A 'Note to Self'. But, deep down we all want to share this journey. And we want to join with others who share our love of quilting.

Don't assume that because you have only a few comments or followers that no one is interested in your blog! You just haven't yet been found!

Top 10 Tips to Grow Your Blog will help you to ....

Find & Attract an Audience 

and enable you to ....

Engage & Retain Your Audience

And to have fun doing it!

1.

Join the Party:  In your day to day life, you might not fit the description of Social Butterfly. However, attending a few weekly linky parties is a great way to put your blog on the radar of others. Linky parties are designed to allow participants to see what others are working on and to encourage communication. If you want to attract more visitors to your blog, get out there and mingle at a party or two and introduce yourself! Here is a great list of linky parties. Don't know where to start? Join us on Wednesdays for the Let's Bee Social linky party right here!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com" title="Sew Fresh Quilts" target="_blank"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mqqPpWeFz7A/UtyR1HYzgmI/AAAAAAAADjA/MZ84gVa9KXk/s1600/LinkyBees.jpg" alt="Sew Fresh Quilts" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

2.

Join In:  More mingling! Blog hops, Quilt alongs, and Swaps are a fun way to meet new friends and encourage new visitors to your blog. There have got to be a million quilt related hops, quilt alongs and swaps going on out there.

Join as many social media platforms as you are able or comfortable getting involved in. Those my include Facebook, Flickr, Pinterest and Instagram. Get out there, get noticed and make new friends. Follow those you find inspiring.  Show your appreciation by liking posts you find attractive. Start or join in the conversation on those posts!

Thank you so much for the IG ❤️ @elaine.summercrafter So nice to make new friends! 💕 I am so inspired by your work! 🐠

A photo posted by Lorna McMahon (@sewfreshquilts) on Jun 7, 2015 at 5:58pm PDT

3.

Visit Blogs:  How does it make you feel when new people drop by to visit your blog and leave a sweet comment, some encouragement, or just to say hello? Well, it makes you very happy, of course! Visit lots of blogs and leave them some comment love. Add those blogs to your reading list and follow along. Repeat visits will encourage the author of those blogs to seek you out and they may become your follower, too! Leaving a nice word of encouragement also attracts other visitors who read those comments to click on your name. Where do you find these new blogs? And where can you help others find you? Visit Michele of Quilting Gallery because she has a special page for that! And so does Quilter Blogs here.

4.

Invite Others:  While you are out there distributing some kind words of praise and encouragement, in your comment, leave a link back to your blog. Don't say, "I'm now following your blog. Please follow me." Perhaps you are working on a similar project? Can you offer a solution to a problem they are having? Do you know of a technique or tutorial that would be useful? Are you hosting a giveaway? Let them know in the comment section, and leave a link back to the post you think would interest them. Even just leaving a link to your blog’s home page at the end of your comment is a great idea. Again, this encourages not only the author of the blog to visit you, but also their followers.

5.

Enable Comments:  Two words... Word Verification. To encourage comments and repeat visits, I advise you disable word verification. The top two best ways to turn off potential followers are word verification and you being a no reply blogger. Here is a link to take you through the steps to turn your word verification off. Are you a no reply blogger? Here is a link to help you find the answer to that question and remedy that annoying problem. By the way, if you are a no reply blogger you may wonder why no one ever responds to your comments or questions. And if you like to enter giveaways or contests, you will never win. The author of the blog has no way of responding to your comments.

6.

Attractive Design:  Consider your favourite blogs. What is it about the design of those blogs that you find appealing? A neutral or white background allows readers to focus on your blog content. Your blog header should not be so large that your readers must scroll down to see the beginning of your latest post. Don't be afraid to experiment. A spring and fall clean up of your blog help to keep things fresh!

7.

Good Content:  Why do you read blogs? To learn how to do a new technique? For inspiration? Mostly, we follow blogs that keep us informed, educated and entertained. And sometimes we follow blogs because the author has become our friend. To gain and retain followers, this is your aim also. To inform, educate and entertain. Tell about your experiences with methods you have used. Provide a tutorial to teach others of methods you have mastered. Write your blog posts as you would write to a friend and you will make lasting connections!

8.

Good Pictures:  Nothing beats a great picture to hold our attention and draw us in! Use the camera that you have to your best ability. Take pictures using natural light. Get some close up shots - show the details! Use props like thread, pins, binding, ribbon, and even your pet to add interest to your photos. Enhance your pictures using Picasa or Photoshop to lighten and add contrast. When you post pictures to your blog, make them larger, as wide as your blog text. Who can resist a little fabric eye candy?!!

9.

Have Confidence:  No matter your experience or level of expertise, have confidence in your abilities. And let that confidence shine through in your content. Yes.... Even have confidence in your mistakes! We all learn from our past experiences and even from the experiences others share with us. Mistakes are a part of that learning experience. Speak highly of your work and your creativity. Believe in yourself and your abilities. See yourself as you would like your readers to perceive you to be.... and that is what you will become. You have to believe to achieve!

10.

Be Positive:  For many of us, reading blogs offers a little oasis and an escape from the daily grind. Try to keep the content and comments positive. You haven't blogged in a month?  Please don't apologize. You goofed up on something you were making? Don't be down on yourself. Consider it a creative design element. Keep it positive. You learn from your mistakes and so will your readers. You see work someone has shared on their blog, but you think it is ugly? If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. Being happy encourages your readers to be happy. Show you're excited about your latest project and I will be excited for you! Relieved you completed a project you have been working on for so long? Share how glad you are to have accomplished your goal and your readers will readily congratulate you for completing your task.

If you have found this post helpful, you may also be interested in my Top 10 Tips for New Quilters. Both of these Top 10 Tips posts are available in pdf form as FREE eBooks here.

Keep On Quilting On!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Quilt Blog Tips from the Experts

You started quilting.  You started blogging.  Now what?

Are you wondering how to turn the passion for your hobby into something more?  Something bigger?  Do you want to make it your life's work?  A full time business?

As a quilting blogger, you may have asked yourself, "Do I have what it takes to succeed?"
Just what does it take?

I’ve invited a few friends, peers, and mentors to pitch in on the subject.
A little Ask the Experts Interview, if you will.

Many are authors, speakers, and teachers.  Some have been featured in a variety of crafting and quilting magazines.  Others are talented pattern writers and fabric designers.  They are all gifted experts.  Each has generously offered, to share with you today, their answers to this simple question.

"What is the most important quality
for an emerging quilting blogger to possess?"

Faith Jones of Fresh Lemons Modern Quilts

FOCUS
There are so many blogs out there, it can be hard to differentiate yourself from the pack. Consider the focus of your blog before getting started. What is your goal in blogging? What do you want to share? It could be documenting your creative journey. It could be providing tutorials for those just starting out. It could be focusing on a particular design style or type of finished product (modern quilts, traditional quilts, children’s clothing, adult clothing, bags, home decor, etc). I’ve seen successful blogs with both broad and narrow scope, but it’s important to sit down and think about your goals before getting started.

Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter

COURAGE
Courage to share. Courage to be patient while people are first finding you. Courage to try new things. Courage to not get discouraged. Courage to work hard. Courage to have confidence with who you are. Courage to not compare yourself to others.

Christa Watson of Christa Quilts

FRIENDLINESS
I believe that being genuinely friendly is one of the keys to my blog's success. When people leave such nice comments on my blog, I can't help but be friendly right back! I've met so many wonderful friends through blogging and I love how we all support and encourage each other. Even though the quilting industry is huge, having connections with other quilters online makes me feel like I'm part of a hometown quilting bee with hundreds of my best friends!

Sam Hunter of Hunter Design Studio 

SERVICE
When I sit down to write for a blog, I'm aware that the thing I want to do most for my readers is to SERVE them in some way. I look at my writing in terms of what I consider to be categories of SERVICE... Education, Encouragement/Inspiration, or Entertainment. If I can't fit my thoughts into one of those categories, I probably need to re-assess what I'm about to write. For instance, a rant for the sake of a rant is just selfish. Illustrating an argument with a rant, and inviting healthy discussion among readers - that's education. It's a busy world out there, and we writers need to respect that our readers are giving us their precious attention. I know that not everything I write will be epic - it's a worthy aim, and I'm happy when I hit the occasional one out of the park. But when I write I want it to have value beyond merely filling space just because "I haven't written for a while and I should get something out there." My readers deserve so much more than that.

Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced

MOTIVATION
Bloggers are almost always their own bosses—and there are a lot of advantages to that. But it also means nobody is giving you deadlines or holding you accountable for meeting those deadlines. As a quilt blogger, you also have to make time to sew in addition to your blogging responsibilities—otherwise you won't have anything to blog about! So I think a quilt blogger needs to really be a self-starter and have a lot of motivation in order to make the blog a success over the long haul. You might not always feel like sitting down to blog, but for the most part you need to be enthusiastic and the love for what you do should come through in your blog posts. If you inspire people, they'll come back for more. But if you're not motivated, that will come across in your work, and it will make it that much more difficult for you to continue blogging long-term.

Katherine of Sew Me Something Good

PLUCK
It's spirited and determined courage that can make you reach for your dreams and at the same time set you apart from the crowd. We all face challenges that require fearlessness and daring - that is essentially what pluck is. It is that strength of mind that will see you through - with pluck, you will pick yourself up, dust yourself off and try again - you will succeed.

Tessa Marie Walker of The Sewing Chick

FEARLESSNESS
If there is anything that I have learned from the early days of my quilting adventure, it is that nothing has stood in the way of my creativity more than fear. Fear of messing it up, fear of wasting fabric, 8time or money, fear of what others will think and the big one...fear of failure!! My advice to anyone starting out is to be FEARLESS! Now, that doesn't mean don't be afraid or have those feelings, it means to recognize the feelings and move forward anyway. Ask yourself, "what's the worst that could happen?" Probably nothing even remotely serious. You will mess it up sometimes and that is okay. You will waste fabric, but if you have been in a quilt shop lately (and I know you have), there is lots more fabric! There is no such thing as wasting time if you are doing something that you love and are learning from the process. All experiences are valuable, no matter the outcome. Any time we are creating, we are opening ourselves up to the opinions of others, especially if we are blogging about our efforts or posting on social media. I was very wary of this when I began my blog (what if someone is mean to me?), but I can honestly say that in the two years that I have been blogging, I have not had one negative comment - not one! Now, I know that doesn't mean everyone has liked my work - that's impossible, but it does mean that those that don't have been nice enough not to say so. The quilting community is very kind and supportive and we all kind of cheer each other on.

Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts

PERSEVERANCE
Once you've outlined what your brand, style, mission and goals are for your blog, just start doing it and keep it up. Building a following takes time, planning, patience and loads of perseverance to achieve your desired presence in the community. Keep at it, and the yield could be far more than you considered when you first started out.

Michèle-Renée Charbonneau of Quilt Matters

PARTICIPATION
The online quilting community is just that -- a community. One of the best ways to meet other wonderful bloggers and become known is to participate in linky parties. And by participate, don't just link up. I mean be a good participant -- include a link to the party in your post (not on a hidden page of your blog), comment on the host's post and visit at least some of the other participants and leave comments. Do unto others... :)

Nettie Peterson of a quilt is nice

BE GENUINE
I think you have to be true to who you are as a quilter. Quilt what you want to quilt. Show what you want to show. Love it and be proud of it. It is so easy to get caught in the blogging world, trying to keep up with the Jones', as they say, but it's a slippery slope--there will always be someone out there with a better idea, better fabrics, better colors. So be genuine in your quilts and be genuine in your interactions with others. Readers will see it, and you will be happier.

Amanda Jean Nyberg of Crazy Mom Quilts

TENACITY

It takes tenacity (persistence, determination, perseverance) to be a quilt blogger. There are so many hats that a quilt blogger needs to wear in a day (photographer, writer, artist) not to mention the need for good time management and PR skills! Each quilt, each blog post is just a small part of the bigger picture. The sum of them equals a brand, a style, a following. It doesn't happen overnight, it takes time (years) to develop. That is why tenacity is so essential.

Now it's YOUR turn...
What are your thoughts?
What steps have you taken in order to achieve success?
What does success mean to YOU?

Keep your chin up!

And...
Keep On Quilting On!