Thursday 27 November 2014

It's almost been a year, so that means Giveaway time

The prize - 4 half metre cuts of  In The Navy prints by Camelot Fabrics

Wow, it's almost been a whole year since I started this blog. Why did I do it? There were 3 main reasons:

1. I'd been reading quilting blogs for a few years and drew lots of inspiration from what others were making. I thought some people might be interested in seeing what I was making.

2. I've always include a few photos of my quilting and embroidery finishes in my annual Christmas letter to family and friends. Many of those people tell me look forward to my letter so they can see what I've been up to in the past 12 months. Some years it was hard to choose which photos to include with so many projects on the go. So I knew I had plenty of material to share.

3. Would you believe I'd actually started a word document I called 'Craft Log' and was building up a document filled with photos and descriptions of what I'd made, year by year. So I knew I wanted a permanent reference of what I'd made, but up until that point I wasn't ready to go public with a blog. I worked in IT for many years solving software issues, and quite frankly, I didn't want to spend any more time on a computer than I had to.

After I sent out our 2013 Christmas letter I decided to investigate blogging, and I posted my first post on 16 December 2013.

I can still remember some of the very first people I became on line friends with back then. I won't name names for fear of offending anyone I miss out, but I've made some great friends during the past 12 months. You've all been very supportive of my efforts, and I've enjoying getting to know people from all over the world.

I've tried many new things since I started my blog:
- I joined my local quilt guild (called Capital Quilters) and met some new friends there
- I joined Instagram and met many embroidery people through that
- I participated in a quilt a long via Instagram
- I joined the Possum Magic round robin and met some fun loving people through that
- I revived my crochet interest and am planning on making a blanket next year

I could go on and on!  Anyway, to the point of this post. I running a give away to thank you all for your loyal support over the past 12 months.

The prize - 4 half metre cuts of these In The Navy prints from Camelot Fabrics

To enter:
1. Leave a comment telling me something that you tried for the first time in 2014. It could be quilting or sewing related, or sports, or travel. Whatever was significant to you.
2. If you follow my blog, leave a comment telling me how you follow - bloglovin, feedly etc
3. If you follow via Instagram leave a comment with your user name. I'm @wendysquiltsandmore
So some people can leave 3 comments.

I will ship anywhere in the world, but I must be able to email you, so if you are a no reply blogger, please leave your email address.

Entries close at 11am Sunday 30 Nov New Zealand daylight savings time. That gives you 3 days to enter. Good luck, and thank you.

59 comments:

Judy@Quilt Paradigm said...

Congratulations on your 1 year blogiversary!! I always get excited when I see a new Wendy's post come through on my bloglovin reader because I know I am just going to love whatever you have in progress or finished :) I can understand why your friends and family were anxiously awaiting your yearly updates!

I tried paper piecing for the first time in 2014. I also tried quilting the snot out of my quilts. . . I am hooked :) AND I did my first QAL. Funny, when you asked the question my first thought was nothing! LOL

Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!

Frederique said...

Good anniversary!
For the first time, in 2014, I'm running a fabric giveaway too!!
Happy Thanksgiving!

barbara woods said...

congrats, free motion quilting, still a beginner.

barbara woods said...

follow on bloglovin

nylirrek said...

I follow on Bloglovin.

nylirrek said...

I made a few quilt as you go tote bags!

Granny Maud's Girl said...

I can imagine how IT work would make you want to stay away from computers in the evenings and on weekends! I am so glad you decided to blog in spite of the extra screen time!

Shauna said...

Over the last year I've done a couple of new things. One I joined my first quilting bee, which has been a blast. Second I did my first online quilt-along, and had lots of fun. And lastly I did my first paper piecing, and love it.

Shauna said...

I follow you with bloglovin

CathyC said...

congrats on your 1st anniversary :) I went on my first crafty retreat (not quilty, but cardmaking) I flew from Adelaide to Brisbane and had a real girly week away :) I missed hubby terribly, but it was nice to get away :)

CathyC said...

I follow you with Feedly :)

HeathersSewingRoom said...

I follow with bloglovin and Instagram. I really enjoy seeing your work.

Cassandra said...

Happy anniversary! I worked with hexagons for the first time this year.

Cassandra said...

I follow you with BlogLovin

Serena @ Sewgiving said...

1 whole year goes so fast doesn't it?! The new to me thing this year was joining in. I've been blogging, but haven't participated in bees, swap or round robins until this year ... so that's new to me AND I must say I'm enjoying it immensely :)

Serena @ Sewgiving said...

I like to follow you via bloglovin'

Serena @ Sewgiving said...

... and yes, I stalk you on IG too :)

margaret said...

How I love your blog and your creations. I have not been following you for the full year but glad I found you. I managed to make a silk ribbon iris flower the other day, silk ribbon is totally new to me but feel it is not for me if you know what I mean, seem to have developed a mental bock to the instructions!

margaret said...

I follow you through bloglovin and although I look at instagram have not found you yet, struggle with all the techknowledgy!!

Alison said...

I found you a wee while ago through a button on another blogger's sidebar. I just have you saved in my favourites list. This year I tried trapunto for the first time. Knowledge is empowering and encouraging. Thanks for your lovely blog.

Ruth said...

New to me this year: I wrote a pattern and got it published! So exciting and will definitely be doing more of that next year!

Ruth said...

Follow on Feedly

Ruth said...

and on IG!

Oops-Lah said...

Wow, a fantastic blogging year with almost 90 posts. Congratulations. After many years of quilting I have for the first time pieced a quilt by hand. I always thought that I couldn't do it, but it was very enjoyable.

Oops-Lah said...

And I follow with GFC

Oops-Lah said...

And I'm also following on IG

Helen@Till We Quilt Again said...

My beginning year(s) blogging I was nearly as busy as you! Not exactly how we discovered this friendship but it sure has been fun! This year I have joined my first BOM on line!

Helen@Till We Quilt Again said...

I follow via email.

Helen@Till We Quilt Again said...

I just added you to IG! Now I can even stalk that way too! Wahoo!

Carla S said...

I started quilting, knitting, and crocheting lace in 2014 for the first time.

Carla S said...

I follow your blog through bloglovin with the username shroomfrog.

Heidi said...

Happy Anniversary! I follow you via Bloglovin. I also blog to help keep track of just what it is I am getting done, to share with family and friends, and meet other quilters around the world. Hope your second year is full of adventure! Oh, I tried paper piecing this year- I did the Sea Kitschy QaL:-)

Unknown said...

Congratulations on you one year anniversary! I follow you by email. Love the bright colors of this fabric. Thank you for the chance to win. Matsche.christine@yahoo.com.

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary !! This year I made my very first quilt and a huge tote bag. Been a long while since I did any sewing and have never made a quilt before.. or a tote bag. Not sure how I am following you but I get your emails!!

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl said...

The new thing I tried this year was being self-employed. So far, so good!

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl said...

I follow your blog using Bloglovin.

Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl said...

I follow you on Instagram - I am @quiltingjetgirl

tktl said...

I made my first quilt, and my second quilt!

t_ktl@yahoo.com

tktl said...

I follow via bloglovin.

t_ktl@yahoo.com

Kris said...

Congrats on 1 year!
I tried shadow trapunto and am itching to do that again, I have tried some new tools and I have tried to sew and create with colors outside my norm.

Kris said...

I follow you on bloglovin

Unknown said...

Congratulations! I just started learning to sew last year and I'm amazed at my progress! I still have many, many imperfections and screw ups but at least there is progress. I tried to make a pouch and bungled it a lot but I think I can do better. Thanks for the giveaway!

tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com

Quilting Tangent said...

Congratulations on ONE year. Following on bloglovin'. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Quilting Tangent said...

Learning to sew with a sewing machine this year. I do hand piecing. Love that a sewing machine is faster, but by hand is more accurate for me, right now. 24Tangent@gmail.com

JoEllen said...

This year I bought a Baby Lock Crown Jewel 18" quilting machine! I am still loving it!

Sweet Dreams Quilting said...

Congrats on your 1 yr. I follow on Instagram @ ck2sew

Havplenty said...

This year I tried applique for the first time. Now I am not an applique convert by no means, I just wanted to add symbols to a PSQ and applique was the only way to do so.

tushay3(at)yahoo(dot)com

Havplenty said...

Congrats on your first blog anniversary. Surely that means that you have meaningful things to say to others. Keep up the great work. I follow you on Bloglovin.

tushay3(at)yahoo(dot)com

Vicki said...

This is so exciting...congrats!! I am a new, happy follower through email.

Vicki said...

I have tried applique for the first time this year.

Hettie's Mum said...

Hi Wendy, I do enjoy your blog. Congrats on your first birthday! I've just tried making Dreden plates for the first time! And they are cute! :-)

Hettie's Mum said...

I follow you on bloglovin

Hettie's Mum said...

I have just found and followed you on instagram - I didn't realise you were there :-)

Sarah Goer Quilts said...

Congratulations on your anniversary. Mine is coming up soon. I started blogging in January of 2014.

Sarah Goer Quilts said...

I follow you on Bloglovin'.

Sarah Goer Quilts said...

I follow you on IG. @sarahmgoer

Wendy said...

I for one am glad you took the plunge and started your blog, I find it very inspiring! That's a tough questions you've set us there, what have I tried in the last year.... so much! One of the things I enjoyed most was learning to viking knit with wire, but I've enjoyed learning everything!

Wendy said...

I follow your blog on Feedly

CathyC said...

thank you so much, the gorgeous fabrics have arrived safe and sound :)