Unfortunately, when you get so busy there just aren't enough hours in the day. So, something has to give. And, this year, well - reviewing blogs was one of those things.
So, what has kept me from reviewing blogs - which I love to do? Here's a re-cap:
First, I created two brand new websites/blogs for my sister. I alluded to this in a Linda's Blog post entitled "A Delightful Surprise From My Baby Sister!" She had sent me a bouquet of beautiful flowers as a "thank-you" for all I had been doing for her.
If you're wondering what her new websites/blogs are - well, the first has to do with alpacas and the second has to do with her new patterns. Now the latter (ie: patterns) should come as no surprise for something my sister might do. Given my creative juices never take a break and given how many patterns I've created I would hope some of that might rub off on my sister. When she was young she wanted to do everything I did and I didn't always let her. This time, I helped her.
This past winter her creativity went into overdrive. Make that super overdrive. She had decided that she wanted to combine her love of flowers with her love of quilting and sewing so she designed several framed flower appliquéd wall pieces.
She was not only creating like crazy, but wanted to put the fruits of her creative endeavors to good use by creating patterns. And, of course, I told her that on the net "e-patterns" were the name of the game. So, since she didn't know how to create patterns - let alone e-patterns, I helped her a bit. After all, what are big sisters for?
And, since she had created patterns - well, she needed websites/blogs to sell them. So, of course, "the blogging queen" eagerly volunteered to create those for her. Her website/blog is called "Inspired Creations By D" at http://inspiredcreationsbyd.blogspot.com/.
Inspired Creations By D sells FRAME or QUILT - FABRIC WALL ART PATTERNS. According to my sister, "Inspiration comes from many areas and one of mine comes from my love of the great outdoors, nature & flowers. I love to craft, sew, quilt and design patterns."
If you'd like to visit her website/blog please CLICK HERE or on the banner below:
I hope you get a chance to visit my sister's new website/blog. If you do please leave a comment to let her know what you think.
So, I've explained the latter. You might be wondering "what's up?" with the alpacas. Well, it seems my sister and her husband have decided to try their hands at alpaca farming. I really should say that my sister fell in love with "alpacas" (how could you not - they're just so ADORABLE) and managed to convince her "hubby" that this would be a great thing for them to do. Raise and sell alpacas and alpaca fiber. So, they are.
Right now they're in the process of getting their "alpaca farm" ready for the two alpacas and their 2 offspring that will arrive in September. My sister bought two "girls" that she named Sunflower and Ivy - who are both pregnant and will deliver their babies in July.
In case you haven't guessed by now sister's thing is flowers and gardening which is why she named her alpacas after flowers and which is why she named her new adventure "Rock Garden Alpacas."
So, since she and her husband are now in the alpaca business they needed a website/blog. And, of course, I had no problem volunteering to create another website/blog for them. Their new website is "Rock Garden Alpacas"at http://rockgardenalpacas.blogspot.com/.
Rock Garden Alpacas is not only their selling website, but also their blog as it tells about their journey into alpaca farming. According to my sister,"We decided that it would be helpful to document our journey into alpaca farming as a way of "paying it forward" for all the help we received along the way. If you're thinking of alpaca farming we hope "Our Journey" helps you."
If you'd like to visit their website/blog please CLICK HERE or on the banner below:
I hope you get a chance to visit my sister and brother-in-law's new website/blog. If you do please leave a comment to let them know what you think.
On top that I've also been in the process of revising all 272 of my patterns. I wrote about this previously in a Linda's Blog post entitled "Way Too Much Going On - Changes To My Patterns and E-Patterns."
The first of the year I decided I wanted to revise my patterns to create computer assisted diagrams and pattern piece pages. I tried one pattern to see how difficult it would be and how long it would take using Microsoft Publisher. I've been using it for years upon years now and would be lost without it.
So, I thought I'd see how difficult it would be to use their computer assisted drawing tools to help me create some of the images on my diagrams pages and pattern pieces sheets. After a few mangled attempts at drawing curves I finally got the knack of it. And, it worked really well once I got used to drawing lines, circles, curves, arrows, different size text, and different positioning of the text and images.
In fact, everything looked so wonderful. So nice and neat (not that my drawn diagrams weren't neat) and organized (not that my drawn diagrams weren't organized - as they were). It really made a difference in my pattern. I just LOVED how they looked - how professional - that I decided to revise all of my patterns.
Well, with 272 patterns to do this was a HUGE endeavor to undertake. Depending on the size of the pattern it might take me anywhere from one day to three days just to complete the changes. That's a HUGE undertaking to say the least and one that took up a lot of my time.
I decided to take it one pattern at a time and figured that over time eventually they'd all be done. The first of October I finished pattern #272 and they're all updated on my Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns website.
Thirty seven of those I've posted about on my Linda's Blog and my Linda Walsh Originals Doll & Craft E-Patterns Blog. I've got 235 of the revised e-patterns to post about which will take me the rest of this year and a good portion of next year.
So, you're probably saying, "with all the above I can understand why she's been a little blog absent."
Well, that's only part of the story. I've been doing something else too that has taken me hundreds of hours to complete. Maybe I should say, "I've been working on multiple projects that have taken me many, many, many hours to complete and they have nothing to do with computers, websites, or blogs."
Now you're probably wondering what could keep me from blogging. Well, it's another addiction of mine - cross-stitching. During the last year I've managed to complete a massive cross-stitch project and several smaller cross-stitch projects.
In order to relax during the last ten months of tedious computer work I've been doing some counted cross-stitching. Counted cross-stitching can be quite tedious, but isn't quite the same as the stress and strain you can get from working on the computer with drawing computer assisted diagrams. At least I don't think it is.
The largest cross-stitch was a Victorian Lady, which is shown above, that I wrote about in June in a post on my Linda's Blog entitled "315 Hours On Another Cross-Stitch Picture - WOW!" and in a post on my The Book Review Corner Blog in a post entitled "Linda's Review of In Her Garden - Dimensions Gold Collection Cross-Stitch Kit."
This was followed by several smaller cross-stitch projects:
The 2nd counted cross-stitch pattern that I tried was a Spirit of Quilting Angel Ornament from Brooke's Books Publishing. It was an angel counted cross-stitch ornament design by Brooke Nolan. Here's my review:
The 3rd was a counted cross-stitch & bead design from Mill Hill - Buttons & Beads Series #MH14-0202 Gather Together - Cross Stitch Kit. Here's my review:
The 4th was a Flower Shoppe. Here's my review:
The 5th was Haunted Hotel - Cross Stitch Kit. Here's my review:
The 6th was Queen Anne House counted cross-stitch & bead design from Mill Hill - -Buttons & Beads Series #MH14-7301. Here's my review:
As you can see, I've been a little consumed by cross-stitch.
If you have been following my "The Book Review Corner Blog" you know that I've been reviewing all the cross-stitch kits I have completed and have written quite a few posts on the craft kits that I've bought over the years. If you'd like to read any of them just click on the cross-stitch review below that interests you.
CRAFT PATTERNS & KITS REVIEWED AND MADE BY LINDA
Besides all of the above I've actually managed to create a few Linda's Blog posts and "play." You know how I just love to "play."
Here's some of the other things I have managed to complete this year. I wrote about all of them on my Linda's Blog in the following posts:
Over this same period of time my Top Blogs By Crafters list has been growing, and growing, and growing. We've got 568 fabulous artists and crafters who are members now and 2,228 people who like our Top Blogs By Crafters Facebook page.
And, I keep adding, and adding, and adding to the Everything E-Directory. If you haven't visited in awhile you'll be surprised at the number of listings there are over there for the following:
And, The Best Free Craft Articles blog just keeps getting better, and better, and better with 1,200 to 1,600 visitors per day. We've got 910 free arts & crafts articles, patterns, tutorials, printables, graphics, projects, etc. over there now from some of the best artists and crafters on the web. Something for everyone.
Here's what The Best Free Craft Articles blog sections are:
Now I'm not saying that any of the above is an excuse for not reviewing craft blogs - which I LOVE to it.
Well, actually, it is an excuse.
But, I'm hoping that 2012 will be a little slower-paced for me and, well, hopefully I'll be able to review some more of the wonder arts & crafts blogs out there. There are just so many of them now.
Hmm...... Where should I start?
Posted by Linda Walsh Originals- "Doll Patterns for Grown-up Girls!"
Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns - "Instant Download E-Patterns for Grown-up Girls!"
Linda Walsh Originals Dolls - "Handmade Dolls & Crafts for Grown-up Girls!"
1 comments:
The pictures above are awesome. I've done some cross stitching but never done anything big, just some flowers. I like embroidery but I like to design and crochet and paper dolls more and I need more time to embroider as much as I'd like.
I follow both your sister's blogs and liked her pages on facebook.
http://evescrochet.blogspot.com/
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