Tomorrow is the one year anniversary for Tales of a Stitcher. Can you believe it? To celebrate I thought it would be fun to do a top ten post.
Being that I am the stitcher telling the tales, I am privy to the numbers about this blog. I do not know exactly who stops by for a visit unless they hit the LIKE button or leave a comment, but I do know the number of visitors I have every day as well as the number of views. For example, on an average day I might have about 50 visitors who each look at three blog posts which would equal 150 views. I love tabulating data and find all of this very interesting. I am always surprised at what perks readers interest.
I also know which posts are favorite posts. And as a recap of this year, I’d like to share that information. I never would have thought the #1 post would be about such a simple thing.
I try to mix my writing up a bit. I like tutorials, but they do take some planning. While it feels a bit uncomfortable, I do try and push myself to write about bigger ideas–voice and the intersection of art and craft. I share news about my work, my process, and my studies. And I like to write about things I have seen and experienced–from art exhibits to darkness.
Now, how many of you scrolled down to the bottom of the page and ruined the suspense for yourselves? I know it is hard not to do. Here we go-
10. Crow Barn Week One
I find it interesting that Week One and Week Three made the list but Week Two did not.
9. Artful Oven Mitts
I am still sending out mitt patterns. I have sent them to Israel, Brazil, Canada, and all over the USA, and I would love to send one to you too. Seriously, I am looking for closure on this project.
8. SAQA Art Collection Part I
SAQA reposted this entry on their blog, which is why I think it has been so popular.
7. Facing a Quilt
I am frequently asked how I face my quilts. Writing this blog has made answering that question super easy. I just send them a link to this post.
6. Family Plaid
Aurifil thread posted this entry on their Facebook page. I had almost 1,000 views in one day. It took me a while to figure out what happened. At first I thought I was famous, but that was not true. AURIFIL is famous.
5. Priscilla AKA My Purple Stitching Machine
I wrote this post for my Aunts who bought their own long arm quilting machine. It’s all about my journey as a long arm quilter.
4. Crow Barn Week Three
Another action packed week at the Barn.
3. Oh What a Night!
This is the recap of last year’s Object Runway show. I would have guessed that this would be a popular post.
2. Not Finished but Fully Functional
It is interesting to think that last year at this time I was seriously struggling with a studio re-org. Life is so much better now!
1. Fleece Flannel Blankets–Who would have thought that this would be the number post of the year! It has been reposted and reposted on Pinterest. I must say next to oven mitts the fleece flannel blanket is a wonderful gift. It could be the perfect mindless holiday stitching project if you are looking for one.
In writing this post, I discovered that the best way to search for past entries on my blog is to go to my ABOUT or CONTACT page. There you can search for individual entries by subject or month. I know it would be nice to have that feature on my home page, but the WordPress template I use doesn’t allow for it. And I am very attached to this template.
I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane with me. I’d love to hear what your favorite types of posts are. Here’s to a New Year filled lots of stitching and good stories. I hope you will join me.
Hi Maria… Happy Boxing Day (and if you are in Canada you know THIS is the biggest shopping day of the year)… and if not, hoping you are resting as you celebrate the one year Anniversary. I am one of the lucky ones you shared your artful oven mitts pattern with and it is wonderful, so complete in every detail and a treasure for future “time on my hands”… and now all I need is the friend with the long arm to quilt the fabric I develop!! That will happen. THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing your talent, your expertise and the fun of reading you blog! Happy New Year.
Bethany Garner in Kingston, ON, buried under many layers of ICE STORM and then snow
Thank you Bethany! I did not know that Canada had a big shopping day. I have always participated in Buy Nothing Day which is a Canadian response to our Thanksgiving weekend shopping madness. I’m glad you like the mitt pattern. Tell you all friends!
I just found your blog a few weeks ago and started following you. I love your quilts! They really speak to me! Now I’ll be sure to read the top ten. Diane in Madsion, Wisconsin
Thank you Diane! I hope you enjoy the posts.
Lucky you, Diane. Finding Maria’s blog is like starting a good novel.
Barb, you are TOO nice. A good novel with an unreliable narrator I suppose. Who on a regular basis makes a fool of herself in public places.
Hi Maria!
I love to read posts about how people think about art, what goes on in the artist’s mind, how art fits in with living and the leaps and bounds artists make while creating art.
You are an inspiration! Thanks for your blog, and the oven mitt pattern. I managed to squeeze four of them out before Christmas.
I never shop on Boxing Day, I like to save it for visiting friends. There are usually rum balls and mincemeat tarts left over!
Love to you from Canada.
I’ve never had a mincemeat tart–that sounds interesting. Thank you Barb for your support. It means a lot to me.
I guess this makes the one year anniversary for me reading your blog. That’s the longest I’ve stuck with any blog. Happy Anniversary to me!
Petra–thank you for sticking with me. Happy Anniversary to you!
Maria,
I love and envy your passion, energy and dedication to your craft. One day I shall meet you and there will be no dead air, I can assure you. Perhaps we can get the family together in Boulder this summer for Ben’s BarMitzvah. Planning to drive out, pick up Sue and Sarah if they can make the celebration. I know you can get a flight from Alaska to Denver/Boulder and hope you can join us. We might even get away for a tour of the fiber organization there. I will send you the website when I get the next posting from them. Carole
ThanK you Carole. I know we will meet someday soon. Living in Alaska has its draw backs in that way. No location is an easy commute–even within the state itself.
Sorry for premature posting…. I was going to say… Hi Maria! Happy Anniversary! I did not realize you have just been doing this for a year, I think I must have discovered you about halfway thru. The kind of posts I like best are the big picture ones – as you mentioned questions about art vs craft, the meaning of art, how to find your voice, etc….
Also, it seems your links are not working…. there is a little > symbol at the end of them, when I remove it they work…..
Sharon, Thank you so much for telling me that the links were not working. I think I have fixed it. And thank you for your comments. I like the big picture posts too. They are a challenge to write–like doing a college essay, but they really do help me get my head on straight. Thank you!