Tuesday 18 September 2007

Tag...questions

Well I have been managing to read a few blogs this week, not as many as I would like to, I am so enjoying this questioning tag. Artsy Crafty Babe made an open invitation to join in, so I thought I would, please feel free to join me. I think it is a great way to find out a bit more about the person behind the blog and why they do what they do. I get asked all the time 'WHY DO YOU DO IT' ???So here goes...

1)Do you promote your blog? No not really other than than when I read someones blog I like to leave a comment, or I feel like I have been peeking secretly at someones diary. Friends and family know I blog, most are not even interested enough to ask what I write under, although two people I have not seen through the summer commented to me this week that they had read my blog. All positive stuff, but I always imagine that no one knows me, it did spook me a little. See I am not as confident as I might come across as.

2. How often do you check hits? You can do you do this? I have no idea how you go about this, if anyone can tell me...in a simple way, I would be grateful, although I would hate to worry if I have enough or too few hits...would this lead to 'Oh not many hits today...I must change the way I write' etc...

3. Do you stick to one topic? Well NO, I blog as Suzie Sews, I used to comment as Suzie Knits then I found out about the famous Wendy Knits and thought people might think I have copied her, so I changed it, as my blog suggest in the header 'SUZIE SEWS and knits and Mothers etc...' I write about the creative side of my life...a lot of things effect it from the day to day stuff so sometimes I go a little off topic.

4. Who knows that you have a blog? Immediate family and some friends, as I mentioned most people are not the slightest bit interested 'Blogging whats that' a few have taken an interest and the feed back has been positive, although most just do not read it, I guess they already think I am a bit obsessive with my projects without having it confirmed (unless they do it secretly). I guess I am just wired a bit differently to most of the people around me as if someone I cared about was doing something they are enthusiastic about I would be interested in it as it makes them who they are. I have two very close friends who have moved away, I miss them terribly, they 'get' who I am and its a great way to keep them in touch with them.

5. How many blogs do you read? To many to be as productive in my free time as I should be. I have a core of about ten blogs I read daily and a lot I read every week or so as I enjoy sitting with a cuppa and catching up with them, I pop in and out of others through links and comments, often I hit on one that really interests me and gets added to the 'must read' list.

6. Are you a fast reader? NO not really, I scan words, if something catches my eye I then give it my full attention. I often read books like this, something I picked up from having children as you do not have the luxury of time to read everything you want.

7. Do you customise your blog or do anything technical? Ahhh!!!! scary...no I am to scared. I want to put a banner up, every time I try the picture takes up the whole page and I can not shrink it, I put a few buttons on etc and would like to put up a book list as I am always buying books, especially craft related. Although there is a down size to this, my computer is a few years old now, the memory struggles and some blogs take ages to load and some I just can not get to load FULL STOP, usually because they are heavily customised.

8. Do you blog anonymously? NO, I am who I am, the feed back from people who know me say 'It is like you can hear me talking' I do not try and make myself into someone I am not. I admit to being very creative (that does not mean I am good at it, just creative) and my personality matches it, sometimes I am a bit gushy and I think a lot about things, actions words things I see and say, I worry a lot too. I guess this comes across. I am a mother of two and I had planned not to talk about my children, I can not help it, they are all part of it. YES I am careful about what I post regarding my children, I do not want to take chances, I know its a mean world out there, one of my favourite bloggers in the last year stopped posting photo's of her children and eventually stopped blogging due to something happening to here pictures. I felt very sad and angry about this.

9. To what extent do you censor yourself? Oh LOTS, I have a little routine when I blog, first I pick my pictures then I just type away, loads and loads of words, being dyslexic I allow myself not to worry about the spelling just yet, then I read over it and delete easily half and then play about with the words, basically I edit it to say what I want to, but keep the interest held...I can go on a bit... I do not call it witter for nothing. Then it gets reduced even further as I take some of the raw emotions out of it and check the spelling, although very often poor spelling slips through...I am always surprised that when I do write something that is very personal to me, and I just have to put it out there, the comments are always at there most genuine. I do not want to 'bitch' this is unproductive and just hurts people. I am not here to debate or start up negative conversation on politics, religion or even child rearing...As these topics are all part of my life then I guess I do censor a lot, but the purpose of my blog is craft related...knitting sewing baking, mothering and a little about the women behind it all.
10. What do you like most about blogging? The inspiration is the biggest part of it for me and escape from the real world, it seems to be a much more friendlier place to be, I feel I can sit down with a cuppa and have a 'chat' with so many like minded people who do not think I am odd because I like to feel fabric and yarn run through my hands! It is a way for me personally to finally write. I have always kept a journal or inspiration books and I have written editorials and articles for a local magazine, so it is something I enjoy but with years of being thought of as stupid because of the dyslexia it is a path I have dare not walk down...until now. OH and the photographs, yep I have always taken pictures... I adore pictures, if you have been on holiday and have a whole load of pictures bring them to me. No I do not get bored I really do enjoy other peoples pictures. I have told stories all my life without words and used pictures instead. It is the gift from my (sadly departed) Dad that I treasure the most...Thanks Dad. Every click of the shutter with his camera I felt his hand over mine.

22 comments:

Solorn said...

I'm de-lurking to say hello.Keep up the lovely blog, it's inspiring:)

Sarah and Jack said...

Suzie,

You can keep track of your blog traffic by using Google Analytics. Just, well, google it! It's easy to use.

You can find directions for adding a picture to your blog banner here:

http://aastrikke.blogspot.com/2006/10/how-to-put-background-image-in-your.html (And she is even using the same template as you are.) My blog banner photo has to be resized to about 760 x 180 in order to fit. You might try resizing your photo to something similar first.

(And I am pretty sure we talked about an RSS feed reader to help with the time issue but your computer is a bit slow or something, right? Or you couldn't get used to seeing them differently? I think that was you! LOL)

Unknown said...

Don't change anything at all about the way you blog - I always enjoy reading what you have to say :o)

Unknown said...

and show of course

beki said...

Thanks so much for sharing! ALso, thank for posting your pic, you're darling! I love your curly red hair ;-)

Anonymous said...

Wow! I can't believe you haven't posted a picture of yourself before this! You're BEAUTIFUL! That hair! *swoon*

Linda said...

Hello! It is great to put a face to a name and lovely hair you have too :)

laura capello said...

"To many to be as productive in my free time as I should be."

omg, best. line. ever.

Ragged Roses said...

Just catching up on your last two posts, They're great, so interesting and you're beautiful too!!!! It's been great finding out more about you and the thinking behind the blog. I feel very similar.
Kim x

Sarah said...

The quilt you made in memory of your cousin is very beautful.

I've enjoyed my tea with you this evening. Thank you for visiting with me.

Heather said...

Really great post - thanks for sharing. By the way, I use Statcounter.
Heather

Anonymous said...

Oh wow don't you look glam....! Love the blog, and it's all very interesting about how and why you do it, but I did miss hearing about your life today !!

Anonymous said...

Hi Suzie,
I've enjoyed reading what you think about blogging...we love it too. I think it's so creative and that's what we're into anyway. Do keep going...we love to read it.
Margaret and Noreen at THY

Monkee Maker said...

Hey! You look like a Boden girl!

Funny, I imagined you with quite long blond hair, not a mass of fab red curls!

I enjoyed reading more about you, thanks for that.

Gina said...

Is that you, you are so pretty - I love your hair and eyes.

julia said...

What a lovely photo, and it's always nice to hear more about my favourite bloggers!

Julia x

dutchcomfort said...

Nice to meet you on a photo Suzie, I love your red curly hair. And please continue blogging like you did!

The fabric of my life said...

All wonderful reasons for blogging Susie and the reason I enjoy reading your lovely lovely blog so much. Such a gorgeous photo too :-)

-_- said...

Hi there,

You are chosen to represent your country in the first international blog
WUB (World United Bloggers)

The aim of this blog is to prove to the world that differences in language, religion,race and nationality do not make us hate each other and we can make this world better if we express our opinions with respect to others.

If you agree to join us please send e-mail with your nick name , age , country and your blog address to sharm_lover@hotmail.com where you will be sent an activation mail which makes you entitled to contribute in WUB, your name as one of the contributor will automatically be updated.Please read the rules before you start any posting in WUB where you will also find the aims of this WUB.

Thanks
Chief WUB,


Sharm .

www.worldub.blogspot.com

Thimbleanna said...

Very, very nice Suzie. Nice to "get to know" you!

dottycookie said...

I have this on my list to do. It was fun reading yours.

I LOVE your hair! It's exactly what I wany mine to look like - and sometimes it does, but it's been a year since my last traumatic cut ... maybe now is the time to go again!

AC said...

You look just like I imagined...lovely!
Take care,
Alison x