I found this rather fetching T Shirt at the Oppy today, brand new, with tags, it's a limited edition Florence Braodhurst print, by Signature Prints, gotta love that!
On other things not Opp-shopped or crafted, but rather more blogish.
I was reading a post on a Craft Blog a couple of days ago, outlining some 'do's and don'ts' for setting up your very own Craft Blog. Some good advice in there, but on the whole, I found the emphasis placed too firmly on the general look of your blog, there was also a lot of advice on 'keeping it nice' and generating traffic to your blog. I'm all for being a total dag, and just being yourself and honest, and if that means putting up some photos that are amateurish, that's fine, long as the text is heartfelt.
So if you've got a craft blog, or just a blog for that matter, that's interesting and or funny, I'll be reading it - regardless if it has crappy photos, of you or anything you've made. I'm just a warts and all kind of girl, and as Linda so succinctly put it to me one day: 'Embrace the wonk'! That says it all really for me, life isn't perfect, mine certainly isn't and I'm not all that interested in portraying a perfect life, it's just my life, my blog, and I like to write in an uncensored kind of way, just from the cuff really.
The blogs I enjoy reading are not perfectly written but rather well written and by that I mean honest, I do struggle with perfect! I spend more time reading the blogs I love, than ensuring my blog is looking as lovely as it could be! I'm much more interested in YOU!
So if you have a blog that's a warts and all, down home, hanging out in your 'house pants' type affair, please leave me a comment - cause I'd love to read it!
Friday, June 06, 2008
Opportune Find
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31 comments:
Of course, I knew already that you and I were hanging out in our pyjamas together, but I'm sticking my hand up anyways for the warts and all approach.....
Congrats on the Broadhurst find - that's a keeper.....
Leah xxx
I think I know the blog you're talking about. I'm with you on being all about honesty, too. All the stuff she wrote looked pretty relevant if your blog was kinda attached to a business...generating traffic and the like. But who's got the time to do all that? Specially when you're cleaning up the kid's vomit. But I hear you, Claire. :-)
I'm with you Claire. You have me warts and all - that's why I love reading your blog - you make me laugh so much.
And I absolutely love that tshirt that you found at the op shop. Some people have all the luck. I never seem to find any.
yay! great post, Claire!! I agree! :o)
Great post, although I haven't noticed any of your "warts".
Here, here!! I love warts! Well....not really, ahem...you know what I mean...just be yourself and let it all hang out!
Claire, I agree. I've been struggling with this a bit lately because I feel like there's some things I won't write on my blog in case I offend someone, and in not being true to what's important to me I'm offending myself. And in comments too... perhaps I'm not always honest. So here goes... I HATE YOU FOR FINDING THAT ADORABLE BRAND NEW FLORENCE BROADHURST PRINT TOP IN AN OP SHOP!!!!!!!
Well seeing as I am sitting here in my trackies having just finished a vain attempt to iron a crooked seam straight and like you I spend way more time reading other peoples blogs than I do making mine pretty, I want to say thanks for the great post. You are my kind of gal. But you knew that already, didnt you.
I went op shopping today but didn't find anything like that - jealous!!
As for warts and all - hear, hear! Me all over I'm afraid :)
Found out today from your sister just who you are!!??!!
I'm another Lauriston mum, as well as a fellow blogger, but she, don't tell them it's very daggy for Lauriston!!
I agree with your "warts and all" comments! It is really all about the process, and I would much rather get a glimpse into someones crafting trials and tribulations, rather than see everything perfect!
Love your op shop find!
Yes I think I know that blog too. Lots of 'advice' on how to get readers and be interesting.
Bah.
Personally, I get more comments when I show photos of my hideous misshapen baking failures, not when I display my near-perfect kitchener stitch. (Not that I'm trying to get comments!)
When people talk about bad photos, I often wonder, how bad is bad because photos are thing I struggle with most--generally I think my photos are crap. I've read blogs where people apologize for lousy photos and I think they look great.
Anyway, I think the most important thing to remember about blogging is that there is no true set of rules. People read blogs for different reasons. There have been some popular blogs that just didn't appeal to me.
Wasn't there a book sometime ago on blogging titled No One Cares What You Had For Lunch? I do, I care, I like that kind of post. So I usually sift through the tips, pick the ones that seem most relevant, look at my blog and try and decide if there's anything I could improve. Sometimes there is, but overall I'm pretty happy with it. Trying to conform to another style often makes my posts seem contrived, I can recognize when I'm working to hard to make something sound a certain way.
Long comment, hope this posts!
Hi Claire,
Not long before 'said' blogger posted her "handy" tips for craft blogging I deleted my blog because I thought it wasn't up to scratch. I was also a bit tired of 'the rules', the butt kissing, the bitchiness and everyone trying to out-do each other. In the end it was giving me the shits so much that I wasn't enjoying it anymore so I deleted my blog (with much angst mind you!)
I'm with you on the warts and all approach and I still read your blog and many others just like it.
Keep em coming.
'embrace the wonk' - that's a keeper !!
To tell the truth, i've noticed a few blogs have turned from 'fun' and 'look what I did !' to 'serious blogging and directing you to my etsy store'. I don't enjoy those blogs any more :(
I just like what I like, and generally it's the wonk.
Wow, can of worms - love it!
I admit I got a lot out of the 'how to' post (if it's the same one I'm thinking of) for the techo help with blogging, and mostly because I love a bit of pretty on my blog - to a certain degree - and I also love a bit of whatever too. All the business bits of the article were irrelevant to me because I don't make stuff to sell, I just blog for the creative fun of it. Hey, I've never even used Flickr before (am I in the dark ages here?).
I'm with Donna (above) as in I don't believe there's a set of rules to follow, or language to use, or photos to take, and it'd be kinda boring if every blog looked the same so really going with your own style is the most satisfying I've found. I write what comes from the heart... and then give it a spellcheck!
Turns out I have a pretty loud inner editor and like my own stuff to be a certain way (as everyone does) so I'll put up pics that I feel 'work' or 'don't work' for me and even comment on why I thought they did / did not - but totally out of honesty and as part of my own progress; absolutely not for seeking the approval of others.
Great post - first time reader...will be back.
I like both types of blogs - I enjoy the ones that are for business and building a career/selling craft product and are more slick, and also LOVE the ones that are more just full of any more messy real life and less "prfessional". It's pretty cool to have both types to read. (Actually, I think "meet me at mikes" is a pretty perfect blend of both types, which I really admire. Not everyone can mix professional and personal with that much warmth.) I do LOVE photos that are very uncontrived and unedited but I am a person with a rambling messy life so that interests me. Also, Aussie blogs are very funny!! I like how Australians can be kind of bitter and optimistic and kind and sarcastic all at the same time.
The tee shirt is a amazing find and YOUR BLOG is one of my favorites.
p.s. love reading people writing about blogging too!
p.p.s I myself am working on going back to my blogging beginning days when no one read my blog and I didnt care if it interested anyone or not, so, you know, more boring photos of my pets and stuff that I want to record, rather than just trying to fit into any type of mold.
what h&b said.ace top!
I have warts. And Pimples too I think... but I must say that I too love reading blogs that are honest - that make ME feel more human.
I read blogs for inspiration, when I'm in need of a muse I guess not to feel like I'm not up to scratch. I don't think anyone reads my blog and I'm fine with that! Really I am - its a place to sort my thoughts and test out this and that! And if it generates any interest well all the better. But it doesn't hehe.
I love the ones that you can see yourself in, where there are messy houses, play-doh covered but happy kids, tracksuits mamas, occasional bit of craft to remind us that we all had lives before the kids arrived. This post rocks, so many people agree!
Yep, I think it all depends on the purpose of your blog. I have a vintage sewing one that I always "keep nice" because it generates all sorts of traffic, but my everyday, crapping on blog, isn't really edited. People can always vote with their feet. 'Tis also why I have this quote on it:
"If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people." ~ Virginia Woolfe And I really do blog for my own mental health and amusement rather than for any sort of audience.
P.S. Re "anonymous'" comment above about deleting her blog because she thought it wasn't good enough, that's such a shame, i would have loved to read it!! If you read this Anonymous, have another go, and don't give a crap about all the bullshit.
Re: anonymous, I have a feeling I know this girl's ex-blog, and, if it is who I'm thinking of, I really enjoyed her blog and very much miss her funny posts and sewing escepades, and I'm hoping that she gets another blog happening very soon.
Come back Anonymous, we want your blog!!!
Hi Claire,great post.I have struggled with the bloggy politics at times too. I started to feel that maybe my blog wasnt interesting enough,my photos werent amazing enough and that i didnt have enough "friends" leave me messages. I felt a bit like I was back in high school.But recently I decided that it doesnt actually matter if i get any comments or not (even though I REALLY love getting them!). Because I started this blog as my own little project about my life and my thoughts and my creative pursuits.And if i am happy with my blog-then so be it! I read the blogging tips too, and some of the tips were great.However, there was talk of people who join memes to get their "name up in lights" who then dont follow through.i have been known to join memes and then be slack with posting regularly-not on purpose- i am just a super busy mum who doesnt always have time to be blogging!!!So,everyone-just be true to yourself...and DONT delete your blog because of what others may think. Be proud of who you are !!YAY!
So well said. Blogging doesn't have to be perfect. Nor do we. Read the blogs you like and leave the others for someone else with different tastes.
I'm glad to have discovered yours today.
I LOVE daggy blogs. I'm more of a picture tells the story blogger and I admit I often blog about my work to generate interest( but starting out in a little business as a mum is bloody hard and you need to embrace all the self promotion you can get!)My photos were pretty crappy till I worked out Picassa, but now I try to fix em up a bit,mainly because I am able to.
Not a big fan of butt-kissing either,praise were praise is due, but lets spread it around.
Thank you for this post. I think I read the blog post you've referenced & did feel a bit bad because my blog definitely wouldn't be regarded as up to standard. Then I thought stuff it, my blog is for me to enjoy & share what I do, if other people read & enjoy something I've posted, good, if it, I don't care.
"Embrace the wonk", I might take that on as my motto :-)
yehah for honest posts! I'm with you Claire. Sometimes this little blog world can be a bit like the schoolyard. You really, really want to be liked and have someone say something nice to you. The cool kids can be a bit daunting and sometimes it's hard to come up to scratch. I'm just happy to be sharing stuff that brings me joy and seeing lots of cool and inspiring stuff in other peoples worlds. Like your way too beautiful top. Oh my ...SCORE!
Hi guys! I think you're all talking about ME! Yikes!
As I said in my posts - I love the 'smaller' blogs - usually the most original and honest. And I love lurkers. I spend most of my time reading my mates blogs - as just like y'all I am a mum and a wife and i have smelly socks waiting to be washed too!
I get so many emails from new bloggers asking how to format their blog or upload pictures or make a mosaic or whatever - it seemed like a good idea to put them all into a series of posts. I hoped it would be helpful to people who were struggling with formatting issues and things like that.
I'm certainly not into perfection - my own blog has plenty of not-quite-right images (go see!) - and my posts were aimed at people who wanted to improve the look of their blogs - if you're happy with how your blog looks, that's all that matters! And if you don't care if people read your blog - and you just love writing - then that's wonderful too!
I must say I read most of the blogs that are listed here pretty regularly - and a lot of them sound like my life!
Anyhoo - my point is - if you love your blog, then you don't need to improve it - simple.
xx
Yay!! Embrace the wonk, Im liking the sound of that!
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