We often give away sewing related items for the Spoonflower weekly giveaway, and we sometimes give away design related items. Then occasionally, we give away stuff that is tangential to both sewing and fabric design but, we hope, still of interest to you all. This week's book jumped out at me as something that the Spoonflower community would probably find pretty interesting. Blogging for Creatives, written this year by Robin Houghton, is a book crammed full of tips for the creative person on getting started blogging, or on improving your blog if you already have one. Her tips start at the super-basic for the complete newbie. "In a nutshell…this is essentially what you do: 1. Login to the admin pages of your blog, 2. Write your post and upload whatever content you like, 3. Press the publish button." She goes on to describe various blogging platforms and their pros and cons, gives pointers on posts that work well, explains how to connect effectively with others, how to analyze your traffic, promote, advertise, and more, all with liberal examples of bloggers that are doing it well.
In short, this book is a great and up-to-date blogging resource, and it could be yours in this week's giveaway! Just leave your comment here or on the corresponding Facebook post, and do include your Spoonflower screen name or other means of tracking you down in case you're our winner. If you've already got a blog, please leave us a link in your comment and tell us what you're blogging about! And if you don't yet have one but are thinking about it, we'd love to hear about that, too. Entries close next Tuesday, 8/7 and we'll announce a winner on 8/8. Good luck to you all!
Last week we offered a sewing related giveaway, a copy of the gorgeously photographed Sewing Made Simple from Chronicle Books. The winner was Caitlin Rose of Minneapolis. Congratulations Caitlin, and I hope you think the books is as lovely as we do!
this would be great!
Sounds like a great book! Although I don’t have a blog I have thought about it often. The ideas are endless!
I’ve seen this book circulating around. It looks super helpful! I started blogging (http://innatsea.wordpress.com/) to document my family’s life as innkeepers and to eventually promote our Inn (http://pbinn.com). I’d also like to include more tutorials and crafty things. Until then, it’s a good way for me to keep track of life, photos, and things to do in our new home town. sf=drizzlydaydesignco
ohhhh this could be awesome to read!!!
I started blogging many years ago, but my blog is like changing its original direction 😀 I’m on that stage of getting a new blogging purpose (different from shameless self promotion lol)
My Spoonflower username: catru
My blog: http://catru.blogspot.com
I love you guys, tons! and… fingers crossed 😀
Thanks for the giveaway! My blog is over at canaryquilts.com, I recently opened an Etsy account and have been blogging about that. I will be blogging about an artist trading card swap I was involved in too. My spoonflower name is canary523.
what a wonderful give away. I only started blogging at then end of May and love it but have struggled to find helpful informtion that it pertinent to my kind of blog. This would be a real help. It pretty addictive stuff and really has got my writing creative juices going as much as my stitching ! Good luck everyone. And I hope you like Quilty Doings too.
http://quilty-doings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/little-sojourn-la-france.html
I would LOVE to have this book! I’m actually in the process of starting a blog and I have NO idea what I’m doing!! Fingers crossed!
My Spoonflower name is lindseys26
I would love to know the ins and outs of blogging. Or how to get started!
I’ve had my eye on this book. There’s always room for improvement! Thanks for the giveaway!
Ellen
http://NouveauStitch.com
I would love to get this book. I’ve tried to blog so many times and nothing sticks. Maybe this will be the thing that helps.
I would love this book, not to mention…need it! Thanks for this offer,I hope I win. Once I get organized I plan to make some designs for Spoonflower…hopefully soon! I’ve always dreamed of being a fabric designer!!!! http://www.lesliehartstudio.com
lesliehart2003@yahoo.com
I loved blogging … but ran out of time and steam. This might be just the push I need to get reinspired!
I have a blog and the poor little thing is so neglected! I need help…would love to win this! jacquerose on Spoonflower
What a great book idea — I could really use this book. My blog is just a little over a year old (lifestylefiles blog)and I am always striving to improve it. I would love to win this great resource.
I blog about lots of things ~ fashion, design, food, entertainment, decorating and everything in between.
Thanks!
Carrie
(Spoonflower Name – carrie_lifestylefilesblog)
This looks wonderful! Thank you for the opportunity.
(username: raevenfea)
I started a blog about things I love and love to do. I continue to see a growth of followers but would like to reach out to more people who share similar ideas, the book sounds like it would be very helpful. I’m very happy I discovered your site and plan to utilize your services for future projects. My blog is http://pinkbug67.blogspot.com and my Etsy shop is http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkbug67
Have a happy day!
Lynn
Would love to win this book!
Oh me please! I would love to win this book. (amel24)
What a great book! Thank you so much for giving it away. 🙂 My spoonflower name is “zorana” if I win and need tracked down. 🙂
I set up a blog a while ago but just can’t seem to get the hang of it. I recently gave it a whole new look and am keen to get it start up again properly so the book would be extremely helpful. The blog is http://www.katiesays.co.uk
Thanks
Kate x
I haven’t set up a blog just yet, but if my work keeps going the way it is now I’m going to flip the table and leave without any bad feelings and start blogging about my projects be them quilting, cooking, or just life in general.
A bit of Steampunk and Fencing will probably be mixed in… but that’s all good.
My Spoonflower screen name is girlntheotherrm
I am in the process of starting a design and decorating blog and feel completely lost at the moment with the technology part of it.. this would be a HUGE help! your post popped up in my Facebook news as I am sitting here trying to figure all of this blog stuff out! Good luck everyone…
Would LOVE this book! I have a FB page, sell my quilts on ETSY, and a blog is my essential next step;-) Feel like I’m a little ‘late to the game’, but I figure it’s never too late, right?!? Thanks for the chance to win!
Looks like a great book! I blog about making my digital art designs and selling them online (at http://leeleeandthebee.blogspot.com/ ), but I’m not very good/consistant at it, so this would be a great tool! (Spoonflower name: leeleeandthebee )
This sounds like a handy resource. My blog is about my quilting, although I don’t update it enough, and I know that! http://quiltygoodness.blogspot.com
No SF name but my email is darktownstrutter at gmail dot com
This would be great! I’ve wanted to start a blog for sometime, but don’t know how to go about it. chloejaz@gmail.com
This would be so useful right now. Just started blogging via wordpress, could use some handy hints!
Quilting, bags, fabrics, projects, magazines!
http://www.mandymunroe.wordpress.com
I would love to win this book! I have a blog, but haven’t blogged on it since December 🙁 I want to get back into it, but it is difficult to find time. I would love some tips.
What a wonderful book giveaway!
I’ve been blogging for years. I write about all facets of mixed-media art. I also offer readers tips and links to help inspire them.
My blog is:
http://cinnamonpink.typepad.com/
I would LOVE to win this book, it is exactly what I have been looking for! Fingers crossed.
My spoonflower name is fabricfilly.
Oh, I would LOVE to win this! Today, I blogged about my knitting projects in-progress: http://ruthiepearl.com/wednesday-wippin
I’m yet to pop my blogging cherry. I microblog on Facebook and Twitter and think I might be ready for second base. I’ll need all the help I can get, being a blog virgin is an embarrassing thing to own up to at my age
Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the opportunity.
handmadebytracie at gmail dot com
http://handmadebytracie.wordpress.com
What a lovely book to have!! We blog daily and would love a good resource like this. To check out our adventures and a lot of DIY, handmade, and Etsy love, you can visit us over at Pearl + Ear’ls Good-Time Vintage Blog ( http://www.pearlnearl.blogspot.com ).
xox
Jessa
jessamariexox@gmail.com
Very cool! I’ve been blogging for just two weeks now, and this would be a great help!
http://www.plumelephant.blogspot.com
Would LOVE this book! flowerchild22
Oh wow, I would absolutely LOVE to win this! My screen name is rutherbrad, and my blog is called The Golden Adventures of a Very Dark Horse – http://www.verydarkhorse.blogspot.com... *crossing fingers and toes*
This book looks fabulous and I’m always looking for more tips! My blog has been quiet for a while, but I’m really hoping to bring it back soon. When I was posting regularly, it was all about fashion, music, independent designers and my life;). It can be found at http://www.justplainlovely.com. I’ve now started sewing, so I’m hoping to throw that angle into the mix!! Thank you so much for the opportunity! My SF name is justplainlovely.
I would love to win this book!! (joonmoon) thank you!!
What a great looking helpful book!! It would be awesome to win!!
elliesewsweet.blogspot.com
Elliesewsweet@gmail.com
This looks like a great book! ksmith8@emich.edu
My most recent blog post is a tutorial to make a pair of grape cluster earrings. My spoonflower name is Corvus.
Sounds like a very handy book for me right now! I have just started a blog with my sister: http://jupiterhollowcrafts.blogspot.com.au/ about our eclectic crafts, and I also have a teaching blog: http://tangentratio.blogspot.com.au/ which is often also about crafts as I decorate my classroom more and more!
My spoonflower nickname is tanith (yay for having an unusual name that is available!)
This is a great giveaway! Thank you. My blog is about sewing – mainly childrens clothes and now quilting. It has been on a hiatus for a year but I should be back posting regularly soon.
(My Spoonflower name is dreambug.)
I’d love to get my hands on this book ! <3
My blog is about all the things I create : http://petitspixels.com
Sounds like a useful book! (Spoonflower name jenimp)
I could use it! Any port in a storm…
I just wanted to start a blog about my sewing and wasn’t sure how to start. That would be the perfect book for me… 🙂
my spoonflower name: zebraspiderdiy
Would you believe I dropped out of a contest because I had no idea on how to structure a blog of my finished designs they needed. Perhaps this book would help me learn. I really need to get up-to-date on my computer communications skills so they can be seen. Would love to win.
Thanks: SF: Rencraft Designs
very cool! I’m very slack about my blog 😉
wiccked.
Just what I need to get my blog back on track!
I sure hope I win! (1) I love to read and (2) I am trying to find new ways to grow my blog!
I’ve been debating on starting a blog this summer. I contribute occasionally to one already, but maybe I need to get a book like this to push me in that direction.
I’m mischalee on Spoonflower, and my blog is mischalee.blogspot.com
I’ve been blogging for a couple of years now, but I’m always looking for ways to make it better. This sounds like a great book!
Our blog is about pattern design and anything art/design related and includes our personal lives as well. Here’s our blog:
http://www.lusciouslifestudios.com/luscious-life-studios/
I’m MzDori here @ Spoonflower.
I would love to get this book…I’m just starting as blogger 🙂
vally_black
Yes please! vo1234 aka virginia o
Wow!! This would be fabulous to win!! I could use it for myself personally and it would also be helpful for me at work. To win this….sure would make my month!!
martinmosaics
Ooh I’d love to add this to my shelf, after reading it of course! My blog is focused on my polymer clay work… And other meanderings. Come join me at http://www.apolymerpenchant.com my email is emma@apolymerpenchant.com
I would love this book because I’m going to create a blog and I think it would be very helpful to read it before I begin.
Looks like a lovely book! (mkbemish)
This is just what I’m looking for. I would want to win this book to help me with all of my blogging queries. I blog about school lunch bentos over at Healthy Eating Starts at Home < “>http://i-brownbag.blogspot.com> and my life as a MOM at Momscapade < .”>http://ohmarieoh.blogspot.com>. See you around!!
Looks like an interesting book!
I could use some inspiration to re-start my blog – which is at http://www.fretful.ca
the_fretful_porpentine
Yes yes yes I would LOVE to win this book!
My spoonflower name is studio inja 🙂
I’m very curious about that book… thinking about a blog for a long
time, and it seems that this book could give me the PusH i need.
Omygod7
@gmail / fB
I’ve been curious about that book! I do blog at http://www.alimakes.blogspot.com about craft/quilt sewing for the most part with a bit of other stuff thrown in.
spoonflower name is Alim, thank you for the giveaway!
This is awesome! Such a great resource to keep on the shelf. I’ve been blogging for awhile, and am always interested to learn how to make the most of it.
You can find me at: Graygirlstudioarts.word press.com
Spoonflower name: graygirl
Thanks! And good luck all!
Me, Me, Me, Pick me! Viewfromtheskye
Oh what I would like to win … I so love of everything that has to do with creativity, I am a real creative Jack-of-all-trades. Unfortunately, I lways not the inspiration for a new blog post leaving precious little lately on my blog appears. My apologies for the bad English, Dutch is now once my mother tongue.
Greeting Tinke (tinke.s@live.be and http://www.troosateljeeke.blogspot.com
This sounds like an amazing book that I would love to get my hands on. My blog is http://polkadotpocketbooks.blogspot.com I just started it and it follows what I do in my sewing and quilting.
I don’t have a SF name but you can contact me at samantha.sue.mills@gmail.com.
Looks like a great book! I blog about diy projects, style, and design and I’m always looking to learn more about blogging! http://www.notwithoutheels.com/
You had me at “approachable”. This looks great, and rather good timing given I’m planning a blog redesign at the moment!
ETA: I missed the part where you asked for information about people’s blogs. I blog at http://victorianlibrarian.wordpress.com/, about any number of things – mostly librarianship and reading, but also about travelling, food, hobbies. Whatever comes to mind!