The Bee-ginner Blogger Me

As a participant in the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop* and a member of the first group from the Better Bloggers Hive to post an introductory post, Happy Monday and Welcome to my Blog where I love to share stories (or should I say explain) about my adventures in Quilting and Patchwork and sometimes some other type of craft.  I've been retired for four years now and it seems like I still don't have enough time to create all the things I want to do.   I'm always looking for ideas to reduce my fabric stash which I've been accumulating for many years.  My project list is long because I'm constantly inspired by what I see on other blogs, publications, Pinterest, etc. I do love Show and Tell and that's what I want my blog to be along with a good exchange of ideas and some quilter angst.

I've been quilting for twenty years but only have limited online experience. I've discovered Pinterest less than five years ago and thought that was the only thing I needed to do but I was so wrong.  I finally went on Facebook around four years ago and it started out with a bang.  Somehow while I was accessing the game Candy Crush which I wanted to try,  I inadvertently signed up for a Senior Single Group and started receiving requests from men to meet. Fortunately my then, future daughter-in-law, overheard me telling my husband that I'd received ten requests and I didn't know what to do, removed me from the site right away.  Since then, I've become leery of doing online anything because of my having the mindset that if I pressed the wrong key something that I don't want known will be sent out to cyberspace.

Last year, I've started thinking about starting a blog since I realized that I wanted more than Pinterest and the Facebook group I was in offered.  I needed to share more and needed a different platform so I could do some explaining.  After much encouragement and IT assistance from Susan Snooks of Patchwork and Play and from listening to a podcast in which a Blogger said that she had a blog because it kept her accountable, I finally started blogging last October. It's been a positive online experience and  I can happily say that my blog has given me a focus for my quilting and a depository for my creations and ideas.  It's the way I can mind my own busy-ness.

It was easy for me to come up with my blog name  Something Rosemade since it's an offshoot of my saying "Oh, it's something I made" and also sounding like handmade. I already had quilt labels made up with this name for several years, and, not to get sidetracked, I have a confession--very few of my older quilts have labels and I know it's a big no-no.  These labels make it a lot easier now to label my quilts and I've been better at sewing labels on my more recent quilts.

And speaking of quilts which is the reason for my bee-ing, I thought I share photos of these four quilts which are examples of my style.

Modify a pattern so I can use one of my die-cutters

Find a hand-piecing project which will use up a lot of stash and is something you can do while on many road trips

Wonderful fabrics with an easy pattern and simple quilting are my favorite quilts to make 

Sometimes I just like to make a simple art quilt or sew a small quilt

I like my quilts to be easy and at my age don't feel the need to be challenged with a difficult pattern. I try to finish everything I start, even if it takes several years and always allow myself to stop a project, especially if it's not time-sensitive, to start a new one.  I have to say that I love my fabric stash and have every good intention of using it up.  And also adding to this dream is having a studio with a gorgeous mountain view in Colorado.  Right now I have a wonderful studio but unfortunately is in the basement but affectionately known as Studio UP (Underground Palace)-- a view would be so nice.  But truth be told, any new studio with a view would have to be close to my new granddaughter Micah Rose, whose arrival made me realize there is no way I could move to another state.

Along with the many quilts I still want and need to make, there are still a lot of things I need to learn to improve my Blog.  It's still evolving and I still would like the graphics to look a little more polished and I know I need to spend some time learning Canva--but Patience and I don't play well together.  I'm not experienced enough to offer a blogging tip except to say that it's a great way to promote your blog by linking it with a link-up party.  There are link-ups, i.e, Crazy Mom's Finish It Up Friday, our own Hive Host, Beth's Main Crush Monday and other link-ups for each day of the week  so you can time your posts to fit into one of them. Blogging is a wonderful way to connect with other quilters, which I have, and I am glad I started my blog.  It's really has been a whole new world for me.  For someone who isn't very computer savvy, starting my blog was relatively easy and not too stressful.  Just like when I first started quilting, I had a little help from a friend which lead me to my wonderful quilting life.  The same can be said for blogging, I had a little help plus encouragement from my first blog friend, Susan Snooks to whom I would like to thank again.  And being a participant in the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop  is only going to make my online experience even better.  It's all about making sure you're in the right group.  F.Y.I.  Instagram will be my next new experience; any tips or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks for visiting my blog and please visit my hive mates' blogs by clicking on their links below and leaving us a comment.  As our hive name suggests, we want to be Better Bloggers.

My Better Bloggers Bee Mates for this week are:

Jess of Sew Jess Handmade

Rachel  of Making a Beautiful Life

Amanda of Quiltologie

Abigail of Cut and Alter

*The 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop is hosted by Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl, Leanne @shecanquilt and Beth @cookingupquilts. Thanks to the generosity of these threes hosts who are devoting their time, energy and experience to a group of fifty-four Quilt Bloggers, mostly newbees like me, I am learning how to improve or increase my blogging/online experience and knowledge.  It's kind of like a bootcamp but the leaders are nice and helpful and we're one big, happy group ready to share and cheer each other on.  Friendships have even been formed while the groups were warming up. And I had moments where I demonstrated my inexperience. There is absolutely no stinging allowed. Our wonderful hosts have also gather up a nice group of sponsors who are offering some real great giveaways for those who follow the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers.

Since the middle of March, the group  has been separated into three hives: Blooming Quilters (Yvonne), Let's Bee Quilt'n (Leanne) and Better Bloggers Hive (Beth)--my Hive!.  The Blog Hop has been scheduled to post on Monday for the following weeks:

Week 1:  April 10th
Week 2:  April 17th
Week 3:  May 1st
Week 4:  May 8th

You can read the other blogger's posts by clicking on the Blog Hop Hosts' links each Monday during the scheduled dates.  It's a great way to find new quilt bloggers to follow and, I'll mention it again,  be eligible for one of the many giveaways being offered for the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop.