Dedicated

It's time to choose some reading. It's been a while since I've done any focused blog reading and commenting so here goes. I think I'll choose ten this time around. Most likely they'll be mainly crafting blogs because that's what I'm up to right now. However, I'm open to others as well.

If you could use a dedicated reader/commenter for the next month or so, send me an email to jencrutch (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll add you to the list.

Last time I did this I learned some lessons. I'm sure I will this time around as well. Kind of fun, eh? 

So, what are you reading these days? 

Ravelry Blog-A-Long Update #2

Hey Friends! Thanks for stopping by from the Blog-A-Long. I'm really having fun visiting everyone's blogs to see the projects you're all working on, too. If you're not involved in the blog-a-long yet, I hope you'll go to the Ravelry page and visit some of the others.

I'm glad to have finished eight blocks this week. Since I have over 150 to make if I want the blanket to fit my bed, I really want to get them done as quickly as I can. However, second from the bottom on the right you can see that the gauge is horrible and the "square" looks ruffled. Nowhere near flat. I'll be re-making some of them before I can use them in any kind of an afghan. Oh well, that's part of the fun, right?

There are quite a few blocks in the book that I've skipped just because of the intricacy of the pattern. If I can't pick it up right away, I can't really get it done while I'm watching television or while the kids are around. I'm thinking these blocks are going to have to wait until the kids go back to school in a few weeks. Nothing like leaving the hard part for the end, eh?

Thanks for stopping by. What are you working on?

The Blog-A-Long Series

Initial Post

Update #1

Ravelry Blog-A-Long Update #1

So we were traveling and vacationing this week but I still managed to get seven new blocks done for the challenge. Kind of impressed myself actually.

Since I didn't want to bring along the book I decided to just bring three different colors of yarn, my hook, and some small scissors, and make some traditional granny squares since I could do that without instructions in front of me. Sarah said, "Mommy, I'm so impressed you're doing your yarn without your book! Good job, Mommy!"

Obviously, the squares in the above collage have not yet been blocked. Wanna know why? Cause I HATE blocking! Who has hints or tips on making this part of the process easier for me? Any ideas or links to tutorials will be greatly appreciated. I've got 200 blocks to, well, block to the appropriate size over the next year people. Help me out, please. 

Now that we're home from vacation and traveling I'll have more time to visit more blogs from the blog-a-long challenge. Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by!

The Blog-A-Long Series

Initial Post

#BloggyCon Business Bloggers Squad

We had a great time at Bloggy Conference this morning meeting with other business bloggers. These are the ladies who connected this morning to share the ins and outs of blogging for your business.

Debba Haupert of Girlfrieldology
Rebecca Huber of BareKnuckle Marketing
Robin Feltner of Supernatural Botanicals
Dena Garascia of CincinnatiCoupons.net
Colette Marx of CookieAthlete.com
Rachel Sarella of Evie n Lizizie
Heather of Cafesmom.com
Jen Crutchfield of Gather Arts Organizing

I hope you'll check out all of their websites and businesses.

Vacation part two

Vacation Part One

We spent the first half of our vacation at a friends cottage on Lake Michigan earlier this week. That place? Is one of our favorite places on the face of the earth. We had a great time there and so love spending time with those particular friends.

I would love to show you pictures but I'm currently away from home (more on that below) without a USB cable to get the vaca photos from the camera to the computer. Oh well. Mama can't always remember to pack everything for five people now can she?

Vacation Part Two

Today we arrived at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio. Several months ago I decided to come to the Bloggy Conference. And of course, since the conference was being held at such a fun place, I just had to bring the family along. Tonight? We closed down the water park at 10pm. Good times.

Of course, it took us 6.5 hours to make the five hour drive from Mishawaka to Mason, Ohio (outside Cincinnati). We stopped to eat once and another time to hit the grocery store for snacks and some fruit and drinks for our room. 

Oh yeah, I'm here for a conference. Yes, I know, I'm supposed to be working here. And I am. I went to the opening reception and connected with some folks I'm looking forward to spending more time with over the next couple of days.

Michelle and I are practically neighbors. Amy and I have met before and I love reconnecting with her. She's one of those smarty pants types that you can't help but get smarter when you hang out with them.

I'm looking forward to talking with the folks from Honda tomorrow (thanks so much for sponsoring the conference, by the way). Jon says he's hoping to drive an Insight back and forth to work for a while. Hopefully we can find a way to work that out. How awesome would that be?

And of course I got to say hello and hug the Queens of the Conference, Tiffany and Sherry. These ladies have been working hard for months to make this all happen. Thanks so much ladies! It's going to be great!

Daily Reading

So a while back I decided that I would read 12 blogs daily for 12 weeks. I chose a few and asked for suggestions to finish out the list. It was fun to have people suggest themselves. Here are a few things I've learned after not quite 12 weeks of focused daily blog reading.

• Twelve weeks is too long.
• People are interesting.
• Blogging is a funny thing.
• I love the variety of reasons people write blogs.
• It's fun to get to know people online. And even more fun to get to know the same people offline, too.
• My attention span is short. Long blog posts don't work for me.

The end of the 12 week period would have been June 7th. I can't do it. I'm pulling the plug. I love you people and have really enjoyed getting to know you all online but it's time for me to move on.

Here's the post with the original 12X12 blog group.

If you're looking for new blogs to follow, that's a really great list to start with. I recommend you take a look at all of them and follow the ones that interest you.

My plan is to choose another group of blogs to follow starting on June 1st and follow for one month. I'm thinking I'll stick with ten this time around. If you could use a cheerleader for the month of June, send an email to jencrutch (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll let you know if you make the list this time around.

I'm going 12 for 12

So now that I'm forty, my good ideas are even better!

I'm trying to find a way to be more focused in my online life and so here's my first great idea. For the next twelve weeks, I'm going to follow only twelve blogs closely. What does that mean?

• I'll read every week day.
• I'll re-tweet on Twitter and share on Facebook.
• I'll comment whenever I have something to add to the conversation.
• I'll create a cool link list on the sidebar on this site so everyone can see who I'm reading. 

I'm going to commit to twelve blogs for the next twelve weeks. What do you think? Want me to choose your blog? Hoping I don't choose yours?

My goals are simply to streamline my efforts to be helpful to others in the blog-o-sphere and to get to know some folks better.

Want in? Let me know at jencrutch at gmail. Any genre, any geographical area, any, any, any. I'll choose the twelve by the end of the day today (3/15) and start the twelve weeks tomorrow (3/16). If I get more than twelve requests, I get to choose, because I am the boss of me. If it's fun and helpful we'll do it again at the end of the twelve weeks.

So, who wants at least one completely committed follower for the next three months?