Paper Daydreams | Uniquely Yours Craft Journal

Questions and Answers – Part 2

14 Oct 2014 1 Comment

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Roadmap Tags: platform, posts, schedule, word press

Dear Fellow Journalers,

After reading all I could about blogging, I started researching web platforms. A friend/neighbor, suggested word press. Four books later, I started my craft blog: uniquelyyourscards@wordpress.com My categories include: Pursuit of Happiness (monthly), Friday Scribblings, paper adventures, tutorials and to date I have 35 followers. The WordPress books are as follows:

“30 Minutes to a word press web site” by Erick Alyn
“How to create a website using word press” by Brian Patrick
“How to create a web site with word press and start a profitable on-line business” by Ming Jong Tey
“WordPress for all” by Chris O’Connor

I started by selecting my categories and deciding on a schedule of posts. Many of the books suggest writing 2-3 times a week, so I decided on Monday and Friday for the craft blog and Wednesday and Friday for this blog. I started collecting my craft topics in a notebook and my journal topics and Pinterest pics in an email account expressively set up for the blog(s).

For this blog, I wanted a word press theme that would reflect my writing/craft lives and be un-cluttered. The “Koi” theme has hand-drawn illustrations on a parchment page. Widgets are pre-determined. I try to write posts about 3 months in advance. I set aside a week at a time. This allows time for ideas to “percolate”. Most all of the content is either written by me or my authors. I don’t subscribe to sites that offer to write content for you. I also don’t write with SEO’s in mind. In the beginning, I thought it might be an avenue to explore to bring more traffic but decided to travel a different path. I guess all of you agree!

If you want to contact me “off-line” you can email me at uniquelyyourscraftjournal@outlook.com. You can follow me using the Follow Button which is on the right side of the blog. The other authors, “G”, Paul and Marybeth email me their posts and I put them up. I do not edit them. I feel that it would be a great disservice since they are sharing their creative endeavors with us. One last thing, some of you want to know some of my secrets and I do have a few links I can share with you. If you refer my blog to 3 others, I’ll be glad to email you the link(s).

I hope I have answered all of your questions! Keep those comments coming!

‘Til next time,

Sallie

Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given

To Sallie and uniquelyyourscraftjournal with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

You may reach Sallie at uniquelyyourscraftjournal@outlook.com

Questions and Answers

13 Oct 2014 Comments Off on Questions and Answers

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Roadmap Tags: blogging, books, pursuits

Dear Fellow Journalers,

Over the last several months and especially the last 2 weeks, I have received many comments and questions from all of you. I really appreciate your comments as they help me understand what fuels your writing passions and what inspires you. So I decided to answer all of your questions in one post.

The author of this blog, uniquelyyourscraftjournal.wordpress.com is me, myself and I. I am, as my about page attests, a retired senior citizen who loves spending time with family and friends, is active in her community, enjoys crafting and journal writing. As a child, I was described as a “tomboy” by my Mom who despaired over my torn jeans (due to tree climbing and riding horses) but I lost the “moniker” when I became a teenager. By then I was writing stories and poems, reading voraciously, and taking lessons in Irish Step Dancing.

I married, became a Mom, taught school and was active in women and church groups, town activities and of course the PTA. When the rubber stamping “bug” swept in, I was immediately “hooked” and crafting took hold of me.

When I first started thinking about writing a blog, I was working for a large corporation and commuting 2 hours a day. Our son was grown and starting his own family and I knew no one who blogged. I did have a website which I helped develop and was making some money selling my handmade greeting cards. Fast forward 2 years. I was now commuting 4 hours a day. Yikes! Journaling became my outlet as I did not have much time to craft unless I got up at 4 am each day! I researched some books about blogging and here are my favorites:

“The Guest Blogger, Survival Guide” by Kristi Hines
” How to write Great Blog Posts that engage readers” by Steve Scott
“So you want to write a great post” by Jaime McDougall
“Write your way to more clients on line” by Linda Descare

Tomorrow I’ll continue with answers to your questions about content, wordpress, authors, subscribing and how to contact me.

‘Til tomorrow,

~Sallie

Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given

To Sallie and uniquelyyourscraftjournal with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

You may reach Sallie at uniquelyyourscraftjournal@outlook.com

Cooperation

10 Oct 2014 Comments Off on Cooperation

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Seeds of thought

Co-operation is spelled

with two letters – WE.

Peace

03 Oct 2014 10 Comments

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Seeds of thought

Dear Fellow Journalers,

October 4th, in the Catholic Religion, is the feast of ST Francis of Assisi. You will recognize this prayer, even if you are not religious, and yes, the current Pope Francis took his name from this great saint.

~Sallie

My creative landscape

01 Oct 2014 Comments Off on My creative landscape

by uniquelyyourscraftjournal in Paper Daydreams Tags: creative landscape, journey, Peter Walsh

Dear Fellow Journalers,

I have a confession to make. I am a “craft fliter”. Don’t know what that is? My definition is someone who flits from one craft to another and leaves bits and pieces all over their craft room. My secret came out this week at our monthly Book Chat meeting. We were discussing our summer books and my comment on “It is all to much” by Peter Walsh (TV host of “Clean Sweep”) led the group to explore the half-completed projects we have in our homes.

Later that day, I started thinking about the creative process. Let’s face it, we are all changing the creative landscapes of our lives. We do it everyday! From the simplest (change the way we drive to work) to the difficult choice (changing jobs). Some of us are much better planners and organizers and some of us “flit” from project to project with no plan at all.

I believe that all of us, no matter where we are on this journey, are making progress. We take big and small steps to change our lives and the lives of others and sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail but we get up the next morning and try again.

As the autumn winds begin to blow and the days grow shorter, my wish for all of us is that our creative journeys lead us to discover hidden gems and shinning moments of clarity. That paper snippet, fabric swatch, forgotten glittered ornament are destined for greater glory.

So, shake off the doldrums and square off your shoulders -your creative journey begins again NOW!

Sallie

Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given

To Sallie and uniquelyyourscraftjournal with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

You may reach Sallie at uniquelyyourscraftjournal@outlook.com