Creative Backstory: Celebrating 20 Years – Year 2005

To mark the 20th anniversary of my first baby quilt, I  have been reflecting on what I have learned along the way. Creative Backstory is a series of blog posts each highlighting a different year. I invite you to share your creative backstory. Each day, I will post an optional prompt. Leave your response as a comment below or on my Serendipity Facebook page or use the tag #creativebackstory or Instagram and I will add your name to my Creative Backstory Giveaway. I look forward to reading about what has shaped your creative life.

Embracing Social Media

2005 was the year that I embraced social media and set up my first blog. It was a modest and tentative start but I soon got into the swing of things. Here are are few key statistics

• 2470 posts
• 4269 comments
• peak blog years 2007 (304 posts) and 2010 (296 posts)
• most popular blog posts:
  • Elf Shoe Napkin Tutorial – a surprise Pinterest hit
  • My Favourite Facing Finish tutorial and downloadable PDF – suitable for gently irregular-shaped quilts
  • How to Attach Textile Art to Stretched Canvas
  • How to Plan an Exhibition Layout
  • Storing and Conserving Textiles

 

Twelve Reasons to Blog

In my chapter in the Twelve by Twelve: the International Art Quilt Challenge book, I outline 12 reasons why you might like to give blogging a go. Here’s a summary:

1. Personal Expression
2. Community
3. Encouragement
4. Accountability
5. Problem solving
6. Critique
7. Trend spotting
8. Education
9. Record Keeping
10. Profile Raising
11. Opportunity
12. It’s fun

While blogging is less common in an age of Facebook and Instagram, I still find it a useful medium for sharing longer posts. I also value that my blog is readily searchable and enduring whereas other social media is typically fleeting and ephemeral.

THANK YOU to everyone who has joined me on my blog over the years. Remember you can subscribe to my blog feed via apps such as Feedly or you can sign up for new posts to go straight to your in-box by completing the form below:

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You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram @brendagaelsmith

Sharing Stories: Prompt # 4 & Giveaway

I invite you to share your creative backstory. Here are is an optional prompt: share a link to blog that has contributed to your creativity or sense of creative community.

Leave your response as a comment below or use the tag #creativebackstory on Facebook or Instagram. I look forward to reading about what has shaped your creative life and will put your name into my celebratory giveaway. At the end of June, after I have completed Creative Backstory posts, I will select one commenter and, pandemic postal system permitting, this King Parrot textile sketch will wing its way to a new home.