New Quilt Bloggers: stopping by

Welcome to the next stop on the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop

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It’s so exciting to be a part of this new quilting family and to get to know you. But first, you get to know me.

THE TEN-SECOND TOUR OF MY LIFE:

On a snowy day in 1965, me . . . two siblings, Alice and Bruce, … Emory & Henry College… newspaper reporter … married my high school sweetheart, Dave, … baby Nora … moving trucks … football football football . . . quilter … law school … lawyer … empty nest . . . blogger … modern quilt guild . . . new quilt bloggers blog hop … designing logos and blog buttons, oh my!.

I just received a mug rug from Nina With Freckles as part of a mug rug swap involving individual members of the Modern Quilt Guild.

I just received a mug rug from Nina With Freckles as part of a mug rug swap involving individual members of the Modern Quilt Guild.

My husband is the head football coach at Deep Run High School.

My husband is the head football coach at Deep Run High School.

THE LONG JOURNEY:

When I write about myself, it’s about what I do and less about who I am. Sounds odd since this is “Wanda’s Life Sampler.” I tend to focus on the details of the process, i.e. the craft, and I shy away from revealing anything intimate. There are no secrets on the web. But, if I want to share and interact with this community I must open up. It’s all Rated G, though, but you might find 50 shades of gray (lame quilter’s joke).

NO DIRTY LAUNDRY:

I started this blog because I was looking for a creative outlet. (FYI: menopause is not for girls). I followed a series of worksheets in a self-help book. I made a “vision board” and wrote a  “purpose statement”:

My purpose is to feel brave, to be tenacious and curious, to be sure of what I believe, to be persistent, to rest, to be free, to act on a whim, to improvise, to be creative and to design, and to practice what I enjoy.

I enjoyed making the vision board more than I liked pursuing the things on the vision board (except maybe traveling). vision board

This discovery led me to start a blog. I had no idea what I wanted my blog to be or to say. I knew I wanted to put text and photos on “paper.”

I also had no idea the online quilting community existed. My first post about quilting was on September 4, 2013 and revealed my first leap into modern quilting with a quilt from the book, “Sunday Morning Quilts.” I quickly found the online quilting community and here I am giving you sewing advice.

A SEWING TIP:

Have you ever made a tote bag and when it’s not full, it falls over? The solution:

USE YOUR TOP STITCH FOOT (Bernina No. 5) to stich each side and around the bottom. It give stability to the tote. Divide the length of the bottom side seam, then measure over half that length from the middle seam. Press down the sides. Stitch, setting the needle over about 5 notches. It creates a small seam down the side.

USE YOUR TOP STITCH FOOT (Bernina No. 5) to stitch each side and around the bottom. It gives stability to the tote. Divide the length of the bottom side seam, then measure over half that length from the middle seam. Press down the side. Stitch, setting the needle over about 5 notches. It creates a small seam down the side. Repeat with all four edges and the bottom, if you want.

top stitch tote bottomA BLOGGING TIP:

Learning takes time. I use WordPress and there are so many options for themes and choices for fonts and menus. I was overwhelmed at first and I’ve been overwhelmed for the last two weeks trying to transform my blog for this blog hop. I admit a cried a few times, but it’s okay to ask for help — even from the Happiness Engineers at WordPress. NEED HELP? you bet I do. They will respond!

MY FAVORITE QUILT (designed by yours truly):

Mama Bear

Mama Bear

THE SECURITY ANSWERS (better than the ones from the bank):

  • My Dream Vacation: Fly around the world in a balloon
  • My Favorite Book: My Happiness Calendar where I record something every day that makes me happy
  • My Least Favorite Chore: Washing dishes
  • My Favorite Dessert: Key Lime Pie
  • My Favorite Restaurant: Deep Run Roadhouse (barbeque) 

MY QUESTION FOR YOU:

What would you put on your Happiness Calendar today?

DON’T FORGET: CHECK OUT THIS WEEK’S OTHER NEW QUILT BLOGGERS:

Sandra at The Bias Edge.
My sidebar also has a list of all the new quilt bloggers in our hive, The Sewcial Swarm. The Queen is Terri Ann at Childlike Fascination. The other hive hosts are: Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl; Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs; and Stephanie at Late Night Quilter. The hosts are having giveaways!

Beeing Sewcial,

Wanda

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49 thoughts on “New Quilt Bloggers: stopping by”

  2. Jolly and Delilah says:
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    Jane Victoria / Jolly and Delilah's avatar

    So nice to get meet you Wanda. I think a lot of people struggle with the how much do I give away online bit. When I started out, I ran a very technical blog, and not too many people were interested, yet it works really well for some people. There are so many things I’d like to say, but you’re right about not being able to take them back later. I’m still finding my voice, I suppose.

    WordPress can definitely be overwhelming. Honesty, I still don’t know what half of the options do. Maybe I’ll talk to someone about it eventually. I just find it hard enough to make the time to quilt and write blog posts, that I spend very minimal time fussing with the layout.

    The critiques were interesting. I’m just a little bit (or very blunt, and it’s part of me, not something I choose to be) and I think I may have unintentionally upset my critique group.

    Hmm… As for the happiness calendar, it would ideally involve twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep, but that’s not feasible for at least a few days. I’m working on the hand finish for some binding I put on a quilt last week. It won’t be finished tonight, but getting towards that end is definitely moving me up the happiness scale.

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    • Wanda Ann Dotson says:
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      Wanda Ann Dotson's avatar

      Jane, I bet you thought you were being helpful and they thought you were being mean. I like the idea of something moving up the happiness scale. I’d love 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep — sounds like heaven. I’ll have to get you to critique my quilt designs in progress. I could use a new perspective.

      Like

      • Jolly and Delilah says:
        Reply
        Jane Victoria / Jolly and Delilah's avatar

        I’d be happy to help. The critique thing can be very difficult. No matter how much you say that it’s only your opinion, some people take it very personally, and it’s especially hard to do it diplomatically when you’ve just met over email. I hope I didn’t say anything outright nasty (I do try and sensor myself for that) but I think I hit on a few insecurities.
        I think generally there has to be a happiness scale. End points and destinations never worked for me on this front, because then things would have to stay static, and nothing does.
        Let me know if you can’t find my email in our long list of group emails and I’ll put it in this chain. I’d love some feedback on things I have in mind too, so please let me know if you’d like to do a little back and forth.

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  3. Eleanor says:
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    Eleanor's avatar

    I know you don’t have much of it on this post, but I have to say how much I love your hand quilting! Your Mama Bear quilt is beautiful.

    My happiness calendar would have to be that for the first time this year (!) I have the day to myself. I’m planning a very productive day – it might not happen, but sometimes a little alone time is just lovely, even just to potter about!

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  5. Tish says:
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    Tish's avatar

    Thanks for sharing a little glimpse of yourself with us 🙂 It’s been fun getting to know everyone. Your quilts are beautiful. I think I need to pencil in quiet evenings with my machine on my happiness calendar.

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  6. Lisa says:
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    Lisa's avatar

    Hi Wanda: I’ve enjoyed having this glimpse into your life. I’m also glad to hear I’m not the only one with technical issues. I have a bit more time to work on my blog which is a good thing because I am very slow at this kind of thing. I would love to see more of your hand quilting and I love your favourite quilt. On my happiness calendar I would like to spend more time sitting in my backyard working on e.p.p. and listening to the birds. Go Social Swarm!

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  8. Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl says:
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    Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl's avatar

    Your Mama Bear quilt is so stunning, Wanda. And wow, what a powerful journey you created for yourself with your vision board. I am so glad you found the blog hop and are participating this year! I *love* the idea of your happiness calendar, and today I would put that I am happy for cool morning air and long summer evenings.

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    • Wanda Ann Dotson says:
      Reply
      Wanda Ann Dotson's avatar

      Thank you, Yvonne. I really appreciate you and the other hosts for creating this blog hop. It’s good it wasn’t on my vision board. The vision board is just a way forward. It’s been really hot and humid here so I could appreciate a cool morning too.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Terri Ann says:
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    Terri Ann's avatar

    So great to meet you Wanda! Love that mama bear quilt and I love seeing you and your husband in your happy places 🙂 What a great bag tip too, I’ve got a couple bags that have exactly that problem and I’ve been meaning to find a way to solve that issue!

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  10. Wendy says:
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    Wendy's avatar

    Hello, nice to meet you! I love that Mama Bear quilt! What would be on my happiness calendar today? Probably that I’ve (nearly) got Monday out of the way!

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  11. Cindy says:
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    Cindy's avatar

    My happiness calendar is full up today. My two year old grandson is spending the day with grandma. We’ve been busy playing outside and inside, no quilting today but that’s ok in my book.

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    • Wanda Ann Dotson says:
      Reply
      Wanda Ann Dotson's avatar

      Cindy, that’s okay in my book, too, the Happiness Book that is. Two year olds are full of energy and you can’t be sad when you are with him. Who could choose quilting over a day with grandma. You are blessed.

      Like

  12. Stephanie says:
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    sbertics's avatar

    Wanda, this is a wonderful post!!! You have a great smile!!! Today I was craving something really cheesy… So I went to the cafe at lunch and got a gooey grilled cheese sandwich, that’s what is on my happiness calendar today!!!

    Like

  13. Deanna @ Stitches Quilting says:
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    Deanna @ Stitches Quilting's avatar

    Wanda I love the approach of introducing yourself with the 10 second tour of my life!!!! I need to do that!!! Life is just too hard to explain but in collection of words it says a lot! I already feel I have things in common with you from that simple list. Wow! I am inspired by your detail and love the tip to get the tote to stand up! Never thought of that! My happiness calendar would be to complete all my drafting of pleadings so I can reward myself with time with my husband and creativity! Excellent post!

    Like

    • Wanda Ann Dotson says:
      Reply
      Wanda Ann Dotson's avatar

      I’m not quite sure what you mean by “social login.” To share my post on Facebook I got to Posts then Settings then there are two sections on Publicize and Sharing Buttons and Enabled Services. If that’s not what you mean, let me know.

      Like

  15. Paige says:
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    Paige's avatar

    Happiness calender…a good cup of coffee with just a little cream and sugar. BTW, I had keylime pie for lunch. I follow the recipe on Nellie & Joe’s famous key lime juice. Yum!

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  16. Jayne says:
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    Jayne's avatar

    Your blog is gorgeous Wanda! Love getting to know you a little more. Its very hard to talk about myself too, quilting helps bridge that gap a little bit! Love your bag tip, now if I could only make bags!! Thank you for sharing!!

    Like

  18. Doris McCarty says:
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    Doris McCarty's avatar

    Hello, it’s nice to meet you! I would put some quite time on my happiness calendar. I’ve been watching my grandchildren this summer. Lol!

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  20. Anja @ Anja Quilts says:
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    Anja @ Anja Quilts's avatar

    I love your purpose statement. What a great idea. And the happiness calendar is another great idea. Today’s entry would be: glad I bought a red tutu tonight to wear for the Epic Canadian 5K run on Saturday.

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