Out of the Loop

I've been very much out of the loop when it comes to the stitching world.  In the last year I've been lucky to post perhaps twice a month, and sometimes only once a month.  I expect I don't really have many regular readers anymore, though a few of you still kindly drop in now and then, which I can't say how much I appreciate it!  I'd like to get back into things, though at the moment my goal is to simply post here at least twice a week and try and get out more and visit blogs once again and see what everyone is up to.  I had been using Bloglines to keep up, but I hadn't gone in in months, and today when I did I had more than 500 posts accumulated.  I started going out and at least taking a peek at places I once read daily and was sad to see that I had been dropped from friend's blogrolls.  Actually I can't blame anyone as I am sure that it must have seemed that my own blog had gone defunct and I suspect that people like to keep tidy and up to date blogrolls.  Considering how infrequently I have been posting it may well have seemed that I had given things up.  I haven't, however, and I would love to get back into the swing of things.  I may still not have as much time to devote to stitching as I'd like, but I hate not keeping up with my virtual stitching friends.  I miss exchanges and bulletin boards (and I've been dropped from a few of those as well, but again I do understand why) and seeing new designs and getting new ideas and having finishes to share.  So, I will be switching over to Google Reader, which is what I use to keep up with other blog reading.  If you drop by here and comment and I don't have you on my blogroll (as I suspect there are new stitchers out there that I've not met during that interim I've been away), please let me know and I will duly add you.  I've also noticed that more than a few designers now have blogs themselves, so I will be searching them out, too.

So, for now I have an updated photo to share of "No Bees, No Honey".  The end is in sight, and I am going to be optimistic that I can finish it soon.  I'll be thinking about what to stitch next and perhaps be going through my bottomless pit of a UFO bin to find a small design to work on--perhaps start taking it to work with me again.  I only wish I was a faster stitcher and had more to share more often!  

Comments

[Suzanne]

I find sometimes I just can't keep up with all that happens around here and blogging. Sadly the number of posts that accumulate in my reader becomes so large that I can only comment on the odd few posts. You are not alone!

Great stitching progress.

[Danielle]

Suzanne--It is impossible to work, have a family (though I don't have kids), stitch, and blog all on a daily basis--I agree! I used to stitch and share my work her far more, but this last year has been really slow for me. I was looking through my blogroll and I see more than a few other stitchers have been posting infrequently as well and some have disappeared altogether! I'm hoping to at least share my work a bit more to keep me going on my projects. I have so much stash I really do need to work on it! :)

[Cathy B]

I echo what Suzanne said -- it's pretty hard to keep up with all of it. Our little world of stitching bloggers has become quite large!

Do be sure to track down all the designers blogs -- I love reading those the most!

[Brigitte]

For me it doesn't matter how often someone posts on their blogs. Just every now and then is perfect - and that's what I do as well. I visit and comment on my friends' blogs whenever I have time.
I loe your bees piece, it looks gorgeous.

[Anne S]

Some of us are still around ... unfortunately I tend to mostly 'read and run' these days, and feel lucky when I actually get to do that. You're right, many of the 'oldies' are now posting less or have pulled up camp - priorities change, and sometimes blogging becomes a chore. I now only blog when I feel like it, or have something I feel like sharing - although probably more for my Mum's sake than anything else. Anyway, look forward to seeing you posting regularly again ... even if I don't often leave a comment! :)

[Cindy]

I have a hard time keeping up with everything! Your No Bees piece is looking fabulous :)

[Barb]

I don't think I've ever commented on your posts before. "No obligation blogging"...that's my motto. You can blog as little or as often as you like. I can't tell you the amount of time spent reading blogs when I could be more productive. But I have made some friends through blogging and this makes me very happy.

Love your bee skep. I recently added this to my stash and hope to get to it soon.

[Debbie]

You're not alone on the blogging issue - I have a hard time keeping up too - there are so many other things that need to be done. Your No Bees piece is looking great.

[Barbara]

I hope you don't give up, I love reading your blog when you do have something, I love seeing what others are doing in the embroidery world. Barb in WNC

[Karoline]

Great progress on No Bees, it's looking lovely. It's good to see a post from you whenever you feel like it

I think most of us have switched to using an Rss reader of some form instead of blogrolls to keep up with our blogs.

[tessa.chaplin@fusion.com.au]

Seems like life is getting busier and busier and blogging just falls to the bottom of the list sometimes.
I also find that using google reader to keep track of the blogs I like is fantastic as you can see who is posting and not waste time looking at blogs that haven't updated. However, it does make for a reader who is less likely to comment as you need to make the effort to leave the reader and actually visit the blog to make the comment.
Anyway, I always like seeing what you stitch ever since I first found you all those years ago. Keep stitching and sharing - nice work on No Bees. :)

[Chris]

Just wanted to say I'm still reading, and totally agree with the other comments, sometimes the days aren't long enough. My blogging has been erratic this year. But I'm still stitching (sometimes erratically), and need to post about 10 finishes or so, but if I spent more time on the net, I'd have less time for the stitching. Enjoying the progress pics

[Danielle]

Many thanks for all the great comments. I'm glad I'm not the only one with a problem with time--and not having enough of it! :) I, too, tend to 'lurk' by reading post through bloglines (though I want to switch over to Google Reader as that's what I use for book blogs and I like it very much--just a pain to transfer all those URLs!!). I still would like to post a couple of times a week, but as you see I only managed it once last week. I am getting closer to finishing my Bees project so photo to follow very soon! Happy stitching all!

[Janet M]

I stumbled across your blog a week or so ago and seeing your bee skep inspired me--I have the chart and threads and found some great fabric for it and now I can't put it down...been stitching all day, very naughty of me I know. Thanks!

[Gina Wilson]

Hi Danielle,
I feel guilty now! Somewhere along the line your blog dropped off my sidebar and I just never got around to putting you back on again. But I saw you on another blog list and popped over to see what you are up to. Busy - busy - busy as usual, I see! Books, stitching,work, not always in that order! Anyway, now that I've 'found' you again, you'll be back on my sidebar. I don't mind if you don't leave comments - as Barb said, No Obligation Blogging - way to go!