We have 3 hops left this year and are excited to see all the projects from our favorite time of the year.
It's been a hard decision, but Carol and I have talked extensively and decided that it is time to pull the plug on blog hops. We have both seen the trend in readership dropping over the past few years. There just doesn't seem to be the traffic to our posts or interaction with comments that we saw a few years back.
Life changes and I get it. Blog hops are all I post anymore and I don't have the time to read other blogs, either. I'm getting old and my grandies are balls of energy. When they go home at night, I go to bed! LOL!!
It's been a joy hosting the hops with all of you. You have inspired me with your creativity and talent, more than you will ever know. Hopefully someone with host a hop from time to time that I can jump in and play on. (hint hint) Cause who the heck am I going to mess with if it's not Carol, my partner in crime?😄😄😄😄
I'm actually feeling teary, like I'm losing a friend. I never had the courage to actually participate but man I loved seeing your blogs, reading about your outhouse garden, moving your sewing room, your family from marriage to grands and your work. You and Carol are truly appreciated. Love, Mary
ReplyDeleteI'm not going completely away and maybe, just maybe there will be a little more time to catch up with my blogging buddies as well.
ReplyDeleteIt’s been a great run. Seasons change, priorities change, and family dynamics must stay at the top! Thank you both for allowing me to be a part of this. I’ve really enjoyed it, and it gets me making and finishing projects. Much love to both of you!
ReplyDeleteI just read about this on Carol's blog and made a comment there, so I am pasting the comment here too for you:
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol & Joan too for doing the blog hops for all these years. I joined in on a lot of them, but I totally understand your decision to stop them. It's a lot of work too! There are so many other social media places out there now. I still rather blog than do FB or Instagram and I don't do any others. Personally for me blogging is better as I can write more, share more photos and while I don't get many comments or views, I get more than either Facebook or Instagram combined! You have to stop and look or read a blog, but other social media you just scroll by quickly and most people don't stop to look for more than a second or two. So I only use the other media for sharing my test makes to help other designers promote their patterns. I mainly started blogging as a place to document what I make and I will continue doing that until I quit making stuff I suppose? I know you and I started our blogs about the same time, Carol (March 2008). So that's a long time as most people quit blogging years ago. I find blogging more personal than the other media too. When I did it all it was too much, so I knew I had to stop doing something and I chose to stop the other media. I don't always make comments anymore either as that takes time. Why we are all so busy now is crazy! The more gadgets and electronics we have I suppose takes up more and more time today. Back when we had nothing but a television to watch, we had loads more time to do everything and raise our children too! I long for those days without all the time wasters we have today. Where we really connected with people. I sound like my parents talking about the Good old days! Good luck to you Carol and Joan too. I will see you here and there on FB and Instagram when I am there scrolling around. Hugs!!!
Joan, I'm so sorry to hear this, but I do understand. Life can be stressful trying to get a project together each month and host the hops, but you girls are sooooo good at it! I, too, have noticed the readership and comments decreasing over the last few years. I've enjoyed seeing all the wonderful inspiration during the blog hops and wish you all the best with whatever comes next for you! I'll still keep up with you both! Sending a huge hug your way!
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for all you did for so many years! I love blogging and commenting but find keeping up is hard...life. I enjoyed all the hops I participated in and am sorry to have been such a slacker this past year or two. I hope every once in awhile, something fun comes along and we all hop!
ReplyDeleteLJ here. You and Carol have been true friends and I will miss your shining faces on the blog hops. Thank you for organizing the hops and making all those wonderful, memorable projects. I totally understand how you feel about the blog hops; I, too, have noticed the same thing as far as readership is concerned (and I'm just a reader). I've felt the pressure of reading, also. I do hope that you both continue to blog because even if there isn't a hop I know I'll be reading your blogs and commenting on the projects you create. THANK YOU. You are a gem (in witches' clothing). bulltulip69 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI'm bummed about there being no blog hops next year, but totally understand the reasons why the decision has been made. I might just have to do my own self-hop kind of thing because they really did help me to get stuff accomplished for myself while working on so much for commissioned orders.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting all these years!!! I've missed being part of it this year, but hope to be able to join in on the last two for a final hurrah!! xx
ReplyDeleteThank You. Thank You. Thank You both. It's been a great time. I am guilty of not commenting like I used to. My arthritis limits me now but really wanted y'all to know how much I appreciate everything y'all have done to promote quilting over the years. I hope you will still blog, I would love to see what's happening in the garden and with the grands. Enjoy the extra time you will have.
ReplyDeletenice and cute designs
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