Wednesday, April 29, 2009

For my friends and followers....

I have a question *VBS*What we can do with our blogs has changed soooo much over the years I've been offering you pieces from my scrapbag.
Maybe it's the economy, or the need to be more prudent(or frugal)...I'm not sure, but I've been feeling the need to streamline my blog.
I've managed to put the archives into a compact drop down window. I'm toying with the idea of the "My Blog List" option instead of my long list of places to visit, which surely doesn't include all that I'd like it to.
What's really on my mind is the LABELS. I have them listed as "What Finn Said". And there are A LOT of them, because I've had a lot to say over this past(nearly) 4 years. I'm toying with eliminating them completely...but I hate to, as I feel some of you come back to see a certain quilt or read what I have to say about something...like my quilters mission statement. Is that the case??? If you are a regular reader, or even an occasional reader, does having the category list of posts benefit you???? That's my question for this Thoughtful Tuesday plus one *VBS*

31 comments:

KC Quilter said...

I have to admit--I do refer to them!

The Calico Cat said...

On the other end of the spectrum, I can count on one hand the number times that I have used those on any blog...

Carol said...

I only check the tutorials and the quilts -- I would miss those!

Ms. Jan said...

I usually don't check them on blogs I read regularly like yours, but I agree that keeping tutorials and quilts would be nice!
xoxo

Paula, the quilter said...

My thoughts on the subject of labels:
I use labels but I don't list them in my sidebar. When I am in my dashboard and need to look up something I said, then I will click the label over on the right and only the posts with that label will be listed. I do it this way because, like you, I have lots of labels. I figured that people could use the 'search' area. Of course, one needs to know how to use it. Do you see that search area in the upper left hand corner of your blue nav bar? Type in the word(s) (e.g. triangles) and it brings up all the posts you have made that contain the word triangles. I love the searching ability. HTH.

Dolores said...

Hi Finn,
I do read you regularly and I am like Ms Jan and Carol in that I like to refer to the tutorials. They can be so helpful. There's also that interesting looking section on "free form piecing." And then again, there is the section on "About Finn" that lets new readers get to know you and love you as we all do. Is this a "make work" project? Spring cleaning?

Dionne said...

I like labels, but I do think they could be consolidated a bit. I only refer to them sometimes.
Cheers,
Dionne

em's scrapbag said...

I only use them for tutorials.

Scrappy quilter said...

I don't use them because I'm a follower, so I read your blog everytime you do a post. I think though tutorials would be one I would read in the future and have read a couple times after a chat with you.

Unknown said...

Just last night at my Bee, your blog was given out as a resource for Mile a Minute blocks. I have just finished a top with them and the members liked it so much and want to do an exchange. They were blown away with the idea. I read each time you post and have used the tut's and would continue to do so. Your blog is a good resource for lots of scrappy ideas, my favorite. I have shared it with many.

Sweet P said...

I have only used labels to find a tutorial on a blog. I wouldn't miss them if they went away.

Chris said...

I would miss them. I like to refer to the tutorials and other projects but you could consolidate then a bit.

Cleary (Cie) said...

I use the tutorial ones all the time.
Huggs,
Cleary

Greenmare said...

I like the categories and lists. I think you have spring cleaning fever! Keep them!!

Gari in AL said...

I like having access to tutorials because I don't always know I would like to do something until later. And I also love to look at quilts although I read so many blogs now I don't have much time to go back and look.

ForestJane said...

I think if you are careful to use the tags when you post, people can search your blog (and google it) to find stuff.

But it's always nice to offer a list of tutorials.

I'd take a look at the ones you have a bunch of... like "projects - 67" isn't helpful, but a heading like Special Events with a drop down menu divided into seasons, halloween, christmas, easter, birthdays ... might be.

Cats doesn't tell me if it's a quilt, a fabric, the next door neighbor's kitten, or more news about ebby. ;)

Narelle said...

I use labels when I'm looking back for a specific project or method.

Julie in the Barn said...

I have already bookmarked specific pages from your blog for future quilt ideas. I rarely use labels on the blogs I read but I always look for tutorials. If you listed those (such as your methods for orphan blocks, rag rugs, etc.) it would be much easier than the current labels list. It is pretty daunting. That seems like a lot of work to go back and clean up your labels just to simplify the list.

Cher said...

I am in the camp of using your tutorials...I also think squishing down some of the stuff is a good idea too. whatever you decide...we will work with!

Terry said...

I honestly never refer to labels on a blog. If I'm looking for something specific, I use the "Search This Blog" option at the top of the page! I do like to see tutorials listed though. Hope this helps! :0)

Quilter Going Bananas said...

Perhaps you could list your tutorials separately and condense some of the other labels?

Katie said...

The important thing for me is for you to just keep posting! I did just learn how to use the search at the top of your site. Neat.

Sunna Reyr said...

I've used the labels for your tutorials .I'm always learning something new, if not from your blog, then from the comments you get. I had no idea I could do a search on a blog. Lol. Thanks.

Lori in South Dakota said...

I usually just read the blog, and never pay attention to the sidebar. Yes, terrible of me! But I also use the search option to look for specific things, so maybe the labels aren't necessary?

Calamity Jane's Cottage, Bonnie said...

Hi Finn,
I don't list mine on the blog, if a person wants to see that one label and all the post with it in them. She can click on the post label and it will bring all of them up. Does that make since? So I don't put them on my sidebar.
Really like your blog.
Keep Stitchen'
Bonnie

meggie said...

It seems you have lots of suggestions, for & against. I use the search option quite often. I would rather like to streamline my sidebar.

Clare said...

I've taken mine off. Too much there and I don't think everyone looks at them. You can also restrict your blog list to your favourite reads, by clicking on the "Follow Me" icon on someone's blog and using the widget in the Layout section. So you can have, say, 10 blogs showing as and when they are updated.

Talking of blogs. You're still linking to the old one on Wordpress :-)

Hugs
xx

*karendianne. said...

Finn,

Someone rudely asked me to add labels onto my Blog once! I didn't do it. There's always the options of searching a blog on the from the top of the banner of the page that says "search" which will search you specific Blog. My labels are a mess and for personal use truth be told. I can't keep them clean and organized for public viewing, too.

Just my honest, not so humble opinion. If folks are interested, put a little work into it. If you want to know, try. Type in "Quilt" or "Finished" and see what comes up.

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

I'm not sure that I really look at other people's categories very often, but I certainly do mine. If I want to see my progress on a particular quilt, or see when I last worked on it, I can click on the name of the quilt. If I want to see my finished quilts, I can just click on that.
If I were you, I wouldn't delete any old posts, but just add labels as I think of them. You can choose to go back and do old posts, or not, whatever you decide, but just do it from now on out.

Jean said...

I'm not going to read anyone else's comments this time, cause I figure they will sway me... I like to see what you've done past/present and futher??? (Hmmm, how does that work?) So, I vote to keep it the way it is...
But you know, if you want to change it, and that makes you happy then do it! LoL... enjoy life! That's what we have it for!

Granny Lyn said...

ok, you are talking to a "Side-bar Junkie" here, that is how I learned EVERYTHING about the blogging biz, when I first started reading blogs, I thought they were ads, then I paid attention once, and did the "I coulda had a V-8" boink to the head.

I, more often than not, will look at the sidebar more than the post. I'm disapointed when I get side-bar shorted, if you know what I mean.