A Pretty Milestone
February 14, 2012 (Singing) Happy Birthday,
to you,
Happy Birthday,
to you,
Happy Birthday,
Pretty by Hand blog,
Happy Birthday,
to you!
Yes, Pretty by Hand is one year old today. I can't believe what a year this has been for me! Do you know it took me 11 months from the time I registered my website name to my first post? I was so scared. I researched the crap out of blogging before I started and I STILL felt ill-prepared.
But wow! I've met so many lovely people, some of whom I'm delighted to call friends. And all of you who have taken time to leave me a comment (almost 5,000 ... no WONDER I felt lonely when I was changing computers and couldn't blog every day!) or send me an email just to say hi or to let me know you like what I do or even share a little something about yourself with me ... crazy awesome.
I've met amazing people in the quilting world at Quilt Market and can't believe that I'm allowed to call some of them friends. That totally blows my mind.
I blogged my way thru Camille's fantabulous book Simplify.
Learned to free-motion quilt in the process.
FWQAL has been CRAZY fun! Thanks Amanda & Angela for running this project!
And then there was the Mini-Series. TOTALLY loved making those cuties. :)
My little cases made with 2-1/2" squares. Felt the love from you over these, I tell ya!
The messenger bag I made for my daughter. I still can't believe the reaction!
My Daisychain Sampler is coming along nicely.
(albeit a little slowly ...)
Lecien asked me to make a quilt for their Fall booth to launch the (then) latest Flower Sugar fabric line. What an unbelievable honor.
And the tote bag I made based on that quilt.
And of course tons more.
But my most favoritest thing about blogging is hearing that so many of you find my little blog here a source of inspiration ... that something I made got YOU to make something, learn something, try something, whatever. Even if you just dream about making something ... that is also part of what I consider life support for the creative soul. I couldn't survive without inspiration myself and I find it funny ... and also just plain FUN ... that I can do that for you.
When I started my blog last year it felt a lot like holding my breath, shutting my eyes real tight and jumping into the pool. Now that I've gotten used to the water (thank god this analogy doesn't require me to ACTUALLY BE in a bathing suit in front of y'all!) I'm ready to do it again ... into the deep end this time.
I have a few things brewing behind the scenes. I don't mean to tease you ... ok, maybe just a little ;) ... but I'm very excited about the upcoming months.
Now excuse me but ...
this prettiest-little-pink-cake-in-the-whole-entire-world isn't gonna eat itself.
If you're picturing me going all psychotic when I saw this to-die-for PINK confection in the shop window, I assure you ... it was even worse than that. There may have been squealing and clapping and jumping up and down ... can't be certain ... I think I blacked out for a sec.
Reader Comments (95)
Oh Kristyne, congratulations on your one year!! I check your blog every single mormnig and missed you terribly when you wre learning MAC!! Looking back on your projects,I am very thankful you are oin blogland!! i love and enjoy,and learn from everything you do,and that cake!! One in a million,and I would bet it tasted wonderful!! Here's to many,more years posting!!!
I'm so happy I found your blog two months ago. You are amazing and inspiring. Congratulations and Happy Birthday. Hoping there will be many more!
Best wishes and thanks for all of your wonderful projects. You inspire me.
Congratulations, Kristyne! Thank you for the inspiration. I still think you have THE BEST BLOG EVER!
Happy Birthday I love your blog
what a happy day for you!! I was seriously just dreaming of eating that cake. it's so lusciously pink and perfect looking......mmmmm!
Happy Anniversary! Blogging is so much fun, isn't it? It took me awhile to jump in, but I'm so glad I did, and that you did too. I have been so inspired by your blog and so many others. (Just check out my blog and you can see for yourself how much:)
A very Happy Birthday to you! I am so glad that Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill talked up your blog, Kristyne. You have brought joy, laughter, and inspiration to my life. I am quilting up a storm again, and am stitching my own Daisy Chain Sampler. Hurrah for me, and HURRAH for you! :)
happy birthday. love your blog and you do inspire. can't wait for the new year. yeah. happy Valentine's too. and I want some of that amazing cake. wow.
Congrats- it's awesome to see such great Canadian talent out there. Thanks for sharing your personality and your wonderful creativness.
Congratulations on your blogs birthday, I only discovered it a few months ago but now I am hooked! Love the pretty cake!!!!!!
Rats I thought you had made the cake too! I was going to hire you for the boys Birthdays. What a greart year it has been. Even I might get out the old machine again.
Thanks for all the inspiration, and congratulations (I wish that your bakery could deliver to the US)!
Thank you so much for jumping into the deep end of the pool because you came up floating in a lounge chair with a cocktail in hand and a cabana boy waving a palm brach over you!!! Love your blog and look forward to many more wonderful and inspiring posts
Happy Birthday, Pretty by Hand blog! You are a source of inspiration and laughter. You remind me of myself a bit.... I look forward to what you will come up with next! Oh, and just between you and me: I don't have a sweet tooth, but my does that cake looks delicious!!
wow...it feels like I've "known" you for much longer than that! Congratulations on such an important milestone. Totally love your blog...love what you make...love your sense of humour!
Happy 1st Birthday
I love your blog and I so glad you started a year ago. Your's is the first blog I ever followed and though through you I have found other blogs you remain my favourite. Inspired by you I have made a Sugar Rush quilt and started a FW quilt. I love your taste & style so long may you continue and I look forward to wishing you many more happy birthdays. xxx
Happy Blog Birthday! I wish you many more.
Happy b-day! it's always fun to read your stories!
Happy birthday love love your blogg all lots of yummy things to inspire helen
Just joining in the well wishes of others...your blog is one of my favorites! And your talent is outstanding...BRAVO! Keep inspiring us with your beautiful creations...Vicky
Happy Birthday to your wonderful blog !
I'm following your adventures and you certainly gives me a lot of inspiration !!
I'm a pink addict too and I can understand your "dance" in front of this oh so cute little cake !!!
Florence
Happy Birthday Pretty By Hand!
Yesterday I wrote you a comment, but in my rush to get to my Dr. appt, I clicked through the word verification, so it didn't take. Anyhow, just wanted to say that I'm sooooo glad you started your blog and we were able to meet! In fact, I'm not sure who's happier about it....me or Madelyn =)
Congratulations on your anniversary date of you blog! Not only is it ever so pretty and soft, today it is most delicious. Thank you for all of the effort you put into it.
Happy Birthday! I love your blog! And, um I am strongly considering moving now, just based on the cake. Oh. My. Heavens. Must have that!! :) Yum!
Happy Happy Blog Birthday Ms. Pretty! Can't wait until your big reveals!!!
Happy Birthday Pretty by Hand!!! We Love you!!
That is one pink cake!!!!! :)
Congratulations on your 1st blogiversary, it is lovely to have 'found' you. :)
Always a pleasure to see what you've been up to and I so enjoy your humour!
Here's to your next year of blogging Kristyne.
V x
P.S. Don't eat all of that cake in the one sitting!
OMG !!! Happiest of birthdays to you !!!!! ....and that cake can I just say WOW !!!! toooo die for and soooo seriously you !!!! I Love you blog and will continue to watch and enjoy every little project that you choose to share. Sooo hoping that you still do that quiltalong.....maybe....possibly ????? Well enjoy your cake and thankyou so much for all the laughs and loads of inspiration !!!
Happy Bloggy Birthday, Pretty By Hand!!! I guess that means mine is coming up, too! It's amazing how much sewing you can accomplish in a year... so many gorgeous creations. I really admire your work, your precision, and craft. And btw, what a pretty cake! Did it taste as good as it looks? Congrats on a great blog and aren't ya glad you got the guts to do it!?! xo amy
Congratulations on your first year of blogging and look at all that you've achieved in that time! I think your FW blocks have to be among my absolute favourites - they're so cheerful and gorgeous!
That's cake looks fabulous too!
S x
Your blog is the first one I read every morning! Thanks for one year of inspiration, humour, and getting to know you. Wishing you another wonderful and successful year with your blog.
Happy birthday/anniversary! I always enjoy your posts and look forward to many more. Should there be any cake left, I can send you my address - I wouldn't want it to go to waste!!
Your site is a visual delight and a real pleasure your writing
I love coming to see what happens there, laughing at my screen while reading your articles
happy birthday
Bye - Christine
Congratulations on this milestone...I honestly thought you had been doing this for several years...I started reading it last March and had no idea your blog was so new. It just goes to show that you are an extremely talented woman who is an inspiration to all of us. Of course, we also enjoy/need your fun humor, too!
I have been so busy with my job that I rarely have time to comment, but rest assured, I NEVER miss a post from you. It's my pick-me-up each day :)
Happy Blogging Birthday! I have enjoyed reading your blog since I discovered it a few months back, one of my favorite!! Wonderful collection of your creations displayed in this post.. thank you again for sharing and your inspiration!
What a gorgeous cake, in I think, a favorite color! :-) Yes we love your stuff! You have such a wonderful eye for color and design. You have helped me be willing to try writing up patterns for others. Thanks for your sharing and your beautiful work. Looking forward to more in the days to come. Nice to see pictures again. :-) K-
I love your blog. The farmer's wife blocks look so amazing all set up together! And the bag you made for your daughter is so beautiful - I agree, we need a pattern we can buy! I got very excited when you mentioned something about one of your daughter;s friend's going home to Australia (I'm Australian - in Melbourne) and then even more excited to see your amazing Christmas photos as my husband is from Vancouver BC, they made me wish for a white Christmas! Love your work - keep it up lady, and send some of that cake over here!
Congratulations on this momentous blogging anniversary! And thank you so much for all the eye candy, inspiration, information and laughs. I look forward to reading you every day. Can't wait to see what's coming up in future! Congratulations again.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! and Congratulations! What an encouragement this has been for me whose blog is only 5 mos. old, it's all about the journey really. I love visiting your blog and all the "pretty little things" you put on it, (Cake included) Kudos to your success. Love those bright and cheery blocks and I finally see where you are getting those great block ideas, another craft book that I MUST have! Thanks for the year in review, for the ones I missed.
Happy happy birthday!! If that isn't the sweetest cake I've EVER seen. Good heavens. So sweet.
Thank you for making my year so much sweeter. You are so wonderful!
Congratulations! Oh my, that cake does look good enough to eat, doesn't it? Almost as delicious as your quilt blocks! Love your blog , thank you for sharing.
Wow One year Birthday...I had to gasp at the fact it's only been a year...I so look forward to your posts and can't wait to read them...and only one year...what a great year it's been, your so inspiring and I just love the way you coordinate everything... Here's a toast to a fantastic year and many more to come... Happy Birthday Kristen... not sure why you would be so scared blogging your wonderful at keeping this gal reading...
Hugs Dawn x x x
11months! I've been dithering for years.
You take such pretty pictures. And the sacrifice of buying cake, just so you can take pictures of it for us? Wow, dedication. I'm sure it didn't taste the least bit good and you only did it for your readers' sake.