So. Do you know what? My blog is one of the leaders in the People’s Choice section of the Sydney Writer’s Centre ‘Best Australian Blogs 2011’ Competition. OMG. Now. I don’t like to ask you for ANYTHING. But…! Here is the thing. When you write a blog like mine, you don’t do it for money or fame. You do it for love. Yes.
When your blog has a big readership, like mine, or is a daily stop off for people, like mine, it gets pushed up to the BIG BLOG category. BIG BLOGS get less comments and more hits. People consider them popular and a good resource and they know lots of people are quietly popping in and out for their daily update, thus it tends not to be AS necessary to comment much. It’s easier to get lost in the crowd and not comment. It’s sort of like the blog is A THING, not A PERSON.
Even though a lot of big blogs are written from kitchen tables or in front of the telly late at night. By a person. BIG BLOGS are still often considered beyond the person. Weird, huh? A BIG BLOG like mine would attract maybe 5 or 6 comments for each 1000 visitors. I am totally used to that. It is fine. Honest. I am used to my blog being A THING. I call it Thing One. Thing One likes to be helpful and visited often, a bit like me.
BIG BLOGS like Thing One usually have advertising and other commercial arrangements tied to them to help offset the time that is put into said blog, and to help make up for the lack of feedback (proportionately). I don’t do that. I think it diminishes Thing One to plug stuff and have lots of giveaways. I am not saying that it diminishes other people’s blogs, it’s just not right for mine. I want you to know that the stuff I talk about is the stuff I really love (and not the stuff I have been paid to love or asked to love by someone networky!)
Yes, you are right, I do sell books because people read this blog and want to buy my books, but I don’t make a lot of money like that. Ask any author. And I do get lots of people visiting my shop because they read this book, but I don’t make a lot of money like that either. Usually those people are up for a chat and a cuddle and a bit of an inspiration transfusion. I like to do that, and it’s a pretty great job, isn’t it?! I do it because I really love it. And I love teaching people and inspiring craftiness. And I love writing stuff. I am used to living on beans and soup so that I CAN do the teachy/chatty/cuddly/inspiry/writey/crafty job I want to do. That is what I have chosen.
So what? Well. I am telling you all this because I don’t want to ask you to comment. I don’t want you to ever feel obligated to do anything extra special or out of your way if you read my blog. Um. Except for this one thing. Please vote for me! Please vote for Thing One. The prize is a great course at The Sydney Writer’s Centre! I really want to write a NON-CRAFTY book one day, a sort of novel or a collection of short pieces of writing. I need all the help I can get. Can you help me? Maybe I stand a chance of winning a prize if YOU vote. Maybe they will teach me to stop making up words? And write longer sentences? And not begin blog posts with the word So. Maybe.
You know, I really don’t mind about the non-commenty, lurky stuff. Honestly. I love my lurkers. I am LUCKY that you read. (I see you popping up on my Stats and I know you are there! Hello!) BUT, just this once could you try not to be quite so shy or busy and click over to fill out the form and vote for me?! If you like my blog?! If you don’t, please do not vote for me! That would be wrong, but if you do like my blog, please vote. Maybe?! Yes?!
xx Pip
Voted! Good luck Pip!
hi Pip,
I voted for you! I am one of those rarely commenting readers, but I appreciate your posts and I hope you do well in the competition… from another Pip!
Voted for you!
Job done!
I voted for you, Pip! Not just because you're my author but because I genuinely think yours is a generous, worthwhile and fun blog. I hope you win – and I will try to comment more often (rather than simply doing my daily lurk!)
I just found your blog though I gave your book as a gift to my best friend. I never write comments but I DO enjoy your site. Good luck and I hope you get to write your novel some day. Oh ys – and I voted for you too!
De-lurking and I voted. Good luck!!
Oh and I have copied your Kimchi salad recipe and plan to try it this week! It looks like my kinda addiction! Yum
Hi Pip,
because of your awesome blog I cook more and can make lots of cute things for my friends and family.. thanks.
My vote is in and I will cross my fingers for you ๐
Hey Pip, I'm yet another frequent lurker and infrequent commenter. Love your blog so of course I've voted for you, good luck xx
Another lurker here…Hello!! I've been and voted too, GOODLUCK! xx
Hi Pip!
I am a shy lurker and have been shyly lurkin' around for a few years. I have voted for you HOORAY and as such have overcome my fear of posting comments! SUPER HOORAY!
My boyfriend James says:
"Hi Pip, I too have voted as your blog is a wonderful source of things to do in spare time and your books are a wonderful source of sure-to-be-loved presents!"
Thanks!
Belinda
Thank you Pip for such a terrific blog. Yours was the first I ever read and I love seeing what you have to say each day. Every good wish for you to win that prize….and maybe get a bit more comment action!
you've always got my vote, and i did indeed so do that the other day. anytime i can do anything for you, you do so ask me please yes, you are a continuing inspiration for which i am most grateful. sue x
Hurrah for Pip! I've been & ticked the Mikes box.
You know I think you're ace. I like how you write how you speak, so everytime I read a post I can hear you saying the words. I think that's lovely.
Ha, that may sound a bit creepy… but I don't mean it to. Oh, you know what I mean.
I hope you do win. It sounds like an awesome prize.
Fingers crossed.
Kitty x
Hurrah for Pip! I've been & ticked the Mikes box.
You know I think you're ace. I like how you write how you speak, so everytime I read a post I can hear you saying the words. I think that's lovely.
Ha, that may sound a bit creepy… but I don't mean it to. Oh, you know what I mean.
I hope you do win. It sounds like an awesome prize.
Fingers crossed.
Kitty x
Oh well, I confess, I visit your blog as often as you blog it. I ADORE your blog. I don't know how my life worked before I found it. I don't know why it took so long to find it! You make the 8:30am -9:00am stretch possible at work.
AND I voted, yes sirree bob. Even though, with my horrifying mobile broadband, it was an exercise in patience. Or irritation. Or anger mangement. Or rage. Anyways, I voted because I do love this blog and I don't comment nearly enough.
And I'm three quarters done embroidering a raven for a series of bird embroideries, just because of your blog. I would have never tried embroidery myself if not for your blog. And my raven even looks pretty much like a raven. Seriously.
Hi Pip! I love your blog think you are so inspirational. I've voted for you and hope you win, you deserve to. x
Oh so can not lurk – always have something to say… so I dashed over there to vote for you because quite frankly: Meet me at Mikes goes best with my morning coffee…
Yep, voted! and it wasn't a big ask, it's the least we can do in return for all the inspiration you provide!
Oh so can not lurk – always have something to say… so I dashed over there to vote for you because quite frankly: Meet me at Mikes goes best with my morning coffee…
Voted 1 for Pip! (Do you have any aspirations to be PM? I would totally vote for you for that too.) This is a first comment for me!… your blog is one I always read, because you're not trying to sell me anything, you're just trying to inspire and help people and that's rare on the internet at the moment! I hope you know that people appreciate it. Keep up the good work!
Voted 1 for Pip! (Do you have any aspirations to be PM? I would totally vote for you for that too.) This is a first comment for me!… your blog is one I always read, because you're not trying to sell me anything, you're just trying to inspire and help people and that's rare on the internet at the moment! I hope you know that people appreciate it. Keep up the good work!
Voted for you cause you're the only person who has ever responded to a comment I've made. You are more than a blog, you make it more personal and I love your crafty goodness!
yeh I'm one of those lurkers and I responded to your plea and voted for you. You deserve to win. Good Luck!
Done! I voted for you. Weren't hard… You're a love! Though had I not read right through I'd have never known I was a LURKER. Oh the shame of it, the shame!
Hullo Pip, I love your thing 1, I love that I am not being sold stuff. I love that I can have a cuppa with you (cyberly), and you still make me laugh with you being there and me being here. Sometimes I don't understand some stuff, but I don't feel pressured that I only have a small head. As for comments on blogs, oh I love the comments I get on my blog, I get so excited to see that someone likes stuff, or has an opinion to share about their stuff on my blog. It's such a wonderful community to be involved in and two thumbs up to you for having such a lovely blog. I like that you like to be you. Just like Dr. Seuss says, 'Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you. oh I am joyceliveshere.blogspot.com. I am still learning how to put myself on your comments. lol Told you I had a small head.
I just voted for you for number 1. All the very best of luck, I do hope you win. Have a wonderful Easter at your place and thanks so much for being Pip.
Hi Pip. Quilty as charged! I've been reading your blog for 6 months(/) and I don't recall ever commenting. In my defence, I'm not much of a commenter on any of the blogs I read. I read your blog because I think you're genuine, interesting, crafty, whimsy etc. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I just voted for you! I hope you win! Your writing is pretty good, but I'm sure anyone can do with more learning on how to write. All the best! Bianca in Perth (I don't have a blog)
I voted….and I've commented!!! Never done that before, just been a dirty LURKER – sorry. Your blog is wonderful, interesting, inspiring, and makes me happy. And it makes me make. And I even drove to Winchelsea to check out the op shop because I read your post, but it was closed…but OMG did you check out all the other junky nick-nacky shops in that town. Heaven!
Good luck with that competition.
I voted and commented too, sorry for being a freaky shy lurker most of the time. Your words have been my anchor to the world of sanity through some of the toughest moments of my life. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be one of many encouraging those words we love. I hope you win, I hope you get to learn, I hope you become a brilliant novelist just don't ever loose that Pipiness.
I had already voted for you because your blog is ace. So now I am commenting to tell you that ๐ *waves* Keep up the great work, hope you win.
Done. Good luck, Pip!
Done. Good luck, Pip!
Done and done spunk! Good luck sweetie
love too
Done!
Good luck!!
I meant… love to! how's my english?
Hi Pip, have voted for you and good luck.
Hi Pip. I voted for you in the best Australian blog contest. I don't live in Australia. I live way over in Trout Lake, Washington, US, but you, way over in Australia have inspired me soooooo much over the last year or so. I have started to crochet b/c of your beautiful photos and words on your blog. Thank you. I will try not to be a lurker anymore. It's trying to be a sunny day here, but we're up in the mountains so it could definitely snow on me today. Either way I will be working on my newest crochet project, and Meet Me At Mikes will be popping into my head here and there. Peace and joy to you. (I did send you an envelope for the window project! I loved it!!!! xoxo)
I just voted for you. OMG so many Blogs! but I love yours and I'm sure you are in with a good chance. I did not realise the bigger you get the less comments are left? Thank you for letting me put my Blog link up on your list, I am starting out in Blog world, and I get so excited if anybody finds me.
hello pip – consider it done! How could we not after all you share with us?!
Fingers crossed for you (and your big blog)
Fee x
(loving the idea of visiting a shop for a chat and a cuddle… need more such shops!)
I've unlurked, voted and wish you love & luck xx
Voted. And will try to do better at commenting more often. ๐
I am a very occasional commenter and frequent lurker. I have voted. Woah Mama there are a LOT of blogs that have been nominated. Best of luck to you, Pip. Please say Hey to Cam from me xx
Have voted! As a frequent lurker I'm not sure I have ever commented. I always seem to feel that my comments are just along the lines of "that's nice" and don't have anything substantial to add, but I absolutely love your blog. Your beautiful photos of your family just chilling and sharing lovely days make me feel quite choked; your eclectic posts are inspiring, thoughtful or just plain lovely; your warmth and friendliness shines through your words. Thank you.
You are not dirty at all! You smell nice to me!!! x
voted! Best of luck. I know I've only commented one or two times but, I really, really adore your blog.
Done! And more than happy to. Your's is one of my favourites that I check every morning before I go off to work.
And we're so lucky to have you Pip!
Thanks for being my favourite blog and the author of my two favourite craft books.
My good friend and I talk about you and your blog like we know you. "Did you know Pip has a new book out later this year?" "Have your tried the purse pattern in Pip's second book?" Things like that.
You're tops!
I've officially changed my status from lurker to voter. Good luck Pip – your aceness will definitely see you win!!
Just voted for you pip. I feel a bit sad that I don't comment on your blog much… But I love- LOVE reading it. It's my first sneaky stop everyday at work before I start doing my actual work…So keep up the fantabulous work and feel free to grumble when you want… I don't think we would mind a bit now and then…we like to know the good stuff and the bad stuff- that's what makes us all friends ๐
I'm a lurker! I really enjoy reading your blog. Loved the post about Bruno Benini, I hadn't heard of him before but his photos are gorgeous. Good luck, I've put my vote in ๐
Dear Pip,
You are a fragrance in the path you tread.
Ha ha Pip – I too embrace the soup and beans lifestyle – you certainly get my vote! Hope you wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnn!
x
sue
I had already voted for you before I even read this post! ๐
"Maybe they will teach me to stop making up words?" I do hope that you win, but if you do, please do not stop making up words!
Pip you're just great!
Your post made me emotional now.
Voted for you already and wish you luck!! x
Pip you are magical. I voted for you. Good luck!
I had already voted for you before I even read this post ๐
Good luck x
I voted too! Good luck – keep up the great work ๐
I'm not a big commenter but I read all your blog posts. I already voted for you a few days ago. Love reading your blog, such a nice mix of things, always makes me happy once I've visited.
I'm a bit of a lurker, well an everyday lurker as far as you're concerned. I voted for Team MMAM! See you tomorrow, Monique
just voted for you Pip, good luck!
I love your blog and I just voted!
I have voted! Good luck ^_^
I happily voted. Not just because you're the Aussie blog I visit most often but because you're one of the best and most generous blog writers in any country. You have such a wonderful writing style, you make blogland a brighter, happier place. I'm sure you'll come out tops (and if you don't you should).
I just voted for you because you have the bestest blog around! I hope you win xx