Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Quilting Confession #2


Confession is good for the soul.  You may remember a few weeks ago I made my first quilting confession about not making bags, baskets and other fun projects that are 3 dimensional.  Today I have a bit of a different quilting confession.  It's more of a quilt blogging confession.  Nothing bad.  Actually I hope you take some advice away from this confession.  

When I started blogging a little over a year ago, I seriously knew nothing about blogging or what it really meant.  It was just something I felt led to try.  With that being said, I decided to start my blog through a free hosting site (blogspot).  Why would I pay for a .com?  How the heck does it even work?   

About three months later, I randomly decided to purchase my domain name(s).  I still had no idea how to use them, but I figured I would purchase them anyway for at least one year (this is my confession by the way, owned domain names for a year, didn't do anything with them).   I figured if I stuck with blogging for a year, then I would explore how to use them. (I say "them" because I bought tishnwonderland and my name tishstemple)

During the 2015 New Bloggers Blog Hop Cheryl over at Meadow Mist Designs shared her domain name horror story.  After she had been blogging for a while she decided to try to purchase her .com only to discover it was for sale but the person who owned it wanted several hundred dollars for it.  Fast forward to yesterday, my cousin asked me to check to see if a domain name for his local woodworking business would be available.  Yup, sure is.  But the person who owns it wants almost $1300 for it.  And yes, that is the correct amount of 0's.

So if there is any part of you that thinks you may want to own your .com I STRONGLY encourage you to hop over to godaddy or any site that you can purchase a domain name and check it's availability.  If it is available for a reasonable price, grab it.  Even if you don't do anything with it right away.  This was my advice to my quilty partner in crime Sandra last night over at (and it's official now) mmmquilts.

Since she lives too far way, this is my Sandra on a stick for all you Jeff Dunham lovers.
And as luck would have it, it was Sandra that was able to figure out how to change our blogs to our domain names.  Thank you, lady!

And let me tell you, it's much easier to tell people they can find me at tishnwonderland.com than tishnwonderland.blogspot.com...non bloggers seem to lose focus after the first "."

I'm going to plug it one more time.  I wouldn't keep harping about it if I didn't think it was important.  Applications are still being accepted for the 2016 New Blogger Blog Hop.  


You have until the end of the month to sign up.  If you are new to quilt blogging, (less than 3 years) and would like to make some new friends and learn lots of blogging advice and tips, please go sign up now!  

Blogging advice and tips?  Yes, things like how to make an image for your blog or add those cute little buttons on the side bar.  Do people never respond to the comments you leave on their blog?  Maybe you are a non-reply blogger and you don't know.  That's what happened to me last year and because of the hop, I learned how to make sure my settings allow for people to email me back.  There is even a (private) Facebook page to ask questions or maybe you know the answer to a question being asked.  It's just a great way to grow as a quilt blogger.  I have to say, some of the nicest people I know (though technically not in person) I have met through last year's blog hop.  Have I sold you on it yet?  Go sign up!  

Also starting today through April 23rd, Craftsy is having a 50% off their top classes sale.


This is a great way to grab that class you have been waiting on for a great price.  You can click here to check out all the great classes on sale.  I cave to peer pressure, so you know what I'll be doing this evening.

Along with my Craftsy shopping, I can't wait to crack open my copy of my new quilting books.  You can never own too many FMQ books.  It's just a fact.


Miss Caroline is pretty excited too.  It means extra snuggle time.

So I will leave you with a question on the original topic of discussion.  Do you own or use your domain name?  If you do own it, are you glad you bought it?  I know to some people, it may seem like a waste of money.  After all it's not a tangible item you can hold.  What are your thoughts?


Today I'm linking up with TGIFFCan I Get A Whoop! Whoop! and Let's Bee Social.



16 comments:

Sandra Walker said...

I didn't think you'd use me on a stick THAT soon woman!! BAHAHA.
Too hilarious; I'm stilling shaking in laughter seeing you holding me. Ha! This all sounds rather risqué...I'd better stop before we get an R rating. Drat! I forgot to plug the Craftsy sale and the New Bloggers Hop on my post...better get YOU on a stick on MY post (oh man...that just sounds so wrong) and update. Tee hee!

Cheryl said...

Good for you that your purchased your domain name and are putting it to use. When I could not buy MeadowMistDesigns.com I did buy MeadowMistDesigns.net but have not switched to it because I am not sure how I feel about the .net suffix.

Lorna McMahon said...

You and Sandra have me howling! Love that pic of you two together.... Quite a while ago I too purchased my .com domain, but did not use it. I thought you had to become hosted and all that. So you are still on blogger, right? When I seen that Crazy Mom Quilts was still a .blogspot blog. I did not worry about changing to get rid of that extension. If you google me, I'll be there at the top! So no worries!

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Yes, yes, yes! Great advice all the way around, Tish. :)

Janice Holton said...

I am a new blogger as of this week! I have signed up for the blog hop and I can't wait! Thank you for offering this opportunity for us newbies. :)

Janice Holton said...

I am a new blogger as of this week! I have signed up for the blog hop and I can't wait! Thank you for offering this opportunity for us newbies. :)

helenjean@midgetgemquilts said...

I didn't know I needed a .com but I always want what everybody else has. I think if I was going to buy my domain though I should have had a better name !

Stitchin At Home said...

Yup bought mine last night, I am now a .com girl.

LA Paylor said...

I don't really understand it all

Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts said...

When I first started blogging one of the first things I did was buy my domain name...fortunately it was inexpensive. I mean, who else says they're 'Cooking Up Quilts'? I bought mine for the very reason you stated - people lose interest after the first "." I'm happy for you and Sandra making the switch. Congrats!

Judy@Quilt Paradigm said...

I do not have my domain name but you and Sandra might have convinced me. . . I'm feeling more than a little guilty as I should know better - I used to do domain and internet name protection when I worked for 'the man'. . . OK, going to go see if it is available. . . Seriously, I cannot believe how fast you two switched over to the .com world!!

And that picture of you and Sandra is a hoot!! OMG, I almost snorted coffee through my nose!

Kate @ Smiles From Kate said...

I can understand why you ladies would want to buy your domain names, after all you are wonderful and successful quilters and pattern writers, it makes sense for you and anyone else with such aspirations. I'll just stick with blogspot, all I want to do is make quilts and have fun with other quilters. My name came because I have no imagination and it's how I sign my emails, but I couldn't get smileskate so it's smilesfromkate, which makes more sense (unlike me), but it's longer.

Mary Marcotte said...

I do not have my domain name...apparently there are many other Mary Marcottes in the world and one is also a quilter! I considered Fleur de Lis Quilts but that's one of the very expensive names. So blogspot it is. But like Kate, I right now want to have fun.

Thanks for linking up with TGIFF. I am loving all the quilts on display and the bloggy visits, too. Hope I can get through all of them in the next few days.
Mary @ http://fleurdelisquilts.blogspot.com

Pat said...

I have worked with a breed rescue group for many years and we learned the hard way about those domain names when one of our volunteers didn't renew our license one year and someone else grabbed it. :-( Now for MY confession; I bought a domain name three years ago and STILL haven't done anything with it. Uggh!

Jayne said...

Good for you taking the step to buy your domain name. I've never really thought about it, but maybe it's a good idea. When you buy it, is it forever? I mean, do you have to renew every year? You got me thinking lady!!

Lara B. said...

Love your Sandra-on-a-stick Tish! It made me burst out laughing! You two are a hoot!

I bought my domain name right away, before I even wrote my first post with Blogger. It was super cheap because no one had thought of it yet. It's because I saw what happened to one of my favorite rose growing nurseries when they went to buy their own domain name and met up with an extortionist like Cheryl and your cousin did.
Great tips Tish!

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