June 13, 2016

New Quilt Bloggers- Blog Hop

Since I am brand new to quilt blogging, I recently joined the 2016 New Quilt Blogger group, and today is my day to share. Hello new blogger friends!

I'm Allison, or Alli, and I fell in love with quilting 3 years ago. Most of the time I am taking care of my 3 wild, precious little boys, but I squeeze in fabric fun whenever I can. I love to design, sew, use, look at, and talk about quilts. I'm pretty sure my family is sick of it, so starting this blog has helped me find people who actually want to talk about quilts too :)


Woodberry Way is the street in London where my mother grew up, and where my grandparents still live. It is a magical place for me, full of inspiration and beauty.

I'm currently hosting a sew along for a hot air balloon quilt I designed called "Rise". Every two weeks I post a new block pattern for the different balloons. It's not to late to start- come join the fun!

hot air balloon quilt block
As a part of the New Bloggers group, we were challenged to make a button for our hive, and my fellow members voted mine to represent our group. Thank you friends! I have loved learning from you and am grateful for your help and advice. I'm also very grateful to the hosts for organizing such a helpful forum.

 (P.s. Thanks Erin Jensen for the quilt inspiration for the background!) 


Alright, now for the good stuff. Here's my blog hop info:
  • Blogging tip: Do what you love! Don't worry about what's in style or what you think people want to see. Use your very favorite colors and designs, and write about the things you love most. That way it will be your happy place, you won't get sick of looking at it, and people will sense your passion for it.
  • Quilting Tip: Try not to be a fabric hoarder. I know it's hard! Be a fabric user- that's what it's meant for, after all. Plus if you accumulate too much, it gets discouraging and overwhelming. I think that creativity increases when you have a manageable, organized stash.
  • My question: I know there's a way to make vertical pictures even wider than "extra large" on Blogger. Anyone know how to do that? I'm also struggling with the Pinterest hover button...where do I put that code in? Oh code, how I dislike you.
  • Fun facts about me: I used to speak Italian and Russian, once upon a time. That was before I had kids and stopped sleeping, now I barely speak English :) Besides quilting, my current interests are baking way too many chocolate things, playing the organ at my church, and going on walks and other outside adventures with my boys.
That concludes my portion of the blog hop. I can't wait to learn more about you all.

Here are my fellow new bloggers who have posted today, go have a look!

Jodie @ Persimmon + Pear
Sarah @ 123Quilt 
Mary @ Strip Quilts

56 comments :

  1. Morning Allison! It;s been lovely getting to know you over the last few weeks. I had your QAL on my list to do but things have conspired against me so I haven't even started your Rise Up or my Summer Sampler or a challenge mini quilt that has to be done this week -aaarghh!! I must definitely pay more attention to your tip about using not hoarding - thanks for the reminder!

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  2. Hello Allison: You have a lovely little blog here and I am impressed that you are already holding your own sew along. I'll try to take your fabric hoarding tip under advisement but I'm making no promises....I hope your future allows for some time once again to speak Russian and Italian.

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    1. Hem hem, I second Lisa on that. I even took the 'The Year of the Stash 2016' - Pledge, which is all about using rather than hoarding. Yet, there was plenty of buying too this year already. =)

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  3. Allison, I love the look of your blog, your work and quilt style is lovely. Great post and it was fun getting to know you.

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  4. Hi Allison, the blog is looking great and it is so interesting reading where you got your name from. You are developing a very distinctive style, it's great you know what you like and where you are going, it's all very crisp and clean looking. In years to come I think I shall see a pattern and think that has to be by Allison at Woodberry Way.
    Smiles
    Kate

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  5. Hi Allison, you have a lovely colourful blog. Great admiration for designing a quilt and hosting a sew along. Good luck in your future adventures.

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  6. Hi Allison - I've enjoyed looking around your blog. I love your quilting style! I'm a WP user so don't have an answer to your blogger question; I struggle with code too. :) I look forward to following your quilting adventures!

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  7. HI Allison!!! I've loved discovering your blog through this process. I completely agree with you regarding your quilting tip of being a fabric user and not a fabric hoarder. I love that the name of your blog is a tribute to your grandparents, so sweet.

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  8. Hi Alison! Hard to believe you have only been quilting a few years. Your work is stunning. You seem to be ahead of the learning curve in blogging, too, as your blog is very polished. It's a pleasure to read and see your passion through your blog, and I look forward to getting to know you more. I plan to make your Rise pattern someday. Just can't committed to a QAL right now!

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  9. Nice to meet you Alli. Your blog looks great,the button for the Hive is beautiful and so are the quilts displayed. I wish I saw this your advise on not hoarding fabrics a while ago-don't know if I would have listened though! I am getting ready to relocate to a different city and I must tell ya my fabric stash is going to be the death of me, my husband said we might need a room just for my "Quilting Stuffs" :(

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    1. And this is bad how =) LOL. You should take him up on the offer and get your own studio installed - ha ha

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  10. Hi Allison! I'm having fun on the blog hop, meeting my fellow new quilters. Your blog is lovely and Rise is wonderful! I wish you all the best with the quilt along. They aren't easy, but they are so much fun! I had lots of fun with mine and hope to have another in the fall.

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  11. So lovely to meet you and get to know more about you, Alli! Not being on Blogger myself, I don't have answers for your questions. I hope you get some great advice. If not, please post in the group Facebook group and hopefully that will get you some resolution!

    Thank you so much for helping us get the blog hop started this week. :)

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  12. Hi Allison, thank you for the lovely post and congratulations to your button having been voted our hive button. I sencond you question on making the pictures look bigger. I hope you receive an answer over at FB and I get to read along. I wholeheartedly agree to your - 'Do what you love blogging' tip. I think this way one does ensure to stay motivated to keep blogging oneselves. I am looking forward to see hot air balloon quilts appearing soon.

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  13. I just adore the fact that your blog is named about a special street in London! And I second your advice of doing what you love - I'm always reminding myself to stay true to what I love and not get distracted ;) And here, here to using our beloved fabrics!!

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  14. Hi Alli, nice to meet you! I love how you named your blog! Your work is beautiful and so is your blog!

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  15. Very cute button! I think your blogging tip is spot on! Do what you love and what works for you! Words to live by. It's been great getting to know you better through the blog hop. :)

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  16. I loved the button you designed for our hive! And your rise blocks are super cute. Looking forward to getting to know you better.

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  17. Hello Alli. I have loved reading your posts since I joined the New Quilt Bloggers group. I love your look. All fresh, bright, and clean colors. That is some great advice. I have problems buying fabric and not using it. :) I am not sure about the photo size, I would be interested to learn that as well. I am finding that even doing extra large sometimes cuts into my sidebar and it drives me bonkers, but I love having large photos.

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  18. HI,love your blog! Thanks for sharing!
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  19. Allison, it is very nice to meet you and learn a bit more about you. You have a beautiful blog and I have been admiring the cute little hot air balloons as you have been posting them. And your quilting tip is spot on with using fabric. What good is the pretty fabric we acquire if we never let them shine.

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  20. Hi! I love your balloon quilt along! It's really fun. My son wants to learn to quilt and I might try to head him in that direction.

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  21. Your quilts and projects are gorgeous! I love your blog! :)

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  22. Hello, I enjoyed meeting you. I love your quilts and your blog. I am new to blogging, I would like to know how to add a photo in my header, and how to add a button that links my Instagram.
    Any suggestions?
    Hop over for a visit:
    Vintagebloomsquiltdesigns.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you Janan! I made the photo header with Picasa, a free photo program you can download. Then upload it under "Layout", then "Header". The Instagram widget can be found under "Layout", "Add a gadget", then search for Instagram in the search bar. They have different options I think where you can add slideshows of your IG. As far as actual button on the top right of my blog, I have no idea, my friend did it! Sorry :/ I hope some of that helps!

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  24. Hi Alli, I love how the header pops! Also, your tips are right on. I agree with you to use the fabric rather than hoard it. I am not guilty of hoarding but do have a tendency to buy more than I have time to use. Thanks for making the group button. It's fabulous. Best, Mary

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  26. Hi Allison!! I love your balloon quilt and your page is stunning! Great getting to know you!!

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  27. Great post! I loved learning about your blog name. As for the pin-it button, I gave up after 2 hours of trying to code one and had Emily (I posted about her in the Facebook Group) do it for me. She was so great to work with, I highly recommend her over trying to code in blogger.

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  28. I put the Pin It hover html code in my sidebar. Just do an Add a Gadget on the sidebar of your Layout Page. It won't show up in your sidebar, but it might leave a gap, so I'd drag it to the bottom underneath your Search This Blog gadget.

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    1. Bless you, I understand that. Thank you!!!

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  29. Wonderful intro Allison! I've got one wild boy and a not-so-wild little girl and also think about quilting when I'm not engaged with the little people.

    I love your quilt style and your blog is lovely.

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  30. Great post Allison! I love your balloon blocks and am very tempted to start a new project with them!

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  31. I am loving your balloon sew along - haven't started making any blocks yet... but soon! I love your website - bright and colourful :)

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  32. Hello Allison - love your blog. I am retiring at the end of the year and am hoping to start up a blog. I used to have one but no one ever visited and so I got discouraged, but with so much inspiration out there to create a blog, I've been writing down thoughts and possible blog names. Your blogging tips are great and I will start follow you and your inspiration.

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  33. Hi Allison, I love your pretty blog. I hope I have some time soon to try some of those hot air balloons -- so cute!

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  34. Alli loved getting a chance to meet you. I like what you say about not being a hoarder but a,user. I need to add some solids in my collection. I also like your I believe button with the temple. That is cool that you share what you believe in.

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  35. I really enjoy your blog. Enjoyed your sharing about yourself. I too started into the wonderful world of quilting blocks about 3 years ago. I'm enjoying your Hot Air Balloon Sew Along.

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  36. Great post and beautiful quilts, Allison. Your hive button is very lovely as well. I can certainly back up your quilting tip - I have a discouraging and overwhelming fabric stash!

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  37. Really lovely quilt photography Alli! Your whole blog it very pretty! I'm amazed that, with three little boys, you can find much time to sew! You advice about not fabric hoarding is wise - I have been learning how much better it is to have less too.

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  38. Nice blog. Lovely to meet you! Sorry I can't help you as I am not on Blogger. Don't worry, I am having lots of issues and questions about Wordpress too. Good tips you shared. I will have to check out your hot air balloons as the pic is so cute. Karen

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  39. Alli, your blog looks great. I, too, like your header. It sets the tone for looking at your beautiful projects. This post was a great introduction and I look forward to learning more about you in future posts.

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  40. 43 comments!? What is going on over here? Dang girl! Queen of the quilting internet over here.

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  42. Your balloon blocks are wonderful! I'm totally going to follow along! Wonderful blog, keep up the great work!

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  43. What a fun QAL! Hot air balloons! When my Dad retired they would go to New Mexico for the hot air balloon festival. What a joy to hear about his adventures. I even went up with him one time - will always remember it. I am bookmarking your site so I can return! : )

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  44. It's such a pleasure getting to meet you through this hop. You are so talented, and I KNOW I'll be seeing you all over the quilting community as time goes on, making beautiful things and sharing inspiration with others. Thank you so much for participating and for your beautiful button design!

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  45. Balloon blocks, wonderful quilt in the making. Just may join.

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  46. Anyone who bakes chocolate things, loves quilting, and children gets my vote. I'll sign up for the sew along, too. Thanks.

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  47. So sorry, my palette is to full at this time to sign up for the Hot Air Balloon Quilt Along! Here in Southern Oregon hot air balloons are seen off and on throughout the year; where we live it is a beautiful site to see the variety of colors coming over the top of the mountain first thing in the morning before landing at a High School not far from us. I really liked everything I saw on your blog and look forward to getting to visiting you. Your pot holder is gorgeous and I would chose a dark blue with a variety of light blues. Have a fantastic creative day!

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  48. Hi Allison, nice getting to know you. You had asked about the pinterest pin -- this is the tutorial that I originally used: http://www.codeitpretty.com/2014/03/how-to-use-official-pin-it-hover.html I keep a pinterest board for blogging tips here (https://www.pinterest.com/RedDelicious109/blog-all-about-it/). I hope that helps!

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  49. I love your balloon pattern! I have too many projects with deadlines to join in, but if the instructions stay up, I may come back to it later. I've been thinking about using hot air balloons as a theme for the rainbow scrap challenge for next year, and these blocks would be perfect!

    I really enjoyed your post! I cannot help you with the code, though. Your blog looks fantastic!

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  50. So good to meet you, Allison! Your balloon pattern is adorable!

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  51. Love your balloons! Great idea for a quilt a long!

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