Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Woohoo! We Made It! We Got Through January!! *High Fives!*
I cannot believe seriously how quickly the first month of the year has gone! I thought it would be a really cool thing to do if each month I did a round up of what happened, what I blogged about and mark them against my goals. So let's kick it off because January has been one really busy month!
First off I've blogged ... 17 times this month! That's huge for me haha.
And I've actually grown my readership by nearly 2000 people!!!!! OMG YOU ARE AMAZING! THANK YOU!!!
I've taken part in ... 4 (5) blog tours!!! I've found that the hardest if I'm honest because for me I usually host 1 or 2 a month max, so 4 - 5 really pushed my boundaries - and alas I'm going to perhaps cut it down a bit until I feel ready to up the ante again. I'd rather do a brill job than a half-assed one!
I've reviewed a book outside my usual genre - Gardening!
My reading genre focus this month has been between ...Romance/Chick Lit & Young Adult and to be honest I've loved that balance perfectly this month with a couple of crime books! I've found my love of YA fiction grow every month since last summer when I began devouring a dystopian trilogy - I'm hooked and will definitely be bringing more YA to A Page of Fictional Love this year and beyond.
I've actually become much more dedicated to my Crochet and have learnt a ton of new stitches which I will be showing you over the coming weeks and months.
I've been ... running 4 times this month which given my nerves in my leg and back (sciatica & Peripheral neuropathy) is a HUGE accomplishment for me - It's definitely made a positive difference on my body especially my waist, hips and thighs not to mention my mindset and anxiety.
I've gotten myself a brand new job! Yay!!!
Oh and I've travelled somewhere new for the first time on my own which I'm proud of because my anxiety sometimes stops me from doing things like that!
OK so now - let's round up the reviews;
Blog Tours
The Legacy of Lucy Harte - by Emma Heatherington
Secrets and Fries at the Starlight Diner - by Helen Cox
From Rome with Love - by Jules Wake
The Silk Weaver - by Liz Trenow
Young Adult Reviews
The Selection - by Kiera Cass
Kindred Spirits - by Rainbow Powell
The One Memory of Flora Banks - By Emily Barr
Before The Snow - by Danielle Paige
The Memory Book - by Lara Avery
Crochet / Craft
Crochet Mood Blanket
Reviews
Review - Meet Me at Beachcomber Bay by Jill Mansell
Review - Succulents by Robin Stockwell
Review - Lost Girls by Angela Marsons
Misc.
Blogging Goals for 2017
Blogging Tag - Book Reading Habits
Cover Reveal - The Woman Who Met Her Match by Fiona Gibson
Phew! That was a lot! I'd love to hear what you're favourite post of the month was here and also what book did you really enjoy this month?
If I had to choose a favourite book of the month it would be a tie between these two...
The reason I chose these two is because they both touch the issue of memory loss, they both come from the Teen/YA genre, and they both discuss memory loss in unique ways; one resulting from trauma, the other a disease attacking the mind (dementia).
I love the quote above - because most likely it's true! When someone picks up a crochet hook and starts sharing their passion publically with friends it becomes a chain reaction - they all want a piece of your action!
Today's post is my first post of 2017 on the crafts I do in my life - crochet. I first discovered crochet a couple of years ago now (I think it's about 3 years ago) and I have been a hooker ever since - a crochet hooker that is!
There is something so deeply meditative and therapeutic about it that it instantly takes me to a portable zen den whenever I pick up my hook and crochet. It doesn't really matter what I have on my hook - it just creates that state of inner peace and calm.
Last year, as many of you know was an awfully tough year for me having lost my auntie, but I wanted something beautiful to come out of the experience so I chose to document my moods and emotions in a mood blanket. No, it wasn't all black - in fact there was only one day that black was a colour in my blanket and that was on Halloween - you know, for the sake of symbolism.
A mood blanket, more specifically a crochet mood blanket is where you crochet a square a day (any pattern) in a colour that resembles a mood that has predominantly been the most active in you during the day. For example, I always chose a bright pink when I felt loved, beautiful and happy, or a blue for when I was feeling sad, upset or anxious.
A mood blanket, more specifically a crochet mood blanket is where you crochet a square a day (any pattern) in a colour that resembles a mood that has predominantly been the most active in you during the day. For example, I always chose a bright pink when I felt loved, beautiful and happy, or a blue for when I was feeling sad, upset or anxious.
My bereavement counsellor loved my idea of documenting my journey and even took photos of it to share at their meetings where the counsellors all discussed methods of coping for their patients.
So, this year, I'm doing one again. I enjoy dedicating a small amount of my evening to focusing on my day, calling up all I was grateful for and selecting a colour and creating something beautiful to look back on for years to come. I've made a few changes, such as the square pattern, the size, and the colour meanings. For example; last year I had mint green for feeling healthy, whereas this year I've chosen a zesty and vibrant lime green for those days, and blue was for sad and anxious days whereas this year blue symbolises the days I've felt so calm and zen like. I've also introduced a few colours too that wasn't in last year's blanket and taken a couple out.
So, this year, I'm doing one again. I enjoy dedicating a small amount of my evening to focusing on my day, calling up all I was grateful for and selecting a colour and creating something beautiful to look back on for years to come. I've made a few changes, such as the square pattern, the size, and the colour meanings. For example; last year I had mint green for feeling healthy, whereas this year I've chosen a zesty and vibrant lime green for those days, and blue was for sad and anxious days whereas this year blue symbolises the days I've felt so calm and zen like. I've also introduced a few colours too that wasn't in last year's blanket and taken a couple out.
This photo is taken from my first few days into the new year - so I apologise that it's not right up to date, but it still shows the start to my year. As you can see I've had a calming, loving and healthy start to 2017 and since then it's only gotten better. In my next post when I update you on my blanket (probably the end of February) you'll see the zesty yellows and powerful confident reds.
Do you crochet? Ever created a mood blanket? If so & you've posted a pic online or blogged about it, why not leave a comment below with your link so we can all take a look and celebrate the beautiful handmade item that is precious to you.
Let's grab a hook & start a chain reaction,
Do you crochet? Ever created a mood blanket? If so & you've posted a pic online or blogged about it, why not leave a comment below with your link so we can all take a look and celebrate the beautiful handmade item that is precious to you.
Let's grab a hook & start a chain reaction,
Love Dawn-Tracy
xxx
Happy New Year my lovelies!
Everyone is talking about goals right now, and whilst it can be so annoying when endless social media feeds are full of goals and #goaldigger hashtags, I kind of LOVE goals. See "Woman On A Mission - Make Dreams Happen" for more goaldigger, happiness, and success posts!
Today, I thought I'd jump back into my blog that got awfully neglected last year due to many personal reasons. Onwards and Upwards as they say.
So, as you can see from my banner that's been in place for a while now, I am expanding the content here at A Page of Fictional Love from just books (and the whole range of genres I now cover), to lifestyle AND Crafts. The crafts will largely be crochet related. But it's the goals we're interested in so let's jump into those;
Books
- Read 70+ books in 2017
- Review at least 4 books a month
- Expand my reading genres
- Have Author's Guest Post & Q&A sessions Monthly
- Regular Book Post posts
Lifestyle
- Blog at least 4 posts a month in this topic area
- Share my Steps to Happiness Journey to promote Happiness & Positivity
- Include posts on; Home Making, Gardening, DIY, Life In General, Hauls
Crafts
- Share my latest Crochet projects
- Share my Crochet Mood Blanket Journey
- Document the new crochet skills & patterns I learn
- Learn new Crafts by expanding my creativity
- Post at least 1x a month on this topic
Blog Goals In General
I also have some general goals in mind for this blog but I'm not ready to share those yet as I like to keep some goals in my inner incubator until they are manifesting in their fullness (and to be honest it keeps my blog from becoming cloned).
I can say that the goals I have in general do include getting my blog reach up and more popular. I'm so proud to have reached over 20,000 views, and I want to double this at least this year, and with your help I know it can be done!
Goals is a topic I'll revisit and review over the year, so be ready for things to change, adapt and grow as the year goes by. I am so excited for the coming year in terms of this blog, and where I know it is going, and the books I'm going to read and share with you all, the lifestyle updates and tips I'll share, and finally the crochet and craft projects that I will be sharing for the first time on this blog!
What goals have you set yourself this year?
Here's to an amazing 2017, for you and I,
With love + happiness,
Dawn-Tracy
Dawn-Tracy
xxx
I can't believe that I'm sat here in bed, with my glamour santa duvet, just after 7am in the morning, on the 9th December 2014 writing my first blogiversary post for A Page of Love!!! :D
OMG, A year of blogging about chick lit and sharing my love for the books that I adore reading!
I need to get plenty of THANK YOUs done before I can move on, so I am firstly just so humbled and grateful to the publishers who believed in me, my little quiet blog in the corner of the webiverse, who supported me, sent me so many fabulous books, e-books and opportunities my way, without you, this would have been harder to do.
The readers of my blog, I am so grateful to you, because without a readership, there would be no point to this blog, I LOVE that you come here, read the reviews, look out for the news, and you have helped me remain consistent throughout this year. It's bringing you the LATEST news and reviews on chick lit that keeps me going! (And my sheer love of books and reading!!)
Authors, my golly gosh, I have met so many amazing authors via the webiverse this year, and your openness, willingness to chat, and really connect with me has humbled my heart so much that it could explode! I love that we are friends and it all started because I had a dream to write a chick lit blog, switch my genre of book reviews, and fully immerse myself in the books! I want to say a special THANK YOU to; Rebecca Raisin - The Gingerbread Queen who I adore!!, and Kerry Fisher - The School Survival Expert, who could give Ray Mears a run for his money when it comes to survival... I love you!!!
Blogging friends!!! Wow there are so many of you and you all have made me feel so welcome in the chick lit blogging world! I was scared when I first started, worried I wouldn't be able to do it, fit in, and would muck up, but you all became my friends, and inspire each and every day. Special shout outs to; Tay - Chicks that Read , Abbey - Miss BookWorm Reviews, Dr. Ananda - This Chick Reads I love you ladies!!!
I know that there are so many more people I could thank, so this THANK YOU is dedicated to anyone I've missed, all my Facebook supporters, Tweeters!!
So did I mention that today is my;
Oh I did? Right well I best tell you how my second year here at A Page of Love is going to go...
Firstly, the books, They can only get better and already 2015 is looking like a fabulous year for chick lit with 2 Carole Matthews books out, Alexandra Potter has an exciting new read, ........... all the details for upcoming releases in 2015 can be found on the 2015 releases page
I cant wait to bring you the reviews and news about them! And will be doing giveaways, competitions ....
Secondly, The Authors, I plan to bring you more author Interviews because trust me, they are not just names on a book, they are awesome people whom you really should get to know and it's just fun to sit down with tea, cake and have a chat... very British right?
Thirdly, I'm hoping to expand slightly... I have discovered a real love for knitting and crochet... so I really hope you don't mind me bringing you posts full of my knitting, crochet and arty adventures... it's all love and that's what were about here...
As a special celebration for my blogiversry, which I organised as little late due to illness, ( I promise ill be more organised for next year!), some fabulous friends of mine have kindly agreed to share their LOVE of chick lit in celebration of my 1st year. We have fellow book bloggers, authors, and a chick lit reader or two! So check back every day over the coming week to see who's celebrating with me!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF MY JOURNEY, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT YEAR TOGETHER,
OODLES OF LOVE,
Dawn xxxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
Social Icons