Google+ What's the Fuss? ... A must read for Blogger users.

There is still time to enter my giveaway!!! It ends tomorrow at midnight EDT.

I just wanted to say that it has been an interesting go around this time. Three people have emailed me or sent me a message via Facebook, Twitter, Email saying that my blog only allows them to comment if they sign up for Google+. I wanted to point out the positives and negatives here and clarify this. I have also allowed those readers to enter anyway by sending me an email so I can include them. (I'm just a good guy. Ask my mom.)

First off, making your blogger profile connected with Google+ no longer automatically makes you a "no-reply" blogger. They have fixed that. I've tested it with my wonderful blogger friends (Richard and Tanya Quilts and Diane at From Blank Pages) and IT'S TRUE!!!

Secondly, if you are not logged into a Google account (G+, gmail, or whatever) and you would like to comment on my blog, it will ask you to sign in. It does not mean that you are going to associate your blogger account with G+. It just needs to know who you are so you can leave a comment. It DOES appear that it is asking you to sign up for G+, but in reality Google has made it so that if you have any kind of Google account, you automatically have a Google+ page (whether you use it or not). Just sign in to your Google account and don't worry about it.

Thirdly, if you activate "Google+ comments" on Blogger, only people with Google (any account they are logged in with) can comment on your blog. No anonymous users. This is fine with me because I never allowed anons anyway. Too much spam!!!

If you have any questions, or want to test out your settings, shoot me an email (amateurquilter at gmail dot com) and we can work together on this.

Fourthly, I've decided that now when I do a giveaway I am going to give readers the option of commenting on my Facebook page if they do not have a Google account. I think it will be a good way of getting more "likes" on my page :) and it will keep me from alienating readers.

Lastly, it's inevitable. You're going to have to make G+ part of your blog. They are slowly getting us used to it. Blogger and G+ are going to be fully integrated at some point. The only question is, do you make the leap now or later. I don't work for them, but I have an MBA and a very good understanding of business and marketing. Face it. It's going to happen. On a good note, and I hope this is true, I hope they will follow the way of Wordpress and allow you to log in also with your Facebook or Twitter accounts as well if you want to leave a comment, but we will see on that.

I guess this would be sixthly, but I also wanted to mention that the integration with Blogger comments and Google + is phenomenal. When you comment on another G+ integrated blog, it will also give you the option of posting your comment to G+. So, it keeps a record that is also shared with your followers, i.e. they can see what blogs you visited and left a comment on. A great way of letting your followers know what you are following and what you found interesting without having to post about it! I love it!

And, I can't write a post without a nice quilting photo so here it is:

Today I am putting the binding on this quilt. I bought a beveled foot that is supposed to make machine binding come out more perfectly. I'm skeptical, but we will see. This picture is from the infant stages of this quilt. I hope to link it up for Link a Finish Fridays at Richard and Tanya Quilts next week.

Until next time,

Mike.

Sew Mama Sew... Above and Beyond Creative Sewing (Giveaway!)

Sew, here's the deal... I always do the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day. It' twice a year, it's fun and I get to meet a ton of cool people that love quilting!!!

Sew, I'll try to make it short an sweet. My favorite sewing shop, Above and Beyond Creative Sewing in Nanuet, NY is sponsoring me for this giveaway!

Here's the prize:

It's 10 spools of Robison Anton Embroidery thread. That's about 11,000 yards!

I discovered Above and Beyond Creative Sewing at the local quilt shows. They sell Tin Lizzie, Pfaff and Singer sewing machines. Those of you that follow me know that I have a Pfaff and I got my first long arm (Tin Lizzie) last year! They sold it to me! And let me tell you, they have been the best! They have great customer service, awesome support, and I just love my Tin Lizzie! They really, truly go "above and beyond" making sure I am happy :) As an example, if I have an issue or a question about something I can call them... even after hours! And, they are always happy to help me out :) They also have a quilting club that meets every 2 months. People come from all over the Northeast to attend the club and it's a ton o fun! We do show and tell, talk about issues we might be having, share ideas and learn something new every time!

Sew, what do you have to do to win this fabulous prize? The store has just recently launched their very own Facebook page. To help them out with "likes" all you have to do is visit their page, click like and leave them a message on their wall. Say something like "Hello from New Jersey (or wherever you are from)! Mike sent me and thanks for sponsoring the giveaway!" Come back here and leave a comment letting me know, sew I can keep track :) 

Above and Beyond Creative Sewing is located in Nanuet, NY sew if you are ever around or see them at a show, stop by and say Hi! 

Now go visit all of the other blogs that are participating in Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day! The giveaway will run through Midnight EDT Saturday May 11. 

Until next time,

Mike. 

Is it Binded or Bound?

Once the binding is finished on your quilt, is it considered "binded" or "bound?" I had this conversation with a friend this morning on the train. (I happen to be making him a quilt at the moment.) We think that in the quilting world "binded" is acceptable, but not so much in other contexts. Thoughts?

I'm about to sew the binding on this hexy quilt. So, does it need to be bound or binded?

On another note, I am having a big giveaway as part of Sew Mama Sew starting Monday. I have a sponsor (they're first time sponsoring a blogger!). You don't want to miss this prize!!!

Also, you all know how Hexy I am :)... so I started a Google community for English Paper Piecing called "I'm Hexy and I know it!" Come join through this link :) I've made the leap and integrated Google+ into my blogger account, including comments. They finally fixed the issue of it making you a no-reply blogger, so I hope you all will make the leap too :) Inevitably you will be forced to make the leap... sooner or later! If you want to follow me there take a look at the "Follow Me" box on the right of my blog.

Until next time,

Mike.