Have you checked out BlogHer lately?

Blogher.com Review
disclosure: this is a sponsored review


Have you checked out blogher lately?
You should!

--

Before I started my own blog I really didn't know much about BlogHer. I'd see their ads from time to time on people's blogs but I didn't know much past that. BlogHer is a publishing network, an advertising network and so much more. Below the ads you see on many blogs like mine are links like this...

The links are to blog posts by other bloggers in the BlogHer network that you should check out. From time to time my posts get featured in the links... like my Sunday Stash Report post above.

--

BlogHer also does Syndicated Posts of content from bloggers in the network. What does that mean? BlogHer has editors that search out great posts by members of the BlogHer network. Then if the blogger agrees the post is re-posted on BlogHer to a much larger audience than the blogger herself probably has.

Earlier this year I was syndicated on BlogHer.com with my Spiderweb Potholder Tutorial.

--
A few months ago BlogHer added a new feature to posts on their site called Sparkle. Sparkle is great for when you enjoy the content but don't have the time to leave a comment. You click "Sparkle" at the end of the post and it's similar to "like" on facebook or giving a positive vote about the content.  Posts that get a lot of "Sparkle" then end up on the BlogHer sidebar section. This is what it looks like...

You really should read about The Bloggess and Her Christmas Miracle... it's a great post.

--
You can also join BlogHer (for free) and setup a profile. After doing this you can connect with other people in the network through chatter, groups and so much more. This is one area that I haven't used to it's full potential and plan on using more this coming year.
--

BlogHer often has exclusive offers and giveaways. Take a few minutes to check out some of the offers & giveaways that the network has to offer. Right now you can win a full pass to one of BlogHer's Conferences

--
So take some time to check out BlogHer & all of it's many features. 
Once you do I'd love for you to come back here & leave a comment. Tell me what you like... what features you use... what you don't like... and so on.



© Blog post written by Julie Herman
For more information visit http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/

front page news!

 i've got a post syndicated on BlogHer! 

{and it's currently on the front page!}

and as if that wasn't exciting enough...

my post also got featured on the front page of craft!

oh happy day.


edit:
apparently this was my 300th post.
;-)

blogher 2010 conference recap

blogher 2010 conference recap

{i didn't announce on here i was going...oops!  but i have had this button on my sidebar for a while}


for those who are completely confused... blogher is a website and hosts a yearly conference for bloggers.  when i found out that blogher10 was in NYC i figured it was a short trip from philly... and i'd attend.  now i'm back after 48ish hours of networking, talking, learning, eating, drinking and occasionally sleeping.



i have lots of thoughts.  i'll do my best to put them in some sort of an order.

first off.
i do not consider myself a writer.  yes i know i'm writing right now... but a writer is defined as
"a person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., esp. as an occupation or profession; an author or journalist." and that is not one of the terms i'd use to describe myself.  i'm also not a mom.  nothing against moms... i happen to love my mom like nothing else.. but i'm not a mom.  the fact that i'm not a writer... and not a "mommyblogger" put me in the minority from the moment i walked in the door.  ...picture the look on my face when i was handed a complimentary issue of a parenting magazine... uhhhh...

words i would use to describe myself.
quilter
crafter
blogger
sister/daughter
{and so on}


second
A lot of the "live" conversation that occurred at the conference happened on twitter.  Search for #blogher10 and you'll find a massive amount of tweets about the events.  A few people have tweeted things about thinking of those who could not attend before saying anything negative.

*note*

my purpose for telling you about my disappointment is in no way to complain.  i have better things to do with my time.  it is for the sole intent of sharing in hopes that blogher11 can be better than blogher10 and so on.  all good things can continue to grow and evolve. {and well for my personal memory as well}

*off my soapbox*

expectations

i gotta be honest.. i didn't know what to expect.  i hadn't read up much about what to expect... so i walked in with no expectations.  that being said i ended the weekend with positive surprises and some disappointment.

positive
- the post sessions "geek" conversations.  with many people... but especially these three...  (creepyed) (lizhenry) (tech4moms)  i accepted my inner geek many years ago and i look at it as a strength.
- the hilton staff. especially the people who helped get me a lunch i could eat each day without getting sick {i have crazy allergies for those who aren't aware}
- borrowing my mom's ipad {now i really want one}
- swag "stuff we all get" ..aka.. free stuff.  everyone likes free stuff right?
- finally meeting sheyb in person... and sharing a hotel room with her.  we have been planning this trip for so long that it was nice to finally meet!
- spending some one on one time in NYC with jackie ... a fellow philly modern quilt guild member.
- having awkward conversations {and some not so awkward} with super cool bloggers.   like seil of green la girl
tech4moms...  kristen of rage against the minivan... julie of angry julie monday and many many more.  {i have a stack of cards i need to go through!}  the look on people's faces when i say "i'm a quilter" is priceless.

disappointment
- the high school "cliqueness" at many events.  i wanted to meet lots of new people.. and i met some.. but overall there were these bubbles that you weren't getting into.
- lack of craft bloggers & sessions directed towards craft/photo/skill type people
- included vs. excluded...  all people like to feel "included"  it doesn't matter what situation... what age.  yeah i've accepted that getting picked last in gym class was because i wasn't good at playing any sports but that still doesn't mean that as a kid i didn't want to feel included.  this was no different.
- sessions over parties.  i was not aware coming in the focus that would be on the parties and free swag over the actual sessions.  call me naive but i went with the intention of attending sessions and learning... and while some sessions provided me with valuable information overall i felt let down with the content.
- the sole focus on "mommybloggers" by the majority of the sponsors.  i get it.. there are a lot of "mommybloggers" and a lot of merchandise to get them to promote & buy... but as a single/no kids not-mommyblogging woman i often felt like i was in a strange new planet that i had never heard of.

some recaps that i think are worth reading.

tara of scoutiegirl

hollywood housewife

rage against the minivan

overall i'm happy i went.... but i didn't go for the free stuff... i went to meet people and learn a lot... i guess 1 out of 2 isn't bad.


wondering where the photos are?
genius me deleted them all off my memory card.  #fail
{i'm working on recovering them... but i didn't take many anyway}

but thanks to my little pony...

i do have one photo

getting some love from sheyb while rocking my i shoot raw t-shirt

{back to fabric related posts soon!}
;-)