12,165 hits * 4 months * 100 posts * countless new friends *

So, today is my 100th post!  Time for reflection?  I'm not a very reflective type(although, I do like shiny objects and those sort of reflections).

Here is a list of what I love about blogging:

1- Well, I started doing it to promote my business, to show my paintings and   use the blog to feature some Ebay things like these drawer pulls.  I am not a frequent Ebayer yet, am still learning. And there are lots of nice bloggers who offer advice!

2- I keep up with my family who live far away.  I sometimes feel like I am talking to them when I write.  Sissy sends me photos of some good junk she finds and I can share that too. She just got this fairy tale book at Goodwill.

3- I am motivated to get things done! Not that I always need that, I do tend to keep busy.  But I also have been known to not do anything creative for days on end, but with the blog, I am often thinking about what I can post tomorrow and that can be an incentive to work on a project instead of reading a book. But it won't stop me from watching too much TV, nothing can get in the way of my TV addiction!

Here is the garage sale cabinet I picked up on Saturday when I was out junking with my friends. It needed a slight re-build, since it was in pieces.  I re-enforced the back, added trim and repainted it while I was at it. 

4- Have I mentioned the friends???? Great people that I have so much in common with and enjoy "talking" to.  Big hearted and generous people too.  Natasha http://natashaburns.blogspot.com/ arranged a mini fairy swap for me when I told her I was bummed about missing the fairy jar swap I saw on so many other blogs. Here is what she sent.  Looks to me like it is just perfect for Sugarwing's room. So many people gave me advice, added me to their links, and welcomed me when I started.  I've met with nothing but kindness and friendship since I started doing this.  The community was a bonus I never expected at all.

5- Having giveaways! I love doing the gifties and treats!  I think I will always have one going, leave a comment, enter the giveaway for this month!

6- WINNING GIVEAWAYS!!! I have been lucky enough to win a few so far too.  I won this vintage paper pack from Cheryl Connell. http://fromthepines.blogspot.com/  Look at all the great stuff she put in it!

I also won this tag with a card and some goodies from http://whispersofinspiration.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html I used it in a journal I made about our vacation. 

7- Swaps- swaps- swaps- swaps!!!  Yep, another addiction. A May Basket was my first swap and now I am joining them right and left.  I am working on a tiara and a match box this week.         

And look what I got in trade for one of my measley little charms!  Michelle http://www.ginghamworld.blogspot.com wrote that she'd like to swap and I told her I liked her bags and the color pink. She sent this beautifully wrapped hand made bag as well as this pearly "K".

Not only that, there was a cute heart pin in the package. My sister, Bobbie Sue's last name is Valentine, and I have a fondness for hearts.

See what I mean about the generous people I meet??

8- Comments!  Why do you think I bribe you all with give aways?  I LOVE TO GET COMMENTS. ( I'd do the give aways anyway, but I am not above using them as a bribe!) I love to leave comments too.  You'll see me scattered all over the web on comment pages. I like to sometimes go to a comment page from a favorite blog and click on every single name there, checking out their sites and leaving comments on them all.  

9- Which brings me to How much money I have saved on magazine purchases! I read blog after blog and it is so much more satisfying (and cheaper) than buying a stack of decorating magazines. Hmm, should I say that since I sometimes write for magazines??

10- Beth http://bethleintz.typepad.com/ and I get to talk and gossip about the blog people we know like they are neighbors just down the road. 

11- Sugarwings! Well, actually, my fairy grand baby is just the best thing about every part of my life, so I had to include her here.  And my blog is a wonderful spot to show off photos of her.

You have no idea how hard it is to hold back on the granny urges to have an All Sugarwings, All the Time- blog.  I could just stare at nothing but her. I found this little rose bud dress for her at a garage sale for $1, so she and I played dress up and took pictures in the garden.

Comments

[fromthepines]

Karla,
This is Cheryl, who sent you the giveaway. My blog is fromthepines.blogspot.com.

[MaryB]

I also like blogging, too much! I can't believe you have that cabinet done already, everything is beautiful, but Sugarwings is the real beauty!

[Vickie Coonfare]

Thank you so much for mentioning me! You're such a kind person to do so. I haven't been doing this long either, but I love it. It is fabulous how relationships develop. I was telling my daughter how much fun I have and that I meet such interesting and talented people. And the cabinent looks great but the sweetest find is SugarWings! One of these days I'll have to post my granddaughter who will be joined by a baby sister at the end of July. This was such an uplifting post Karla! I just love it :D

[clarice]

Karla I am soo glad you have joined blog land and we have gotten to know you. I look forward to another 100 post. By the way I recognize that book house picture. Lovely. xoxoxo Clarice

[Elaine]

Congratulations, Karla!

I bet I enjoy your blog almost as much as you do. ITA about the blogs being better than decorating magazines. I just discovered the blogging community in the past two months and love being able to feel like I'm meeting people from all over the country and world.

~elaine~ from SoCal

[Michelle]

I really enjoy your blog. I am so gld I found it. You inspire me!

Michelle

[Michelle]

I am really glad I discovered you blog. I am inspired by it.

Michelle

[Jessica]

Congratulations on your 100th post! May there be many more! I so appreciate the time you take to share your gifts and talents. You have such an easy-going, personal way of writing that's so enjoyable to read. It's easy to feel like a part of your fun, artsy/shabby chic world! (And I agree, comments are the best!)

[carlene]

great reasons to blog Karla!!! Isn't the whole blogging thing just amazing? What a great group of people...makes me wonder what in the heck we did before blogging!!!
Congrats on your 100th post!!!

[michelle]

I am so glad you liked your bag! I love my charm/necklace! I am hooked on blogging too and swaping too. It is so fun to have such an audience that appreciates you! I am in the tiara swap too, just finished mine today in fact. Wouldn't that be funny if we had gotten each other? Thanks so much for swapping and sharing your fun blog!

[Ginny]

I'm busy with my tiara and matchbox too, look forward to seeing your creations in flikr:)

You are good visiting all the blogs.

Love all you pictures and especially the cute litte sugarwings ( I love that name).

[Natasha Burns]

Congrats on your 100th post Karla!!! Love your blog, it's so fun and you are such an energetic creative person, it's contagious! Love seeing Sugarwings, she is divine! Love that dress you got for $1, you really are the queen of gorgeous bargains! By the way, I got your most divine fairy swap package today and your work on the lovely tag is absolutely superb!!!!!!!! I just LOVE HER!!!! she is looking at me right now, what a great face she has! I am going to put pics on my blog tomorrow. Thanks for the fun times!!!
Natasha xo

[Sis]

Congratulations on your 100th post! Visiting your blog is almost like being right there and visiting with you. I love seeing all the wonderful things you create, watching Sugarwings grow up, and keeping up with your daily life. Thanks for showing my GW treasures too!

[niki]

Hi Karla,
Congratulations on your 100th post! I agree with everything that you say - There are loads of good reasons to write a blog! I wrote on mine about the lovely charm that I won from you - and how generous you are with your giveaways! (It will be my blog's birthday at the end of the month, so I shall do a giveaway then too!)
Love looking at all your lovely photos - here's to the next 100 posts!
Niki

[Stephanie]

Karla, congratulations on your 100th post! I look forward to sooo many more from you (& Sugarwings, & Don't forget the dorkies!!). It is always a pleasure chatting with you & getting a jump start on a new inspiring idea after seeing your fun posts. You are very right, sooo much better than the decorating magazines. We have a unique sisterhood here! Long may it live!

Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

[Mizsmoochielips]

Hello you fabulously talented lady! Congratulations on 100 posts!!! WOW!
I agree with all your favorite reasons to blog :)

[Betty @ She's Sew Pretty]

I'm so thrilled that we hit 100 posts together. I love visiting your cottage. You always have gorgeous pictures. I've saved on magazines too! Best of all we get to see Sugarwings grow and she is absolutely adorable!!

[sharon]

Karla, I really enjoyed reading your blog. I am very new at this medium and you are right, it is very satisfying. I too am a magazine junkie. I haven't stopped that yet, but who knows. Your blog has so much eye candy. WOW Also I wanted to thank you for visiting my blog and for your lovely comment. Since I am new at this I love reading the comments. I don't think that will ever wear off. Can't wait to meet you at Silver Bella.
Sharon
http://www.sharonhershkowitz.typepad.com