Good Morning, Quilters!
Just a few days ago, The Inbox Jaunt celebrated its fourth birthday -with a total of nearly 5,000,000 views in four years! Birthdays (as we get older) are a time for introspection. So I had to ask myself several questions…I will share some of those questions in the coming weeks-as I really need YOUR input. The first question….
Why do I blog?
First, why did I start blogging? I never wanted a blog. I was taking an online photography class from Kim Klassen and the next class in her series was a blogging class. I wasn’t interested in blogging, but there were several photography techniques in the class that I wanted to learn so I signed up. After a few weeks, I thought blogging would be a great way to share my photography and quilting with my family and a few friends…
Little did I know that blogging would change my life…
Why do I blog?
Early on, I offered a few tutorials-mostly for my sisters in Chicago to see–and the tutorials went viral. Pinterest was the key…
Now that I’ve been blogging for four years, the reason I blog…I found I love teaching--it’s a way to share my passion. A way to stand on the table and shout:
“YOU can do this!”
“Machine Quilting is Fun!”
“Machine Quilting is not scary!”
“Machine Quilting adds personality to your quilts!”
When I started machine quilting- in the pre-internet days…
It was hard to find resources.
It was expensive to take classes.
It was difficult to find a babysitter for my six children so I could go to classes.
THE NUMBER ONE REASON I BLOG
That’s why I blog…
So the older-me can give back to the young-mother-me who so wanted more quilty information.
I want YOU to have what YOU need to enjoy quilting as much as I have!
Happy Quilting!
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
86 comments
Rebecca Shaffer
Happy anniversary, Lori! I’m so glad that I found your blog a little over a year ago. You make FMQ so easy to understand. You!re doing a terrific job!
ingridslatta
As Barb said Happy Blogversary! I read each of your blogs. Even though I’m not FMQ at the moment…I be be soon. I read many blogs and find yours to be so well written. Instructions are easy to follow and the photos are are great. Congratulations and I look forward to each blog post you send.
Pat Evans
Happy blog Birthday! You are one of my favorite bloggers and I have learned so much from you. I’ve also recommended your blog to my FMQ-phobic quilty friends since you do such a great job of breaking down the steps and making designs doable.
Pam
Thank you so much for your lessons. There are not many quilting classes in my area, and you are such a blessing.
Barb Schellinger
Hi Lori! Happy ‘blogversary’! I remember having coffee with you in Stillwater 4 or so years ago and discussing our quilting aspirations. You’ve done well, succeeding in spreading your joy of fmq to the quilting universe. Congrats!
I’m still teaching sewing and quilting in Forest Lake but living in St. Paul now. I read your blog everyday and share it with my students.
Lori Kennedy
Hi Barb-Great to hear from you! I enjoyed teaching in your classroom in Forest Lake! Are you still teaching quilting? Nikki’s Puzzle remains one a fan-favorite!
Vickie A
Thanks for sharing. I’m so glad you started blogging. I don’t remember when I discovered your blog, at least 2 years ago, and I’ve learned so much. Your tutorials have really helped me get over the fear of FMQ. Happy 4 years and I hope many more.
Marsha Boykin
You do a wonderful job of breaking down something that I would consider impossible for me to do into something I actually attempt! I have learned so much from your blog since I started following. Please continue what you are doing and happy blog birthday!
Joan
I have been following your blog for about a year now and I really appreciate everything that I have learned. Congratulations on this milestone and thanks for sharing. You are a great teacher.
Pat
Dear Lori,
Thanks for your generosity. I’m so happy to wake each morning and to read whatever new thing you have to offer to all of us.
Isn’t it a miracle that you have influence all over the world? We live in extraordinary times.
Sincerely,
Pat
Carol Stearnsc
I love your blog! For us wannabe bloggers, maybe you could offer a tutorial on how to get started.
Lori Kennedy
I will! I am planning to ask my readership what they want to learn about, so you’ve just added your vote!
Mary Kay Rose
You are always inspiring! Machine quilting is a little scary but the doodling and simply practicing, with no intention of it turning into something yet, really does help get rid of the scary part! Thanks for your great blog! Mary
Pam Arbour
I guess I have been watching your blog almost from the beginning. I didn’t realize when you started. I really look forward to your weekly tutorials. They are very thorough. I practice the doodles and sometimes get to stitch them out. I am still trying to figure out how to incorporate them in my quilts. Most of my quilts are bed size. I would occasionally like to see something larger where you used your motifs. Thank you for being faithful to your blog and your quilter followers! I also look forward to your Sunday posts. I am always anxious to see what you will put on there.
Lori Kennedy
I agree, I need to show more Big Quilts with the motifs–it’s a bit of a challenge for me. I am also hoping the Inbox Quilt Show will help with that.
ginnymayblog
I agree, too! Although I’m getting better doing what you teach, Lori, I have yet to incorporate it in the bedsize quilts I make, or really anything but solid fabric. But what I have learned from you is priceless…you are a generous woman and I thank you.
Conchita Quilt
I am one of many, many, many that are so glad you blog and share your talent and wisdom with us. Thank you so much for sharing and may you blog for many years to come ?
Shelor
Thank you for all you share with us! And, happy belated birthday!
lswanekamp
Because you are so willing to share and explain is one big reason your blog is so successful. I have learned so much from your FMQ tutorials that I would have never otherwise learned. Thank you.
Gertrude
It’s so interesting to read how you got started! We are all thankful you signed up for that first course and then later used a blog to share info with your sisters. And now so many of us are benefitting even if we aren’t all doing a lot of free motion quilting yet. Just your constant encouragement, your happy disposition, your neatness is a blessing to us.
My big thing is to make a full size quilt (approx 65 X 90) for each of our 8 grandchildren. I had hoped to FMQ them but that became too overwhelming so I have them quilted. I just machine quilted the first one but that was straight lines. ? Four of the grandchildren have their quilt already, the fifth is getting close to being done, the sixth is planned and fabric purchased. I am so hoping that once I feel on top of this I will take more time to practice my FMQ. In the meantime I doodle. ….and grandchild number 9 is on the way. I should have started this project when the first grandchild wa born but, alas, I wasn’t quilting then yet so I got a late start. But I will get there. I am just loving this quilting world. Thanks for being part of it!
Liz Horgan
Happy Birthday! And thanks for teaching us so much!
Maud Schaap
Please, keep on blogging ! I enjoy your writings and you inspire me to develop my skills ! Thank you, Maud from Holland.
Dorothy
Lori, you are one very generous quilter that has made my quilting journey a delight. You have such a positive approach and share lots of tips to make free motion quilting on a domestic machine a smoother ride. Thank you and congratulations on your four year blog. Dorothy
Marta
Thanks for sharing your “story” with us. Introspection can be a growth path, but The Inbox Jaunt is pretty well perfect already. Because I am older than you, I hope to read/sew/learn here the rest of my life. As they say, its a keeper !
Jean
Thank you for taking the time to blog. I have learned a lot about FMQ from you.
Denise
congratulations on four years of sharing your quilting experience! I have been a follower for just over a year and even though I haven’t used any of your designs specifically, I have used your philosophy of doodle it then stitch it.
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