Maneki's bead blog recap weeks 22-23 + pre-blogiversary info

Blogiversary info

Well, time flies... while writing this I'm about to start writing the last blog posts on Manekis Pärlblogg before my annual summer break. That means there's still two more weeks to go before I put the blog on hiatus until september. As usual I will be doing the odd posts, e.g. contest/challenge tips and news that can't wait plus the monthly bead palettes. What's different this year is that the blog is turning five on July 1st. And I have to do something about that, don't I?

But what to do? I've really not come much further in my thoughts than back when I first mentioned realising that a milestone was coming up a month ago (you know, peak season in the potato business now -- sorry about not replying or in any way acknowledging comments right now, by the way, same issue there). My plan now is to skip any ideas about giveaways or contests as I don't have the time or energy to arrange it and hunt for sponsors. So instead I thought I'd do some sort of present for all the readers instead: that is, new free tutorials! Yes, I'm digging myself into an even deeper hole... But I've been meaning to do a couple of those for ages and never got around to it. Making this decision -- and now making it official here -- means I have a deadline to commit to and that's what I need. Of cause I'm not yet sure exactly what I'll be doing. The twin bead tutes I've been talking about but never did and which now is surpassed by so many other free tutorials online it's uninteresting? The stitched/whipped leather bracelet? Something really new? That simple but perhaps dull brad pendant I've already taken step-by-step photos of? I'll be a surprise -- for me and you both!

Anyway, if you have any ideas, wishes or perhaps even something you want to add to the july bligiversary posts, do feel free to contact me or comment below as right now I've barely got a clue myself, just an urge to do something...

Blog recep

On to the blog recap. Weeks 22 and 23 have encompassed such things as a round-up of bead meets/jewellery makers' get-togethers in Sweden, metalworking techniques, Doctor Who projects, Gatsby/art deco/jazz age jewellery ideas, poisonous beads, new challenges and more.

Read alll about it after the break.

5 years of blogging...

Yesterday, I suddenly realised it'll be five years since I started Manekis Pärlblogg, my first blog, this summer (July 1st to be precise). Five years!

I can't say that the years have flown by as it by now feels like I've been writing for that blog forever. The amazement is more with the fact that I can't really grasp it, decide whether it feels like yesterday or an eternity since I started it all. It's not like how I felt when I turned 30 -- still in denial of that! -- when it felt impossible that so many years had gone by already. That I'm fricking middle-aged now (though still living like a 20-something student -- minus the drinking and partying). The years fly by so fast when counting your own.

Five years is... five years. It doesn't feel long and it doesn't feel short. If anything, it's looking at the blog archive that makes five years feel awesome. To realise how much I've written, how many links I've tracked down and how much fact I've consumed. Of cause I see the post count tick everyday on the Blogger dashboard, but it's really when looking at the archive, year by year and month by month, the number makes sense and looks impressive. Today I've posted blog posts no. 1712 and 1713. One thousand seven hundred and thirteen.

I haven't had a blog anniversary contest or giveaway since 2009, celebrating that first year, but now I'm starting to think about doing something (sorry, might just be open to swedes depending on what sponsors I find). Maybe a bit late, though, considering I'm not really sure what I want to do. But five years... Surely it needs to be celebrated or at least observed in some way. Right? I should go hunting for sponsors and make a thing of it, don't you think? It must the worth noticing in some way.

So... no idea what to do, but now that the fact the blog is turning five struck me so sudden I really keep thinking about it. I've got less than two months to get somewhere with my thoughts -- no idea what I'll end up doing: make something big of it or just let it slip by unnoticed? Dunno.

For now it's all just that first thought that popped into my head when counting my fingers: "Huh, it'll be five years since I first posted something on Manekis Pärlblogg this summer..."