Tuesday, March 31, 2009

A Blog of Note

Polaroid Girl

Hello Everyone, Welcome to the blog I started in earnest after Christmas. I suppose the song "Only the Lonely" could apply to newbie bloggers. You feel like you're talking to yourself in an empty room. I can't tell you how many times I thought about quitting. Some days, I had only one visitor. Other days, maybe 15 max (most of them me.)

I took out an ad on Joanna Goddard's amazing blog, A Cup of Jo, and finally there was traffic. It's continued to increase steadily since then -- because of the help of many kind and generous bloggers. (Thank you!) I'm happy I stayed with it because something amazing happened this week: Blogger.com named English Muse a "Blog of Note." My site visits are up tenfold.

So please bookmark me and come back to visit in the days and weeks ahead. I have lots to tell and show you. In the meantime I want you to know: I'm so happy that you're here.

My warmest regards,

Tina

PS: I'm not sure who is in charge of deciding on the blogs of note. Whoever they are, I love them!


PSS: Photo via Lolita.

93 comments:

blessingsgoddess said...

Super blog. Well done !

Anonymous said...

congratulations with "Blog of Note"! :)

Irene said...

Congratulations!
I am glad I found you.I am 'following' you and adding you to my reading list.
What I like about your blog is the mix of subjects that have a common denominator: style.

The villager: said...

Glad to see your blog is taking-off into the blogosphere !

LauraCassidy said...

I'm so glad you didn't quit! Your blog makes me smile. :)

Anonymous said...

coucou !

felicakes said...

Hi Tina, I am not sure if I have commented before. I blog hopped to your blog from Jo's blog and fell in love with it.

Looking forward to reading more posts. :*)

Anonymous said...

I love the photograph. I feel like she's taking a photo of me!

Unknown said...

I have added you to my blogroll. Congratulations of BoN award.

Marsi @ The Cottage Cheese said...

That is a beautiful photograph! I too have experienced that lonely blog feeling, being a "newbie" blogger myself. Thanks for being one of my early followers! You SO deserve this honor. Your blog is beautiful!

Penney said...

This is so true!! It does feel like you're talking to yourself, eh? The scarey thing is, it's "OK" !! (I'm starting to do it anyway)..Somehow, it feels right, and I'm glad to be "there", wherever that is..Otherwise, I wouldn't have found you, and your wonderful blog..Also, many other neat places to go to meet more lovelies, and share..Glad you had fun in the woods..
xo, Penney

suzette said...

Tina, your blog is, without a doubt, one of my favorite blogs. I know what it is like to feel like you're talking to yourself on your blog, just know you are NOT alone. :) you have done a fabulous job on building up this blog and i can't wait to see more.

xo suzette

Anonymous said...

I can totally relate to the 'empty room' feeling you describe. Great job though - your hard work has paid off with a really interesting blog!

Little Miss B said...

I've been following you for a while and really enjoy your posts. Nice to hear even you felt like you were talking to yourself sometimes as I'm new to the whole blogging thing and feel that way quite often. Thanks for the encouragement.

JC said...

I'm a new blogger and I did find you on the Blog of Note. I will be reading you so you better write up a fantastic storm ... just for me !!!

Poems Library said...

no smoking ^^!

Anonymous said...

I came across your blog via daydream lily the other week - and I love it!

Keep up the great blogging - you have a great mix of everything.

P. said...

Hurray! Good for you. Congratulations on being a blog of note. You are my daily bread!

fence sitter said...

WOW! such an interesting blog!!! It's great that you did not quit; see how things turned out....=)
Congratulations!

Miranda said...

From the first, finding your blog was like being asked into an interesting neighbor's kitchen for a glass of wine and a chat and knowing, when you reluctantly leave, that you'll be invited back. You're a fascinating hostess. Congratulations.

Wondering Helen said...

Cheers! You deserve it, Tina. Your blog is a joy!

Anonymous said...

By jove, keep up the good work my dear. Smashing blog I must say.

Cheerio!

Mad Man Writing said...

Hey! Congrats on the 'Blog of Note' thingy... I'm not jealous at all! Just another newbie blogger... I've found my voice now I just need to find people to hear it!

alexandra grecco said...

i really love this photo! congrats lady! xx

TerryB said...

"Only the lonely can play..."

Maggie May said...

ps- at one point you said let you know if we want to be added to your blogroll- and i do! xox

carolina @ patagonia gifts said...

Congrats, Tina! Your blog is fabulous!
xoxo

Claudette said...

Wow! You're singing my song. "Only the Lonely", is still me. I am relatively new to Blogger, and can still count my daily visitors on one ... and if very lucky, two hands. I persevere because I love my subject so much, it's a case of writing about it if just for my own joy. I'm happy for your breakthrough. Congrats on Blog of Note. You offer hope. Love your blog. Claudette

Anonymous said...

Love your blog-- wonderful photographs and writing! I'll be back!

Tracy Lorna Nors said...

Well done Tina, I've always though your blog was one of the really good ones. I've mentioned it as one of my favorites to sfgirlbybay who is doing a piece about my home and artwork this week, so I hope you pick up some more followers from that as well.
Tracy

English Muse said...

Oh, thank you!!

Char said...

yay!!! I'm so happy I found you.

Brian Miller said...

congrats on blog of note. just got started in October as well, find your story encouraging. Wonderful pic!

Adsız said...

nice blog my friend =)
you may visit my blog
http://healtime.blogspot.com
i need your support :)

have a god day ;)

Averill said...

Congrats!

Aspire Style said...

Congrats on becoming a 'Blog of Note' I too have found you this way and I'm glad I have. Your articles and photos are really inspirational - like a designer's moodboard!

Tina Tarnoff said...

congratulations, loveliest Tina, your blog absolutely deserves the title!

Micah said...

I LOVE your blog, Tina! Congratulations! You totally deserve it. Keep writing! xoxo

Mag Yip said...

Tina!! Congratulations!
I love the pose of your picture.

Joanna Lee said...

Congratulations! I love your blog! You absolutely deserve the award! Perhaps it's time to break out the Champagne and celebrate! ...or a nice gift for yourself? ...spa? Anyway, I look forward to following your blog!

Anonymous said...

Most Excellent...and I told you so. No way you could have NOT been a success.
xo susan

kitkat said...

hi tina, i read your blog everyday at work, but i am not a big commenter, so i thought i'd let you know! :)

Herrad said...

Hi

Just found your blog it reads good will enjoy coming here often.

Love,
Herrad

Alicia @ boylerpf said...

Congrats to you! I got your name of the Blog of Note. Pretty cool!

TheBeautyFile said...

Wow, what an honor! I love your blog, so inspiring & fun! Gorgeous picture too!

GlorV1 said...

Congratulations on becoming a blog of note. You've got quite a blog. I like it very much, I will be back. I do have a question though, how did you get that type font on your heading? Congrats again.

corine/hidden in france said...

Congratulations. It's major!

Melissa~ said...

thats its exactly what happens to me, i fell like i speak alone, but im a possitive person, soon i will have a lot of post and visit like you.
you give me hopes, thanks!
congratulations!!, and visit my blog!

English Muse said...

I will definitely visit your blog!! thank you!!!

Kosmo said...

I can definitely empathize with speaking to yourself in an empty room. Nothing is worse than spending a lot of time writing a 500+ word post and then seeing 0 people read it.

After 2 months of heavy duty blogging (and a couple of months of light blogging before that) I can count on at least 10 people most days (except for saturdays, which are horribly slow) and any day with 30+ feels great :)

Nice blog - cool photos.

T said...

great site I'm loving all these photos & you work for LA Times! keep it up

Russ said...

I love your work that you have done here, Come visit me on www.dovestudio.co.uk, if your getting married or even if you just want your portrait photograph taken
massive savings to all my fellow bloggers

fairy_suzie said...

Congratulations with gaining the accolade of being the blogs of note. I will look forward to reading your blog

The Viewliner Limited said...

Congratutlations on being choosen a "Blog of Note"

kerri said...

yayy yayy yayy! and i would love to be on your blog roll!

xxxxxxx

PTA Transit Authority said...

Congratutlations on being choosen a "Blog of Note"

Anonymous said...

Congrats!!! I do so love your blog. I also really appreciate you linking me because you send me a few welcome visitors everyday. Thank you!!!

SoFine09 said...

Congrats! It is always nice to see something that was once invisible transform into something that everyone sees. On the blog of note! I am also glad to see that I am not that every newbie blogger goes through a lonely stage! Very inspiring blog.

Unknown said...

congratulations.....i completely get that insecurity of starting a new blog, although mine's not had the amazing success your's has....!
will check back again & have a better look round
take care xx

Anonymous said...

I found you on Joanna's site! Can I ask how much that cost?

Jordan Clarke said...

What an inspiration! I've been blogging seriously for about a month now and can definitely relate to 'talking to yourself in an empty room.'

This is a great blog - you deserve all your success. And I love your profile silhouette!

Anonymous said...

Hiya ... yep, like the others I can relate to your feelings on blogger loneliness ...

ah yeah well, nice blog you have here, I'll be following (polaroids really are the best ...)

Jonas

Joanna Goddard said...

congratulations!!!! you absolutely deserve it. and thank you for linking to me, you are so sweet. xoxo

ABSOLUTELY NOT MARTHA said...

congrats! ...are you too big now to be interested in exchanging links? ;)

English Muse said...

I would love to exchange links!!!

Unknown said...

from a recent follower of yours and facebook pal, congrats!

Anonymous said...

That's outstanding! Good tip Re: ad

Anonymous said...

Just found you...wonderful stuff. Congrats on the accolade.

Anonymous said...

Congrats :)
By the way, this may seem random, but I just wanted to know. It seems like your blog has done REALLY well for you only starting it around Christmas. And I was just wondering, since I just started my blog last week, how on earth did you get so many followers???? X) If you have any tips please comment on my blog!
Thank you :)

Tina Tarnoff said...

Hey, holy moly, I blinked and all of a sudden you have 428 followers!!! Yay!!!

English Muse said...

yay!! i love them!!! i love them!!! i love them!!

j gold said...

Good show!

My-Shell said...

agreed:] i just started my blog today. very lonely. but congrats on your success:] check stuff out if you have time. have a goodnight.
♥michele

5windsOfvenus said...

Hey congratulations on being on the blog of note... exciting stuff.... good luck with everything!

cheers;
April-Anna
The Art of April-Anna
http://www.aprilanna.com

Unknown said...

Congrats, Tina! Well deserved. You have an amazing eye and I always look forward to visiting your site.

automatism said...

Congrats again — I was so happy when you told me this earlier! Looking forward to more beauty and loveliness.

Lori

denene @ style and inspiration said...

Congrats, Tina! That's wonderfully inspiring news. I too, am a new blogger and often wonder if it's worth it. I'll push on!!

Unknown said...

I am after way too many years about ready to give up on blogging altogether. I use to get people I don't since we changed servers - not sure why.

Love your pictures!

Unknown said...

P.S. How do you take out an ad on someone's site???

Babs Banter/QUILTECH said...

I suspect they are young men with an eye for beauty and have impeccable taste!!

Best wishes,

Olde Babs who once had the X factor herself many many moons ago!

nath said...

Hello,

I stumbled upon you via all the mountains, and naturally I too can relate to having a new blog and the very real possibility that there isn't actually anyone out there. So much so that I wrote a post about it earlier today. Synchronicity, eh?

Happily, I am comforted by your success and optimism! Very well done to you!

mary said...

Well HOORAY! I am so happy for you! You deserve it. Your blog is fresh and pretty and has a unique perspective. Yay! :)

Dominique said...

Wow, I didn't know you were a baby blog. When I found your blog off of Cup of Joe, I thought you were already legit. At least you looked it :) I love your blog, so keep diverting me from my homework.

English Muse said...

hah! that's right! i'm baby blog! Teaspoon, you're one of my peeps who was with me at the start! Cup of Jo is the queen peep!

Nanette said...

Well done, Tina. And it couldn't have happened to a better blog, (or a better gal).
xx

Marq Em said...

I just came across your blog via the "Blogs of Note" today. Frankly, the blog-title piqued my interest. And when I got here... Wonderful, wonderful, rich images. I'm adding you to my list of feeds just so I can look at more of the beautiful things you've found.

ACCHARLOT said...

Definitely a blog worth noting.

http://oldsoulcharlot.blogspot.com/

lisamarie said...

I love your blog & I am glad you didnt give up,go girl.Its a joy to look at your lovely pictures.well done.

Henri Loves Paris... said...

I am new to "Blogworld" and I have to admit that I am questioning my sanity. I am obsessed with reading blogs and I actually had the idea to blog about 4 years ago; but, I just started. Anyway, everything you said is what I have been thinking. The outside world seems more supportive than my friends and family. I just keep remembering that this is for me and I am having a great sense of accomplishment and fun.

bunny + chip said...

Congratulations! I've added you to my new blog and hope to follow in your footsteps.

puglyfeet said...

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S!

rosedale's 4head said...

stunning blog. intriguing. amazing. profound photos. saved you!

Unknown said...

Oh! Yay for you! How great is that!