Thursday 17 August 2017

Blogging with Rhonda

I'm one of a small group of people enrolled with Rhonda Hetzel from Down to Earth to learn a bit more about the blogging world.  Rhonda is teaching us some of the 'behind the scenes' things we need to know to keep our blogs chugging along smoothly.  As anyone who knows me well (or knows me at all really) will agree, I'm certainly no technical whizz when it comes to computers or smart phones, so this is all very exciting.

Last Sunday morning was our first Skype session.  In fact I hadn't used Skype at all until then. There was a two hour time difference and I was worried I would sleep in and miss the 7am start, but as it turns out I was so excited I barely slept at all and was up at about 5am shuffling quietly about waiting for the action.   Skype really is pretty amazing.  I honestly could not believe I was having a face to face conversation with Rhonda. Each time I looked at my own little image in the corner of the screen, I had my mouth open like one of those ping pong ball clowns at a carnival.
(I could just imagine my mum saying "Close your mouth Frances!")


My husband has set up a little temporary 'learning centre' for me in the spare room.  It was so peaceful and quiet on Sunday with the beautiful morning sun shining in the window and somehow I managed to take seven pages of notes during our two hour Skype session.

When I first started blogging, I thought it would be primarily for my family who live mostly interstate, so I just chatted on - relentlessly probably!  Now that I have discovered such a vibrant and knowledgeable 'maker' community out there, I'd like to be part of that too.  So, I'm hoping that by learning a little more about the blogging environment I can not only share our lives with family but also become more of a contributing member to the maker's world.

Now, let's see if I can put some of those seven pages of notes into practice without tangling myself up too much! 

15 comments :

Nanna Chel said...

Skype is amazing isn't it? I haven't used it lately but I used to be able to see my grandchildren on it when they were little. My daughter only uses her smartphone now and doesn't have a PC unfortunately although you can use it on the smartphone too apparently. I am sure you will learn a lot from Rhonda and I hope Gracie was behaving during your Skype lesson.

Nil @ The Little House by the Lake said...

Haha Frances, I think I can imagine how you felt when meeting Rhonda online.
Looking forward to reading more posts soon. I loved reading your sew along posts on the D2E forum, though I didn't participate at that time.

Fran Ponta said...

Thanks Nil and Chel. Yes the Skype session was so great Chel, but next time I'll have to concentrate on not looking like I'm at a tennis match! Nil, thanks for your lovely comments about the sew along. The posts are over on the Homemakers forum if ever you would like to follow along and make the project. There would be lots of support there I'm sure.
I haven't figured how to reply to comments individually yet so you're getting a joint reply. Aren't you lucky?

Home Is My Haven said...

I too have just completed Rhonda's blogging course and am so glad I did it. Just like you I was not a Skype user however since doing the course I now have my very own Skype account.
Getting to know others and supporting each other has also been a highlight from doing the course.
I learnt so much and am so happy with my blog. Still have changes to make but I think I always will,
Now a writing course would be something else I would be interested in too.
Kylie

Fran Ponta said...

Kylie We have three in our group but I'm looking forward to getting to know all the others too. I think you're so right, there will always be changes and tweaks to make. Now that my readership is increasing, I'm quite nervous about making spelling or grammatical mistakes....it didn't seem to worry me too much when I started!

TheAwakenedSoul said...

Hi Fran, I recently completed Rhonda's blogging course, too. It was excellent! I found it so helpful. She is definitely a master.

rhonda jean said...

It's been an absolute pleasure for me having you in the group, Fran. I love your writing style. You come across as a very generous and kind craftswoman and when I read your makers posts, your creativity shines through. I hope you blog for a long time. I'm sure you'll build a very valuable resource here.

Diva Farm Days said...

Hi Fran,
It was nice to meet you this morning on Rhonda's skype session.
Your page looks very interesting. I would love to have a go at making a journal, I might start saving up envelopes and such and follow your tutorial.

Ann

Fran Ponta said...

AwakenedSoul, we had our second Skype session this morning and I've been busy collating all the information before I forget!

Fran Ponta said...

Rhonda Jean thank you so much for your beautiful comments, your generous sharing of knowledge and your kind and gentle encouragement. The whole experience has been so fabulous and I'm excited to see where all of us take our newfound knowledge.

Fran Ponta said...

Diva Farm Days, it was so great to meet you too. The Skype session was great wasn't it? I hope you do have a go at journal making - it's so much fun and a great way to utilise scraps of 'stuff'!

Emma Christian said...

Hi!

Was lovely to meet you all in the blogging workshop, I too have never used skype and the boys thought it was pretty cool!

I remember you well from DTW forums and all of your lovely sewing and craftiness, and always a kind and encouraging word to share. Was really wonderful to meet you Frances, and I look forward to following along! I have been here before but must not have marked it in, I forget sometimes. But now it is securely in my reading list. :)

xx

Fran Ponta said...

Thanks so much Emma. It was a great morning wasn't it? I'm a bit sorry it's all finished now, even though I was so nervous to speak 'on camera'!

I'm so glad we have met....and it wasn't only your boys that thought Skype was pretty cool - I was waving like a mad thing too! Haha.

Diann said...

Your blog looks terrific, Fran. Isn't it lovely, and exciting, to learn new stuff? I am a real techno retard and my 9yo grandson does all the teaching. I dread getting a new device. Bill the Builder updates my phone on a regular basis and it sends me into a frenzy. Drives me nuts! I can see him eyeing off my iPad at the moment.It's sending shivers down my spine!

Well done on your blog. It certainly sounds like everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

Fran Ponta said...

Thanks so much Dianne. Yes it was lots of fun and I'm still having 'fun' trying to find how to do some things *eye roll*. I'm hopeless now that my girls have left home! Although as Rhonda said - if we want to know how to do something we must "Step up" and not be afraid to give it a good go.

Thanks for popping in.