Mr. Prof designer home

It's that time of year again, when bloggers find themselves "Makin' a list, checking it twice..." I surely hope you've been both naughty and nice.

For the steampunklet in your life -- or just to display -- are "A Young Mad Scientist's First Alphabet Blocks." G is for goggles, of course. $40 by Xylocopa.

A perfect hostess gift is this "amber" soap, complete with bug. $6 by amandalouise at Etsy.


I also was charmed by steampunk correspondence cards by whatkatyhad, also at Etsy. The airship one is sold out, but the Fantastical Sea Adventure is still available.

You may remember Steve Thomas' Vintage Space travel posters -- he also has a calendar which would usher in the new year in a very stylish way.

I've got two more lists I'll post in the coming week... watch for a DIY list and a books list!

The first time I walked into the shop called French Nest, I thought I was back at the Marburger Farms show in Texas. This charming little slice of heaven is so reminiscent of some of my favorite booths there that it literally transported me back to the show. Thankfully this shop is local and I can haunt it at will. Owned by Marsha Stokes and Edwina Carlisle, it is a gorgeous mix of all that is vintage and romantic with a touch of rust and crust that I truly adore. I do hope you will drop by and say hello the next time you are in College Park and tell them Sweet Pea says hello. Enjoy the pics...

French Nest
2630 Edgewater Drive
Orlando FL (College Park) 32804
407-447-3078

Two years ago, I began blogging to get my thoughts out on virtual "paper". I often come up with book ideas, but never have had enough perseverance or time to get it all out, so I figured, one post at a time, I'd write something like a book.

I privately asked a few close friends to review my writing and give me feedback. I didn't dream that the readership would grow, and that I would be blessed with new friends and encouragement, being both challenged and refined by those who come to Making Home.

Now, I'm no expert blogger, but I've steadily gained readership and tags/links over the two years I've been blogging. So, it may not be much, but I thought I'd share some of my own tips for making a good, readable, worth-someone-else's-time blog:

1. PURPOSE. Know what you're "shooting" for. If your purpose is to keep grandma and grandpa updated about your kids and their changing lives, don't try to shift purposes mid-stream and suddenly have a wide readership tackling hard issues of life. If your desire is to bring up controversial subjects, don't be surprised when people get their hackles up from time to time. People won't come to your blog if there's not a reason, so figure out what it is you're wanting to do or say, and blog accordingly.
   
   
2. HONESTY. Show people the real deal. It's not worth your time and it's not worth anyone else's time to share only the perfectly decorated, fully disciplined, amazing parts of your life. Share the hard things too. Be willing to share about the good and not-so-good days of life-- particularly about those things that your blog is focused on. Not only does it help cultivate an attitude of humility, but it also gives other people realistic expectations as they begin ________ (homeschooling, breastfeeding, working from home, parenting six children, etc.) --whatever it is that you write about.
   
   
3. LONGEVITY. Once you decide to blog, stick it out. Don't stop and start. Don't expect to build readers in a couple months' time, and don't expect to retain readers if you're wishy-washy in your frequency of posts, subject matter, or attitude.
   
   Don't get frustrated because you have one bad day, week, or month and write some philosophical post about how you need to quit... only to start blogging again a couple weeks/months later. (Don't get me wrong; I take breaks when my family needs it-- I even took a 6-week hiatus this summer... and now, I have enough posts pre-scheduled so that I take breaks and no one even knows it!) You don't have to blog everyday (I don't...), but post somewhat regularly, and don't. give. up.
   
   
4. One more thought about PURPOSE... you don't have to have a laser-beam focus on one issue or theme, but if you're too random, people will stop coming around. They only have so much time that they're willing to spend online, and if you're asking a stay-home mom to also regularly listen to your thoughts on working in an office, or expecting unmarried theology students to check out your posts on specific issues in parenting, they probably won't.
   
   Also-- FOR AN "ISSUES" BLOG-- I have been blasted for saying this before, but it's just the truth. Unless someone is already your friend or has a specific reason to read about your personal life details, they generally don't have time or just won't want to. So, if you need to start a separate blog to post skads of life stories and kids' pics, do it. (We have one, totally unconnected to Making Home, for that very purpose... to update family and friends about our family & our experiences living overseas.)
   
   Occasional things shared are great-- and keep it real. Sometimes I still share cute anecdotes here or illustrative pictures or stories... but my purpose here at Making Home is to encourage, exhort, and be sharpened by other Christian women. So that's what I generally try to hone in on.
   

Here are a few other articles you may find helpful as you strive to fine-tune and improve your own blog:

• There are THREE Types of Bloggers.
• Links to 30 great articles all in one place: Building a Better Blog- a really helpful series!
• ENGAGE THE CULTURE as a blogger.- By Albert Mohler
• BLOGGING FOR CHRIST: Al Mohler's Nov. 8, '08 radio show about Christians who blog- it's worth a listen!
• BETTER BLOG READING by desiringgod.com
• DEVELOPING A CRISP BLOG: tips from a good boundless.com writer, Motte Brown

I hope this helps as you consider blogging or try to refine your own website or content. Some people are saying that blogging is dead, but I think that aimless blogging is the thing that's dying. Have a purpose, something specific to say, and say it well, and I believe there is still plenty of room in the blogosphere for you!

Happy blogging! :-)

Tomorrow I will be visiting French Nest and taking lots of pics to post here on my blog. I hope you will check back! I'll also be posting soon about Christmas decorating at the Pea house~~that is if it ever gets done! Until tomorrow...

Happy Wednesday everyone!

I don't have any super fun WHATCHA WORKING ON WEDNESDAYS PROJECTS that I can share because I'll be in my sewing mode to get orders out....many, many of them waiting to be stitched and sent....but I do have some great specials running right now so check it out.

Yesterday I added over 60 new merchandise items to my website and more to come later....beside the great SPECIAL.

From December 5 until December 18th we are
GIVING YOU UP TO $30 WORTH OF FREE ITEMS OF YOUR CHOICE
of any of our products….with a $75.00 or more merchandise order…..WOHOOOOO!!!!!
Shipping is not included in any of this special,
buyer will still have to pay shipping fees.

One of the benefits of the homeschool curriculum we use is that I am able to take part for free in an incredible online homeschool community. It's great for encouragement, for learning from those who have gone before, and for making friends who are like-minded as well as those who challenge you to consider new things. One of those friends I have made, a homeschool/public school mom of seven who is both like-minded in some ways AND challenges me to consider new things, is Amy who blogs at BirthBlessed.

Amy has written an article for our encouragement as disciples of Christ:

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against these there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Somewhere along the way, I was taught (or confused something) that the Fruit of the Spirit is a gift. Don't misunderstand me- I do believe that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a gift. Grace is a gift. But somehow I had come to a false doctrine that the Fruit of the Spirit was something the Spirit gives us. As in, "I am sorry I don't have self-control. I have prayed for the Spirit to produce self-control in me, but he hasn't given it to me yet."

And the Fruit of the Spirit is something I've struggled with for my entire life. I have the verses memorized. I have arts and crafts in my house displaying the words. And I just kept praying for the Spirit to give them to me. I cried and wondered why He didn't. I beat myself up, condemning myself for my foolish behavior, and again cried out to the Lord, for His Spirit in me to make these Fruits visible, to make them appear. I'd have taken fruit flies with them, if I could just have them.

And one day, the scales were removed from my eyes. My confusion was laid to rest. My understanding was new.

Fruit is cultivated.

How did I not know this? How did I ever sit there with my hand out, waiting for it to be dropped into my lap?

Gardening is hard- harder for some than others, sure. Some soil is better than others. Some circumstances are harder than others. Some knowledge is better than others. Some risks and threats are harsher than others. But no fruit comes apart from hard work. It's just that some may work harder than others.

Self-control is something to be worked for. And when you fail, it must mean you need more practice. Love is something you work at. Joy is something you choose. Peace is achieved. Patience is acquired by trial. Goodness is a menial task, kindness also. Faithfulness comes from purpose. Gentleness must be nurtured. And self-control, the mother of all Fruits, comes from putting away pride. Dying to this world, taking up your cross, and following Him.

Oh Sweet Jesus, Precious Jesus. I praise you for the grace you bestow upon me, to give me understanding. I have a new task, now that I know this: to work to follow you, to love because you loved. To enjoy all things, to have peace knowing You are Lord. To patiently withstand affliction, to train myself to be good and kind and nurture gentleness in myself and my children. To open my Scripture and listen to Your voice in order for my faith to grow. And to lose any shred of pride that inhibits my self-control.

What a gift He has given me!

Thanks for the encouraging and instructive word, Amy!