Some of the more beady-eye’d among you will probably have noticed a few changes going on at ooobop Towers! I have been doing some housekeeping… shock, horror, gasp! (Anything to avoid doing the real stuff!) In my inimitable style, it wasn’t broke so I decided to fix it anyway. And in the same way that I’d decorate a room to match the cushion β I needed to rebrand my blog to match my woven garment labels!
WordPress has served me well over the last three years, from my early nervous ramblings to my latter day wafflings. And yes it has been a mighty three years. I can’t quite believe it myself. Especially since my sister-in-law, who knows me pretty well, said ‘You’ll never keep that up’! I’d like to think that she knew me well enough to know how positively I react to a red rag. Contrary? Me?!
But true to the control freak that I will never admit to being, I wanted more control. The designer in me was begging to be fed more layout options; more fonts; more gallery options, maybe even a shop (later on down the line)… and I wanted to be able to see exactly who my lovely followers were. When you only have WordPress stats to go by, you can only see your WordPress followers and not everyone uses the same platform.
And so I’ve gone self-hosted. I can’t say it was pain-free. Importing .xml’s, pretending I know what to do with a .php file and knowing that my DNS was pointing in the wrong direction… not really my bag!
But I got here in the end. Of a fashion. And just like moving a real home there are still some boxes to unpack. Whilst all your wonderful comments came across, the number of comments did not so it looks as though nobody has commented on anything!
And worst of all I have lost all my subscribers. Both WordPress and Email. Silly WordPress.
But in the style of Baldrick, I have a cunning plan!
This new blog refresh, along with a three year anniversary, teamed with my excitement at nearly 1,000 followers on Twitter @ooobop (I can’t quite get my head around that either!) and of course my love for you and all things sewing related…
I am hosting Ooobop’s first ever Giveaway!
“What is it? What is it?” I hear you all chant.
“Well…It’s a mystery!” I reply. (in the style of Toyah Wilcox)
In fact it’s such a mystery, even I don’t know what it is as yet! All I can say is that it will be a truly lovely parcel containing all lovely things, sewing-related.
This is a global giveaway. So it doesn’t matter where you are in the world. I will post.
So if you like surprises and would like to keep up with my sewing adventures plus be in with a chance of a chance of winning this mystery giveaway, all you have to do is subscribe to ooobop, at the top of the right hand side bar, just under the search tool. Or if you prefer, by Bloglovin’ by clicking on the Bloglovin’ lady underneath.Β Then let me know in a comment, below this post, which method you have chosen and you will be entered for the giveaway. If you are an existing Bloglovin’ follower, please still let me know with a comment below if you want to be entered as this will be my go-to list of entries.
The lucky winner will be ‘drawn from the hat’ on Wednesday 30th April 2014 and announced on Thursday 1st May 2014. Don’t forget to leave a link to your blog or an Email address so that you can be contacted with the good news and so that I can announce your prize-winning success!
Thank you my lovelies, for sticking with me. I always get emosh when I think how much more to blogging there is when you have a blog. So many wonderful friendships, such amazing support and not to mention the plethora of talent that perpetually floods my inbox!
I’m in for the long haul, kids!
How exciting that you’re redesigning your website! I know how overwhelming that can be as I’m setting up a new one for me, though I’m just modifying templates a bit… I can’t wait to see the result. I follow your lovely blog already and I’m one of your followers on twitter as well. Thank you for hosting such a mysterious giveaway! π
Congratulations on making the jump! I follow your blog on bloglovin and twitter and would love to enter the giveaway π http://www.ladysewalot.blogspot.co.uk
How exciting! And well done. Techy stuff like that terrifies me! I’m already a bloglovin follower and would love to be entered into the giveaway.
Loving the new look! Have been following you via bloglovin since I was fortunate enough to meet you and so many others via Rachel’s amazing meet up last year x
Lovely new site. Well done. I am an existing Bloglovin follower. Long may you continue K xXx
The new site looks great! I’m also already a Bloglovin follower.
I love a good mystery, so please do count me in! I follow via bloglovin’…and hoorah that your bloglovin’ followers got carried with the current over to your new self hosted blog! And boo about the comments not coming along too. As a rookie blogger, a year and a half in, I know that it’s the comments that create the connection! Fingers crossed that everything will sort itself out for you soon! Your blog design and layout looks great! Professional, but still personal!
I really love what you have done to “your place”! I have followed you for a while on Bloglovin, and will continue to do so. You are truly inspiring π
Ooh, how very exciting! The blog looks fantastic. I’m a Bloglovin’ follower and would love to be entered for the giveaway. Congrats!
So admirable, all that fiddling with files. I’m in awe.
I follow your inspiring adventures via bloglovin’, and very glad about that I am too.
Congratulations. I have been following you on bloglovin’ for a long time, and would love to enter your giveaway.
Looking good so far! I follow you on Feedly (and you are on my bloglovin’ but the app wasn’t working a few months ago so I switched over)
Oh Bop!! Clever Bloglovin’ brought me here directly like nothing had changed, then WOW!! Love what you’ve one with the new place!
Your new webdesign is gorgeous. Great job!
So nice of you to organise a giveaway! Thanks!
I love the new clean look of your blog and the label/logo is beautifully designed. I am also so glad to be able to follow you on Bloglovin now and look forward to see your new posts. π
I’m a bloglovin follower and have been for a while.
You have incredible style and I really love your blog.
Please enter me in the giveaway anything you choose will be amazing.
Katie.
I love that you’re revamping to coordinate with your labels! I have been following along on bloglovin for some time now, and when I went to re-up, it looks like bloglovin had already made sure that I continue to receive your feed. I hope that you don’t lose many followers. I’m sure they will find you.
Hello..already following you on bloglovin. Like what you have to do site…lovely.
Word if warning, more fonts, more choices. .it is addictive.
Oooh, the intrigue! This is such a fun idea. I follow you on Bloglovin, and I can’t wait to see what the surprise is (even if I’m not the lucky winner).
Love the new design & labels. Very professional! I’m an existing bloglovin follower. Can you put my name in the pot too????
Hi,
congratulations on being self hosted
used to be a wordpress follower, have subscribed as I haven’t got my head round bloglovin…
How exciting (& mysterious!) Love your new look! I follow you on bloglovin
I love your labels and your site design. Wish I had the time and know how to make my blog prettier. I’m an existing bloglovin follower and I love surprises!
Loving the new look, especially the vintage looking banner! I already follow through Bloglovin and would love to be included in the giveaway.
Already follow you with bloglovin. It’s all looking very polished, well done.
Is it a turnip in the box?
Site looks lovely. I am an existing bloglovin’ (and twitter) follower and I love a mystery π
Love your blog and would Love to be entered in the giveaway
Looks awesome! I’m a faithful bloglovin reader and always will be π
Great! I am an existing bloglovin’ follower and I’d love to be entered in the giveaway. I’m so curious already!
Gorgeous new website! I’m already a follower on Bloglovin and I’d love to be entered for the giveaway. I adore a good mystery…
I think the change is wonderful. I’ve been following on Bloglovin & it seems the feed updated to the new location, so yay for that! Thanks for offering the giveaway, whatever it may be. kbroadd1 -at- gmail
I am an existing follower via Bloglovin and would like to enter your mystery giveaway. Saramayo at shaw dot ca
I’m already a follower on Bloglovin’, dear lady! I love your new look and happy 3rd, hon! I totally understand about php (WTF?). Glad to hear you managed okay. Looking forward to all your wonderful makes in the coming 3 years! π Lots of love from down under
Been following and will continue to follow! Congrats on the move! lmwvaatyahoodotcom Drop me in the pot please.
I already follow you on Bloglovin. I love your new look!
I am following you from Turkey via e-mail and bloglovin’, and love your new look
Looking good. Congratulations. I still wear your pencil skirt…
Wow! Very exciting, fingers crossed π
Your new site looks lovely and I’m looking forward to a peek iinto your wardrobe!
Alyson
Ooooh suprise! How exciting π would love to win the mysterrryyyy π
Loving the new look! I’ve been following you via Bloglovin for a while.
The new design looks great! And sewing surprises are always fun! I already follow you on bloglovin.
Congratulations on the move, & your new slick home! π I love the clean lines & white spaces. All the best with unpacking the remaining boxes, I’ve managed to keep you on my WordPress Reader, even though you’ve moved.
Hi! I’m following your blog on bloglovin in Oz. I’d love to enter your giveaway. Fingers crossed!
Ooh lovely!!! Nice new look. I’m a dedicated bloglovin follower and can’t resist the lure of a mystery giveaway. π
The new blog is looking good, I already follow you on Bloglovin…Thanks for the giveway!
I think it’s super that you’ve taken control of your passion. The new site is very vintage and very you. I am also a blogvin subscriber & I wish you nothing but the best. The label and site are “smart” as they would say. Keep up the good work & let us see one of your creations that you drafted and completed. Just starting drafting myself.
Love the new look, it looks great! I subscribed via email.
Eleanor
Congratulations on the move- I love what you’ve done with the place so far!
I’m an existing Bloglovin follower, who would love to be in the draw- who wouldn’t want to receive a parcel of mystery sewing goodies from someone like you who *really* knows what she’s talking about?
Love the new look and you’ve really inspired me to get myself together and make the move. I follow you on Bloglovin’.
The new look is great! I am always so impressed that people can do all the techy stuff! I already follow you on Bloglovin! X
Ooh a mystery – like Secret Seven or Nancy Drew? Super exciting! I’m always in for a mystery π I already follow on Bloglovin and that seems to have transferred just fine π
What a great idea for a giveaway! I already follow on Bloglovin π I love your new logo.
I love the clean, minimalist look of your blog. I need to do something about mine too, I should think of a more stylish header first of all π
I follow you on Bloglovin for some time now π
Following with Bloglovin π
http://asaucystitch.blogspot.co.uk/
I subscribed but I was also a bloglovin’ follower before.
I follow along by Bloglovin! π
I’m a follower on Bloglovin. Thanks for the giveaway!
Great new website-look – I have now subscribed via email but have been a “favorites” follower for quite a while.
I love the new design! Congrats! I want to redesign mine too but I’m not sure how to! I’ve been following you for aaaaaages, cos you’re awesome π
I already follow on bloglovin and would love to enter
I’ve subscribed. Always enjoy reading your blog.
I found your blog from your comment on my blog- thank you for such lovely encouragement! I’ve signed up to follow you on Bloglovin’ (I’m there as Steph Pomfrett) and I look forward to scouring your archives!
I already follow you on bloglovin and the mysterious giveaway intrigues me!
Hi, I already subscribe via bloglovin, and would love to be included in your give away. The site is looking fabulous. x
Great new website! And how exciting with a secret giveaway, I want in on it. I subscribe to your blog on bloglovin’ (have been for a while).
I’ve been following you for a long long time. Love the idea of mystery give away!! Count me in.
The new site looks great. I’ve just subscribed to email notifications!
The new banner is awesome, count me in for the mystery please π
Love the new look. I am following you on Bloglovin but I’ve been a lurker since “Maudella” I’ve always admired your style.
I’m following you on Bloglovin.
Oops, pressed comment too early. So happy to be featured on the same page as you on Tilly and the buttons “Your Cocos” post.
I’m following you on bloglovin. Your new site looks great! Would love to be entered in your giveaway – who doesn’t love a surprise?!
Already subscribed on Bloglovin’. Thanks!
Oh lovely! I do love a mystery prize… I’m following you on bloglovin and would love to be entered in the contest
Well I love reading your posts, not ramblings at all. Please include me!
Bonus! I came along to ‘follow’ and I find this! Excellent.
Finally subscribed rather than just reading from my Pocket bookmarks ^_^
As has been said many times, the blog is looking great!
I already follow you with bloglovin, thank you! keep the posting going, please!
Love the updated blog, Ms. O, and now know why I missed your few posts from the good ol’ WordPress reader. Nev-ah again! You’ll arrive in me inbox, which is much more satisfactory. Love your style & down-to-earth-edness about sewing!
del
Thank you Del. I don’t want to lose you either! Thanks for your lovely comments. Consider yourself entered! x
ERMAGAHHHH I’m so glad I caught this!!… I came back from vacay and had over 800 emails in my inbox – HA! Needless to say, catching up is a lengthy process, but I’m always super eager to see what you’re up to so of course I popped over here for a quick peek – so glad I did!! Of course I followed on wordpress but I never would have known I had to switch over had I not been nosy! LOL. So I’m following by email now – you’ll always have me as your fan, doll, no matter where you go π
And a mystery giveaway sounds pretty SAWEEEEEET!! π
Have just discovered your blog and I have to say am very taken with those shorts, what a lovely design. Would, of course love to win the giveway. I’m just dipping my toe back into the sewing waters after many years, a mystery gift might just lure me into the shallow end.
Nidgeworth
Hi, I’ve followed you for a while, (bloglovin) love the new look blog and your labels are soooo good! A mystery prize sounds very mysterious? lol! I love surprises π
Congrats on the new look! Just started following you on Bloglovin – so much easier than just havinv you bookmarked on my phone!
I had been wondering where you’d go to. I used to follow your Burda reviews and also subscribed to your previous site. I know you’d mentioned wanting to move on to do your own thing… and here you are. I really enjoy the quality of your site – yes, the sewing/projects, but also the photographs. You’ve been a real inspiration to me! And, yes, I would love to be entered in the give away!
I follow on Bloglovin π I love your new logo!
Look at that! I’m so excited for the giveaway that I commented twice, three times now π I’m so sorry, feel free to delete these two.
I can’t believe I haven’t already been following you on Bloglovin’ but I am now. Happy site redesign, and good luck with the hosting.
Ooooh, I love surprises! Your box image looks really cute. (:
Congrats on your lovely new design, and on going self-hosted! Iβve been following you in my RSS reader for quite a while.
Congratulations on your new look. I like it. I also really like your latest plaid creations as well. I was almost distracted from my blog reading to see if I have any suitable shorts patterns to use with my bit of plaid.
I have been following you for awhile on a RSS feeder, but I have added my email address to your list of subscribers.
I love
Sorry! Tablet typing doesn’t always go to plan…
What I was trying to say was that I love the new look and admire the change to self hosting. It’s an idea I toy with but am terrified of!
I’ve added my email to your subscriber list as I’m just too intrigued by a mystery!
I subscribe through Feedly – does that count. (I suspect I am a follower through bloglovin too, as I had more or less the same Feedly / Bloglovin feed, but never use Bloglovin)!
Well my lovely, I love surprises and mysteries. So fire away! Thanks for sharing you experiences. An inspiration for me
I am a bloglovin follower:)
I follow you through Feedly, and it looks like it’s worked just fine as all of your posts have come through! Not sure if that makes me eligible for your prize pack, but even if not, I thought you’d like to know that Feedly is still working.
I’m a Feedly follower, does that count?
Hello, I’m another Feedly follower, but I’ve also added you on my bloglovin’ feed so I can be entered into the exciting mystery prize draw. The new design looks great! And I now have “It’s a mystery” stuck in my head π
I love the mystery behind this giveaway. I have been following you on my blogger feed but I am also following on Bloglovin now too. Hope you will stick me in the hat. Also, I love your new woven lables!
I’m super proud of you! High five!! And what a compelling giveaway, oooooh mysterious!!
Ooh a giveaway! Yes please! I’m a feedly gal too βΊ, all subscribed x
I am subscribed via Bloglovin’ and I would love to win the giveaway!
love yoursite and am foolowng t by morrocco there i am i n France , hope can win you giveaway thank you
Thank you for following π