DIY Network

Hello Sweepstakes-Loving Bloggers,

Sometimes lost amidst the hype of the sweepstakes run (which lasts appx. 6 weeks) and the launch of the panoramic 360-degree tour are the valuable how-to projects that ride alongside all the other Blog Cabin features.

Projects range from the standard-but-extremely-popular How to Install Bathroom Tile to the practical-and-still-somewhat-seasonal How to Build a Screened-In Back Porch to the fun and family-friendly How to Build a Treehouse.

Editor extraordinaire Mary has also created a handy spot where all Blog Cabin projects reside, which you can find here. And of course there is the Best of the Best Photo Gallery collection with high-quality images from all rooms and exteriors – and a handful of guest host/expert videos to watch.

One more thing: I don’t have to remind you to enter for your chance to win, right? Every day between now and October 2.

Cheers!

Watson, DIYnetwork.com Manager

Hello Diehard Bloggers,

What a long, strange trip it has been. But finally, at long last, we can reveal to you the 360-degree room tour for Blog Cabin 2009! Take a virtual tour of the rooms and exteriors (and be sure to use the handy interactive floor plan on the right), flip through tons of slide shows, watch videos and, of course, be sure to enter for your chance to win.

Remember, you can enter once daily through October 2. And here’s a tip: once you’ve entered all your information the first time, every subsequent entry only requires your email address (and email confirmation). So it’s easy to revisit the site and drop in an entry.

And I’m sure you have invited your friends over to watch the premiere of Blog Cabin: Back to the Mountains tonight (Thursday, Aug. 20) at 9pm/8c, right? Right?? Then just watch Thursdays @ 9.

I want to express from the bottom of my heart how grateful I am for you guys hanging in there while we remodeled DIYnetwork.com. Our resources were (and are) stretched to the max, and we had to make some tough choices along the way.

But with the new site up and running (do you guys like it?), we’re sure that Blog Cabin will build on its success – thanks to the bedrock bloggers we have here.

Good luck everyone – I hope you win it!

Watson, DIYnetwork.com Manager

Hello Bloggers,

Next in our mini-series of guest bloggers (preceded by licensed contractor Matt Blashaw) is carpenter Marc Bartolomeo, host of DIY Network’s Kitchen Impossible:

“My time at the jobsite of this year’s Blog Cabin was in a word … interesting (and muddy!!). The drive alone up to the property - which is on a 2,000 acre land preserve nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains was an 8.8 mile, 25-minute drive off the main road to the Cabin …

Read More

We’ve heard from rugged DIY Network host Matt Blashaw of Project Extreme and Deconstruction who was kind enough to recount his experience at the Blog Cabin:”The cabin this year is going to be awesome. All of your voting and comments have really contributed to turning it into someplace amazing.”The drive to the cabin alone was absolutely gorgeous! There are tons of trees and streams that look like a picture from a postcard. When I got to the entrance of the property, I saw that there is a guarded gate (a little added privacy never hurt anyone). So, not only will one of you get an amazing cabin, but also added security as well. You will be living like a king!
Read More

Hello Trusty Blogcabinites,

Update (6/4/2009): Our Editor Extraordinaire Mary Graff has spotlighted Blog Cabin guest carpenters Ryan James Heryford and Allen Crawford. Both have interesting stories and we couldn’t be happier with their involvement in making Blog Cabin a success. More spotlights of special guests to come. 

Update (5/22/2009): Brand-spanking new slide show for your review from North Carolina – with several photos taken by yours truly. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend everyone!

Please take a look at our latest Blog Cabin progress report in the form of a time-lapse video! This video will live in the Blog Cabin Videos area of the Blog Cabin Central page that you’ve come to know and love.

In addition to the interior and exterior photos we’ve added to the site, along with the Builder Q&A with Phillip Richardson, we’re actually starting to get some solid content in here. But it doesn’t stop there.

You can anticipate more slide shows in the future as well as video interviews with some of the Blog Cabin experts – so stay tuned!

Cheers,

Watson, DIYnetwork.com Manager