another fabulous sponsor to share with you today….lisa over at all things * jane! and her etsy shop. learn about her then go check her out!!
tell us a little bit about yourself:
I’m married to an amazing man, live in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN, love traveling, and am always dreaming up projects. Since opening my Etsy shop, my crafting projects have become more ambitious, especially since I love the idea of DIY anything. This includes crafting of all types, re-creating favorite restaurant dishes, canning my own garden vegetables, and finding inexpensive ways to transform our home.
what’s the story behind all things * jane?
I’ve always enjoyed creating things, typically working on various projects at once, and finding creative solutions to problems. When my husband asked me about my dreams on our honeymoon, the idea of having an Etsy shop and blog began taking form. I already had a problem to solve (how to pack my earrings when I travel), so I developed prototypes, then final products, then an Etsy store, and here we are!
what inspires you?
Oh, most anything! Sometimes it’s a moment, like when you feel you’ve had an epiphany and need to share it with the world. Other times it’s an attractive color combo or a cute piece of clothing. Creativity in any shape can be inspiring, so I try to keep my eyes open to handmade shops, fashion trends, beauty in nature, relationships, etc. because you never know what will strike a chord.
what’s your favorite part about your blog?
At the top of the list would be making connections with readers; reading comments always make me smile. Next would be supporting the handmade community via curating collections centered around various colors or themes. It’s really fun to help another handmade artist promote his/her work! And, finally, who doesn’t love having a reason to look at the world in a new way? Knowing I have posts to write has resulted in taking in each moment a little deeper, to see if maybe there’s a story there, or perhaps talent I’d like to highlight.
what’s the most challenging part?
Probably maintaining a specific focus while letting my personality shine through. My posts range from inspiration boards to cooking, promoting my Etsy shop to sharing personal ponderings, and I’m constantly trying to determine the right balance for my readers.
any advice for others who want to start a blog?
Just go for it! Read other blogs, take note of what you like, and leave comments. Don’t worry too much about a posting schedule, but do post as frequently as you can. Currently for me that’s about once a week, and while I’d like it to be more frequent, being stressed out about writing a blog post does not the writing very easy! Relax. Have fun.
any special goals you have set?
Ummm … maybe to set goals? :-) Seriously, I’m terrible with goals. The things I come up with are rarely measurable; I just want my blog to be the best it can be! I’d love to increase readership, to find a way to market my earring holders without being too sales-y, and to maaaybe include more photos of myself, but those are more notions than goals at the present time.
just for fun: what’s something that most people don’t know about you?
I have a weird obsession with Cracklin’ Oat Bran. It’s too expensive to buy, but I love to eat it, so I’ve been trying to develop an imitation recipe. It’ll make me famous. Or full. So far I’m leaning towards full.
while you check out her blog you should go ahead and check out her shop….which is on sale!! and wish her a happy birth month! :) thanks lisa!!
peace and love
xox
