Hi everyone! If you’re headed here from the most amazing person ever, Thistlewood, we’re so glad you’re here!
We’re so thrilled to be teamed up with this fun group of writers, bloggers and influencers for Haven this year, as mentors.
If you’re not familiar with Haven, it’s a DIY blogging conference, for bloggers of all spectrums from designers to woodworkers, and everything in between. When it comes to websites, if you’re ready to get your feet wet or diving in head first on your eleventh year… there’s something for everyone. From enriching classes to inspiring keynotes and awesome sessions with mentors… It’s a great chance to network, make some honest to goodness friends, and learn in ways you never imagined. It’s time to be inspired, y’all.
This year, we’re honored to announce that we’ll be mentors.
{Yes, that is the best photo we could muster – though I do think it’s totally us.}
Today, we’re a part of a little mentor blog hop that will be going on all week. So if you’ve never stopped by, this is a great chance to share with all of you! And if you stop by regularly, bless your sweet soul for sticking with us. We think you’ll enjoy a bit of this, {if just to laugh at us} as well.
So without further ado, a few fun questions:
1. How many years have you been blogging?
Honestly, it’s hard to put a finger on the exact date we began, because this little gig started out as a mom blog circa 2005. I know, right? In the world of being at home with my first child, I was the pioneer amongst my friends, and basically, lonely. Blogging was this pretty new, shiny thing where I shared about poop and choking on waffles.
I know. It was riveting. If I could show you our original header, I would…
Oh wait. You’re welcome.
Yes, I was {The ORIGINAL} Supa Blogga Supreme Mama. I have no idea why I wrote ‘original’… I think that it made this gig sound important or something. We’ll go with the or something bit.
I know you’re experiencing so much secondhand embarrassment for me right now.
I was an unemployed designer looking for a project so it slowly evolved into tackling our house. Which bloomed into something full time around 2010? Jamin, joined the ranks around 2013 full time, and we never looked back. {Okay. We probably looked back quite a few times, wondering if we’d lost our everlovingminds… but the rest is history.} Three kiddos {the oldest is now 11}, a complete relocation to a new state to start over, a total rehab and expansion of our business later… and we’re kinda fond of our little started-in-the-garage-painting-furniture roots.
While we love to write here, we’ve now expanded our businesses to renovation and design services for clients in Nashville, an online shop where we carry some of our exclusive designs, and much more. We’ve enjoyed every minute {even the hard parts} of the journey.
2. What is your favorite DIY project that you have completed?
It’s so hard to pick. This past year, we just took on a full time rehab of an entire house, which we affectionately refer to as the money pit. We think this totally counts since we took it on, and our company now offers design and renovation services in Nashville . {We’re about to start phase two!}
But that’s probably up for debate since I didn’t actually build these cabinets by hand {we wear a lot of hats with what we do}. I’m going to go 100% DIY which is the handmade hideaway. Probably our all time, classic fave of ours. Just because it has been so inspiring to see so many amazing people over the years recreate their own versions {+ more here}
For us, that’s the essence of our website and why we share: Seeing people come together to accomplish some amazing things. Creating joy for their own families… To inspire, and in turn, be inspired. Ps- Be sure to check out the hashtag here for some awesome shares on insta! We love our readers. Truly.
Our kids are bigger now, so we have Handmade Hideaway 2.0 in the works right now – stay tuned!
Okay. And one more.
Another super recent project {in the house side of things} would be our children’s shared space. We knew we had to be creative and smart with our space planning, and knew that they would be sharing a room for a while. I love it so much, I never want them to grow up. From the art to the fabrics and wallpaper, we were thrilled for this little labor of love. It reflects them and us, and they love it.
3. What is something useful you have learned from a blog conference?
The first time I went to a blog conference, I was star struck. I even fumbled over myself to meet my favorite bloggers. No lie. I was THAT girl. Looking back, it kind of makes me laugh because while people were super gracious, everyone is just a person doing their thing. Conferences can be tricky and intimidating on the surface. You can feel like you’ve shown up, with your business cards and cute outfit and matching shoes you over-thought because you want to make friends and be presentable {and let’s face it… you don’t get out much}. Oh wait, is that just me?
But it can be totally nerve-wracking. Here’s something to take away today if you’re a writer, looking to put yourself out there, and a conference scares you: Don’t let it be intimidating. Because here’s a little secret… everyone else, whether they want to admit it or not, pretty much feels the same way. There’s this element to just going for it and being yourself, and that’s freeing. Put yourself out there, and stretch beyond your comfort zones. You may find connections and friends in the most unexpected of places. It’s a great way to meet new people and learn.
At the end of the day, every time we leave a conference, we walk away with some new gems in our back pocket. Look at every moment as a chance to grow, and a lesson to be learned. Glean from that experience, and cherish it for what it is. You’ll be inspired… and so glad you put yourself out there.
4. What is something you love about blogging and what is something you wish you could change?
Blogging has become the platform for our business, and offered us some amazing opportunities. It’s humbling to see how far we’ve come, and honestly, how far we still have. In a way, we’re still in that young fledgeling phase, because things keep changing, and our business does, too. It’s changed our family and us as a couple, in personal ways we won’t ever forget and it’s been one crazy ride.
We love the aspect of connecting with others, through this world of the www. As it is with all things, this format will continue to change and evolve with time. Because of the surge of social media and the over-saturation of things, some of that deeper connection has been lost over time. We live in a fast-click society where people want immediate info through social media channels. We’ve built a community here over the years, and it’s hard not to feel a disconnect because of this saturation. I do believe, however, that people are still in search of that.
Sometimes, it’s hard to embrace changes but all good companies must grow and evolve and change with the times. We only hope to continue a deeper connection with our own readership, and that they stick around. I think that’s why a conference is important. It helps you keep your finger on the pulse, if you will. It’s important to be flexible, and be willing to grow with it.
5. What is one piece of advice you would offer a blogger–new or otherwise–who is going to Haven?
I got irrationally nervous at a recent event we were attending. A good friend who knows me well, looked at me in the middle of the event and said this: “Ashley, this is like, ten seconds of our lives, okay?” She made me laugh out loud. It’s all about perspective. You may hear a lot of chatter over the next few months on what to do and what to take. For example, every year, I kind of freak out over the media kit thing when people start posting on Facebook pages about them. We’ve been doing this for eleven {twelve? – I’ve lost count} years, and we still don’t have a media kit. Perspective. It’s just not worth the stress.
We say take some business cards, and just be yourself. Take a media kit, if that’s what you have, and just be yourself. Just be yourself.
Take a deep breath. It will be a long weekend, and you’ll be mentally exhausted at the end, but seize every opportunity you can to just spend time with others and enjoy it. You may even have a moment where you breathe deeply into a paper bag, whilst hiding in your room. We call it the ‘conference meltdown’, and while the illustration may be a tad dramatic, the need to decompress a bit is totally normal. It’s a lot to be “on” all the time, so be patient with yourself. I wish someone had told me that.
You’re going to have a great time. Don’t worry about the rest. And for what it’s worth, if you don’t have anyone else to sit with, come sit with us. I mean, come sit by us, anyway. Because we’re fun and stuff. Jamin won’t be hard to miss because he’s tall and not a woman. I’m shorter, and will probably be in the near vicinity, awkwardly tossing the conversation ball. Just come say hey and we can chat it up. We can’t wait to meet you.
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Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Next up, we have one of my personal faves: Traci from Beneath My Heart! Be sure to drop on by!
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If you’d like more information about Haven, head over to their website to see what all the excitement is about!
The rest of the mentors participating this week:
Monday: Southern Hospitality / Jennifer Rizzo / Chaotically Creative
Tuesday: Life on Virginia Street / Just A Girl / French Country Cottage / Maison de Pax
Wednesday: Thistlewood Farms / The Handmade Home / Beneath My Heart / That’s My Letter / Sweet Tea, LLC
Thursday: Centsational Girl / Mom4Real / Cedar Hill Farmhouse / The Lettered Cottage/ Shades of Blue Interiors
Friday: The Inspired Room / Beauty and Bedlam / The Kim Six Fix / Shabbyfufu
Amanda @ Love & Renovations says
I’m SO excited you guys are going to be mentors last year! My husband and I go to the conference together, so it’s exciting to see other couples there. Can’t wait to meet y’all! 🙂
ashley @ the handmade home says
Yay! We can’t wait to meet you!
Cindy Richter says
Wow, just reading this post got my pulse racing! A little because as a very new blogger I want to go something awful but mostly because I’ll be that girl breathing into a bag, sitting in the corner remembering you said to come sit close to y’all but my feet not being able to move. Thank you for the encouraging words. I seriously hope I get the gumption to buy the tickets!
And what?!?! I’m supposed to have business cards? Why? Am I missing something? I’m such a noob.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hahaha you’re definitely not alone! The business cards comment was meant to be helpful- it’s to help people remember who they met at these things. The group events get crowded and you meet so many people, it can be easy to forget – so with other bloggers and sponsors there, it helps them remember who you are and associate your name with the website. I hope that helps! Get a ticket! You can sit with me ????????
Bonnie says
Ashley, I’m not a blogger but I wish I was going to this conference just so I could meet you, Jamin, and KariAnne and give you a hug. I absolutely love getting your emails and your DIY suggestions. I think all of you are just great!! Please keep being real 🙂 You are all inspiring to me.
ashley @ the handmade home says
You are so sweet, Bonnie. Well get yourself a ticket anyway! You might really enjoy the classes HA! You are a real live encourager, and I can’t tell you how amazing that is. Thank you for your kind words.
Danielle says
Excited to see you guys at Haven this year and loved learning more about your blogging journey.
Lola says
Thank you for sharing these key lessons – I really value #5 so thanks again.
Kylie says
Hi Ashley and Jamin,
Seeing the photo of you sitting in front of the pool reminds me of our first house. When the pool was drained there were 8 cane toads living in the bottom (ewww!) I’m very excited to be attending my first Haven conference this year. Looking forward to meeting everyone. Thanks Kylie