National DIY DAY Ambassador | Martha + Jane | Bristol, VA
Martha + Jane is a home decor and DIY blog, with an emphasis on how to incorporate children into your home and make it feel more lived in. I started it because I love to write, and I love to decorate and work with tools. What better way to combine all of that than a blog? I've got four young children, so I really wanted to focus on how they play in the entire house, how their artwork is displayed, and the fun memories we make by just allowing them to be kids in the house.
The most challenging part is realizing that my posts don't all have to be perfect. It's better to just be myself and be relatable & real than to spend too much time and in turn have fewer posts.
Please share your favorite creative quote:
One of my favorite bloggers, Brittany Hayes of Addison's Wonderland (who I was very fortunate to meet at last year's Haven Conference), said "there are riches in the niches"...meaning look for your specialty! I learned I don't have to cover so many different topics on my blog.
Please share a link to your most creative (or favorite) DIY or craft project blog:
http://www.marthajane.net/fun-funky-chandelier/
Can you tell us your biggest craft fail?
I'm the queen of little preparation. I'd rather just pretend to tape something off then start painting! That backfired in my garage when I didn't cover the floor properly. At the end of my project, it looked like a rainbow of colors! My children saw it and thought they could paint it too, so they took spray paint and sprayed it right onto the floor. Epic fail! But...great memories!
What is one piece of advice would you give someone wanting to start a blog or creative business:
There is no right or wrong with creativity. Go for it! Don't let fear of failure or what others might think get in the way.
Where do you get your creative inspiration?
Mostly from my artist grandmother, her ideas & the cool vintage pieces she left me. Also from found objects...I love brainstorming about uses for them other than what was intended!
What are you most excited about for National DIY DAY?
I think it's awesome that through National DIY DAY, people can see that everyone has a crafty person within! I hear so many people say they aren't crafty, but really anyone can learn to DIY on some level. And it's fun!
In 5 years, what is your goal for you and your blog?
I would love to have a full range of topics on my blog and be a trusted source for a how to on many different projects. I'd like to learn more DIY techniques myself. And I hope to increase my readership, while also making more connections in the blogging world.
Please share with us a fun fact about yourself:
I've been playing piano & golf since I was 5.
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