Tell us what motivate you to start
blogging. Were you following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you
started blogging?
It actually started with LiveJournal
years ago. Before Facebook’s infiltration - and probably before the word
“blogging” even became part of our vernacular - my cousin convinced me to start
an online journal as a way to keep in touch. There was a lot of emo clutter on LiveJournal, but there were also fashion
communities (Keiko was a member). It was fascinating to
see what was inside the closets of like-minded girls and discover new ways to
style everyday clothes. I was hooked.
I didn’t have fashion-loving friends
at the time, so I started a Blogger account and began writing a very
style-focused blog for nearly three years.
As the years passed and my interests evolved, the blog didn’t give me
the flexibility to write about what really inspired me. (Traffic plummeted when
I posted recipes or vacation photos.) Soon after, I was disenchanted. The thing
that was supposed to be a creative outlet was a chore.
In November 2011, my boyfriend Dave
introduced me to Tumblr and suggested that I just needed a fresh start. Bedknobs & Baubles (a playful nod to
Disney’s Bedknobs & Broomsticks) gives
me the opportunity to write about fashion and
the flexibility to write about whatever tickles my fancy. (Heck, Klout even
tells me that I’m influential in beer. Need a recommendation?)
Which blogs do you read every
day?
I may not be able to comment on
everything, but I am reading! There are hundreds of blogs in my Google
Reader – more than I could scroll through every day – but synching it to
Flipboard on the iPad was a huge time saver.
A couple of recommendations:
·
Laura Bear - Laura is a photographer and graphic designer,
which transform her blog into a charming escape
·
This Free Bird - Carrie keeps it hilariously real
When you do take outfit pictures, who
takes your pictures? Have you ever been caught in the act of taking these?
Dave is my in-house photographer for
outfit pictures. He's unbelievably patient when I review the images and notice
my dress is askew or a piece of hair curled under my chin and looks
suspiciously like a goatee.
I'm pretty skittish about taking outfit photos in public, unless we're downtown. Then I just act like a tourist ... a tourist who really likes to take photos of her purse artfully perched on a bench.
I'm pretty skittish about taking outfit photos in public, unless we're downtown. Then I just act like a tourist ... a tourist who really likes to take photos of her purse artfully perched on a bench.
What programs do you use to edit your
pictures?
I shoot with a Nikon D3100 with a 35mm prime
lens. I do minimal editing in Photoshop to adjust light fill, saturation, and
lens curvature, but I try not to tinker with it too much. I'd rather retake
photos than post a heavily edited picture.
Do people in real life know about
your blog? What were their reactions when they found out about your blog?
There’s a
stigma involved with fashion blogging that makes it feel inferior to other
hobbies. I’ve tried to keep Bedknobs & Baubles secret, but it’s impossible
when social media becomes more tightly integrated. The response has been
positive, but I do get a little embarrassed by it.
My favorite
reaction was from my dad: “What’s a blog? You make money on
that thing? How do I make money? I want a blog.” Alright, Dad, let’s put that
Google account to good use.
The small amount of money I’ve earned wasn’t enough to convince
Dad to actually start a blog.
A major part of your blog is about
finding those special pieces of jewelry - what draws you to these pieces, and
what is your #1 favorite piece of jewelry?
This must be how a mother feels when
asked who her favorite child is! I honestly can't single out a favorite gem. One
of my favorites is a Diane von Furstenberg bangle bracelet Dave surprised me
with for no particular reason. He sent me on a scavenger hunt through the
apartment (starting with the mailbox) to find it nestled in the dryer. Another
beloved piece is a pair of opal earrings from my parents. (The opals were
originally part of a ring that belonged to my grandmother.)
I don’t think you need to spend a lot
on a great piece of jewelry, but you do need to spend time sifting through the
cheap thrills to find a treasure (or, better yet, head to an antique store for
a real beauty). The best thing you can do to judge the quality of costume
pieces is to touch it. Are all of the rhinestones secure and intact? That’s a
good start. Is it surprisingly light? The rhinestones are probably plastic.
Pass on it, unless it’s truly a showstopper.
When I’m ready to spend some serious
money on a piece, it needs to be iconic, made of real stones, something I’ve
been daydreaming about for months and an item I can’t just find anywhere. I’ll
know it when I see it.
Putting yourself on the Internet
comes with the expectation that not everyone will always love what you are
wearing and writing. Have you encountered any of these criticisms, and if
so, how do you handle it?
I haven’t run into this yet. I’d be
hurt, but ultimately let it roll off my back. You can’t please everyone.
What has been the best thing to come
out of blogging?
There’s an amazing amount of
self-awareness that comes with blogging. I’ve become more aware of what I
purchase. I understand what motivated a shopping excursion. I’m conscious of
what is flattering on me. I’m better at identifying the missing links in my
wardrobe (although I’m still prone to an impulse purchase).
I’m most grateful for the sense of
community and the friends I’ve made along the way. I’m amazed at how much blog
friendships mean to me, even if we haven’t met yet! (I was lucky enough to meet
Lisa, one of my first blog friends, when I went to D.C. in
November.)
When it comes to promotion of your
blog, what methods do you use? Do you spend a lot of time commenting on other
blogs, pinning your looks, doing link ups?
Here’s the rundown:
·
Twitter: Post a link to the new post at
least once during the day.
·
Pinterest: Pin at least one photo from
the post.
·
Facebook: announce the new post on my
wall.
·
If it’s an outfit post, I’ll post to
Chictopia (but I’ve never generated traffic here) and add a photo to Instagram.
I joined the Lucky Community in hopes
that it would drive traffic. I get the impression that the other bloggers
featured are doing it for self-promotion rather than discovering new blogs. It
hasn’t impacted my traffic.
I wish I had more time in the day to
comment on blogs. It really is the best way to create a community of readers.
What tips or suggestions do you have
for your fellow bloggers?
You’ll be disappointed if you’re doing it for the money.
It’s easy to be jealous of other bloggers. Someone will
always have the newest Celine bag or Tibi skirt. Blogging is not worth going
into debt over. Stay within your budget and appreciate what you already own.
Get rid of the CAPTCHA comment verification. Pretty please?
Above all else, write about what you love and what inspires
you. Don’t ever let blogging feel like an obligation. If you’re not having fun,
what’s the point?
Thank you for the great pieces of advice Jessica, and all of your insights into blogging! Please make sure you go be inspired by Bedknobs and Baubles, and then come back next week to read about Maria from Dainty and Decadent!
