Hello my lovelies and happy new year! I hope you had a great break. Mine was so relaxing. I think I had a nap on the sofa every single day over Christmas and New Year, which was just what I needed, then spent a wonderful week catching up with my mum when she came over to celebrate Kirby’s 4th birthday. But I’m back now and ready to crack on with 2015. It’s going to be such an exciting year. I have so many fun things planned for the blog and beyond and hope you’ll join me.
Celebrating 2014
The last couple of years I have written a list early in the new year celebrating my creative achievements over the past 12 months, but 2014 didn’t feel much like a facts and figures kind of year for me, so I’m not going to. It was a great year though. My word for the year was focus and I sure did. I spent a lot of time thinking, praying and journalling, working out who I am at my core and what the purpose of this blog really is. The answer was big, beautiful and exciting, but also kind of scary (in a good way).
Looking forward to 2015
Some years before I started blogging I posted a monthly newsletter online in English and Swedish. A friend helped me make my own website using Word and showed me how to update it using an FTP. It was a heck of a lot of work for not much feedback. When I gave up on the website someone suggested that I should start a blog instead, but I resisted for the longest time. I’m so happy I eventually changed my mind.
I have been blogging for about 6 years now and love it. It has changed my life in so many ways. I feel like I’ve grown into myself and who I am meant to be through the blog. What started as a simple tool to keep family up-to-date has gone through countless changes with me while I rediscovered my creativity, found my inner artist, and made the most awesome friends I never had the pleasure of meeting.
Over the last year, the way I view the blog has changed. It has become a vocation. In my heart it is less about me and more about you. So I want you to know what to expect when you come here.
This year I want to treat the blog more like a business so that I can plan my days and content better. I kind of fly by the seat of my pants at the moment and it’s not working. To get me started, I got this gorgeous planner
Blog plans:
These are just some of the things I have planned for the year.
* post more regularly
* write about all aspects of turning daily life into art (art and crafts, decorating, creative living and more)
* make more tutorials, including video based ones (which I’ve never done before)
* interview more inspiring women who celebrate the every day and turn their daily lives into art.
* publish a regular newsletter with bonus content
* make the blog more user friendly, and
* continue to improve my skills in various areas to make the blog experience nicer for you
What do you think?
I hope you’ll join me this year as I delve deeper into turning daily life into art. Happy 2015!
Happy New Year! Exciting times ahead for your blog. I have started a photo scrapbook so will be following along for ideas on journalling and embellishmentsx
Thanks Louisa! How fun! I can’t wait to see what you make of your photo scrapbook! xx
There’s nothing like a nice, relaxing holiday at home to recharge, and get ready for the new year. Your plans for 2015 sound great. To post more regularly is high up on my list too. I’ve written down my list of plans in my journal, but maybe should put them on my blog too, for more serious commitment. I might have to order a copy of that planner too, it looks great to get organised! I’ve always enjoyed visiting your blog, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of it this year. Happy New Year!
Oh yeah, blogging your goals do give you that extra push to get them done, I know that from the past. I’ll make sure to check out your blog if you post them 🙂
Do get it, it’s fantastic!
I think it’s wonderful! And I’m right there with you – nervous about the videos but know the importance! I’ll keep watching! I hope Kirby had a great birthday! xoxo
Thanks hun! Oh yeah, you have to make videos too- how fun! Would love to compare experiences with you. I’ll email you one day. xoxo
Wow Carin, it all sounds very exciting (and a lot of work!) Good Luck with it all, I can’t wait to see how it all comes together xx
Thanks Amanda! It’s going to be so much fun! xx
I think it sounds amazing. I get butterflies in my stomach when my thoughts turn to my own blog and it’s taken me a while to understand how passionate about it I am, and that I want it to be a vocation and not a hobby too. FTP sites? Wow- I can’t believe we used those and how much work they were! 🙂 Re: Planner – so I’m being a dork here, but I was using my SCW planner for my weekly to-dos and my other planner for all things related to my blog. But something feels off about it, so next month I might switch. lol
Re: what do I think? I think you rock. 🙂
I love that’s we’re walking down this road together Angie! You totally rock too! 🙂
And no, you are so not being a dork. I’m using the one I already had for all the family and day to day stuff, and the SCW one for blog and business plans. It works really well for that. I love that she gives us so much space to dream and plan! You know I love a good plan!
For some reason this road feels so scary – but good scary – and so, that probably means it’s right. It’s saying, are you going to take a chance on me, or what? 🙂
January has very much been a trial and error kind of month… working to get the systems in place so that there is more flow in the long run.
I am so so excited you’re going to be doing video! Hooray!!! Welcome to 2015, Carin.
Thanks Naomi!
Hello,
What a great post. There are so bits in your post that resonate with me. When I started out my blog was originally about my baby and the things we got up to during the average day. I too have through blogging found my creativity again. Like you I keep thinking about viewing it as a vocation rather than a hobby but struggle with the transition finding the time to dedicate on a daily basis. This is something I would really like to work on over the next few months.
Amy x
I have that struggle too Amy. I’m an extreme morning person, so I’m hoping that I can turn my mornings around to bulk write posts, but haven’t succeeded yet. x