Featured Blogger Interview: Patricia of A Little Hut
October 29, 2009 | By
Welcome to another installment of our Featured Blogger Interview series! This week, we were lucky enough to get a chance to talk with Patricia, the artisan behind ALittleHut.Blogspot.com. Patricia’s blog has been so popular she was able to publish a book about her art after being discovered on her blog. Let’s have a look at what she has to say!
For our readers new to your blog, please tell us a little bit about yourself and your blog, A Little Hut.
I’m a mom, wife and an independent graphic designer. I love working with paper and I’m the author of Home, Paper, Scissors: Decorative Paper Accessories for the Home. I started my blog four and a half years ago. I was inspired by the craft blogs that I was starting to find and after a bit of indecision I decided to jump in. I mostly blog about my handmade projects, which primarily use paper and graphics that I’ve designed myself. I also have a running series of tutorials using recyclable materials.
How did you come to creating and selling online?
I’ve always enjoyed making handmade projects because they give me time away from the computer-related work that I do. One day I decided that I wanted to earn additional income with my handmade work. I started my business with handmade note cards and have gradually expanded to wall art, printables and decorative paper goods.
How do you go about finding new talented artists to interview?
I find the artists that I interview through other blogs that feature their work and occasionally through Etsy.
You’ve been pretty good about posting a new blog entry almost every day, do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, how do you overcome it?
I go experience writer's block more often than I care to admit. But I don’t really have a set formula on how to overcome it—anything, even the unexpected can help. Sometimes I back away and give myself a couple of days off. Other times I just read some of my favorite blogs and magazines to find inspiration through the articles I read. A quick peek through my own sketchbook has also been a good source for blog posts and tutorials. On occasion even my own children have provided me the spark of inspiration that I had been missing.
Between your multiple websites, Etsy shop, family, blog, and paper art how do you find balance?
I struggle with finding balance all the time, but it's getting easier. I used to be undisciplined about following a to-do list, but I have definitely changed my ways. Organization is definitely key. I am very fortunate that I can work from home and that my kids are now old enough to be in school for most of the day. I work while they are away, and the minute I pick them up in the afternoons I'm in 'Mom-mode' the rest of the evening. I'm a night owl at heart, so any work related items that I'm not able to complete during the day are taken care of after the kids are in bed. It's a struggle to keep your business 'closed', when it's only a few steps away, but I try my very best not to let my work get in the way of our family time.
I understand you recently published a book about your paper artwork (congratulations!). Do you have any advice for fellow artisans hoping to publish a book of their own someday?
If you don't have a blog start now. That's how my work was ‘discovered’ and how I ended up with a contract in my hands. Once you have a blog going, try to put your best foot forward when posting and above all stay true to yourself. You never know who's out there reading. You may not think that a book is in your future but you really never know—I certainly didn't.
You regularly post downloads, tutorials, and projects on your blog. Do you feel it’s become important for bloggers to offer more content for free?
In the crafting community, I think it has become somewhat of a norm but I don't think it's necessarily mandatory. Obviously, it's a choice. I share my projects because I enjoy to do it. I also feel like it's a small way of thanking those that come and visit my corner of the blogging community. It's up to each blogger to decide what they'd like to do and what they’d like to offer. As with many things in life, there are many approaches and no particular way is best.
What’s a fun fact most readers don’t know about you?
Every once in a while, there are days when we feel like raising the volume of the music really high for a few minutes. My husband, our two kids and I proceed to dance all over the place. We've always wondered what someone would think if they walked in on such a sight.
Last but not least, why do you believe that supporting handmade and indie is important?
We all work hard to earn a living. So, I think it only makes sense to pass on the fruits of our own labor directly to someone that is working just as hard as we are. The inherent value there is beyond compare and having the opportunity to make that choice is an additional treat in itself. Aside from that, we all know that quality handmade work is created with great care and attention to detail that is incomparable to manufactured goods.
Thank you Patricia for your interview! If you’d like to get to know Patricia, check out her blog, A Little Hut.
Sara Moore is the Head of the Content Department on ArtFire.com.
All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior
written permission of HandmadeNews.org.
