Featured Blogger Interview: CurlyPops
March 15, 2010 | By
After discovering CurlyPops a short while ago, I decided it was a far too fun blog to pass up sharing with readers. Happily, I was able to interview artisan behind CurlyPops (who has goes by the name) for the Featured Blogger Interview this week. Let’s take a minute to learn from her experience blogging and crafting.
Please tell us a little bit about yourself and CurlyPops.
CurlyPops initially began purely by accident. I'd always loved to make things, but didn't have much spare time for it while I was working full time. When I decided to cut back on my working hours, a work colleague who knew that I was crafty gave me a newspaper article about crafty blogs. It all of a sudden opened up a whole new world. I starting reading other crafty blogs for about six months before I decided to take the plunge and begin my own In January 2008....now I've written over 1000 posts.
I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to use CurlyPops as my blog name. It's a nickname that my dad gave me when I was a little girl (as I had straight hair). I think it's sort of cute and crafty and it's just fun, and now I even answer to the name CurlyPops!
I would describe myself as an eclectic crafter. Although I do have some items that I make on a constant basis, I'm more likely to just make whatever I feel like on a particular day.
How long has it taken you to establish yourself in the artisan community?
I was very lucky that my hometown of Melbouren has lots of crafty bloggers, so I was able to meet them in person from the very beginning. The craft community was amazingly open and welcoming, so even though I'm quite shy in real life, I still found it easy.
After beginning the blog in 2008, I started selling online after a few months. I then started selling at craft markets and in retail shops in 2009.
Did you have any experience writing and blogging before starting Curly Pops?
I had little experience with writing and no experience with blogging prior to starting CurlyPops.
I'd been working for a manufacturing company and had written lots of technical type documents such as Standard Operating Procedures and Safe Work Procedures. I still find it difficult to 'let go' of that pure 'straightforward and non waffle' type of writing, and try to write more creatively. It's quite funny to go back to the beginning of the blog to see just how my writing style has changed in that time.
How much time do you devote to your blog (promoting, writing, etc) every week?
I probably spend up to 10 hours per week blogging - that includes taking and editing photos, writing posts, responding to emails etc. I try to add a post each and every day, so it's really just part of my daily routine. Headings and ideas for blog posts pop into my head constantly. The trick is to remember them!
I don't really actively promote my blog, but I do use it to promote my online shop and my market stalls.
What’s an easily avoidable mistake you feel new bloggers commonly make?
I don't really think that there are any mistakes. My only advice is to have fun with it. I wouldn't like it if my blog started to feel like it was too much like hard work.
The best blogs are written by bloggers who are just being themselves. I just write about what I do and what I make—it's like a little online diary of every crafty creation that I've ever made.
Do you have any promotional techniques for your blog or business you could share with us?
I'm not so great at marketing myself, but I think the best thing is to connect with other likeminded bloggers, visit lots of other blogs and find your favourites, leave nice and thoughtful comments, and try to connect in real life too if you can. Don't try to be like the other bloggers, just be YOU.
Joining a craft group is also another great way of connecting with the crafty community, and a wonderful way of sharing tips and advice.
What’s a fun fact most readers don’t know about you?
I usually blog in my pyjamas (moccasins optional)! I can't live without eating chocolate and drinking raspberry cordial every day.
Last but not least, why do you believe that supporting handmade and indie is important?
Buying handmade and indie is a great way to not only support likeminded crafty people, but also to help the economy. There are a multitude of full time small businesses, part-time businesses, and stay at home mums who work really hard to provide beautiful handmade creations. It takes community support to sustain these small businesses.
I know that when I buy handmade, the entire shopping experience provides me with so much more joy than if I had just bought something from large retail chain. I also love to give handmade items as gifts, as I usually get to tell the gift recipient a little back story about the maker, and why I chose to buy the item for them.
Sara Moore is the Head of the Content Department on ArtFire.com.
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