DIY Classes, Networking, and Fun!

I know that most of you come to my blog to find DIY, home decor, creative projects and ideas. Some of you are fellow bloggers, but most of you are my long-time blog readers…. XO.

Today’s post is more for my fellow bloggers that are going to the Haven Conference in Charleston, SC or are thinking of purchasing a ticket to attend this year.

If you are not familiar with the Haven conference, it is a 3 day long conference held on July 12, 13, and 14th this year.

What could be more awesome for a design and decorating enthusiast then taking a trip to a fabulous city rich in history, design and architecture and getting to hang out with others who share the same passions as you?

The conference is mostly for decor, DIY, and craft bloggers, but it is open to anyone who loves creating a beautiful home.

I am a Haven mentor this year along with 18 other long time bloggers who know the blogging ropes and are willing to help out other bloggers in any way we can.

As a mentor, we were asked to answer a few questions and introduce ourselves this week in a Haven Mentor BlogHop so the attendees of the conference can get to know us.

So here it goes….

I have been blogging for almost 9 years now. When I first started I had a full-time job as a retail display designer, but after about a year into blogging, I quit that job to blog full-time.

For the first six and a half years, I shared projects I did around my previous home that was a center hall colonial in suburban Philadelphia.

Two and a half years ago, my husband Ed and I decided to make our dream of living in a house with a dock and a boat along the shores of a big lake come true and moved into a 1970’s fixer upper on the shores of Lake Murray in South Carolina.

I have posted all of the updates we have done to the house so far, but we still have more to do, especially on the exterior that we are currently working on. You can find all of them in my Project Gallery.

A little bit about my personal decorating style…

I like lots of white with pops of color.

Pom-poms make my heart go pitter-patter.

I can never have enough hydrangeas…

….and am not afraid to do things the unconventional way. Like paint my Formica kitchen counter to look like Carrara marble.

I feel blessed that I have been able to make a living sharing what I love doing while helping others find budget friendly decorating solutions for their home that they can be proud of.

What is your best advice for a blogger?

I named my blog, In My Own Style for one reason, I wanted to do it my way. That is what I suggest for any blogger, if we all had the same style, taste, likes and dislikes, what a boring world we would live in. The only way to stand out, is to be yourself.

Don’t let anyone tell you you’re supposed to do things a certain way. The one thing that you have that nobody else has…is you!  Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. Focus on your own efforts. Don’t be distracted by competition with others, and keep your eye on your goals.

What is your best advice for a new Haven Maven attendee?

It is always a bit overwhelming when you first walk into the hotel from your taxi ride from the airport and see many people and faces that you recognize, but have never met in person.  I remember my first blog conference, a well known blogger who I had never met saw me and came running up to me with open arms saying… “Diane, Diane. It is so nice to meet you”.

It was back in the beginning days of blogging and my blog. I had no idea anyone that even read my blog would be attending the conference. That blogger was Myra from My Blessed Life. She doesn’t blog much anymore, but I will always remember her and how her wonderful greeting made me feel instantly welcome and part of this crazy amazing thing called blogging.

So if you see someone you recognize, even if you don’t recognize them, go up and greet them with open arms. We are all on this crazy wonderful blogging ride together. It is OK, they are not going to think you are weird or a stalker, just a fellow blogger who is just as excited as they are to be surrounded by a couple hundred people that are as passionate about everything house and home related. People that love home decor and a fabulously creative DIY project. People that understand the frustration of web site issues, getting the perfect photo for a post, Pinterest algorithm changes, and everything that being a blogger entails.

Another way to meet other attendees when you don’t know anyone yet, is to look up the bloggers attending the conference by state. There is usually a wall with a map at the conference where you can place your business card on the state you are from.  See who is from your area and seek them out. If they live close by, you can arrange a meet up in the future when you get home so you have someone local to talk about all things blogging. You may just become lifelong friends.  So don’t hold back.

Who are YOU most excited to see/meet at Haven this year?

Everyone and that includes you. Don’t be shy, come and meet me and the other mentors and have your blogging questions ready.

Next up on the Haven Mentor Blog Hop is Beth from Home Stories A to Z.

1. Charlotte with At Charlotte’s House
2. Sheila with Maison de Cinq
3. Liz Marie with Liz Marie Blog
4. Haneen with Haneen’s Haven
5. Erin with Erin Spain
6. Stacey with Not Just a Housewife
7. Katie & Jeremy with Bower Power
8. Brooke with All Things Thrifty
9. Sarah with Thrifty Decor Chick
10. Brittany with Pretty Handy Girl
11. Aniko with Place of my Taste
12. Lauren with Blesser House
13. Diane with In My Own Style
14. Ashley & Jamin with The Handmade Home
15. KariAnne with Thistlewood Farms
16. Courtney with French Country Cottage
17. Beth with Home Stories A to Z
18. Laura with Duke Manor Farm
19. Debbie with Refresh Restyle