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.
- Charlotte with At Charlotte’s House
- Sheila with Maison de Cinq
- Liz Marie with Liz Marie Blog
- Haneen with Haneen’s Haven
- Erin with Erin Spain
- Stacey with Not Just a Housewife
- Katie & Jeremy with Bower Power
- Brooke with All Things Thrifty
- Sarah with Thrifty Decor Chick
- Brittany with Pretty Handy Girl
- Aniko with Place of my Taste
- Lauren with Blesser House
- Diane with In My Own Style
- Ashley & Jamin with The Handmade Home
- KariAnne with Thistlewood Farms
- Courtney with French Country Cottage
- Beth with Home Stories A to Z
- Laura with Duke Manor Farm
- Debbie with Refresh Restyle
Rich in content, specific, every point is very good, is to this article, thank you. By the way, could you see our goods, you will like it.
Diane, would you recommend Haven for someone just getting ready to start a blog, or would it be better to wait to have a little blogging experience under your belt?
Hi Kim – Yes – Go as a newbie! It would be perfect for a newbie. Learning about how to be a blogger before you start will save you time and mis-steps. I wish there were blogging conferences when I first started 9 years ago.
Congrats on being a mentor, and thank you for sharing your advice and experiences. I’ll be attending my first Haven in July and so looking forward to the experience! Hope to meet you, too!
Thank you so much for this post! I’m heading to Haven for the first time this year and I am SO nervous so your insight and enthusiasm make me feel a bit more at ease! I’m also crazy excited at the same time to meet you and all of the amazingly talented people who will be there! Can’t wait!
Hi Colleen – No need to feel nervous…. excited yes as you will enjoy the conference, learn a lot and meet new friends as well as make contacts with sponsors to work with in the future. Looking forward to meeting you. If you see me, don’t be shy. See you soon.
I haven’t had a minute to read any blogs lately and had no idea your oldest was getting married! Boy you are gonna be wedding busy this month! Can’t wait to see all the pics-I’m sure it’ll be incredible!
Just signed up for HAVEN last night…and I am thrilled you are a mentor. Yours is one of the blogs I read every post, and could only hope to have you as my mentor! Thrilled to get to go to Charleston and be surrounded by so much talent. Since I am a wedding venue owner, and we do all southern style, all inclusive weddings, I will surely be watching to see what all you share with your son’s wedding. Busy summer for us all…..HUGS!
Diane, you are amazing! To be posting when your daughter will be getting married in a few weeks, well, I am in awe! I know how crazy a time it can be even though for me it was my son, but his now wife was so wonderful and we did a lot of things together to get ready for their wedding. She was so gracious to include me in all the fun! That was 9 years ago and since then I think of her as my daughter, not DIL.
I don’t think I will be able to make that conference this year, but it sounds like great fun! I’m just starting out and trying to find my way through this unknown world of blogging. I have already met some wonderful bloggers, you included that have helped me with questions I have had and support. I want to thank you for your comments about the Beyond paint and that I was very happy with the results.
So to you, I say, have fun, enjoy every minute of the upcoming wedding and I know you will have some sweet memories and photos to share!