My Blogging Journey (So Far)

“Your path is beautiful and crooked and just the way it should be.”

Today, I wanted to pause and take a moment to reflect.

I love sharing tutorials and recipes and pretty pictures, but today I wanted to share a little bit more. Today, I wanted to share my heart. I’m sharing my blogging journey (so far).  I’ve been wanting to write this for quite some time and now I feel I can’t ignore the words that want to come out.

I started Finding Silver Pennies over four years ago – it was four years ago August 4th to be exact – at the time I was seeking a creative outlet.  I didn’t really know what a blog was but religiously followed Layla over at The Lettered Cottage ( I was first drawn in by her fireplace in their first house). Anyway, I really wanted to write and I wanted to journal our life.  I went to hear Jamie Cat Callan speak at Buttonwood Books, a local bookstore, and she said, “If you want to write, then you should blog.” Blogging could help hone skills and also give you an audience.

So this got me to thinking.  Hmmm, a blog.

Is that what I should do?  At this point Conor was 2 and John was 5 and I’d hurt my knees and was unable to go to yoga / pilates.  My husband decided he was going to start a blog, to get me to start one.  You can see his here (but he hasn’t posted as much as me  😉 )  Anyway, being the competitive person I am, I said to Luke, “Oh, well, I’m going to start one too.” and I did that day.  We actually started on the same day together.  It was just the motivation I needed.

I called the blog Finding Silver Pennies after my Silver Pennies poetry book.  My mom gave me the book when I was a little girl and I love the poetry.  You can sometimes see it in blog photos:

Here is my first post.   I still remember hovering my finger over the “publish” button.  I was soooooo scared, but that first leap it was the best because that one choice has opened up a whole world to me.  Each day I get to chat to you all and be creative and write.

In the beginning, I wrote EVERY day. I thought I had to or the few people following might be upset.  Ha! Ha!  To those people who were early followers (Luke, Dad, Mom and a few others), thank you for reading those posts.  If it weren’t for their encouragement and comments. I may have given up.

I think my writing was okay, but my photography was soooooo bad.  BAD, BAD, BAD.  If you go back and look at old posts you’ll see what I mean.  I had a point and press camera or I’d just use my phone and put a funky filter on. The images on the blog were tiny.  I didn’t know about sizing.  I didn’t know about DSLR cameras, manual settings or photo editing.  Over time my photography has improved.  I wouldn’t say I’m a photographer, but things have improved in that department.  I really love my camera and experimenting and I shared some tips I’ve learned here.

Anyway, I guess my point is ignorance is bliss. I didn’t know how bad certain aspects were but like an artists, their first works of art might not be their best.

Blogging is a journey.

It is a learning process, one filled with self discovery.

Through my blog, I discovered my passion for painting furniture.  I love sharing tips and tricks and all our before and afters. This post is still one of my top posts, click here.

I’m currently working on an ebook of all I’ve learned over the last few years of working on different pieces, trying different paints and faux finishes.  I’m really excited about this.  It is not something I would have thought of when I hit publish that first time.

Having the blog has been quite liberating.  We don’t have a huge budget for room makeovers so I’ve been able to use thrifted finds or use what I have and recreate them with paint or sometimes we’ve even built our own furniture like our outdoor patio set click here.

Over the years, I’ve found my decorating style.  I’d say it is a hybrid of Coastal New England and British.  I find the ocean so calming from the tranquil blues to the sound of the tide.  All I have to do is see it and instantly my worried mind becomes calm.  I also have a love for England, where I lived for 5 years and where my husband is from.  In our home, the sea is ever present from coastal colors, decorative elements, maps or images of ships.  The UK is also present – with the British flag featured on some pieces.  I also have some English artwork and antiques.  So I look back of pictures from our first home and I see just how much my style has changed and been refined.

The blogging path is not straight.

My journey has had twists and turns (as it should).  My blog has grown slowly but I’m really so happy about this because it has given me time to get better.  To give more to my readers.  Everything I write about and share I believe.  I have to love something to share it with you – whether it be a recipe, a product or a craft.

The growth of the blog has brought so many opportunities that I would never have imagined when I started it.  Some highlights include:

Meeting my blogging friends at conferences in the US and Canada.  It truly is amazing to meet my online friends in person.

Magazine features, including the BHG feature (click here) and the Matthew Mead’s Upcycled Style Feature (click here and here).

Taking part in the World’s Longest Yard Sale with GMC to furnish a home for Habitat for Humanity. This was an amazing and humbly experience.

Hosting Open Studios at my  home and being the featured artist at Kjeld Mahoney Photography.

Touring the HGTV Dream Home in Martha’s Vineyard.  I got so many coastal ideas.

Contributing ideas and projects to Royal Design Studio’s online magazine – Paint + Pattern

Creating a She Shed with Home Depot in our backyard this summer.  I couldn’t have created this dream space without the help of my husband.

Successes and failures.

Sometimes, I think people only see the successes.  I mean that is what we celebrate in society, right?  But the failures are so important too.  I’ve had so, so, so many “failures”.  My first show at the Scituate Yacht Club was a failure.  I was so excited as this was the first time people were seeing what I made and the furniture I painted.  I sold three pillows, I think.  Sigh.  I tried renting a space in an antique mall for 6 months in Plymouth and some months I couldn’t cover the rent.  I remember, moving all my furniture out after 6 months on a wet, rainy day, loading everything back on the truck.  Thinking I failed.  Why can’t I make this work?  Why do other bloggers’ furniture sell and mine doesn’t?

But you see my furniture did sell and was successful later on.  I just had to find the right audience. The right audience, for me, was custom work (which I don’t do so much of now) and open studios from my home.  I think people (friends and blog readers) really wanted to come and visit.  You wanna know what?  I love having people visit.  We’re thinking of doing another sale this spring.  Some painted furniture, some custom built and designed stuff and some vintage finds I use for staging. I’ll keep you all posted on this.

Over the years the focus of the blog has shifted a little bit and I feel it shifting a little bit more. Don’t worry, just a little bit.  I started Finding Silver Pennies because I wanted a creative outlet.  But what I realized too is my readers are fiercely creative and want a creative outlet too.  It is my goal with my little corner of the blogland to share in a positive way.

• Do you want to start a blog?  Yes, then do it!
• Do you want to start painting furniture?  Okay, let’s start!
• What about that little voice in your head that wants to tell a story?  Start writing your story.
• Do you want to take an art class?

What do you want?

I want to write and share all of this that is my heart.  ALL of it.

But I know, I really know there is creativity in all of you out there who read the blog.  I want to help you find that creative spirit in yourself and tap into it.  I hope the new series on the blog are helping with this. Creativity Over Coffee where I introduce you to a friend and that amazingly talented writer, photographer, furniture painter, blogger shares their personal story has been so successful.  You can read all the interviews here.  I love reading how people I admire got to where they are now.

Inspiring Spaces is another series where I share places and spaces that are just so inspiring. A schooner, a boutique shop, the ocean, the woods.  Spaces that speak to my creative soul. You can see this series here.  I’m excited to share even more spaces this year.

The more creative you are the more creative ideas you’ll have.

This is so true.  I never am at a loss for a project or things to write to you because the more I do, the more I want to do.

Phew!  This has kind of been a rambling post. Sorry.

But here are the key things I’ve learned from blogging:

Sometimes you don’t know where you’re going until you start. Many people write to me and say they want to start a blog or a business.  What do I say back?  Start.  You simply must begin to find where you’re going.  Sometimes you have to go down a dead end to get where you need to be but you needed that “dead end” experience for a lesson.

Find your tribe. DIY bloggers are very giving with their time and their knowledge.  Of course, you find a few along the way that maybe aren’t as authentic as you thought from their blog.  I’ve made so many amazing friends through my blog. I don’t see them all the time, but I talk to most of them every day through the internet.  We share what is working on our blogs or projects we’re having a hard time with or maybe it is just a shout out to say we’re having a bad day. When we do see each other it is like a high school reunion. Well, I haven’t ever been to one but thinking that is what it would be like.

Funks are okay and so are breaks. EVERYONE gets in a funk.  Actually, I was feeling like I was in a bit of a funk when the kids went back to school.  But sometimes you just need a break and to get back on track.  It is okay to go on vacation and leave your blog for a bit.

Improve your skills or try new things. Life is too short not to try. I took up painting furniture. At first I didn’t know what I was doing and I took a class and I learned some tips.  Recently I started taking art classes. I’ve always wanted to draw and I’ve always wanted to paint (not furniture, but painting on a canvas).  I always focused on theater and chorus in high school and never took art. So now, I’m taking a drawing class and a watercolor class.  Maybe soon, I’ll share some of what I’m learning but right now I’m doing this just for me, without expectations of being “perfect”.

Family first. My family is so special.  Seeing John and Conor’s smiling faces each morning or feeling Luke’s embrace. That is what makes me happy.  So I always weigh opportunities or conferences with my family in mind first.  I can only do what I do because of their support.

Change is important. Life is not static. Your taste will change and you will change as you grow.  Change is okay and will help you grow.

Be Different. I love the dark trim in our home, in fact it is what drew me to our house, the dark woodwork and the crystal door knobs.  I love to find unique pieces at antique shops and thift stores. So I know my style is a little different but that is what make ms and my home unique.

Be Authentic. The most important thing I’ve learned along the way is being authentic.  If you’re true to who you are. To your style. To your taste.  If you show people “I messed up here and this is how I fixed it” or admit that you can’t blow dry your hair straight (like I did last week) they will nod and say, “Oh, me too.”  It is when I share things I can’t do or am scared to do or times that I feel like I failed that I get the most feedback and a response from my readers.

So, I know this post was very long winded but I  just had so much on my mind that I wanted to express to you.

What will the next four years bring? I hope more writing opportunities.  I’d love to write a memoir about growing up in my parents’ restaurant.  I’d love to contribute more to magazines.  Another area I’d like to explore is personal styling and designing interiors.  I guess we’ll just have to see where my path leads me.

To all my readers, I am so very grateful that you take the time to read each day. This blog wouldn’t be here without you.  I am so grateful to share my blogging journey with all of you.