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Christmas in July. You see it everywhere this month, in shops and stores both online and in town. Well, I can honestly say that I – personally – am celebrating Christmas in July too. Why?
Because Hometalk is featuring me in this week’s Bloglight! Cue the trumpets!
Ever since I joined Hometalk last Fall, I’ve enjoyed reading the Bloglight features on the Hometalk Blog. Being inspired by bloggers I admire, as well as bloggers I’m not as familiar with, is why I love reading this series. There are so many amazing bloggers on Hometalk!
And those bloggers came through for me – and the residents of my town – in a big way last Fall. Hurricane Sandy hit our town hard. I started the Socks for Sandy project to help provide some much needed essentials to those who lost everything. I first broached the idea with some of my fellow Hometalk bloggers, wondering if I should attempt to try and collect some warm socks. Maybe post it on my blog, get a few people to send in some socks…
Fast forward just four days later? Hometalk provided me with an image to use for my project, and the Hometalk bloggers all put the word out on their own blogs. Socks for Sandy turned into a global effort, as we received boxes from Japan, Australia, Canada, Great Britain and from all over the United States. And the Hometalk Bloggers, as well as the Hometalk community overall, generously sent in boxes of socks and other warm essentials. The project turned into a full-time job labor of love for about 3 months. You can read more about the Socks for Sandy project here.
Oh – what is Hometalk?
Just the largest home and garden hub you’ll find on the internet! I love spending time looking at – and learning from – all of the DIY home improvement projects, crafts and gardening posts!
You can learn more about Hometalk in my previous posts here:
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Hometalk “Bloggers Day Out” – a visit to Cutting Edge Stencils in New Jersey! |
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Hometalk answers your home and garden questions! |
Hometalk gave me a little list of questions to help the Hometalk community learn more about me. Hope you enjoy it!
How did you first get into blogging?
I began writing guest posts for a few different blogs, and then was hired to be the editor of a craft website that was starting up a blog. Myself and another co-editor had a team of 12 writers, usually putting up five posts per day. In addition to editing, I also wrote posts. Although it felt like a blogging sweatshop at times with such an intense schedule, it was a great immersion into the world of craft blogging. I had to leave that job because of a surgery and long-term recovery. I still had the blogging bug however, and found myself taking pictures of things I wanted to share with others and writing many blog posts in my head. Eventually I realized I needed my own blog, if only to start sharing all the images and posts that had built up! I started my blog in January 2012.
How did you decide on the name of your blog?
My greeting card business, which I started in 2005, is called Pet Scribbles. And that’s how everyone knows me. But I still wanted to do something a little different, so I came up with The Shed. I liked the many ideas that the word shed conjured up, such as garden shed, tool shed, shedding cats (we have two!), shedding fears, shedding a tear, shedding negativity. I honestly thought The Shed sounded like a much better name for a blog than Pet Scribbles.
What I should have realized, and what my husband pointed out before I even started my own blog, was that everyone already knew me – and my brand, so to speak – as Pet Scribbles. I was Pet Scribbles on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Oh but I still wanted my blog to be called The Shed. And yes, there’s definitely some confusion that arises at times. At some point I’m going to change the blog name to Pet Scribbles. My solution for the moment is The Shed by Pet Scribbles for now!
What is your most popular project on Hometalk to-date?
My most popular “project” was actually the Socks for Sandy project I did with support from the Hometalk community of bloggers, after Hurricane Sandy hit our town last Fall:
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Socks for Sandy: Helping Sandy’s Victims |
My most popular project on Hometalk – in terms of home and gardening – has been my post about Lithodora, one of my favorite evergreen perennial flowering plants:
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Blue Perennial Flowers? Try Lithodora! (an update) |
Who do you follow on Hometalk?
In my profile on Hometalk, I wrote,
“I’m not a garden expert but I am an avid gardener, still learning as I grow – pun intended! If I had my choice, I’d be outside gardening year-round!”
And so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I follow many gardening experts and bloggers, and I’ve asked their advice as well. Some of my favorite Hometalk gardeners – professionals and bloggers – are:
Barb Rosen
Douglas Hunt
Melissa – Empress of Dirt
Shelley – Sow and Dipity
Stephanie – Garden Therapy
Shirley – Eden Maker Garden Design
If you love gardening, you’ll be constantly inspired by them and you’ll learn a lot too!
What projects have inspired you there?
It’s hard to single out just a few of the many projects I’ve clipped and pinned, but to stick with my gardening theme: I really love this idea for adding Winter interest in the garden by Shelly at Sow and Dipity:
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Freshly laid decorative bark mulch | Sow and Dipity |
And I must have Winter interest on my mind – maybe it’s because of the heat wave we’re in right now! – but I also practically drooled over this post by Barb Rosen:
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Winter Color in the Garden | Barb Rosen |
I’m honored and humbled that Hometalk is featuring me this week in the Bloglight. It’s truly like receiving a surprise Christmas gift in July!
Thank you to Miriam, the awesome Director of Community Development at Hometalk, and everyone at Hometalk for your ongoing support! Joining the Hometalk community was seriously one of the best things I ever did!
~Laura
Congrats sweetie! Loved reading your story.
xox
Thanks Anne! I’m so happy to have gotten to know you via Hometalk!
Laura, I feel like with you, everyday is Christmas. 🙂 You’re always so positive and considerate of others. Thank you so much for sharing your story today! I am so glad that you found Hometalk. xo
Hugs to you Miriam! You’re welcome, and thanks for all that you do to create such an amazing community on Hometalk! When do you sleep? 😉
So happy for you Laura! You deserve it!
Thank you Deneen! I’m so glad we got to connect in person at the SNAP Conference in Utah! 🙂
So glad to see you in the blog light, Laura. You are just such a sweet person and it radiates through your blog! Thanks for sharing your story!
Right back at YOU Chelsea! Thank you!
Loved learning a little more about you Laura! The Socks for Sandy idea was brilliant! Thanks for sharing your story 🙂
I really appreciate your comments, Christine! They mean a lot to me!
It’s been pure joy hanging out with you via Hometalk, Laura! Your story has such an interesting climb… can’t see where it takes you next! 🙂
Likewise, Donna: I love hanging out with you too! I really appreciate your support! And I also appreciate those two adorable kittens of yours! 😉
Loved getting to know more about you through the Bloglight today Laura. You’ve certainly done some amazing things.
Thank you so much Kerryanne! Wonder if we can get Hometalk to pay for us to fly over and have an Australian meet-up with you? 🙂
High Five Laura!
Thanks MCatherine! High five right back to you!
Congrats Laura. Love your ideas and enthusism.
Thank you Carlene! That means so much!
Dear Laura,
Kudos on being selected for the spotlight, it is a well deserved honor! So nice to get to know you better through this piece! And thanks so much for being interested in my garden and projects. How lovely of you to mention me!
Happy Gardening!
Barb Rosen (ourfairfieldhomeandgarden.com)
Oh Barb, how could I not mention you? I practically stalk your profile on Hometalk to see your latest gardening adventures! Thank YOU for all of the beautiful inspiration!
Another star is born in the HomeTalk galaxy.
Bliss
Wow and Thanks! I can only hope it’s true! LOL
Congratulations on your feature Laura, I love the name The Shed by Pet Scribbles–it says it all! Socks for Sandy is awesome! What a great job you did!
<3 Karen (fellow NJ girl!)
Thanks Karen! So glad we connected not only through Hometalk but via Sandy as well! (Well, I could do without the whole storm part of Sandy, but you know what I mean!)
Awesome, congrats and well done!!!
Thanks so much, Laurie! I’m so glad we connected through Hometalk! 🙂
I loved getting to know you better through this post! 🙂
I’m so glad Bethany! I’m glad we’ve connected! (And I have to say it again: I’m in love with Daisy!)
Congratulations o being featured on Hometalk! I’m now following you there. Looking forward to seeing more.
Thanks Virginia! I’m following you now as well and glad we’ve connected! 🙂
Hi Laura!
I love Hometalk too.
I’m complimented to be among some of your favorite garden bloggers from the community.
Beautiful blog you have here!
Shirley Bovshow
Thanks so much Shirley! Your posts and your videos are truly engaging, inspiring, and FUN too!
Hi Laura, Congrats on your Hometalk Bloglight feature!!! It’s awesome.
Thanks also for the kind and thoughtful comment you left on my Blog Friends post. I really appreciate YOUR friendship! Hugs, Malia
Thanks and hugs, Malia! You’re awesome!
So glad to see you in the blog light, Laura. You are just such a sweet person and it radiates through your blog! Thanks for sharing your story! Liquid Roofing EPDM