Interview with Katherine from Clashes but Matches!

Posted on April 4, 2011 by ohmydeer

Time for another lovely interview from one of my sponsors! This time with the super talented Katherine from Clashes but Matches enjoy the interview and make sure to check out her awesome Blog & Etsy shop!

- Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Hello all, I’m Katherine, I’m 21 years young and I thrive in to-do lists, budgeting and handmade goodness. I also love to cook and paint… Dont you think I’d make a good housewife? haha! I also attend University for the Creative Arts where I study Textiles Design. Its stressful but with the awesome results I get from it, its totally worth it.

- What made you want to start a blog?

I wanted to make a blog, because I think its an excellent opportunity to connect with people, and I believed its a great way for readers to fet to know me through my love of fashion, food and reading! I hope that my blog represents that!

- Any advice to future bloggers?

A friend once said “Dont think, just do”. Dont think about creating a blog just to match with the popular blogs that you may follow. Just be yourself! Also, dont be dishearted by the lack of followers, keep being true to yourself and they will come.

- Im a huge fan of your etsy shop! What made you become a designer? What inspires you?

Aww, thanks! I have always been a fan of fashion from a young age (its so cliche, but its true). I used to rip up my tights and use them to create clothing for my barbies because my parents never bought me any clothes to go with them haha. I have been creating things since I was 16, and the fact that whatever I made had gotten attention made me think that maybe I could make beautiful, one-off pieces for everyone, and they can all feel special from the handmade goodness that I produce. Anything and everything inspires me, 60s/70s fashion and my eclectic taste in music inspires the way I make clothes… they truly represent that.

- Do you remember your first handmade item you made?

Of course! I made a Denim Jean Handbag when I was 16 after watching Lizzie McGuire, I was so into her quirky, fun fashion sense, and I created it on a whim. I still have that bag up to this day!

- Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

Hmm, I havent really thought past graduation to be honest, but I’d love to be living in my own place, having a part time ‘bread and butter’ job, and I can be self employed and make my own clothes, and be selling on a stall or preferably set up my own store… but we’ll see

- Anything else you’d like to share?

Thank you so much for interviewing me! I really appreciate it!

CLICK HERE to visit to start shopping at Katherines awesome Etsy Shop! And did you know if you use coupon code 40DISCOUNT at checkout you will recieve 40% off in her shop?? How awesome is that!! Coupon is good through the 15th of April so start shoppin’! Oh and 10% of her sales goes to the Japan Tsunami Appeal!

Thanks SO Much Katherine for sharing us a little bit about you!! Oh and readers stay tuned we’ll be having a super great giveaway sponsored by Katherine soon so keep an eye out!!

xoxo
Sarah*

Interview with Valerie from Kitschy Creative!

Posted on April 2, 2011 by ohmydeer

It’s time for the next April Sponsor Interview now it’s the adorable Valerie from Kitschy Creative! Hope you enjoy her fun interview and make sure to stop by her lovely Blog and Etsy shop too oh and follow her on Twitter!

- Tell us a little bit about yourself!

My name is Valerie. I’m from Shreveport, Louisiana where I am currently living with my parents while I finish up school. I’m taking a short break from my online classes with the Art Institute (getting my BA in Graphic Design) while I look for a new job to help pay for classes.

- What made you want to start a blog?

I’ve been following quite a few blogs for a while (favorites include The Dainty Squid, The Curious Pug, and of course OhMyDeer) and I’d wanted to start one for some time now. I don’t really have a lot of friends here in Louisiana that have the same kinds of interests in art, fashion and photography that I do. This is my means of being able to talk about what I love and share/swap ideas with other bloggers and readers out there.

- Any advice to future bloggers?

Definitely do a lot of research before you start your blog and plan, plan, plan! And make lists! For the first few weeks of planning I wrote down everything that I felt was important in starting my blog including my purpose statement, what I wanted to write about and even the more technical stuff like what I wanted in my site design and how I was going to advertise and spread the word. Having knowledge of how the blog world works and the types of resources at your disposal before you launch is definitely an important asset to have prior to starting your blog.

- Apart from blogging what are your favorite things to do in your spare time?

When I’m not blogging, I’m usually found at my desk watching Hulu or Netflix while working on art projects, working on my Etsy shop and also discovering new music to love. If I have a lot of free time on my hands (which is rare) I like going out to explore various places in my town and taking pictures. I also love spending time with family, watching movies and just hanging out.

- I’m a huge fan of your Etsy shop! What inspires you?

I haven’t put up too many items in my shop yet. Mostly they’re all vintage or up-cycled things that I’ve found while thrifting. A lot of the things that catch my eye are those that I find unique or that would fit in well in my room which is very eclectic and colorful. I’m not your typical girly girl type gushing over pretty dresses, jewelry and makeup. That’s not to say I don’t like em, I’m just picky. On my blog you’ll probably see me talk more about home furnishings, music, gadgets and handbags & shoes among other things.

- Do you remember the first handmade thing you made?

I’ve always been crafting and making things since I was a kid. I think the first thing I was proud of finishing was a yo-yo clown in my home economics class in 7th grade. My grandmother taught me how to sew a little bit prior to that but it wasn’t until my home-ec class that I was able to use those sewing skils to actually make something.

- Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

In five years, I hope that I’ll have graduated with my BA in Graphic Design. I also hope that I’ll have had some experience with a few Design companies and finally will have started my own free-lance company. I want to expand my Etsy shop and start a new accessories line that will become successful hopefully make it a second income.

- Anything else you’d like to share?

I just wanted to let yall know that I’m in the process of moving my blog over to Blogger (from WordPress). The link to the new location is right here. I also wanted to thank Sarah for giving me the opportunity to be included in April’s sponsors. Thanks so much!

Thank You SO Much Valerie for doing the interview! Oh and did you know if you visit her awesome etsy shop you can get 30% off with coupon code 30OFF how cool!!!

CLICK HERE to go shopping!!

Stay tuned for 2 more April Sponsor Interviews and a fun DIY! Oh and don’t forget to enter the giveaway sponsored by all the amazing April sponsors below!!

xoxo
Sarah*

Interview with Mercedes from Fluffy Ghost!

Posted on April 1, 2011 by ohmydeer

Hello Everyone! I’m excited to start introducing everyone to my lovely April sponsors! First one up is the lovely Mercedes from Fluffy Ghost! Enjoy the Interview! And make sure to check out her awesome blog!

Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Hi, My name is Mercedes & I run a little website known as Fluffyghost.
I have a huge passion for Japanese culture & the country itself! I’ve been an over obsessed addict of Hello Kitty for the last ten years. (I even got it tattooed on the back of my neck!) Through the incredible Sanrio, it introduced me to a world of Kawaii! That from there I just haven’t been able to resist all the Harajuku, Lolita, San-x & food with faces goodness the world has to offer! To this day, I’ve started to learn Japanese through Rosetta Stone, just so I can indulge myself deeper into what I love today. Plus to be able to understand everything from a conversation to reading/writing is going to be pretty awesome to!

What made you want to start a blog?

I’ve always read blogs on a daily basis for the last 3 years. It got to the point when blogs became my newspaper. That I thought “Why not” start my own. It allows me to express myself & share my knowledge on all that is Kawaii. Plus it links me to all my favourite blogs (So I can get to them in an instant!:D) Plus with so many inspiring people out there, such as The Dainty Squid, Drop Dead Cute & yourself Sarah; I had to have a slice of the action haha. ^___^
Plus by starting a blog, it feeds my creativity into over drive, which I love! As I now have a reason to create!

Any advice to future bloggers?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. It took me months to even gain a handful of frequent readers for my blog. So don’t be put off at the lack of readers when you start. (As it does feel that you’re writing to a non-existent audience.) But with some great content, a lot of persistence and a bit of advertising you will get noticed & that’s when it starts to pay off!
Also research your target audience that you want to grasp that is defiantly key! If your passionate about what you’re talking about then there’s no reason why you can’t have a successful blog. But these things come with a lot of hard work & patience. With all of that the sky’s your limit really!

Apart from blogging what are your favorite things to do in your spare time?

In my free time, I take on freelance work as well as designing illustrations on CS5 (which I use on a daily basis. ^___^) I love to oil paint, bake, sew, decorate my house & upcyling unwanted stuff to serve a new purpose which I find really rewarding. I love Anime such as Studio Glibli; the Cat Returns is my ultimate favorite! But I also indulge in less known Anime such as The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya. I love to listen to H.I.M, Electric light Orchestra, Modest Mouse & Miku, as well as lot of old school rock like Eric Clapton, The Beatles & Candlebox. (The list could go on forever really.)
I also love to relax with my kitty Hewiee & mess around with my partner Mr. H, family & friends whilst taking a million pictures!

Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

Hopefully with a successful business that pays my bills! I hope to see myself with a rewarding Esty store as well as my online clothes store. To become less of a graphics designer, but more of a successful illustrator such as San Smith. To be able to design for a bigger audience such as music festivals and well-known establishments. Who knows I might even open my own store, selling local Artists work & my own; with a cute music themed café (with themed tables with LP players built into them for customers to enjoy) surrounded with lots of music merchandise and instruments. I’ve always loved the idea of having my own Art studio in that shop in the back rooms, providing lots of different Art classes.
Mmmmmmm…One day haha! That is quite a big dream but with a lot of hard work and some awesome people, who says I can’t make it happen!

Anything else you’d like to share?

I’m proud to say that my clothes shop is officially open: www.fluffyghost.spreadshirt.co.uk There will be loads of new designs added frequently so be sure to check it out!

On another note, my Etsy shop will open fairly soon too. I know I’ve said a couple of weeks a couple of times but there has been added complications, which are sorted out now. I have the entire stock ready, just waiting on my models so I can do one huge photo-shoot. I just want to get it spot on, as im abit of a self confessed perfectionist so things have to be just so! But updates through my site & twitter shall follow on that.
Oh & follow me on my Facebook page please haha! ^____^

Isn’t she the cutest!! Keep an eye out for my upcoming interviews with the other amazing sponsors!! And don’t forget to enter the giveaway below!

xoxo
Sarah*

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