Misc — September 17, 2019

Confessions of a DIY Blogger

Misc — September 17, 2019

Confessions of a DIY Blogger

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“With Lia, you get a ton of beautiful projects from one site. It saves me time searching the web, and the project tutorials and videos are easy to follow. I definitely get my money's worth every month!” Vivian

(May 8, 2014) Confessions! That is a compelling headline, right? Being a professional blogger and how we make a living is a mystery to many. For me as a new blogger the answer is like most other new businesses. I work really, really hard. Right now I am either designing, managing back end, or crafting between 14-16 hour days and usually weekend. Yes, it is a tad exhausting, but I love what I do and you and your lovely blog comments and emails keep me focused on why I am building this business. Good news! I just hired my first design intern and I am so excited to ramp it up a notch with her fresh talent.

Here is my big confessions in photo form. This is too often what my studio looks like. The before is after I returning from shooting video tutorials in San Francisco with Creativebug and the after is yesterday as I styled the studio for the Mollie Makes article photo shoot. Yes, I can be neat and organized. . . but not all of the time! Hugs to you all and I am off to work in my newly cleaned office. ~ Lia (Painting of me by Lars Justinen).

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Discussion

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48 Comments

ritamarafuz May 21, 2014 at 5:48am

Just “arrived” at your blog. Thank you for your sincerity! Will be visiting and get inspired. I’m a new blogger or best new tiny small blog :).

Reply
1. Lia May 21, 2014 at 4:29pm
  
  @ritamarafuz
  
  You are welcome! There is more to share and I am thinking to make it a monthly post. . . I have a lot to confess. Haha. Good luck with your new blog.
  
  Reply
Cris May 12, 2014 at 2:23pm

I can see you work very very hard, not only because of the before photo :), but also because you are always imagining new or renewed items to share with us. I guess I’ll never be able to thank you as much as you deserve… I’m very happy to have found your blog.

Reply
1. Lia May 20, 2014 at 10:20pm
  
  @Cris
  
  Thanks Cris! Happy you are here too. 😉
  
  Reply
jet May 12, 2014 at 1:14am

LOL this is happening with my workplace as well.
I admiring still your awesomely talent with working with paper.
I have bought lately a new craft magazin in dutch within i saw some of your crafts. Well done girl.
It’s really still an inspiration source for me. Just by looking and visiting your blog. And of course crafting for your work is taking allot of time.
I having the same, but i’m most times happy when i’m have end the finishing line. 😀
Thank you for still sharing all kinds of tutes and free samples, very generously of you;-D

Reply
1. Lia May 12, 2014 at 1:43pm
  
  @jet
  
  Thanks Jet! That is awesome that you saw my work in a Dutch magazine. Which one was it? I would love to get a copy of it too.
  
  Reply
Liz May 10, 2014 at 5:33pm

We just love you Lia! I had a sneaky suspicion you were human like us-yet you are the one with the super-extraordinary talent 🙂

Reply
1. Lia May 12, 2014 at 1:46pm
  
  @Liz
  
  You crack me up! Yes, I am that girl next door. I love you too!!
  
  Reply
Nancy May 10, 2014 at 10:36am

My DH created a crafter’s haven for me and my before was just as sparkly and tidy as yours. But, rejoice! My after can beat up your after. 🙂

Reply
1. Lia May 12, 2014 at 1:48pm
  
  @Nancy
  
  Haha! As long as we can both clean up nicely. 😉
  
  Reply
nitoska May 10, 2014 at 9:13am

Treballes molt però és noten els resultats ,tens un gran talent que jo sempre admiro.
Una abraçada,
nitoska si = però soc l’ANNA jajajajaja

Reply
1. Lia May 12, 2014 at 1:49pm
  
  @nitoska
  
  Thanks Anna! 😉
  
  Reply
pam May 9, 2014 at 6:50pm

I always wonder how you have time to give so much of your talent. Your generousity is very appreciated! And I love that you keep it real. Remember to take some time out to refuel!

Reply
1. Lia May 10, 2014 at 10:30am
  
  @pam
  
  I do need to refuel more often for sure. Now that I am feeling like I am catching up again. . . I am doing just that!
  
  Reply
Lisa May 9, 2014 at 11:08am

What an amazing painting of you! Your office space is lovely, even when in disarray!

Reply
1. Lia May 12, 2014 at 1:52pm
  
  @Lisa
  
  It was a sweet surprise and perfect timing since I needed a new profile photo. 😉
  
  Reply
cottagerca May 9, 2014 at 4:24am

love all the DIY elements in your room. the table, storage units. The before is going to be shown to my husband….smile. The after is sweet, thanks for sharing the deets, appreciated.

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:27am
  
  @cottagerca
  
  So happy it is helpful to you! 😉
  
  Reply
eileentheartfulcrafter May 9, 2014 at 3:57am

Thanks for sharing this. You & I have the same time schedules, though I am certainly no Lia Griffith! It is exhausting but I love what I do so much, I just keep going.

I admire your talent and style tremendously.

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:30am
  
  @eileentheartfulcrafter
  
  So good to hear that I am not the only crazy one! haha. It does really help that we love what we do.
  
  Reply
Clarisse May 9, 2014 at 2:35am

Bonjour i am from Ivory Coast (Africa) , i love crafting . I love your paper work . you are a inspiration for me .

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:36am
  
  @Clarisse
  
  Thanks for your note Clarisse! You are in good company here. 🙂
  
  Reply
Vicki May 8, 2014 at 10:17pm

Very brave of you to share your before photos :). Sadly, mine always looks like the before photo. LOL

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:33am
  
  @Vicki
  
  It did make me a little nervous. Now I am laughing because the comments are so darn cute!! Hopefully this can give you a vision of your studios potential. 😉
  
  Reply
regina May 8, 2014 at 9:00pm

you are so awesome….and I love all the awesome things you share with us…question for you WHERE OH WHERE did you find that teal color step stool TOTALLY LOVE IT fabriccutups@prodigy.net

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:39am
  
  @regina
  
  Thanks Regina! I found that at a flea market. It was rusty and a totally different color. Here is my tutorial on how I made it so wonderful! https://liagriffith.com/before-and-after-my-vintage-step-stool/
  
  Reply
Emily May 8, 2014 at 8:43pm

Love it! 🙂

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:39am
  
  @Emily
  
  Thanks Emily!
  
  Reply
Maria May 8, 2014 at 6:35pm

This was refreshing! Oddly for me I can only find things when I’m in the before!!! Thank you! Happy Picking!

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:41am
  
  @Maria
  
  Haha! Funny Maria. Believe it or not it is quite organized in the after, rather than everything shoved into a box. My white stacked drawers really help.
  
  Reply
lisa@hooplapalooza May 8, 2014 at 6:23pm

i’ll take your craft room confession and backward books any day if i could have a “before” pic like that and make even half the gorgeous stuff you make “after”! congrats on your hired help and holy cow that painting of you is AMAZING! :>D

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:45am
  
  @lisa@hooplapalooza
  
  Thanks Lisa! It is an inspiring space and I am growing out of it. Yikes!! I have known Lars since my first job out of college and he is the most talented painter I have yet to meet. I had put the new “me in my studio” photo up on my personal facebook page and in no time, there was a note from him showing me how he had made it into a painting because he liked the composition of the photo. Wow! I like it so much I am using it for my blog. 🙂
  
  Reply
Beth May 8, 2014 at 6:09pm

Just had to say , that when you pop up in my mailbox I get excited. I love all the projects you do , and you are so generous with your designs. I used your Christmas Woodland tags for my grandchildrens presents, so adorable. Thank you, thank you for all your hard work from a BIG fan.

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:55am
  
  @Beth
  
  Oh my goodness! That is the best compliment I have ever heard! Thanks for making my day, Beth!
  
  Reply
Jamie May 8, 2014 at 5:57pm

Your writing and design has been a source of inspiration to me since Ellinee. I love design and I wish I could be a stay home mum with the kids, be creative and blog about it full time but where I live, it’s not something that can pay the bills.

Besides, materials are a nightmare to obtain – even something as simple as card stock paper requires me to make a 2 hour drive. Don’t even get me started on Mod Podge and no one knows what the heck is chalk paint!

Oh well, I’ll just live vicariously through you then – keep it up, Lia. You are definitely a DIY goddess!

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:48am
  
  @Jamie
  
  Ahhh, thank you Jamie! I am happy to hear you get the inspiration at least. Do you have access to Amazon where you live? With my work schedule I end up ordering a lot of my stuff to be delivered. I may get out to shop once every other week.
  
  Reply
Rebecca May 8, 2014 at 5:51pm

I need to show this to my husband who wonders how so much “mess” seems to appear during the creative process.
Now I can finally prove
…….I’m not the only one………

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:46am
  
  @Rebecca
  
  It is a sign of creativity!! 😉
  
  Reply
Lisa May 8, 2014 at 5:04pm

It always makes me feel so much better when I come over to your house and see your studio in the “before” state…then I don’t have to feel quite as bad about my own! Of course, I don’t have photographers coming to my house, so mine stays messy for a lot longer. 🙂 Thanks for keeping it real. Oh, and Happy Mother’s Day this weekend, dear friend.

Reply
1. Lia May 9, 2014 at 9:56am
  
  @Lisa
  
  So good to hear I can help. haha. Happy Mother’s Day to you too! Give your adorable munchkins a hug and I will see you next week!!
  
  Reply
countrycouponlady May 8, 2014 at 2:04pm

I love that you have taken your creativity and have turned it into a business. I was an Interior Designer, and loved my job. When the housing market crashed, so did a good part of the Interior Design industry. Most consumers weren’t interested in purchasing window treatments, when they couldn’t pay their mortgage payments. Thank you for sharing your passion, it is an inspiration!

Reply
1. Lia May 8, 2014 at 2:19pm
  
  @countrycouponlady
  
  Oh wow! Yes, that would be tough. I do hope you have a new way to express your creative spirit.
  
  Reply
Alicia May 8, 2014 at 12:01pm

Oh yeah, that ‘before’ scene looks VERY familiar!

Reply
1. Lia May 8, 2014 at 2:17pm
  
  @Alicia
  
  Haha. I am glad you recognized it. 😉
  
  Reply
Cheryl May 8, 2014 at 10:34am

Question – why are the books on the bottom shelf turned backwards? Love your colors and space!

Reply
1. Lia May 8, 2014 at 2:17pm
  
  @Cheryl
  
  It is a design style thing. I like the feel of the book without the color of the spine. Odd, perhaps. 🙂
  
  Reply
Maureen May 8, 2014 at 10:02am

Yes, it takes the before to get to the after sometimes. The after is what many of us foolishly think is normal.

Reply
1. Lia May 8, 2014 at 2:16pm
  
  @Maureen
  
  Yes, and we are all VERY human. 😉
  
  Reply