from December 12th, 2008:
Why did you decide to start a blog?
Before I was on etsy or even thought about etsy, I browsed the craft blogs and was really amazed at the mass of talent and creative energy out there. I tried to blog in a journal style at that time, but I didn’t enjoy it. I was writing about my daily life and found I am too private for what I was writing. I felt uncomfortable, so I stopped. When I started etsy, I felt a connection to what other people were trying to do, and also I found what they did inspiring. So I started to write about what I found to be inspiring in some way. Now my blog is a place where I gather things together which are meaningful to me. In this way, I have come to enjoy blogging.
How did you come up with the name of your blog?
My blog name comes from my etsy shop name. I wanted there to be a close connection between the two sites. My shop is “Marchi Made it” and my blog is “Marchi made it, & friends”. The shop name came about because people were asking me or my friends about art or crafts I had made. My friends would say, Marchi made it. I liked the sound with the “ems”. But I do have to clarify the sound of my name marchi/sparky, because the sound is part of why I like the shop and blog name. Also, the “and friends” reminds me I am connected to these other creative people. I do spend a lot of time working individually. And I can get very focused on my own things. So its good to raise my head and see what other people are doing. I find it inspiring.
How has blogging affected your work as an artist/designer?
I don’t have a sense that doing my blog has effected my art works or crafts directly, but it does keep me connected and encouraged, which helps me when I am discouraged or tired.
What are your favorite artist/designer blogs? Why?
That is a very difficult question. There are so many great sites and artists. On my blog I have 4 rotating blog lists called “3 to see”. I had one long list before I started "3 to see", but I felt it was getting monumentally long, and that maybe I could narrow it down for my readers. We will see how my "3 to see" goes. This week my top 3 sites out of my 4 short lists of “3 to see” is
outsapop trashion
pingmag
30gms
What these sites do is show me things I haven’t seen or found on the web myself. They show me ideas I hadn’t thought of and things I wish I had thought of. This week I have been on Ping a lot. It calls itself a magazine, which is essentially a group blog I think. Creativity, novelty, innovation; these things inspire me and help me to expand my range of what I think is possible.
Why do you think blogs have now become so popular with artists and designers?
I think its different for many, but ultimately we want to share what we do in some forum. Blogging is one.
Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?
Do what interests you. Its best I think, if in some way the blog holds what ever it is that is important to the writer.
What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?
I havent been doing it long enough to pick one thing that is most positive for me.
What are your top goals for 2009?
To let the seeds I planted this fall by starting etsy and my blog grow into healthy plants. I want to see what develops while I do what I can to benefit the process.
Why do you think blogs have now become so popular with artists and designers?
I think its different for many, but ultimately we want to share what we do in some forum. Blogging is one.
Do you have any advice for artists/designers who are starting a blog?
Do what interests you. Its best I think, if in some way the blog holds what ever it is that is important to the writer.
What has been the most positive and inspirational aspect of having a blog for you?
I havent been doing it long enough to pick one thing that is most positive for me.
What are your top goals for 2009?
To let the seeds I planted this fall by starting etsy and my blog grow into healthy plants. I want to see what develops while I do what I can to benefit the process.
Thanks Marchi!