Anthropologizing: Alary + Anaheim

Obviously, I was conflicted on this project.

I loved the colors of the Anaheim, but not the silhouette. 

I loved the cut of the Alary, but I was never going to find that fabric. 

I went with the next best option...making a dress using my favorite elements from both. 

I built the sleeves first, since they were the main event of the Anaheim dress. I loved that surprising pop of color from the original. 

It makes me smile when a dress surprises me on the inside.

Have an epic week, mah dears.

                                                        

Tips for a Satisfying Blog

Skirt: ASOS

Shirt and Trench: Target

Pumps: UO

Watch: AE

Umbrella: Gift from best gal pal

It's no secret. 

Blogging could quite literally make you lose your mind. Without the help of my friends and encouragement of my family, Kristina J. would have died a silent death mere months after it was born. People ask, How do you do it? How do you keep up with it all?

The truth is that some days, only the clear guidelines I have for myself and the blog keep my sane. Oh, and the fact that you come along to share the journey is a definite, definite plus.

1.  Brainstorm

Have a definite goal for your blog. Write some questions out on paper and answer them. 

Why am I blogging? 

What will I feature?

Will I have guest posts?

Do I want to grow a following or am I doing this for my personal benefit?

How you answer those questions will determine the look and feel of your blog.

True story.  I started my blog a little over a year ago, then signed a book contract three weeks later.  For a full year, Kristina J. wasn't what I wanted it to be. I always intended this space to be a DIY style blog where I could post tutorials, then feature those clothes or projects in outfit posts. But while I fulfilled my writing obligations, I never had the time necessary to put out great tutorial posts and the blog took a back seat. Now, though I'm still busy with the publicity of After Nathaniel, I finally have more time to commit to my original plan. Without having a clear goal through out that first year, I would have been too discouraged to continue.

2.   Pace yourself

The funny thing about blogging...it takes some actual living to have anything worthwhile to blog about. You have to bring your life experiences to the blog or it will seem stale to those who visit.   Decide how many days a week you want to post, then post on the same days every week.  If you want to post three times a week, post Monday, Wednesday and Friday...or Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Decide what works with your lifestyle then be consistent with it. Establishing a routine can be helpful in planning your projects and posts around other functions in your schedule.

Living is the event, not blogging about it.

3.   Develop your skills

There's a huge learning curve when you begin blogging (especially for a girl who knew absolutely nothing about HTML coding or how to take a really great product picture). Tackle one thing at a time.  

--Learn a bit of HTML code.

--Integrate social buttons to your sidebar.

--Host a giveaway.

--Be friendly. Comment on other blogs and engage in their posts.

4.   Do something different.

Every once in a while, change it up. If you normally write a lot in your posts, take a break and make a list instead. Use a post to showcase your latest Instagram pictures. If you can't think of anything to write, post a quote from your favorite book or share the funny things your kids say. Obviously, this is the exception, but it can't hurt to surprise your readers every now and then.

5.  Keep a notebook handy.

The best ideas will come to you when you least expect it. I carry a small journal in my bag, so whenever inspiration strikes, I'm ready to jot the idea down in a place where it can't be lost or forgotten. The greatest ideas come to me while I'm driving, so if you see a red minivan pulled over on the side of the road...it's just me jotting an idea.

6.   Focus on what you love.

If you have a fashion blog, forget what everyone else is wearing and concentrate on the styles and colors that interest you the most.  If you're a DIY blogger, fix your energy on working with the fabrics and materials you're most skilled and comfortable with.  When others visit your blog, they aren't there to get someone else's idea. They come because they value your opinion about a topic or want to be taught from your point of view. Have the confidence to give them what they want--your specific ideas and process of doing things.

7.   Take your strongest skill and roll with it.

Maybe your photos are astounding. Maybe you have DIY ideas that are always spot on. Maybe you have a way with words.  Identify your strengths, then build the bulk of your posts around them. People will keep coming back for more.

DIY | Braided Leather Headband Tutorial

There are so many colors of leather available as well as brightly-colored suede strips, so you can really let your imagination run wild.  I chose this bronze color because my braided tortoise headband was "accidentally"  snapped in half by my daughter and I needed something to replace it.  You can buy these cheap, metal headbands at the dollar store.

I braided 20 inches, then cut off what I didn't need.

Wearing: Hamburg Pumps

Skirt: Banana Republic

Sweater: LOFT

Cardi: J.Crew

Pumps: Seychelles Hamburg

Bag: Simply Vera

Watch: AE

How to Make a Tuxedo Blouse

Materials needed: 

1/4 yard lace

1 spool grosgrain ribbon

Six buttons

Because the ribbon is heavier than the lace, it will curl like this until you flatten it out.  Notice, I also attached another length of lace beneath the two gathered layers, but I cut it about an inch wider so it would peek out from under the top layers, letting the black ribbon pop against the white.

You could skip this step, but I thought it looked cool to have the bottom come together.

Way less boring, no?

After Nathaniel Book Trailer

Before signing a book contract I was unaware that books these days had their own little trailers. My publishing house released this last month...It's a visual way to see what the book is about and this pretty much condenses the pertinent information into a few sentences.

Have you lost someone close to you? Or do you know someone who has?  Obviously, this book was born out of difficult circumstances and I tried to be very real and transparent about the cycle of emotions a person experiences after loving and losing.  I'm trying to get my finger on the pulse of those who are buying the book and have wondered...
What compels a person to buy a book that deals with tragedy and healing?
Any thoughts?

Wearing: Fair-isle + Orange

Sweater: Old Navy

T-shirt, watch and socks: AE

Skirt: Kristina J. Sedona

Boots: Nine West

Call me crazy, but I never really thought Google Friend Connect was an accurate way to determine how many people were actively following a particular blog. So when Google announced they were discontinuing GFC as a tracker for non-Blogger blogs, I didn't really think much of it.  I can count on one hand the number of times I've clicked on a post link from inside GFC.   

When I began blogging, it was personal...a sort of visual diary of sewing and design projects or reworks of existing pieces.  It was also a place for me to categorize my wardrobe and chronicle what outfits worked for me and what didn't.  I also hoped, when the timing was right, that should there ever be a Kristina J. clothing brand, it would be a natural extension of the blog. I was shocked when the first reader followed me and continue to be pleasantly surprised with the addition of each new friend no matter the follow method.  If anything, a follow through GFC seems to be more a nod of approval for the most recent content than a declaration of dedication to it, and I'm under no illusions that my GFC number is an accurate reflection of how many people are invested in the content here. For me, GFC has been an effective way to book-mark blogs I didn't want to loose track of, but if I'm deeply interested in the content, I make sure to add it to my Bloglovin' reader.  

Since Google Friend Connect becomes inactive in a couple weeks, I wanted to break down the details on how I use the various follow options outside of GFC.

RSS

Or for those of us who are completely overwhelmed by computer speech, "Really Simple Syndication".  Basically, RSS allows you to get the most recent posts from a blog in the form you choose. I have the feeds opened through Feedburner, so whatever follow option you use should be conveniently available to you.  This is the most reliable way to get post feeds from Kristina J. to your Kindle, RSS readers or Ipad.

Bloglovin'

 This my personal fave on keeping up with content from my favorite blogs.  It's similar to Google Reader, but more accessible for people whose blogs are powered by Typepad or Wordpress. The layout is simple and clean and I love that I can scroll through all the newest posts from my favorite bloggers and conveniently comment or share the posts to social networks from one place.  

Twitter

I don't overload my Twitter feed with a bunch of personal info, but I do link EVERY blog post there.  If you're wanting to follow Kristina J. through a social networking site but don't want to be bothered with all the extra, then Twitter's the place to go.

Facebook

Unlike Twitter, I do overload my FB account with personal stuff like photos of my family and day-to-day emotions or events.  The number of times I link a post to FB is spotty, although it does happen. My FB account is not a fan page for Kristina J. and I don't want to clutter up the feed with stuff a lot of my FB friends aren't interested in. At this point, I don't consider Kristina J. a brand or business, so I'll be waiting to create a fan page for the day when it is.  If you're a social butterfly (like me) and like what FB brings to social connecting, then by all means, sent me a friend request on Facebook. But just know that over there, I'll consider you a friend, not a fan (which is really the way I prefer it).

Pinterest

Not necessarily a means to follow Kristina J., but definitely a place to follow what interests me...a visual representation of what I think is beautiful, inspiring and pretty. I DO pin all my sewing tutorials there. It is, I think, the best way to discover the abstract essence of a person.  

  

Linked In

If Linked In is a networking site you're involved with, I do have a Linked In profile. I don't currently do a lot with it, but in anticipation of one day starting a business, I've created an account there and am a part of a few design groups.

Linky Followers

This is a pretty recent tool created by the folks at Linky Tools to help bloggers retain followers upon the loss of GFC.  I haven't incorporated this tool yet, but may eventually. It was designed as a free way to organize and follow the blogs you love. It works in a similar way to GFC with a follow option, face button and number count and may or may not show up in the sidebar of Kristina J. in the future. Do you have any thoughts on LinkyFollowers?

What's your preferred blog-following tool?