Blog Party: How It All Began

Let the Blog Party Begin… Meet Rhoda from Southern Hospitality

This week we are featuring a few fantastic bloggers to see what harvested their love for decor and what led them to start their blogs! I am excited about getting to know my “new” blogger friends a little more and I hope you all will gather inspiration from them too! Oh, and if you are a blogger, you can link up your story this friday!

So, today you get to hear from the ever so Fabulous Rhoda from Southern Hospitality. She is a sweet and talented lady and has been a true encouragment to me over the past few months as I began my blog journey!

Q:  What started your passion for design/decor? Have you always been creative or did your design talent all start from a specific event in your life?

A: When I moved in my first house when I was 28, that really got me excited about my own place and being able to decorate it the way I wanted.  So, that was the beginning for me. I carried around a file folder with tattered magazine clippings of inspiration pictures that I wanted to recreate.  That first house gave me more confidence and I grew from there in my design choices and skills.  It’s been a big learning curve for me and magazines and seeing how others do things and even blog inspiration has been a huge inspiration in me honing my own tastes.

Q: Have you had any formal training? What has helped you gain the knowledge to back up your blog? For example, reading design books, magazines How-To Videos or just plain Trial & Error?

A: I haven’t had formal training, although I did work with Ethan Allen for a short time and went through the design training program with them, so that was a help to me and gave me more confidence in my natural abilities.  There are always more things to learn and being online for the last 10 years has given me so many ideas to use in my own home.  I hope to always keep learning and looking back at my past home, I can see that I’ve grown tremendously in the last 10 years and a lot of that is from looking “up” to other bloggers and designers that I admire. 

 Look at Rhoda’s Master Bedroom Design…

Q:  Were there any decor blogs you followed before starting your own blog?

A: My friend, Kim, from Daisy Cottage, is the one who encouraged me to start a blog.  Three years ago, there weren’t near the number of design/decorating blogs that there are now.  The last year has exploded in new design blogs and I’m grateful that I started when I did.  Kim gave me the push I needed to get started and it’s been so much fun.  It’s turned into a part-time job with I dearly love.  Kim and I met years ago on an online decorating board (and were fortunate to meet in person 2 years ago) and that was the beginning of all the online inspiration and camaraderie that began back then and now continues in the blog world.

Q: How long have you been blogging? 

A: Three years

 Q: How long did it take for your blog to get so popular? Did your blog explode overnight or over a certain amount of time?

A: My blog has definitely been a steady growth process.  It didn’t explode overnight at all, but year by year, it has grown to where it is now.  It’s been fun to see it grow and to see myself grow as a blogger. I’m much better with photography than I was 3 years ago and I hope when I look back a year from now; I can say the same thing again. I’m getting ready to upgrade to an entry level DSLR and can’t wait to learn even more about photography.

Q:  What things did you do to get your “blog” out there? Or can you attribute the growth to anything in particular?

A: I don’t have any huge words of wisdom for new bloggers.  Like I mentioned, 3 years ago, there weren’t near the amount of DIY/Decor/Design blogs that there are now, so I do think it takes a lot more effort to get noticed these days.  Blogging is a tremendous amount of work and to do it successfully, it takes a lot of determination and dedication to putting out good material, posts that will bring readers back day after day.  It’s been fun for me and I still love it, so I hope that continues in the future too.  In the beginning, I just visited a lot of blogs and met so many new girls and that’s really how to grow, I think.  Be friendly and authentic and it will come back to you. 

Q: What’s your favorite part about “blog land”?

A: By far, all the friendships and relationships that have formed in blogging has been the best part.  Being able to meet up with women in person that I’ve met online and feel like you are meeting a friend and not a complete stranger is the best part.  And every time I’ve met up with a blog friend, it is just like we’ve known each other forever. 

Q: How do you find the time to blog with other “life” tasks or jobs grabbing at your attention?

A: That’s the hard part!  It’s so easy to get consumed with your blog and let it take over your life, but I’ve had to consciously make the effort to put family first and not let the blog world get in the way of real life.  I can sit for hours in front of the computer and while away the day, but I just have to make myself set boundaries and get things done that need to be done.  If I sat at the computer all the time, I’d never get any projects done OR live life.  You have to live an interesting life and a real life in order to share that on your blog. 

Q: Have you had any design failures, or projects that turned out to be not worth the effort?

A: I can’t think of anything that was a complete failure.  Most everything I’ve tried has turned out to be worth it and I would do it again.  Not everything is easy and I have had some accidents, like dumping over a whole quart of stain I was using on a painted piece of furniture.  After getting over the shock and realizing that the carpet was ruined, I just ordered a small rug to put over the stain and kept on going.  Sometimes you just have to laugh!

 Rhoda truly has a great eye for design and a sweet heart for women and their homes! She transforms the ugly into the beautiful on a weekly basis! Just visit her at Southernhospitalityblog.com on a Monday and see just what she comes out with on her weekend thrifting adventures!

Throughout the week you can find recipes, decor consultations, inspiring rooms and DIY Projects on Rhoda’s Blog. She has something for everyone! So, what are you waiting for? Check out my friend Rhoda by clicking here.

Thanks to Rhoda for being our honored guest today~ we loved getting to know you more!!

All images courtesy of Southern Hospitality Blog.

Stay tuned for more guest bloggers this week and don’t forget to link up friday if you have a blog!