Featured blogger, Tracey from Sh1ft and the Australian baby blog

When did you start your blog?
My personal blog started way back in September 2001 – just before 9/11.

Why did you start blogging?
In 2001, I had been working as a web developer for a year and seen these new fangled things called ‘blogs’. So instead of developing a personal website, I decided to start a blog!

Describe your blog in 20 words or less
Everchanging, constantly learning. A woman, mother, wife and creative trying to figure it all out.

What are your 5 must have tools for blogging?
Wordpress, Photoshop, a Camera, an open heart and a sense of humour.

What is your favourite part of being a blogger?
Seeing blogs develop into such a popular medium over the years – I remember when there was a time where I had to explain what a blog was, and now everyone seems to blog in some way these days! Being part of the blogging community, meeting new friends.

What would be the biggest thing you have learnt since starting your blog?
Blog for yourself first. I think people can tell when you’re trying to force it out for the sake of popularity or the dollar.

If you could start again, what would you do differently?
Not be so boring, lol. Be more creative!

What has been your blog’s biggest achievement?
I guess making the 10 year mark will be my biggest achievement.

What do you find is the best way to help promote your blog?
Social networking but not in a spammy kind of way. Be present on the web – leave genuine comments, create genuine friendships. Be helpful and inviting.

What advice would do you have for new chick bloggers?
Go for it but don’t stress out if you don’t have something cool and new to say every day. Your blog should be about you and/or what you like.

Do you (or do you plan to) make any income from your blog?
Perhaps – I always want to keep blogging fun, so as long as it’s keeping a smile on my face I’ll give advertising a go. Currently I use Adsense which covers the cost of hosting.

What future goals do you have for your blog?
Really push myself in terms of writing skills/style and be more social! I’ve been a hermit and self obsessed this past 2 years.

What is your all time favourite post that you would love people to read?

I think the birth’s stories of both of my kids have been great reads for people – http://sh1ft.org/blog/?p=989 & http://sh1ft.org/blog/?p=1387

What is you most popular post (in comments, or traffic received)?

The blog post just before Regan & I were married had alot of comments – http://sh1ft.org/blog/?p=526 – ahh the memories!

Who are your 5 favourite chick bloggers and why?

Chantelle from Fat Mum Slim – http://fatmumslim.blogspot.com – Endless amount of beauty and talent, she makes me green with envy and makes me love her more and more

Amanda from Mocking Bird – http://www.mocking-bird.org/blog – I’ve known her for years and it’s been amazing to see her grow into a polaroid expert and photography guru

Helen from Grab Your Fork – http://grabyourfork.blogspot.com – the luckiest girl I know, eats and blogs!

Barb from Jinky Art – http://jinkyart.com.au/blog – I’ve known Barb for years also, and I’m so happy with her success, and the fact she has a photo blog still

Heather from Dooce – http://www.dooce.com – She doesn’t really need an explanation – but she’s funny, smart and has made me want to blog better

Meet our latest Featured blogger, Liz.

Liz blogs at friendlymiaows.com and  savvycat.net. She also shares a blog with her, this time next week husband, at jarodandliz.com. Jarod and Liz have also just become the latest writers at That’s Noice

When did you start your blog?
I’ve had personal, emo’y blogs on an off since about 2002 – although Jarod and Liz started in June 2008. Jarod hadn’t blogged before then.

Mostly boredom. And the idea that if we combined forces to create a blog, then surely we *both* wouldn’t give up after a month and delete it (as I’d done with all my previous blogs). It has actually worked: when I don’t feel like blogging, Jarod usually picks up the slack and vice versa.

Describe your blog in 20 words or less:
A blog predominantly about bikes and cats. And weddings, at the moment.

1. WordPress
2. Google Analytics
3. Photoshop (or similar image editor)
4. A camera of sorts
5. A cat.

This is going to sound really, really lazy, but being able to tell a story once and having a group of your friends/readers react to it.

If you blog as yourself, your family will find your blog. Either you tell them first, or they’ll stalk you. Be aware of that and if you don’t like it, blog anonymously!

See my blog anonymously comment
Actually, in all honesty – nothing.

So far: being given tickets to the Sydney Royal Easter Show this year and blog about the cat show. Like I wasn’t going to pay money and do that anyway

Commenting on other blogs and forums. Useful comments, not spam.

If you’re not technologically inclined don’t be to scared to ask someone for help! There are a lot of really lovely and supportive people out there willing to help. And be open to learning new things, too. Be yourself, blog about stuff that interests you. Don’t blog about things you think will interest everyone else.

We do have ads on our blog, what we make barely covers hosting, but we’re okay with that. It would be nice to earn a real income from it in the future, but it’s not something we’re focussed on right now.

To continue to update it regularly! We’ve got a shiny new redesign happening in conjunction with our wedding, and we’d like to get a few more followers who aren’t friends/family

Hmm. Well, An Engagement is kind of a good one.

In comments, it would be my first Daring Bakers challenge.
In traffic, Jarod’s post about his 2010 Kona Unit Single Speed

1. sesame ellis – I’ve been following Rachel for what seems like forever. She takes amazing photographs and is a great writer.
2. Three Ring Circus Tiff is just an amazing mother and a blogger. She writes with such honesty and openness about her life.
3. All Toile and No Reward Not only is she a talented crafter, but her writing is engaging. And I always like seeing her latest crafty projects.
4. 6 Year Med I find it interesting to be able to see things from doctor side of the doctor/patient relationship.
5. Sarah Wilson Full of interesting things to ponder, while following her journey to make life ‘bigger, more meaningful, nicer, smarter, heartier.’

Want to be a featured blogger? Submit your answers and you could be selected.

Come meet this week’s Featured Blogger, Candice DeVille from Super Kawaii Mama

When did you start your blog?

I started blogging on the 17th February 2008 so my blog has just turned two years old! It has become such a big part of my life that it feels like I’ve always done it.

Why did you start blogging?

A few reasons. One is that as a stay at home mum I was beginning to feel very isolated, especially seeing as I didn’t fit the traditionally “mummy” role nor did I feel the need to conform. I found I was starting to cop a lot of criticism from other local mothers about the way I dressed and decided that I wanted to write about my style and how being myself through fashion was a brilliant way to feel good. Initially the blog began as a self indulgent way to keep track of my wardrobe, with the idea that it would form some sort of personal fashion data base a’la Clueless! Also, I have worked in such a variety of roles of the years that I wanted to find a way to bring all my skills together and to share all the knowledge I’ve learnt. Blogging was the perfect answer!

Describe your blog in 20 words or less

Look beyond the little black dress and find glamour in your everyday. Imagination and joy are your best style friends.

What are your 5 must have tools for blogging?

• A digital camera (it doesn’t have to be fancy) and a good eye for photography.
• A voice recorder for notes on the go.
• A (very) basic knowledge of HTML or CSS
• A quite(ish) space
• A thick skin!

What is your favourite part of being a blogger?

One of my goals when I started blogging was to try and connect with like minded people. I’ve been overwhelmed by how many amazing people I’ve met and become great friends with. No woman is an island! That and being able to work around the hours my young family keeps so that I can follow my dreams and still watch them achieve theirs!

What would be the biggest thing you have learnt since starting your blog?

Blogging as a career choice is not as easy as it is made out to be. I have never worked harder or kept longer hours in my life! Also, for me it is highly addictive and I struggle to ever ‘turn off’ and relax without some internet connection at hand.

If you could start again, what would you do differently?

Remember that not everyone reading your blog has the best intentions and once you put it out there you have very little control over how your work can be used.

What has been your blog’s biggest achievement?

Signing a deal to create a Super Kawaii Mama capsule fashion collection for a local Australian label!

What advice would do you have for new bloggers?

Know how much of yourself you want to share, know where to draw the line. Know your limits and use your energy to create positive connections.

Do you (or do you plan to) make any income from your blog?

Yes, my blog has become part of my job these days. It was never intended to be that way but as the hours I put into it grew to become more than full time, I realised that the only way to continue to deliver was to find some financial support for all those hours work. However, one of the first things I did was to create a code of conduct for myself so I would always remember why I was writing, for whom and retain the integrity of the page.

What future goals do you have for your blog?

I do have a bit of a road map, but I also try to be flexible and see where it takes me. The main goal is to continue to grow and evolve without losing the central theme to the blog or being overly influenced by what other people in the same space are doing.

Who are your 5 favourite women bloggers and why?

Nubby Twiglet – Extremely well written content, great design inspiration and incredibly helpful. I so admire her strong, clean and organised style.

Amelia Arsenic – She’s aesthetically strong and courageous, has a brilliant business mind and is infinitely creative both as a musician, designer and model.

Jennine Tamm – Author and creator of the IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers). She’s brought together a cohesive community of fashion bloggers from around the world, helping them through what is a potential mine field as well as being a driving force behind fashion bloggers validation as ‘real’ media.

Violet Le Beaux – She’s a brilliant friend and we are so often on the same creative wave length- as well as she’s a bloody nice girl!

This weeks featured blogger is Christie Burnett from Childhood 101

When did you start your blog?
I started Childhood 101 in May 2009.

Why did you start blogging?
As a new stay at home Mum, I found that I missed having something for me as my work had always been such an important part of my life. Childhood 101 became what I did for me, an outlet for my thoughts and ideas and feelings. I enjoy the fact that blogging requires me to think and problem solve – planning, writing, fiddling with html, editing photos, connecting with readers, it’s all good fun.

Describe your blog in 20 words or less
Childhood 101 aspires to put ‘childhood’ back on the agenda, inspiring families to create happy, memorable childhoods for their children.

What are your 5 must have tools for blogging?
My cameras (I have both a DSLR and a point and shoot which lives in my handbag), my laptop, a bar of whatever is my latest chocolate addiction and a cup of hot Earl Grey tea.

What is your favourite part of being a blogger?
Connecting with readers/other bloggers through my blog and theirs; whatever your parenting style or philosophy there are others around the world feeling, thinking, enduring, (and sometimes even) enjoying a similar journey. The blogging community is wonderful and I have made true friends through blogging.

What would be the biggest thing you have learnt since starting your blog?
There is an audience for every blog, it is a matter of finding and connecting with your audience. Write how you want to write, about what you wish to write about and don’t bother comparing yourself to other bloggers in your niche. Examine and learn from others but do not judge yourself or be too critical, as everyone has a different approach and a different purpose for blogging.

If you could start again, what would you do differently?
It would probably be to explore the different blogging platforms. Whilst I have had no issues with Blogger, WordPress appears to offer a lot more flexibility and more options. I would also have looked into getting my own domain name and host, I know I can still do so but it just seems like a much bigger job now!

What has been your blog’s biggest achievement?
Childhood 101 won Best Parenting Blog at the inaugural Nuffnang Blog Awards in Singapore in October. It was such a buzz, especially as the other finalists were much more experienced bloggers (one finalist has even starred in a Malaysian online reality TV show about bloggers). Through the experience I met some wonderful Australian and overseas bloggers and learnt that blogging is actually really huge in Asia, much bigger than here in Australia, which is exciting as it means we still have so much to look forward to as a blogging community.

What advice would do you have for new bloggers?
Blog regularly about something which you are passionate about. Read and comment on lots of blogs in your niche. Offer to write guest posts for other mid level blogs in your niche and provide them with great material. And for yourself, keep it interesting and fun by regularly trying new things (check out my guest post at ProBlogger http://www.problogger.net/archives/2010/01/30/20-ways-to-up-your-blogging-fun-quota/ for tips on keeping your blog fresh).

Do you (or do you plan to) make any income from your blog?
Yes, I think serious bloggers devote a lot of time and effort to their blogs and deserve to be compensated. As well as being registered with Nuffnang, I also offer private sponsorship through sidebar advertising and sponsored posts.

What future goals do you have for your blog?
While not really a goal, we have recently moved into our very own version of ‘The Money Pit’ and I look forward to sharing some of our adventures as we renovate it, transforming a house into a real family home.

Who are your 5 favourite women bloggers and why?
1. Kate at Picklebums (http://picklebums.com) makes me want to pack up and run away to live on a farm (though it would have to be a very small farm as I hate gardening and would find the wildlife a bit of a nuisance). Somehow Kate makes bugs and chooks and ducks that bite sound so appealing. I admire the way she makes blogging about life look easy and fun.

2. Cath, aka SquiggleMum (http://squigglemum.com), feels like someone I have known forever. A fellow teacher-Mum-blogger, we live on opposite sides of the country but could just as easily be teaching in classrooms side by side to each other. I love reading Cath’s adventures as she is that little bit further along on her motherhood journey and I get a little insight into what my life could very likely be like in the months and years to come.

3. Jean at The Artful Parent (http://artfulparent.typepad.com/artfulparent) shares her passion for children’s open ended art through the adventures of her own daughter, Maia, and a toddler art group she initiated.

4. Stephanie of The NieNie Dialogues (http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com) is simply inspirational. A mother of four she continues to struggle to heal after being seriously injured in a near fatal plane crash. NieNie reminds me to be thankful everday for so many different reasons.

5. Megan of SortaCrunchy (http://sortacrunchy.typepad.com) captured my interest with a series of posts about ditching disposables and reducing household waste – she ditched ‘paper’ products, so no more paper for cleaning spills, wiping noses or wiping backsides (children’s or adults!) I admire Megan’s approach to many family issues and challenges.