Featured Blogger- Amber Kemp- Gerstel
Good morning!
For those new to my blog, on the first Monday of each month, I feature one of my favorite bloggers. When I read blogs, I always enjoy getting to know the person BEHIND the blog. Whether it be a crafty blogger, a lifestyle blogger or a fellow young single gal- I love putting away the formalities and having a “conversation” with a blogger I enjoy.
Today I’m thrilled to be introducing you all to a Amber Kemp- Gerstel from Damask Love. I was able to meet Amber a couple years back {before she became a blogging extraordinaire} and she is a doll. If you flip through paper crafting magazines, you will often see her beautiful items gracing the pages. Not only does she create and blog her crafting projects, she also has a heart of gold. The tragedy in Newtown, CT tugged at Amber’s heart and she took action and put together a wonderful cause for that community. She was able to raise thousands of dollars and assemble lots of kits for the children in that town. Her report can be found here.
Let’s get started with some blogging questions!
Tell us about your blog. When and why did you start it?
When you create tons and tons of crafty stuff like I do, there is an urge to share it with all the other crafty people out there! That is precisely why I started Damask Love – as a place for me to share my projects and creations; a place to give a little bit of purpose to my hobby! Over time, the mission of Damask Love has evolved. Today, I use my blog as a place to give inspiration to crafters at all levels. I do my best to provide clear instructions for each of the projects I post so that anyone can follow along!
Do you ever find it hard to come up with blog content?
There was a time when by blog schedule was a day-to-day battle. I had no plan, really, Each day, I’d try to come up with something to post on the following day. It was chaotic and way too much pressure! When I started the new Damask Love, I also started a ongoing list of blog post ideas. Ideas that popped into my head throughout the day. Today, I have a list of over 100 blog post ideas, and whenever I’m feeling tapped out, I refer to that list.
Is there a particular feature (on your blog) that is your favorite?
When I launched the new Damask Love, I added several features to the blog that would contribute to the theme and continuity of the content. Of these features, Office Hours is my favorite! The Office Hours feature, allows me to directly answer questions that are submitted by readers. Questions like: “How do you take your photos?” or “Where do you find inspiration for your projects?” This features helps me feel like I am interacting directly with my blog readers, which is great!
What has been your favorite part about blogging?
The best part about blogging is that I am the boss of my own blog! It’s a great feeling to control my own content, when it will be posted, how it will be designed. It’s like being the editor of my own magazine! Blogging also provides such a great format for interacting with readers! I love reading all of the emails and comments! I also have a great time interacting with readers on my Facebook page, where I can have more of a conversation with everyone! Last, blogging is a great avenue for growing my own skills as a crafter and businesswoman. Growing a blog is a full time job and I enjoy every minute of it. I enjoy learning to strategies for reaching new readers and trying out techniques for engaging my readers in the content of Damask Love. All in all, blogging is the perfect format for me to share my passion for creativity and eventually growing that passion into successful business.
When you first started your blog, did you have any specific goals or dreams for the future of your blog? If so, what were they?
I started my blog two years ago, in January of 2010. At the time, I really had no plans for it. Just a place for me to post fun photos of my project. That was it. No expectations. No goals. Boy, has that changed! Today, I treat my blog as a business. It’s a place for me to reach creative people who enjoy all things DIY. Everyday I challenge myself to provide unique and creative content that will engage my readers. I strive to work with other bloggers who may teach me some of their own strategies for blog growth. I do my best to remain an relevant and active participant in the blogging community so that I can soak in as much as possible! Every day is a learning experience with blogging and the “field” is always changing! That is the great part of being a blogger. I am constantly learning and challenging myself. It never gets old.
Do you have any advice for people hoping to take their blog to the next level?
Be a good blog neighbor! Before I launched the revamped Damask Love, I sort of existed in a vaccuum by myself. I posted to my own blog but never went much further than that.
Okay, now onto some fun questions that are non-relevant to blogging…..
Besides crafting, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Spare time? What is that? I’m not terribly familiar with that term!!
You get to spend the day with any celebrity, would would it be? Why?
Oprah is the easy winner here. In my imagination, Oprah and I are besties. We eat beet salad together and talk about books that we’ve read. We go on shopping sprees at Bergdorfs and we hang out in fluffy robes at her home in Chicago…and sometimes Ina Garten comes over and we all cook together.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Greece. Hands down – mostly because I want to eat my way through the country and lay around on white sandy beaches all day!
List 5 things you are passionate about:
My husband. My craftroom. My shoes. My home. Carbs.
A great big thank you to Amber for taking the time to answer these questions. Now that you see how fun she is, I’m sure you want to follow her too! Here’s where you can find her:
It’s true…..after many requests, I will be opening up a DT call for the 10 Minute Craft Dash! The Craft Dash has grown leaps and bounds and I’m hoping in 2013, word about the challenge will continue to spread. I always love seeing new names & faces in the entries!
