randomcreative, From Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 966 Fans, 267 Hubs, Joined 24 months ago
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Cocopreme Interviews Randomcreative
A peek into the life of an avid educator, crafter, and photographer
You have some really creative craft ideas. How do you come up with the ideas used in your craft Hubs?
I get ideas for Hubs from a lot of my current craft obsessions. In keeping with my username, my craft interests are varied and ever-changing. I also keep an ongoing brainstorm list of craft topics. I read a lot of craft blogs and browse on Pinterest every week, which helps me keep up with new craft trends and find inspiration for articles. I don't write all of the ideas that I brainstorm, but it helps keep the process moving along.
There is also an eco-friendly theme to many of your Hubs and you showcase lots of upcycled crafts. Is the green movement important to you?
Honestly, the green movement is not a big priority in my life. However, I believe that creating art should be accessible and affordable for everyone. I also believe in reusing items instead of throwing them out whenever possible. There is a lot of interest in upcycling and recycling items for craft projects right now. As someone who writes extensively about crafting, it's been beneficial for me to keep up with this trend.
Photography seems to be another of your interests. Is it a hobby of yours? How do you incorporate it into building Hubs?
I got motivated to better my photography skills when I started selling on Etsy and blogging with photos on a regular basis. As I've improved my skills, my photography has taken on a life of its own that has gone far beyond product photography and blogging. I have just started to monetize my work in 2013 and plan to expand that endeavor during the next couple years. Most of my initial photography Hubs pertained to product photography or blogging, but as my interest has expanded, I've also expanded my photography article topics. As I further my skills and continue to explore new areas of photography, such as selling my prints, I plan to continue to share my knowledge on the topic through HubPages.
You taught special education for several years and have written lots of Hubs about education. Is there anything you want to share about that experience?
I was finishing up my four year stint of teaching special education when I started writing on HubPages. I planned on writing almost exclusively about education when I first started with the site. While I was teaching, I created a lot of my own materials and wanted to share them with others. I have been able to achieve that goal through HubPages, but I've also had success writing about many other topics. While sharing my educational expertise isn't my top priority on the site anymore, it is still something that I revisit on a regular basis.
You sell homemade jewelry on Etsy. Do find that your work on Etsy and writing here complement each other? Do you find it easy to connect the two?
As I frequently find motivation to share knowledge about my current interests and pursuits, writing about Etsy has been a similar experience to writing about photography on HubPages. I have learned a tremendous amount about marketing, social media, other aspects of selling online, and product photography through my work with Etsy. There is a lot that I wish I'd known when I first opened my shop and love to share that knowledge with others. I enjoy sharing my insight about selling handmade products elsewhere, too, such as craft shows.
What advice can you give about transitioning to full-time freelance work? What have you learned from the experience?
Currently I spend about half of my time freelance writing for clients and on HubPages. I spend the rest of my time managing our household, blogging, keeping up with my Etsy shop, and furthering my photography. Any type of freelance work requires a significant amount of discipline and dedication. Not everyone is suited to this career path. However, it has worked well for me. I love being my own boss and having so much control over my own schedule.
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