Sponsor Feature & Giveaway: blue eyed owl


Hello Just Lovely Readers! I’m Liz, the author, designer, and curator of The Blue Eyed Owl.

My shop is full of vintage and handmade pretties for you and your home and I write about my life as mom, wife, and indie business owner, as well as, my inspirations, creative journey, and aspiring to reach my goals.



Hasn’t Heather’s Love Your Business series been great? I’ve learned so many things from all her talented guest authors. In keeping with that theme, Heather asked me to share a bit of my experience with you by answering this question:

What are 5 things you know now that you wish 
you knew when you started your blog/business?

1. Just be yourself and the readers will come.
In the early days of my blog I was so concerned with the little number on the side…followers. I joined every blog hop, linky party and sometime just plain begged for people to hit that little button. While I’ll still enjoy the occasional blog hop or linky, and even host them, I now know that being genuine, and creating content that you care about is what really brings in the readers and keeps them coming back. As soon as I stopped stressing and started making my blog a place I would want to visit, the numbers and stats grew.


2. It’s okay to change.
I was so worried in the beginning that “branding” meant keeping true to your original image forever. Read everything you can about branding and then take it with a grain of salt. Don’t be afraid to jump in and try a bunch of different things before you commit to what you want. We all evolve and change, so why shouldn’t your blog or business. If you start a blog series and don’t like it, change it. If you launch a product and it doesn’t work out, improve it. If you decide you hate the color orange, change your blog design. As long as you are being yourself, your “brand” will be fine.

3. Use Twitter.
This one is silly and simple, but really essential.  I resisted Twitter for so long because I didn’t really understand it. It has proven to be one of the best ways to reach readers, customers, and to network with other business owners.


4. Sometimes you need to walk away.
The internet is a time suck.  I could work on my shop, interact via social media, and pin for hours and hours.  In the beginning I did.  You have to learn when to shut down your laptop, close the door to your studio, and walk away for a while.  You have to live life if you want to be inspired creatively and have content for your blog.

5.  Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
At one point I had 2 Etsy shops and 2 blogs, one for vintage, and one for handmade. Can you say craziness? Add that to doing craft shows, vintage markets, running and antique booth, and oh yeah, that kid and husband I have. As you can imagine, I was stretched a bit too thin. I combined by shops and blog under one name, ditched the antique booth and do shows that feature both my vintage and handmade items. That’s more like it :) Be careful or you will over commit!

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blog // shop // facebook // twitter // pinterest


25 comments:

  1. I have been loving this series!
    And stretching myself too thin is where I am at.
    Time to "fatten" up.

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  2. I did everything, except the Twitter items to enter. =) Because I do not have a Twitter account.. but after reading the post. I think I need to break down and get one. <3

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    1. It's easier than you think and oh so fun ;)

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  3. Thanks for the giveaway! I love the vintage trays in her shop!

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  4. I love the vintage glass cloche. Lovely!

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  5. Gold Sequin Bow on Lace Elastic Headband Wrap Glitzy Band is the cuuuutest!

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  6. That vintage green glass apple has my name written all over it! I LOOOOOVE apple decor! :)

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  7. I love the blue glass bowl!

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  8. The mini chalk tag necklace would be adorable for my girls!

    ♥ Duckie.

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  9. I can't decide!! .. but I need some fun home decor!

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  10. i love everything in her shop!! just moved into my first home, adore vintage items. thanks for the giveaway.

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  11. i absolutely love the vintage decor, just moved into first home =]. thanks for the giveaway

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  12. I love her Pink Dot Watercolor Darling Dangles.

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  13. My favorite is the Vintage Blue Glass Etched Scalloped Pedestal Bowl Dish :)

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  14. My favourite is the floral headband.

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  15. I LOVE the cup and saucers. I've got a terrible addiction to mugs and those are priceless!!

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  16. I love the chalk board necklace. so clever!

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  17. The dangling hot pink dot earrings are DARLING!

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  18. I love the vintage tribal southwest geometric mug!!

    Cassandra
    darkthra@gmail.com

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  19. I love all the dangles, the glass cloche and the mum bobby pins.

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  20. The dangle earrings are my current fave!

    Twilson 107 at cox dot net

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  21. Vintage Glass Cloche is my fav!!

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  22. I like the Vintage Blue Glass Etched Scalloped Pedestal Bowl Dish. Very pretty!

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