Sometimes, even creative people need a little push!!!
I started Instagram earlier this year. I started so that I could follow some of my favorite bloggers. From what they were writing and posting, it seemed they were spending time and energy on this little app and I wanted to find out why! It was a slow learning process. I think I may even have started out doing everything wrong, and I almost gave it up I was so frustrated. But I did learn and changed up my IG game.
Sometime back in May, (it’s been a while since I have posted here, hasn’t it?) I saw a posting for a Photo a Day Challenge. It was being run by a lovely woman named Corinna. She has a blog called A Designer at Home- and her Boho Abode. For the months of June and then again in September- she ran a Photo a Day Challenge. With the hashtag #showmeyourboho For me, this was brilliant! Each day had a different theme or prompt. Post a photo with your own spin on the day’s theme.
Awesome, fantastic, and just what I needed! It took some of the stress out of “what should I post?” out of it.
What I realized pretty quickly, was that I just needed to share a small, short story each day. A snapshot of whatever the day’s theme was. And for that- I didn’t need to clean a whole room! I know, what you’re thinking, your house always looks so clean and put together. Well, I am here to confess that is not always the case! I found it very liberating to just stage and set up one photo a day! Anyone can do that, right? Must be why this IG is so popular and addictive.
I found the creative process to be very inspiring! I have a very Eclectic style in my home, sometimes I’m Bohemian, sometimes I’m Farmhouse, and sometimes I’m Vintage/Retro. I like what I like, and I like to change it up. Often. It was fun taking what I already had and putting a very deliberate Boho spin on the Day’s theme. These were all items that I already owned and loved, but it was how they were put together that was the creative part!
It was so fun checking out what others were posting! I love the whole Fixer Upper style. White, light and neutral, Farmhouse style, with New mixed with the vintage. But I have to tell you, I NEED COLOR!!! Finding this challenge helped me find new Bohemian IG accounts to follow. Women who loved real Plants, not just the fake ones from craft store. Women who loved color and pattern, and were not afraid to use it. Women who loved Vintage and Retro decor, not just new items from the big box stores. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of those too 😉 Women who were running home based businesses, and were bloggers showing their love for a different style of home decor. These could be my people… I thought. Each of these women were inspiring, and helped me see where I wanted to go and be. With my home and decorating, and with the Etsy shop and the blog you read here.
After the June Photo challenge, I was kind of burned out. I saw that other accounts were doing other Month long challenges, and with different themes. But I just wanted to post what I wanted to post, and maybe not everyday. And that was OK! I took some time and worked on projects and started a weekly hashtag group! But that’s a story for another day 😉
Then the end of August came, and I was ready to jump in again. I was ready for the creative challenge. I was ready to be inspired and pushed. And once again I loved every minute of it 🙂 Thanks Corinna!
Have you done a photo a day challenge? Would you like to try? Let me know, I’d love to help you.
Jackie
All photos shown here are from the June Challenge. Check out my Instagram account for these photos and many more!