Today's prompt from Sunday, for her, blog everyday in May challenge, invite someone to guest post for you.
I have wanted to start something like this for months, so this is the perfect time to start. Only it's not someone that is guesting as a guest. More so I will be having one person a month that I find inpires me. Giving them a Q&A and we can all get to know them. I love reading posts like these, and hope you do to. I am really, REALLY excited to have my very first inspirational blogger, Kristin is amazing.
Name : Kristin Tweedale aka rukristin (pronounced R-U-kristin)
Where are you from : I'm from a small town in Northern New Jersey. I was born and raised here. I moved away to go to college when I was 18 but I moved back to my hometown a few years ago. I live about 15 minutes by car outside of NYC (which means up to two hours in gridlock traffic). I've lived in New Jersey and on the East Coast of the United States for my entire life, but in July -- I'll be moving halfway across the country to East Lansing, MI. I'm nervous about living further away from family and friends, but very excited for a new adventure and a new home.
How long have you been blogging for? I've been blogging inconsistently for a little more than nine years. I started my first blog as a final project for a class in college, and I kept blogging on and off throughout my twenties, whenever it fit into my lifestyle. I've been blogging consistently for a few years now, and full-time since January of 2013. My blog is the backbone of everything I do. It's the platform on which I'm able to craft all of my projects and build amazing communities. It's my place on the internet.
Where did your blog title come from? So I mentioned that my first blog was for a final project, I named the blog rukristin -- which at the time stood for Rutgers University (R U) kristin, and the name just stuck. It's unique, it's easy to remember, and it's a nod to my story.
Who inspires you? Man, who doesn't inspire me? I hesitate to say that I'm inspired by a single person or persons. I tend to get a majority of my inspiration from the world around me. I take in a lot of curated pop-culture, and I love documenting what I'm watching, listening to, reading -- the right now stuff. I also find myself constantly inspired by magazines -- Dwell, the New York Times Magazine, anything modern and minimalist is my jam right now. Oh! and Instagram -- I am in love with some amazing instagrammers @kat_in_nyc, @ohhellofriend, and @paintpaperstudio are a few of my favorites right now.
Three blogging tips you can offer?
1. Write about what you have to offer the world.
2. Stick to a schedule.
3. Make friends.
How did you get into paper crafting and how long has it been part of your life? In high school, a friend and I had to work on a final project for English class and we chose to make a scrapbook one of the characters of the novel we were studying. We had extra supplies left over so we started making a few of our own scrapbook pages. I continued to scrapbook throughout high school and college up through now.
What was the first design team you were part of? The first design team I was ever a part of was at my local scrapbook store where I also taught classes. I loved that place like a second home. Every Saturday night I would go to a late-night crop where we would get takeout and scrap till midnight (or later). I've since served on several design teams over the years and you can currently find me playing around with the Freckled Fawn Oh Deer Me kit on a monthly basis, writing for Scrap365 magazine in the UK, as well as Scrap N Art online magazine in the US.
What you've learnt from blogging? I've learned that I'm a better writer than I ever thought I could be. I've learned that the more I write, the more I want to write. I've gained more confidence in who I am, what I believe, and what I can offer to the world. It's given me an outlet to pursue some really awesome opportunities and become friends with some really incredible people.
What you love to do when your not blogging or paper crafting? I actually love to do a bunch of other things when I'm not blogging or paper crafting. I'm a pop-culture junkie and a total nerd -- I read a lot of news, binge watch good TV shows, and play video games. I'm super into women's issues and lady empowerment. And I love going on adventures, whether it's my quest to visit all fifty of the United States, or just day adventures in NYC or other quirky places. Even though I enjoy a lot of disparate things, they are all a part of my story and I like that I can express the common bond they share both through my paper crafting and my blogging.
Favourite item? Favorite Crafty Item: Pen and Paper -- I'm such a nerd, I know. But with a pen and paper I can draw or journal or doodle or sketch or plan or a million different things. It's the thing I start with and the thing I finish with. Favorite Non-Crafty Item: iPhone -- I use it for everything. Photography, blogging, social media, documenting, editing my photos, staying in touch with friends. it's my lifeline.
Coffee or Tea drinker? Nope -- I'm just an old fashioned water girl. Although I've really gotten into craft brewed sodas lately.
If you could be any animal what would you be? A cat. Totally. I would be a tiny kitten with super sharp claws.
Favourite tune right now? Anything by British jazz-rocker Jamie Cullum -- he's finally coming back to the US after four long years and I'm going to see him next week and I couldn't be more excited! He's super tiny and he jumps on his grand piano during the show.
Dream job? Anything where I have full creative agency. I love working for myself. I love creating things. I love telling my story and I love empowering women. My dream job -- whatever it might be, would allow me to do all of those things.
Favourite flower? Anything bright and yellow.
Name a few of your favourite craft brands? Amy Tangerine, Studio Calico, Freckled Fawn, Basic Grey, Simple Stories, and lots of great indie sellers
Any future plans for Rukristin that you can share? Yes! So many future plans -- later this year I will be expanding the Currently List Journaling Challenge product line to include a couple of brand new Currently List Journaling products to make it easier to tell your right-now story in whatever way works for you. I'm really excited for everything that I have in the works, and I thank you so much for letting me spend some time with you today!
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