Keeping up with the blog next door

Guys today I want to talk about this,

We DIY blogs fit into an interesting part of the blogging world. 

In order to survive, and ultimately thrive, we need to be unique. Different. But at the same time, we need to create projects and pieces that fit into people's everyday life and home. Like in the cartoon above. This might get featured on someone's weekly link party...and we'll probably all comment on how totally awesome and cute it is...but are we really going to put it in our home? 

Essentially we run two different businesses. 1.) Our blog, where we want people to come to be inspired and see new things and 2.) our actual retail business, be it through Etsy, Craigslist, markets etc, where we need to move product. 

In order to drive traffic to our blog, we need to walk the fine line between being creative and doing things that haven't been done yet, while at the same time refinishing/creating pieces that are relatively mainstream in order to sell them.

To be perfectly honest, I worry about how I'm managing that aspect every day.

 But after doing this for awhile I've learned a few things about how to keep up with the blog next door and still sell my work.

Use a popular style in a different way.


When I started working on the Ombre dresser, I had seen a lot of pieces done with this technique; but always with paint. I knew the technique was popular and I loved it, but I didn't want the dresser to get lost in the crowd. So I thought, why not try it with stain?

I love how it turned out and it was featured on Apartment Therapy. (Yay!)

And some people love it and some people have been pretty critical about it, but I'm happy that I took a chance. :)

With this dresser, I knew I loved the look of a Union Jack, but again, I didn't want it to be just another Union Jack.

So I did some research and found that this design was the old British flag.

There is nothing wrong with following a trend, but try to work your personal touch into it.

Don't be afraid to go against the norm.

When we picked up this desk, Jake and I debated for awhile on whether or not to stain it or paint it.
We knew painting was more popular than stain, but we really felt like staining it would stay true to the existing beauty of the piece.

 Going against the norm can help your work stay fresh and new.


Lastly, expand your skills.

If you had asked me if I was a painter before I did the Very Hungary Caterpillar Dresser I would have said no way jose!

But I LOVED painting it!

This might be one of my favorite pieces simply because it tested my skills and talents.
I know sometimes I still get super nervous about trying a new technique, and not to sound cheesy, but how can we know what we are capable of if we don't give it a shot?

I would LOVE to know how you manage to walk the line of keeping up with the blog next door and still create product that sells.

How do you guys do it?

Do you think it is better to find a "niche" or a style that is characteristically your own, or is it better to keep recreating and inventing your style?