Posted on 4 Comments

Morning Coffee with Vanessa Harvey

The Morning Coffee Interviews at Polka Dot Cottage

Welcome! How nice to see you this lovely morning. Please help yourself to a warm beverage and have a seat. Today we’ll be chatting with Vanessa Harvey of Coco Rose Diaries.

New to Morning Coffee? Monday mornings we sit down with some of my favorite writers & creative people, and get to know a little bit about their blogs and why they do what they do.

Once in a while I also interview Polka Dot Cottage readers, so if you write a creative blog and would like to participate some future week, drop me a line and we’ll talk about it!

So. Are you ready for today’s interview? Let’s go!

Morning Coffee with Vanessa Harvey of Coco Rose Diaries, at Polka Dot Cottage

How I found Coco Rose Diaries

About a year and a half ago, I got a small gig sharing crafty links on Sulia. It was my job to find 20 good craft-related blog posts to share with the community, and as such, I decided to expand my usual reading list. I went looking for blogs whose aesthetic appealed to me, and who were doing things with my favorite materials – yarn, fabric, polymer clay, etc.

I found Coco Rose Diaries and fell in love with the vintage charm that is present in so many of the photos. Aquas, reds, creams… I love those colors together. And Vanessa is a crocheter, with some truly lovely blankets to her credit – a fact which pretty much sealed the deal for me! I’ve been reading ever since.

Q&A with Vanessa Harvey

It was so nice of Vanessa to agree to talk to me, despite the fact that I am kind of a lurker on her site, and she likely had no idea who I was when I asked… >grin<

Morning Coffee with Vanessa Harvey of Coco Rose Diaries, at Polka Dot Cottage

Welcome, Vanessa!  When and why did you start your blog?

I started my blog in 2009. I stumbled across someone’s blog whilst doing a google search . I’d really never heard of them before, but I became engrossed in reading the one I had discovered. I blog hopped and realised that there was this world of creative mums who used blogs for their creative outlet, as well as discussing the daily ins and outs of their lives, which I found fascinating. I started my blog mainly so I could comment on others blogs, not really thinking about actually having a blog of my own. However, I had just left my job and was planning to be more creative, so I thought I’d use the blog just to record my makes. I never imagined people would ever be interested in it.

Has your blog evolved significantly since you began it, and if so, how?

It has evolved as I have become more creative. I learnt to crochet and that’s become a big part of the blog content now. I think, through blogging, you begin to see things differently too, and it can take you in different directions. For a while it did begin to get bigger than I had wanted it too, and I had to think long and hard about the direction that I wanted my blog to go. I want it small and simple. It’s my diary of my life and my makes day to day.

Morning Coffee with Vanessa Harvey of Coco Rose Diaries, at Polka Dot Cottage

How does your blog fit in to your daily life?

I went through a period where I was very sporadic with my posts. I try now to keep in some sort of routine and blog at least once a week. I like to record things as they happen, but, I get periods where I need a break to re-charge my batteries, so i’ll be silent and deal with the real world for a bit!

Is blogging something you can easily explain to your family and friends?

The thing I loved about my blog when I started it, was that it was something just for me. I could be me and it felt liberating. I’ve never really talked about my family on my blog as I thought of it more as a craft blog rather than a family one. I like that I keep it separate. I don’t discuss my blog with my family, it”s something I do just for myself. I like that I make all the decisions to do with it and don’t get swayed by family contributions!

Morning Coffee with Vanessa Harvey of Coco Rose Diaries, at Polka Dot Cottage

How important are reader comments to you?

I think everyone likes to have and read comments. To have some sort of interaction with what you say, make etc is always nice. Commenting on someone’s blog was what started the whole blogging experience for me. I loved being able to communicate with like minded souls. At the end of the day, my blog is my little record of my life, and i’d still do it if nobody read or commented on it. Comments just make the whole process of blogging that little bit nicer!

In what ways has blogging enhanced your life, if any?

It’s enabled me to look at things differently. I have always loved photography. I’m not so great at it, but since blogging I have loved seeing things through the eyes of a camera lens. It’s also been a great way of being introduced to new crafts and ideas. I absolutely love that.

Would you recommend blogging?

Absolutely. It’s a brilliant way of finding like minded souls that perhaps are not in your social circle or in the area with which you live. I’ve met some amazing people over the last 5 years that I wouldn’t have done had I not started blogging. I don’t regret it for one moment.

Morning Coffee with Vanessa Harvey of Coco Rose Diaries, at Polka Dot Cottage

Thank you, Vanessa, for taking the time to answer my questions and for allowing me to use your photos to illustrate our conversation. It’s been a pleasure!

Want more?  You can find Vanessa at Coco Rose Diaries

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Posted on 4 Comments

4 thoughts on “Morning Coffee with Vanessa Harvey

  1. It’s really awesome that you share with us interesting creative minds such as Vanessa Harvey, Diane Gilleland, etc. Whenever I see their creations, I am inspired to continue crafting. You know how it is, office work can sometimes dull our senses.

    1. Oh, definitely. When your day job involves tedious computer work, it is so satisfying to relax with something creative! I’m glad you are finding some inspiration in these interviews. Thanks for commenting!

  2. Hello,

    This is a lovely blog post, I have followed Vanessa’a blog for a while not, I absolutely love her colourful photography style and her written thoughts. its lovely to find your blog through hers

    Laura xxx

    1. I agree with you about her blog – I’m glad she agreed to be interviewed! Thanks for dropping by – I hope you’ll stick around 🙂

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