Hello,
I'm Mervi Eskelinen!
An artist, nerd and sorcerer, dedicated to make world softer and better for everyone, and to get you to make more art. Make art, change the world!
Blogger highlight: Jutta Rikola
This week Blogger highlight is Jutta Rikola who writes an interior and DIY blog Kootut murut. Her blog's main language is English and her entries have summaries in Finnish. Jutta has been blogging since September 2008, when she has the time and the inspiration to do so. She is an Art Director in an ad agency. In addition to the main subjects, Jutta also blogs about her children and life in general. Occasionally you can also find Jutta's illustrations on the blog. Jutta answered my questions in Finnish, so you can blame me for the translations.
Why do you blog?
"That is a good question, to which I don't have a clear answer. I found blogs in 2008 and fell for the idea immediately. I started to follow many blogs, especially interior blogs. At the same time we were looking for a new apartment. I had been dreaming of a rintamamiestalo (certain type of a house build after the Second World War for the families of the soldiers) for a long time and suddenly I found lots of wonderful blogs telling about life in such house. Somehow a blog felt like a right channel for my own creativity, and I liked the sense of community surrounding them. I'm also really pretty lazy and bad at motivating myself. Blog felt like a good motivator to get the renovation done. I felt I had 'a responsibility' for the blog readers (who weren't many!) and that's why I had to get something done and ready.
Nowadays, sometimes when I don't seem to have the time, I think if keeping up blogging has any point. But I like so much taking photos and styling, not to mention the wonderful people who read and comment, that I haven't got myself to quitting."
For whom do you blog?
"In the beginning I blogged mainly to myself, but later I have started to think about the readers more. Because I blog for a hobby, target group thinking isn't reasonable, but I do still think what sort of things are interesting to people. Judging by the comments, most of the readers are women, or at least men don't make themselves visible for some reason. :D"
How and where do you find subjects and inspiration for blog posts?
"Kootut murut reports mainly about the interior and life of our home, so I find inspiration here at home. But of course other blogs and magazines, web also. A little bit everywhere, really."
What has been your biggest challenge with blogging?
"I suppose it's finding time for blogging. Sometimes it's frustrating to have a long list of ideas waiting, but no time to make them happen. The other issue is self-criticism. I think probably too much if it's a good idea to post something or not. Or I may take photos, but then abandon them all, because I couldn't get them to become the way I had imagined them."
What has been your greatest success with blogging?
"I cannot say any one thing here. I get lots of joy from being able to share ideas and thoughts with the readers and through blogging I have found friends, with whom I'm in contact otherwise too. Blogging has, of course, developed my skills, especially with photographing. I style and photograph also for work nowadays, for the interior magazine Unelmien Talo&Koti and for my day job at an ad agency. I've got many jobs through my blog as well. In addition our home has been in many interior magazines around the world, which would have felt miraculous when I started the blog back in 2008."
Jutta's blogging tips:
"Blog with your own voice and style about a subject which is close to your heart. Personality stands out, and genuineness and enthusiasm is also conveyed to the readers."
Jutta's greetings for You:
"Have a sunny spring! :)"
Blogger highlight series interviews and introduces different kinds of bloggers all around the world. The bloggers answer a selection of questions about blogging and what it means to them.
Photos © Jutta Rikola/Kootut murut
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