Hi everyone, we are Jacque & Matt of theDIYvillage. When we were contacted by Hometalk to share about ourselves rather than our projects we were beyond excited and just like that I’m pretty sure my stomach did a back flip. We are used to talking about our projects not ourselves! We are truly honored to be in the Bloglight on hometalk’s blogtalk. There are so many wonderful bloggers out there the fact that theDIYvillage has been chosen is beyond words!
How did you first get into blogging?
Jacque: Oddly enough my first blog was not a DIY/Home blog. My first blog was Chasing Rainbows, it was a blog dedicated to the thoughts and emotions surrounding my (our) journey to becoming parents and how we dealt with the sadness of multiple miscarriages. The few months that I did write at Chasing Rainbows I kept on Matt about how fun it would be to write about the projects we were constantly working on around our house. What better way could we share all of these projects with our family around the US? I laid off of him for a while and one day in the Fall of 2011 he came to me and told me he had started a blog for us and was working on it’s first post … On October 23. 2011 our first post was published and theDIYvillage was born! My first post came some three months later.
How did you decide on the name of your blog?
Matt: When we decided to join forces on a blog, it made sense to focus on DIY projects, thus the DIY. But the Village actually has two different origins. First off, our neighborhood is named the Village! It’s the type of neighborhood that Jacque and I have always wanted to live in, so it just felt fitting to incorporate it into our name! And secondly, because a Village is a community of people…And that’s what we wanted our site to feel like, a welcoming community!
Is blogging a full time job, or something you do on the side?
Jacque: Blogging started out as a hobby for the both of us but has quickly turned into a full time “side job”. I run the office for a landscape/irrigation contractor and Matt is a career firefighter for a local fire department. In our spare time we enjoy long walks on the beach, candle light dinners, pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain … Kidding of course, who has time for that kinda stuff when you are working on your Never Ending Honey-do list?
What is the first project you ever posted?
Matt: My first post was a re-finished desk I did for a friend, I published it on October 23, 2011. The refinishing part of the project came easy to me…The writing did not!
Jacque: My first post was a tutorial on how to make a Valentine’s Day wreath, I published it on January 26, 2012. It was by far the hardest post I have ever written. I am pretty sure I re-wrote it 10 times making sure I was getting it right!
What project that has brought you the most traffic to date?
Matt: My most taxing DIY project to date would have to be my Paver Path! And I take great pride in being able to say that, of the posts that I have written, it has attracted the most traffic! I couldn’t even begin to come up with a total on how many hours went into planning, gathering materials, and actual execution of the walkway, but it really was worth every minute!
I wrote in the post that it was my first and last paver stone project…But, I won’t lie, I’ve been so happy with the results that I’ve considered planning out another paver stone project for the yard! (Just don’t tell Jacque, she’s already got me booked up for 2012…and 2013)
What advice would you give to other bloggers that you wish you would have known before you started blogging?
Matt: I would share the advice that was given to Jacque and I by Tauni of SNAP -Creativity at your fingers, Define what makes you and your blog unique. After that just focus on quality content. By far some of the best advice I’ve gotten since we’ve joined the blogging community.
Jacque: There are a few I have heard over and over that still ring true to me Content is KING. Be genuine, your readers can tell when you’re not. But most of all investing time with the blogging community itself is huge! Fellow bloggers can be your second best cheerleader (next to you of course), support each other and the rewards will be great!
Thank you so much for taking the time to learn a little more about us here at theDIYvillage. Feel free to hang around for a while and check out our site. We have a project gallery loaded with lots of great projects!
A huge thanks again to Hometalk for selecting us to be in the Bloglight. And remember if you are looking for a great place to search projects, have questions answered by the pros, post your projects, and best of all be inspired then Hometalk is the place for you!
Wow, so great to hear more about you guys and your blogging story! Thanks for sharing and congrats for being “in the bloglight!”
What a very inspiring story!~ I remember your wreath…I think I do:) All your projects are awesome!
Thank you so much Debbie! I think you are right too about that wreath I remember linking it up to your party … I went back to look but apparently the buttons never made the move from Blogger to WP … whomp whomp whomp!
You two make me smile – EVERY time I see your posts. I’m with Debbie – what an inspiring story! I remember the paver project -that’s how I first discovered your blog. Thank you so much for sharing! So glad you are part of the Hometalk community.
Miriam, after meeting you at Haven, you had me convinced that we HAD to be a part of the Hometalk movement! It is an absolute thrill to be a part of such an incredible community and I can’t wait to see what Hometalk has in store for the future! I can’t even begin to explain what an honor it is for us to be featured in the Bloglight! Thanks for making our year!!!
You guys are fabulous – I was thrilled to meet you in person!
Jacque – when Matt is done your honey-do list, could you send him to my house (I’ve got a list a mile long)!!
Congrats on your well-deserved feature!
Kelly
Kelly, I assure you the thrill was all ours! Thank you SO much for your support and and your friendship! And as far as your Honey-Do-List…We’re always up for a road trip!
Thanks so much Kelly! I am so happy I got to meet you, you are so inspiring and supportive … not to mention funny as all get out! Never a dull moment.
Congrats on the highlight!! I know I’m biased, but I love your blog… (and you guys) 🙂 The project gallery looks great, by the way!
Thanks Sarah! I appreciate all the support that you give to us! I couldn’t ask for a better sister! Love you!
Awee thanks Sarah! You are the best SIL!
I loved getting to know the two of you a little better! It’s so fun meeting others who share a passion for DIY! Congratulations on your well deserved feature!
Thanks so much Roeshel, I love following your blog and your dining room “barn door” To die for!!
I just loved reading your blogging story! Your passion and joy really shine through!
Thank you Gwen!
Loved hearing your story and getting to know you guys better! And I’m totally digging how you’re working with each other’s blogging strengths for certain things. You truly make a winning team!
Thank you so much Donna coming from you this means so much. I have admired your blog and work for a long time. Thank you again!
I LOVE that you guys blog together! What a great story 🙂
–Elena
acasarella.net
Thanks Elena! It makes for a CRAZY busy household, but it’s pretty gratifying working together!
sure wish I could engage my (interior painting, curtain making, real estate agent…ing) wife. I have asked her to do a guest but she always seems to blow me off (spare a comment here and there). Definitely have enjoyed what I have seen and all the best to you both. cheers! (btw. Mark & Theresa would tell you you are a “commodity” … home improving couples in the media are fairly rare… just sayin’)
JB, working as a Husband/Wife team definitely makes for some entertaining stories! I appreciate you taking the time to let us know what you think about our projects! I can’t say that I’ve ever thought about Jacque and I being a commodity, but I like the way that sounds! I hope to have the chance to talk with Mark & Teresa sometime soon! Thanks again and take care!
It was so great to get to know you two more through this spotlight! Matt, we know exactly what you mean about your paver project. We made a stone walkway that took over a month to do, but now that’s all behind us, it’s the most satisfying project we’ve done. Congrats on the feature!
Congratulations – what a great team you two make! I’m loving the paver patio post, just pinned it – lots of “p” words in this sentence. I also really love your honey do list here on your blog: what a great way to share with your readers what’s on tap for the future as well as what has been accomplished!
HA so cute Laura! Thank you so much for the kind words, so glad I got to know you better yesterday, you are such a sweetie!
You two are so fabulous! I love your story…just amazing! I love that you work so well together…I would totally not be able to work with my Matt. You two are the best!
Awee you are so sweet Jessica! But just so you know sometimes we just work beside each other … safer that way for everyone 😉
I had no idea that you had only been blogging for a year! Me too. I first found you guys from Haven and I started blogging in October of last year too. How fun that you do it together 🙂 Enjoyed learning more about your lives and blogs, Matt and Jacque!
Thanks so much Christina! Hard to believe it’s been a year isn’t it? Good things go by too quickly!
Good God y’all are SO CUTE! 🙂 LOVED the post! Congrats on an awesome partnership and on the bloglight! 😉 Thanks again for your sweet comments on my blog the other day! Brought a smile to my Evey face!
xo
Evey
Thanks so much for coming over to visit Evey! I hope when you get done with your 31 days of Gluten Free living you do post that links all of these up. I have family that would LOVE to see these!
My first DIY project was bookends as floating bookshelves. And my next project will be a Christmas wreath decor.