(Jeremiah and I 09)
Hello …It’s Simple Love… Readers,
I am Hope from the self-titled blog Hope Chella.
I’m an elementary school art teacher, fine artist and lover of blogging.
I live in the beach town of Newport, RI with my boyfriend of almost 2 years Jeremiah.
I have a photo blog of my inspirations from around the web.
I hope you had a lovely Memorial Day weekend.
Go America!!!
(Via My 1st Graders Artwork, My Picture From Sailing and We Heart It)
Thanks Rachael for featuring me on your blog!!!
Happy June 1st Everyone =)
Hope xXx
1. When did you start your blog and what was your inspiration to do so?
In 2007 it seemed to be the thing for recent art graduates to do without official websites or in addition to. My first few posts are of my artwork. Eventually I became too busy with grad school to do much art besides in my sketchbook. My blog became a place to store my visual inspiration. Ever since then, my blog has been helping me de-clutter my desktop and share my favorite pictures from the Internet.
(Via Google Images)
2. You have an "ad-free blog", why do you choose to be ad-free?
If I want to go shopping or find deals then I go straight to Amazon or eBay. I do not click on ads on other people’s blogs so can assume that my followers wouldn’t do that either!?!?!? Furthermore, my posts tend to be colorful enough. All I need is some flickering advertisements to make a reader get woozy and I don't have any Dramamine coupons to giveaway!
(Via We Heart It)
3. How has your blog grown?
In the past when I had no interest in the social aspect of blogging, I would get an occasional comment and follower and laugh to myself that there were actually other people (sometimes from other countries) who appreciated my compilations of found images!
I had approximately 20 or so followers until this past year when one door closed and another opened.
My full-time job went to part-time. To have a job that I adore be cut by 40% hasn't been peaches and cream :/ Yet blogging has become an outlet for maintaining an upbeat outlook on life. Having more free time has given me the opportunity to comment on and discover other people’s blogs.
It's insane how many AWESOME blogs exist!!! Right????
The friendships I’ve developed through blogging has been the silver lining :)
Has it had any major (or minor) shifts in focus?
In turn, my photo blog has become more personal. I not only showcase imagery found, but also my own photographs, wonderments and stories about my day-to-day life.
It is random, but so am I.
For instance, a week or two ago, the police came to my house twice in one day (for my neighbors not J or I) AND I found a fly in my wine and my spinach ALL in the same week etc. I couldn’t resist posting about these things and hearing my blog friends’ reactions. Their comments can be just as (or even more!) entertaining!!!
(Images Via Tumblr and Jeremiah behind bars)
4. What do you gain from blogging on a personal level?
It means a lot when I can make someone else smile. I’ve gotten comments including “Your post made me laugh and I needed one today!” or “Thanks for your comment! It made my day!” It’s nice to know that there is a community out there where our focus is sharing joy. The blogosphere has encouraged me to continue pursuing my passion for painting and given me some great lifestyle tips---especially in the kitchen. One night I couldn't sleep because I felt like the world's worst girlfriend for not being able to turn on an oven. I decided to blog about it with the hopes that someone would shed light on this situation. I was nervous since it was unlike anything I'd posted before. Fortunately, I received over 30 comments giving me tips on cooking.
How RAD is that?
Click here to steal some ideas and recipes!!!
(Me being Silly Taking a Break from Painting)
5. What is one tip of advice to the "new-blogger" out there?
The same advice, I would give to a fellow artist: Do not follow fads because it is "the thing" to do. Be yourself. Do what you enjoy doing and are good at. Trying to fit into a mold of any sort or blogging for other people before yourself is a “no, no”. Post about things that make you passionate at that time and it will shine through. Don’t be afraid to take risks and shift your blog if the wind blows you in a new direction. It is better to be loved for who you are because in the end, the truth comes out anyway...and doesn't the truth set you free????
(Via Tumblr)
6. What do you enjoy doing outside of blogging?
Besides teaching and creating art, I am a scrabble buff, get weekly polish changes, am a fan of going out on the town and hiking (in no particular order). Most of all, I L-O-V-E traveling!!!! I've been to Paris twice and as an artist FORGIVE ME for saying this: have only been to the Starbucks in the Louvre! Sorry Mona Lisa!!!
(Via Google Images)
Since meeting Jeremiah, I've gotten to visit his family down South in Texas and Mississippi which I love doing!
(J and I, TX 08)
Lastly, one of the perks of dating a sailor is getting to go for the ride!!!
(Jeremiah and I a couple months after we met, October 2008)
7. You post a lot of pictures from different eras on your blog, if you could choose another era to live in, which one would it be and why?
I am fascinated with various eras and icons, however, I like living in the here and now. I’ve accepted my Internet and cell phone dependencies-and I like knowing how to discern good from bad sunscreen as I am very fair.
I'd like it better if there wasn’t a recession though.
I wish I could have my cake and eat it too!!!
Don't we all???
(Sketch I made while watching Hitchcock's "Rear Window")
I have a girl crush on Grace Kelly and a REAL ONE on James Stewart!!!
