Showing posts with label Interviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interviews. Show all posts

Sunday, August 10

Q&A with My Name Is Jilly

Jilly has been involved with Scot Bloggers right from the beginning and is a tremendous help to us. For those of you who don't already know her she is the face behind our 'Jilly Interviews..' series. She has been blogging for a whole year now and we thought it would be a good opportunity to get to know her better.


For our readers who haven’t come across ‘My Name Is Jilly’ before can you tell us what your blog is about?

My blog is basically a mix-match of everything. I do beauty, fashion and lifestyle posts! I don't have a schedule and I just post when I feel like it, however I feel like that makes my blog more authentic and makes my posts more genuine!

As you have only been blogging since August 2013 what do you think about jumping into such a huge community of bloggers? Do you have any advice for new bloggers to join in?

It was extremely overwhelming! I feel like I'm still a small blogger in a world of blogs with a huge amount of followers, but I'm certainly finding my way! It used to bother me that I didn't have as many followers as other people, however I try to focus more on my content than my followers. That's probably what I would tell any new bloggers as it can really get you down if you let it affect you. I'd rather have 10 loyal readers than 10,000 who didn't read my blog regularly!





We always love your fashion posts and the ones that features photos of your puppy (or maybe not so now) Hugo but what are your favourites to write?

Thank you! Hugo is so big now, he's really not even a puppy anymore I guess! I love writing lifestyle posts, especially posts featuring Hugo, especially inspiration posts! One of my favourite posts to write was 'Why are you so sad?' as it let me get my feelings across and I felt so relieved after writing it. I received so much positive feedback from the blogging community that I felt overwhelmed!



What do you personally look for in a blog before you hit that follow button?

I like to read blogs which have personality! I like to get to know someone by reading their posts, that's when I'll follow them. If I can relate to a blogger and their personality shines through their posts, I'll automatically follow them!



We’ve been loving your ‘Jilly Interviews’ series on our blog. What do you think makes a good interview… or good answers for that matter?

I think that passion makes a good interview! All of my interviewees have given such amazing answers as they are obviously passionate about their blogs. I always think that makes them more appealing and interesting!

Finally what piece of advice would you give yourself if you were starting out again?

I think that if I was starting out again, I would say 'don't doubt yourself!'. I used to proof read my posts dozens of times before I would post them. It was partly down to my anxiety as I was worried that I would come across wrong, but also because I was extremely self doubtful. I would make sure that I was more confident in my ability to write. My blog helped to get me a conditional at Uni, so I guess I must be doing something right!



Find Jilly on...

If you want to see more from Jilly why not check out her guest post or have a read of her 'Jilly Interviews...'

If you would be interested in being interviewed please tweet us on @scotbloggers or Jilly on @mynameisjilly

Did you catch Wednesdays post? It is a plea for more guest post from our lovely Scottish readers!

Sunday, July 27

Q&A with The Usual Saucepans

We will admit we hadn't come across Craig's blog 'The Usual Sausepans' before he got in contact with us about an interview. Having a look at his site though the first thing that hits you is the amazing photography and beautifully laid out recipes. He has recently started another blog - 'Edinburgh Editor' to document all things Edinburgh with bars, restaurants, pubs and events. If you enjoy his interview please let us know in the comments and visit his blogs too.

Who says it can't be done? Gin can go in cheesecake!

For our readers who haven’t come across ’The Usual Saucepans’ before can you tell us what your blog is about?
The Usual Saucepans is where I document my culinary adventures and what I'm making in the kitchen. There's a fair bit of baking, some seasonal dishes and - because who doesn't like an interesting drink now and then - some alcohol-fused adventures as well. I like my cooking unpretentious and easy to do at home - there are no parmesan foams or basil airs on offer!

How long have you been blogging and why did you decided to start?

I've been writing The Usual Saucepans for a little over a year and a half, but I've been blogging for about three and a half years in total. I started writing in my last year of uni (it was pure procrastination, procrastination I'm not sure I had time for) and it has just spiralled from there.

The photography on your blog is stunning- do you have any tips for our readers who would like to take better pictures of their food for blog posts?


Thank you! I got a DSLR about six months ago and I think that's made a big difference (although I'm still learning to use it properly - you should the photos that don't make it online!), but I think simple things like lighting make a huge difference. I'm really lucky to have a big bay window in my living room - lots to natural light makes taking photos a lot easier. My advice would be practice, practice, practice - it sounds cliché, but it's true, the more photos you take and try new things the better you will get. Oh, and get out of auto, it may put you in the deep end, but you'll learn quickly!


In defence of bugger and chips


Following on from the previous question… What do you think makes a successful food or recipe post?

Well, it's got to be one that people can use. Sure, it's got to look delicious, but a complicated recipe or list of ingredients the length of the Nile just puts people off. I want it to be useable and delicious; although by the same token, over-stylised photos can make just as daunting. I don't pretend to be a professional, but if people are hungry after reading the post or straight off to the kitchen to try cook something similar I'd say it was pretty successful.

Recently you’ve started another blog- ‘Edinburgh Editor’. Why did you decide to embark on this project as well as your food blog? 

I'd had several ideas of things to write about in Edinburgh, but none of it fitted with The Usual Saucepans' general theme. I've always felt that blogs trying to combine themes always end up confused, so it seemed that two blogs was the logical approach. It's not without its challenges, but so far it's going quite well.

‘Edinburgh Editor’ has lots of travel posts and restaurant pubs reviews. What do you like to see in these types of posts?

Honesty, first and foremost. I want to know what the writer's experience was like. Sure they aren't always going to be perfect, but being gushing about a place because they gave you your dinner for free helps no one. I'm not saying that people shouldn't take perks if they are offered (I definitely do on occasion), but be honest and transparent about it, only take offers that are relevant to what you normally write about (I once saw a food blogger promoting micro scooters, it was ridiculous) and don't let it influence your opinion.

As for more travel-related posts, I like to see photos and read about experiences that give me wanderlust. I love reading things that make me stare out the window and want to go see the world. Sounds horrifically cheesy, but it's true. Also make it a bit personable, blogs are as much about the personality behind them as the content - that's what keeps people coming back.


Where to have a drink outside
Finally I’m sure many of our readers have thought about starting another blog on a different topic. Do you have advice for balancing the two?

How do you enjoy your sleep? No, I'm kidding. I think you have to be prepared that it's going to take a lot of your time. I probably post less regularly than I should, but I have a 9-5 and a social life as well which I'm not going to give up. I guess it's all about being organised. I tend to have a little bit a backlog, so I sort photos in batches and write recipes in batches, then do the intros and the rest of the babble as and when I have a spare ten minutes. I know some people are very disciplined and their blogging lives are full of calendars and spreadsheets, but I prefer just to do things bit by bit, knowing I'll get there in the end (and if there's a week without something new, you can always re-promote some older stuff that people liked!)


Find Craig On:

Do you have a favourite Scottish Blogger you would like to see interviewed here? Please give us an amazing at scottishbloggers@hotmail.com and we will see what we can do. We are also very close to our first milestone of 100 bloglovin' followers so if you enjoy this post and others please give us a follow here

Sunday, July 20

Jilly Interviews: The Wee Blondie

So, today I am here with Judith from theweeblondie. She's a recent graduate who is living in Aberdeen! I hope you enjoy the interview!


How long have you been blogging for?
I have been blogging since July 2012 so my blog has just had 
it’s second birthday! 

Why did you decide to start blogging?
I had seen a few other people I know do it and though ‘ohhhh, that looks fun’. It also gave me an excuse to spend all my money on new things so I could review them.


Who is your favourite blog to read and why?
I wouldn't say I have a favourite blog in particular but I am a 
massive fan of all Scottish Bloggers. 

Have you ever encountered any negativity in blogging and how did it affect you?
I have been extremely lucky in the fact that everything I have received regarding my blog has been positive. I think it is really sad that people feel the need to put people down instead of encouraging them and celebrating their successes. 


What are your favourite posts to write?
Fashion posts! I don't do them enough but recently I was gifted a new DSLR camera so I no longer have excuses not to get great outfit photos! 

What has been your favourite post to write?
My favourite blog post was the #weddingwow post I did in collaboration with ASOS. I had felt so good in the outfit the post pretty much wrote itself! 


Do you have any advice for new bloggers?
Be Yourself – people will only love you for it!


Find Judith on her...

Thank you so much to Judith for answering all the questions! Remember that if you want to get involved you can tweet me @mynameisjilly or find my blog mynameisjilly.blogspot.co.uk :)

Sunday, July 13

Q&A with Wear Eponymous

Few Scottish companies make themselves as well known on social media than Wear Eponymous. Many times have we chatted with them on twitter and their support of bloggers is outstanding. Recently they have started a blogger twitter chat (#WEBlogger on Sunday night from 9-10pm) which are always fun and engaging. 




For those who haven’t come across Wear Eponymous before can you explain to us about your company and why you set it up?

Wear Eponymous is a platform dedicated to redefining beauty and making quality clothing and emerging designers accessible at prices that don't break the bank. The company was born out of a frustration of large scale companies taking advantage of creative talent and giving little back. With all three founding directors coming from creative backgrounds, we believe firmly that no internship should go unpaid, no students should be exploited and that everybody should be able to enjoy style regardless of their circumstances. Everybody deserves a little piece of luxury!

Wear Eponymous is a unique name- where did it come from?

To be eponymous is to be the hero of your own story and our tagline “be your own story” reflects this! To “wear eponymous” is to dress for yourself and yourself only!

You aim to promote up and coming designers in your shop. Why do you think this is important in todays fashion world?

In today's fashion industry, it is all too easy to become lost in a sea of graduates and start-ups. Setting up a business in today's economic climate has never been harder and truly outstanding design talent is not receiving the recognition it deserves and that makes us really sad. So, that's why we champion emerging designers – to bring these little pockets of talent to the masses on a wider platform with a team experienced in PR and marketing. Everybody can buy into designer goods this way – with our customer base being able to access truly unique clothing and accessories at an entry-level price point.

What are your favourite SS2014 trends?

Pastels, geo and monochrome! Not to mention some beautiful florals too! 


Social media is a huge part of your advertising- do you have any recommendations for our readers about promoting either their companies or blogs?

Treat everybody with respect and make time to take on board everybody's opinion – regardless of the number of followers they have. Somebody with 50 followers on Bloglovin has just as valid an opinion as somebody with 5,000 followers. Be creative and reach out to companies – but not with the mindset of getting freebies. The reality is very few new businesses are in the position to give away freebies and it is often the bloggers that support them regardless of this that are rewarded further down the line.




You can also check out their two guest posts- Wear Eponymous and Keep Cool During This Scottish Heatwave

Find Wear Eponymous on...

If you have any other bloggers or Scottish companies you would like to see interview people send us an email at scottishbloggers@hotmail.com. We would also be particularly interested in any questions you might have for them. We will look forward to hearing from you.

Sunday, June 29

Jilly Interviews: Hailey and the Beauty Blog

Today I am here with Hailey Anderson from 'Hailey and the Beauty Blog' who is 27 and is from South Lanarkshire. It was great interviewing her, so I hope you'll enjoy reading it!



What made you decide to begin blogging?
It was a spur of the moment situation to be honest. I had been reading blogs for a few months prior to me starting my own and when Models own did their annual 50% off sale I wanted so share the deal and my bargains with people. 5 years later and I am still blogging.

Do you have any blog inspirations?
I don't have anything specific that inspires me. The blogging community inspires me everyday but so does everyday life. I know most bloggers will say this but my followers inspire me to blog as well, they are the reason I have been blogging for 5 years and kept it up.



What advice do you have for new bloggers?
I have learnt a lot over the years about blogging but my main piece of advice would be don't compare yourself and you blog to other bloggers and blogs. Your blog is your own place to express yourself and your personality. Try and not follow the crowd and blog about the same things everyone else is blogging about, Make your blog stand out.

What has been your favourite post to write (why)?
Surprisingly as much as I love blogging about beauty, hauls and sometimes the odd fashion post, I love writing lifestyle posts. I found out early on that my followers loved reading about my day to day life. I personally feel that when you write about your personal life (not in huge detail) it helps people know who you are. I love switching up my blog and try and mix things up.



What has been your most popular post?
My most popular blog post has been about the new brand Makeup Revolution that launched back in April and it was my first haul post about them. I have done another orders since then and they have just been as popular. 

Have you ever had a hateful comment and how did it make you feel?
Yes I have but sadly this is all part and part of being a blogger. I don't only blog about beauty but also certain parts of my personal life. People feel the need to comment on your life in a rude way. I have been called fat, ugly, stupid and even had someone tell me I should be blogging because I am dyslexic. I found the hateful comments hard at first as i have been a victim of bullying when I was younger but over the years I have learnt to brush it all under the carpet. Sometimes when I am having a bad day it can get to me. Other bloggers say to me and I will pass this on if you get hateful comments don't take it personally they are bullies trying to get you down. If people are hating you have made it.



How would you describe your blog?
I would describe my blog as a Cruelty Free beauty blog. I love trying new products and seeing how they work then I love letting people know how I get on with them. I do throw in the odd lifestyle and haul post as well. My main policy is if it isn't Cruelty Free it won't be on my blog, so some might find it limited to certain brands. 


I hope you've enjoyed reading all about Hailey and remember to check out my blog (mynameisjilly.blogspot.co.uk) and tweet me your requests for interviewees at @mynameisjilly :)

Sunday, June 22

Q&A with Effy Talks Life



Hi Efia, thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by us. For people who may never have read your blog before can you give us a quick summary of Effy Talks Life?

I always find it difficult to sum up but I class myself as a lifestyle blogger. Effytalkslife covers a bit of everything really from blogging advice to beauty products - just whatever comes to mind.

How long have you been blogging and why did you start your blog?
I’ve been blogging for a year and half now, crazy how time flies! I was bored one summer and stumbled across the blogging world and I just had to get involved. I remember it so clearly the whole process was really exciting!

You blog a huge variety of things from film reviews to travel and lifestyle posts but do you have a favourite post?
It’s quite difficult to point to just one thing, and I think it changes all the time. At the minute I’d probably say my posts on blogging tips because I’ve been getting some really great feedback and it’s nice to help other people out if you can.

How do you find inspiration for your content? Have you very experienced bloggers block and how have you overcome it?
It just comes to me. As a lifestyle blogger a lot of the things I write about are things that I’ve been doing so if I go to a particularly interesting or adventure I usually know I’m going to write about it later on. I don’t think there’s a blogger who hasn’t experienced it! I realise that sometimes you just need to take time out and thats okay, you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it. After some time out I’ll usually get an idea and go from there or head to Pinterest and Twitter for some inspiration.



What role does social media play in your blog? Do you use twitter, pinterest, instagram to promote your posts?
Social media plays a huge role in my blog and without it I doubt I’d have any readers haha. I use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest - I think it’s important to get a variety in there. You have to bare in mind your readers are all going to be active on different networks and adapt to that.

What do you enjoy most about blogging?
I love knowing that someone has found something I’ve written helpful or interesting, I guess in a bit of a selfish way that’s quite fulfilling. I like that it’s completely my project and I can look back and see how far I’ve come.

What would you say to a younger you if you were starting out again?
That’s a tricky one! Haha how about ‘Good Luck’? Does that count as a good answer?

Sunday, June 15

Jilly Interviews: Megiista

So, today I am here with Megan Rice (Megiista) from www.megiista.blogspot.co.uk who is 20 and from Airdrie (outside Glasgow) which is where I work funnily enough! Megan has given some great answers, similar to what I would say so it was great to be able to interview her!



What made you decide to begin blogging?
Being a fashion business student, I am always surrounded with fashion. It wasn't till two years ago I discovered fashion blogs. Instantly, I was hooked and wanted to showcase my style and thoughts. I think if you have an interest or a niche, blogs are the perfect platform to showcase your passion and be an inspiration to others.



Do you have any blogging inspirations?
I am very inspired by Sammi from BeautyCrush and a non-fashion all time favourite is Estee from essiebutton! Both girls are very down to earth and relatable; two characteristics I think are important to be a successful blogger.

What advice do you have for new bloggers?
I think it is important to stress that if you are going to start blogging to go at it full steam ahead. Blogging is a full-time hobby and requires a lot of time, an element the majority of people don't understand. A lot of new bloggers, expect success instantly. Only start blogging if you have passion and motivation or it won't be fun. Whatever happens, don't go looking for success, work hard and the success will come to you.



How do you fit blogging around your schedule?
Buy a diary. Every Sunday I will sit down with my diary and schedule EVERYTHING. I think it is important and write down what you want to achieve within the week. Being at university, working and blogging is harder than it seems so having a diary where you can divide up time wisely is an immense help.



How would you describe your blog?
Megiista is a blog filled with everyday style, relatable fashion, your frequent favourites and occasional wish lists showcasing everything I want but can't afford.



What do you enjoy most about blogging?
I enjoy producing inspiring content. The whole process from brainstorming ideas to photographing to publishing (the most exciting part) and then receive lovely feedback. I am proud of Megiista as it's a place where people can visit, be inspired and communicate with me. It's lovely to have a space on the huge world wide web where I can just be me.



Thank you so much the Megan for answering all of the questions and thank you to ScotBloggers for the opportunity to interview her! Would you like to be interviewed for the page? Why not tweet me @mynameisjilly or request that we interview your favourite Scottish Blogger!

Sunday, June 8

Q&A with Beauty and The Boy

Bloggers are always trying to find their niche in a community full of great blogs however Andrew James has done this easily. He is the face behind 'Beauty & the Boy' and as the name might suggest he is a male beauty blogger. He is a makeup artist and training to become a hairdresser as well- we always love his beauty reviews and tips. Please let us know what you think about this interview below.


Firstly you are male beauty blogger- the only one we know! Is it difficult being part of a community that is full of girls?

To be honest i never felt as if i fit in with guys so being a part of a community full of girls doesn't bother me as its normal for me. I really enjoy it as we seem to have more in common



You started blogger way back in May 2011 when your blog was called ‘Andrew James Blog’- can you remember your original motivation to start blogging?

I think i started blogging because i really didn't have anyone around me who shared my love of makeup and i felt like i want to get out there and talk to other people then i found out that Beauty Blogging was a thing and from there on i just blogged really i also wanted to help people and share some tips i had learnt.



We love your drag looks- they are brilliant!! What’s your number one pointer for a successful transformation and what advice would you give another male bloggers wanting to start doing something similar?

Thank you i really appreciate that i think drag is a really fun way to experiment with makeup and I would say brows and contouring basically shaping everything men tend to have completely different faces from women so making sure you soften and round everything out with the brows you want more of a clean brow that's arched. My advice would be work on your brows because if you can cover them well you can do a number of different looks not just drag.



You must of had some negative feedback to your blog just because you are a man blogging about beauty?

Oh yeah I've had people tell me that i didn't know anything about makeup or beauty because i was a man but these are just ignorant people and its best just to delete any of these comments and don't engage with them because nothing good will ever come from it. I always live my the saying "It says more about them that it does about you" when people leave horrible comments



You started training to be a make-up artist over five years ago- is that correct? Do you have any advice for other beauty bloggers that would like to make the jump into a professional career?

Yes coming up on 5 years this year its hard to believe i started playing about with makeup that long ago haha, I think the best advice would be don't get lazy always look up different looks and techniques and don't look down on anyone because someone could teach you something that you would never have thought of and it could work amazingly.



If you don’t mind us saying your blog is very popular among readers- do you have any tips for the younger you starting out?

Don't worry about blog stats and followers, blog because you love blogging that way it wont ever get you down we all want to be be popular not many will admit it but its true and when we don't get the stats we want it can be quite off putting but you just have to keep at it because it pays off the people I've met and worked and the opportunities through blogging have been amazing and i would have never met them if i had just given up early on.


 YouTube | Instagram

Do you have any favourite male bloggers from Scotland? Please link them up below because we would love to get more involved in our blog. 

Just to let know there is now a Scot Bloggers chat (not run by us) on twitter on Tuesdays from 7-8pm GMT on the hashtag #scottishbloggers and we would love to see more of you there this week.

Sunday, May 25

Q&A with Adventures around Scotland

There is a wealth of blogging talent in Scotland but unlike Susanne not all of them blog about our beautiful country. It is great to see someone blogging about all the wonderful things you can do here. Adventures around Scotland is a fantastic travel blog which is bound to give lots of motivation for fellow Scots to explore more as well as inspiration for people from further away to come and visit.


Hi Susanne, thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by us. For people who may never have read your blog before can you give us a quick summary?

Quite simply it is a travel blog specialising in Scotland. I am trying to find the best and most memorable experiences that our country has to offer and inspire locals and visitors to explore places they may not have thought about before.

How long have you been blogging and why did you start ‘Adventures around Scotland’?

I have only been blogging since February this year so it is still quite new and a work in progress!
I started it because I enjoy reading travel blogs myself and find them really useful and inspiring when I'm planning a trip. I realised that there are not many tourism sites for Scotland that provide ideas for unique travel experiences or information about places and attractions other than the typical list of tourist haunts. I hope that I can not only give readers an original and practical personal travel guide but also tell them about the hidden gems.

You look like you've traveled widely round Scotland- can you suggest some hidden gems to our readers?

I always say Dumfries and Galloway as not many people think of it as a holiday choice yet it has a lot of diversity and history. I really love Galloway Forest Park with it's dark sky status which makes it a great place to visit and camp out under the stars! I'll be heading back there in a couple of weeks so expect some new travel ideas from the area.

The Isle of Bute where I now live is also one of the most accessible Scottish islands to visit yet most people head to places like Arran, Mull or Islay instead. I have wrote a few articles about Bute as I really believe it offers something for everyone and would really encourage people to take the short ferry ride and discover it's natural beauty and tranquility for yourself.

I am constantly finding hidden gems and that is one of the reasons I started my blog and I'm sure as I explore more of Scotland my list will get longer!

One of the biggest difficulties our readers might see in having a travel blog is not traveling enough to have content- how do you feel inspire to blog if you are feeling ‘stuck’ at home?

When I can't travel I write from memory or explore what's on my doorstep. Everyone has favourite views, great holiday memories, beaches they head to when the sun is out that they can write about from experience. Your own area or city may be familiar to you, however the local knowledge you have will be invaluable to a visitor so think about what information and recommendations you would look for if you were a stranger in town.

We loved your blog post about the 'Launch Night of The Kelpies’ but do you have a favourite blog post or a treasured memory from your travels?
I must admit I love The Kelpies and the opening night has been one of my highlights of 2014,I plan to visit them again soon to take a tour inside so expect more photos!
My treasured memory from travelling around Scotland was hiring a motor cruiser to sail down the Caledonian Canal several years ago. It rained most days, there were plagues of midges, Loch Ness was really choppy and I was useless at throwing the rope to the lock keepers but it felt like a real adventure and when the sun came out there was something magical about bobbing along at a slow pace and having the freedom to travel and stop where the notion took you. Now I'm blogging I would love to try something like that again and write all about it.




As you would expect from any blog about Scotland you have lots of beautiful landscape photography- do you have any tips for our readers about taking these kind of shots?

I have always been interested in photography and though I'm not a professional I have done a couple of short leisure courses at college which have really helped with understanding light, composition and camera controls. There are distance learning courses if you can't attend college which are also really useful.

My biggest tip is to practice with your camera and take your time. The great thing about photographing a landscape is that it doesn't move and you have time to think about what elements to include in your image. Before you even get your camera out, really look and enjoy the scenery then think about what makes it special and try and capture that in your shot.



One last thing; what advice would you give to someone wanting to make the change to travel posts? Do you have any tips from experience when you first started blogging?
It may seem obvious but it is essential that you actually travel regularly as there is no point writing a travel blog and then not actually going anywhere or travelling so infrequently that there are months between posts!

Follow travel bloggers that you like and relate to and see what types of posts they focus on and which ones are popular. Read travel magazines like National Geographic and Lonely Planet to see how the professional travel writers do it. Decide on your own style and type of traveller you are aiming to attract and try out a few ideas to see what gets the best reaction.

My biggest tip is to specialise as there are ALOT of travel bloggers out there and many of them are churning out the same old generic advice or writing mediocre non informative posts. The ones that really stand out are those that either focus on a particular area and become 'experts' or are great storytellers. To me a good travel blogger should inspire you, if you're passionate about the subject then it will come through in your blogging.

Blog | Bloglovin | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest 

We hope you've enjoyed Susanne's interview and we would love some feedback so drop us a comment below. Susanne's guest post will go live on Wednesday at 5pm so please pop back then to give it a read.

Sunday, May 11

Q&A with Elevator Musik

Today we have a great interview with a huge voice in the Scottish blogging community. Writing from her home in Edinburgh Gillian's blog has a beautiful design and equally lovely writing. She shares everything from lifestyle, beauty and foodie pieces. If you are already fans of Elevator Musik we hope you enjoy an extra insight to Gillian or if you've not discovered her blog yet then please go and have a read.


Hello Gillian, Thanks so much for doing this interview! We are huge fans of 'elevator musik’ but can you remember why you started the blog and why you chose such a unique name?
I’ve had various blogs and websites since I was around 14 (almost 10 years now, scary!) but lost interest when I started university. During the summer holidays one year I found I was bored and had lots of spare time, so decided to start one up again, and 4 years later I’ve still stuck with it. I spent ages trying to come up with an original name but couldn’t think of anything; I was about to give up when I remembered I had already registered the name “elevatormusik” but not used it. It’s based on the name of a song by Beck, it was just a bit of a random choice whilst I was scrolling through my iTunes!


We always enjoy your big, bright and sharp photographs- which camera do you use and what tips can you give our readers about photographing for blogs?
I use a Lumix G3 camera. It’s great because it’s a bridge camera so is cheaper and more portable than a DSLR, but it still takes great photos. Lighting is definitely very important for photos, I always try and take them in natural light to avoid using the flash. Start off using your camera’s auto settings, but once you get more comfortable using it definitely experiment on manual mode to come up with the type of images you love. Make sure your images fill the whole width of your post too – small photos are a pet hate of mine!


You have a lot of social media accounts- how do you manage to keep up with them all and which would you say is the best for promoting your blog?
There’s no quick trick to this I’m afraid, it just takes time and organisation! I’m definitely guilty of forgetting to update Facebook, but I much prefer using Twitter to promote my blog anyway. As with a lot of bloggers, Twitter is my favourite social media platform as it’s really easy to chat to other bloggers at the same time as keeping people updated with your new posts. Whenever I have a spare moment, I’ll scroll through Twitter and Instagram on my phone to make sure I don’t miss anything good.


We love your blog design- you created it yourself wow! Do you have any advice for other bloggers looking for some inspiration when it comes to their layout?
Thank you! Pinterest is a great place to look for inspiration and find cute fonts or graphics to use in your design (make sure you have permission or use royalty free images, though!). If you get confused by HTML, Etsy is a great place to look for cheap but lovely premade designs. Get someone else to do the hard work for you and then add in your own customisations! I also do a Blog Design Tips series on my blog with some tips, tricks and tutorials.


I’m sure our readers would love to know what blogs are you reading right now- what makes a blogger stand out and makes you want to hit the follow button?
I love blogs with a bit of personality as well as great writing and nice big pictures. The Blogroll page on my blog has lots of my daily reads and Scottish blogger chums, but at the moment a couple of my favourites are FAIIINT, Katherine Louise, Cider With Rosie and Ellalogy


What does 2014 hold for your blog and where can you see your blog going beyond that in the future?
At the moment, my blog is just a hobby and I’m quite happy to keep it that way. Blogging as a full-time job does sound quite appealing, but I’d be worried that it would take the fun out of it and I wouldn’t enjoy it any more. Instead, I hope to continue writing about what I love, meeting lots of new Scottish blogger pals and attending some great events. I love that over time my blog has veered towards lifestyle topics as they’re my favourite to read and write, so hopefully things will continue like this during 2014!

What single piece of advice would you give a younger you just starting out in the blogging world? 

Get involved in the blogging community, definitely! I’ve met so many amazing friends through blogging who have now become “real life friends”, and there are always people to chat to on Twitter if you need help, support or just a good gossip!

 Facebook YouTube Etsy