Haven Attendees | Pretty Handy Girl

Let’s meet at Haven Conference!

Haven Home Conference

Do you know about the Haven Conference? It’s in Atlanta, GA, August 5th – 7th, 2016. I’ve attended the conference every year and always leave with a big smile on my face.

What do I like about it? It’s a great place to network with other DIY and Home bloggers. Some of the larger conferences are filled with attendees that blog about anything and everything under the sky. It’s hard to find other bloggers in my niche. But, Haven is a smaller home niche conference for those of us that love to blog about home design, home decor and DIY. The sponsors reflect this niche. I remember the first conference I attended, it seemed that every sponsor was geared toward parenting (I saw my fill of diapers and baby food). I didn’t feel I had any connection with any of the brands that were there. But, at Haven, the sponsoring brands are geared toward the home and DIY categories!

This year I’ll be at Haven again, but I’m super excited to be a Haven Maven Mentor?

Haven Maven Mentors 2016

Why?

This is an opportunity for me to get to know more attendees. Can we be honest here? I know how hard it is to attend your first conference and feel that awkward “I don’t know anyone” feeling. I get it, I was in that boat too. It’s hard to walk up to someone you don’t know. Or worse yet, strike up a conversation with a blogger that you know, but they don’t know you.

On the flip side, having attended a lot of conferences, I’ve gotten to know a lot of other bloggers and we have fostered close friendships. When I see my friends at the conference it’s a frenzy to catch up, hug and laugh about all the things that have happened over the past year. Usually I will meet a new friend or two in the elevators and the conversation is always the similar, “I saw you earlier and wanted to say hi, but you were busy talking to someone.” This makes my heart so sad. How many chances have I missed to meet someone because I was engrossed in conversation?

That’s how the Haven Maven Mentor team was created. I do want to meet new people? I want to open a conversation up to you. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday I’ll be meeting with my group of mentees. Fingers crossed you’ll be there. And if you aren’t, please come say hi! Wave me down and we can chat.

Want to meet the rest of the Haven Maven Mentors? Today is a Blog Hop and each one of us are answering a few questions:

1. How many years have you been blogging?

I’ve been blogging since 2010, I guess that means it will be six years in June. It seems like last week when I wrote one of my first posts:

My goodness, bad photography alert! When I go back and look at that post, I realize how much I’ve improved and polished my style. (Nobody’s blog looks polished the first year!) To me it’s been fun challenging myself to improve. I have a lot of you to thank for that. As I look at other blogs and see all your beautiful photos, I’m inspired to create better images and clearer tutorials. Of course, I also have to thank Shoot Fly Shoot for their online photography classes (affiliate link).

2. What is your favorite DIY project you’ve completed? 

Honestly, it is so hard to pick just one. There have been many that have brought me great joy. That time I furnishing a Habitat for Humanity house with items found along the World’s Longest Yardsale:

or this Spring Makeover for a deserving family in Massachusetts:

But, my biggest DIY project that I’m most proud of would have to be my kitchen.

It was a project that wasn’t planned for. A small plumbing leak took us from having a kitchen to a bare stud room the next. Looking back on the day I discovered the leak, I’d love to tell my stressed out self that it will all be worth the blood, sweat and tears in the end.

Holiday Home Tour - Kitchen | Pretty Handy Girl

And I’m thrilled to say that my kitchen pushed me beyond my comfort zone and ultimately helped me earn my General Contractor license.

3. What is something significant you learned from a conference?

Haven is one conference I won’t miss each year. In the early years I learned a lot about monetizing the blog and harnessing social media platforms to help grow my blog. I still learn new tips and strategies every year, but I also love hanging out with other DIY bloggers and making new friends.

DIY_Bloggers_haven

4. What is one piece of advice you would offer a blogger who is going to Haven?

Don’t stress about fitting in. Everyone feel anxious at their first conference. Come on out of hiding. Look for someone sitting alone and ask if you can sit near them. You are sure to make great friends at Haven. If you are that person sitting alone, tag me on Twitter and I’ll try to include you when I see your message😉

before_closet

Now head on over to Jen’s blog, City Farmhouse, and meet all the other Haven Maven Mentors this week!

If you are just joining, Rhoda at Southern Hospitality is the first stop.

Check in to see all the Haven Maven Intros today:

Day 1Southern Hospitality | City Farmhouse | In My Own Style | Rooms for Rent

Day 2: All Things Thrifty | Perfectly Imperfect | Beneath My Heart | Sand & Sisal | French Country Cottage

Day 3: Liz Marie Blog | My Repurposed Life | Just a Girl | Bower Power | Thrifty Decor Chick

Day 4: Unskinny Boppy | Craftberry Bush | Not Just A Housewife | Stone Gable | Mom 4 Real

Day 5: Miss Mustard Seed | Vintage Revivals | Home Stories A to Z | The House of Wood

Hope to see you soon!

PHGFancySign

15 replies
  1. Gai D.
    Gai D. says:

    What color paint did you use on your kittchen cabinets. please? I’ll be starting on my kitchen soon and want aqua/light blue cabinets. Thanks.

    Reply
  2. gail
    gail says:

    If I remember correctly, that group picture may have been taken on somebody’s birthday….. 🙂

    I’m borrowing the links you’ve posted at the end, I hope that’s okay

    gail

    Reply
  3. Mary
    Mary says:

    You were one of the first blogs I started following when I got into home renovations. I started my own blog about 6 months ago and will be attending Haven for the first time with one of my real life blogger friends. Its my first blog conference and I am excited, yet anxious. I hope I get to meet you!!!

    Reply

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  7. […] ourselves, along with our own personal journeys at the Haven Conference. If you are coming from Brittany’s blog, […]

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