Mixed Plate » Blog Archive A Crafter's Life: my day in photos.

October 1, 2009

A Crafter’s Life: my day in photos.

This girl does it all. She writes and blogs, is a full-time student, takes lovely photographs…She can do pretty much anything! I’m happy she found some time to share her day with us.

crafterslife2

Name: Victoria Klein (formerly Victoria Everman)
Business Name: Victoria Klein
Location: West Hartford, CT
Website/Blog Links: http://victoriaklein.net/; http://victoriaklein.net/blog/; http://victoriae.etsy.com/

First of all, can you tell us what you create?
A little bit of everything, but I don’t get paid for much, haha. Professionally, I write – magazine articles, blog posts, newsletters, ad promo materials for small businesses (like yours!) – and take pictures. This year marks the addition of photography to my professional realm. I still consider myself an advanced amateur, but I learn more every time I take a picture & strive to capture views that inspire people’s actions and imaginations.

When not overwhelmed with the responsibility of taking a full college course load (4 classes) while running my small business, I like to do lots of other crafty things: sew, knit, paint, learn Swedish, cook, bake, and decorate.

How do you begin your day? Any morning rituals?
Every day begins @ 6:50 am – I have an alarm on my cell phone that goes at that time 365 days a year. I get & start making breakfast – a huge smoothie for my husband and I. He’s off to work by 8:15 am, and that’s when I get down to work – meaning sitting in front of a computer for 5-6 hours. My schedule during the day varies widely.

{My impermanent workspace (supposed to be our dining room table), featuring my laptop, planner, pile of magazines to pitch to, husband’s yoga mat, and books for his college classes}:

VictoriaK1

Do you do something crafty each day? Where does your inspiration come from?
I make sure to write a little every day & I’m very tempted to take part in the now-infamous Project 365 where you take 1 photo each day (maybe for 2010?). Inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere. I love reading magazines and blogs, which are an immense source for article ideas. Just a few days ago, I woke up with a great start for a memoir about my struggle with crippling anxiety. Writing a book is something I very much want to do, but memoirs are very tough! I hope to write a number of non-fiction books eventually – just need to find the right topics.

I’m also inspired by the littlest things: my cat, napping, yoga poses (I’ve been practicing for almost 5 years), sunlight shadows, smiles, unique smells – all the simple details that are so easy to overlook in day-to-day life. I love capturing them (both in my writing & photos) and sharing them with others, helping to bring them back to what is really important during our human journey.

{My assistant, Monster, who’s only job is to be cute & distracting (he’s a CEO at that!)}:

VictoriaK3

What’s your workspace like (organized)?
I’m a naturally organized person, but I sometimes wish I had things displayed a bit nicer. For the past 10 years, I’ve lived in a different apartment every year in either Connecticut or San Francisco. As you’d expect, I’ve done little decorating or acquiring furniture of my own, though that would be fun! All you see in the pictures are family antiques that I, one day, hope to sand down & stain in different subtle shades. The desk, in particular, is hundreds of years old & was brought over by my ancestors from Europe.

My desk, while covered in STUFF, is organized in the sense that I know what each pile is for and where everything is. Come April, I’ll be moving yet again &, soon after, will be following my husband once he joins the Marines next year. I see so many gorgeous work-spaces online but am also realistic that I may never have the time to create one, so staying organized & reducing clutter is vital. My workspace reflects nothing of my personality – no aparment or space I’ve had ever has – but maybe one day. :)

{My desk, left with no space to work (and no chair, haha); includes everything from books for my college classes & an unfinished knitting project to a bag of packaged photo prints for Etsy & ideas for blog posts}:

VictoriaK2

How many hours does your normal work day consist of?
Once you cut out reading blogs, doing chores @ home, and working on college classes, I get to spend 2-4 hours a day actually writing or pitching ideas. Weekly, I spend at least 1-2 hours taking pictures, though that is nowhere as much as I’d like to. I start checking my emails by 8:30am and turn off the computer for good by 6pm (by 4pm if I have to work out). I know I could get a lot more done if I stayed online until 10pm, but my health (I spend 1-2 hours doing weightlifting/cardio/yoga every other day) and my family (mum, husband, cat) are more important.

How do you end your day of crafty business? Any evening rituals?
Before I turn off the computer, I check my planner to see how much I got done for the day. Ideally, I completed all of my to-dos, but that doesn’t always happen. If there are still things left over, I pick a day within the same week to get it done. This makes my morning all the easier when I know exactly what I am going to work on, though I veer from the plan from time-to-time when fun opportunity come up (like this interview!)

What is your definition of a perfect day?
Not sitting in front of the computer! I love to write, and type very fast, but I prefer to be in nature. My perfect day would be:

Watch the sun rise
Take a walk
Have a strawberry-mango smoothie for breakfast with my husband
Go to a local park or forest to hike & take pictures in the morning light
A nice-sided salad for lunch (w/ black beans & ranch dressing)
Cuddle with my cat & read
Take a nap with my cat (hubby’s not a napper either)
Practice yoga
Cook dinner with my mum
Bake French breakfast puffs for dessert
Smile – life is good

{My back door, open almost year-round to supply fresh air & a constant reminder that nature nurtures all}:

VictoriaK4