Pattern Making + Jena Coray of Modish

note: the image above is a photo...it's not actually a video! :)

I had the pleasure of meeting Jena a few years back in Portland. She has a lovely spirit and was very kind to me over the years by sharing my art with her followers on her blog. She also believes in keeping having daily practices to keep her centered in her busy life of full time blogging and more.

Hi there! I'm Jena Coray, aka: Miss Modish. I've been creatively self-employed for 6 years now and have made a living in many ways including full time design blogger, online consignment shop owner, jewelry maker, marketing consultant, graphic designer, vintage shop owner, indie PR rep and most recently creative lifestyle consultant. What can I say? I like to to try new things, and I like to hustle. And over that time I've learned a lot of things the hard way, had a lot of failures and success, and have come out the other end finally knowing exactly what I want to do with my life- help others create fulfilling creative businesses for themselves, too! 

1. How did this all begin for you? Tell us a little about your beginning steps in the blogging world.

I began blogging from a cubicle at a customer service job I couldn't wait to escape from! I had started a little jewelry business on the side called curio j- I was super bored at my job and needed a creative outlet. And in building up my website and business and becoming involved in this world of creative handmade sellers, I wanted a way to market both myself and all the incredible talent I was "meeting" online and bonding with! So in April 2006, I started writing Modish, which, at the time was solely dedicated to writing about handmade goods. Now 6 years later, I'm still writing, although the direction of the blog has changed, it's still me and my voice and my personality behind it, which is what translates!

2. Tell us about your daily routine related to your work. How do you spend your time each day?

Over the past year or so, I've began to stop letting myself jump on the phone to check email right when I wake up or head straight for the computer when I get out of bed. Instead, I've stuck to a new routine of self-care in the morning that helps keep me centered and focused and gives me energy to take on the day! After my little morning routine, I get to work but I really do something different everyday- whether it's writing, filming videos, working with clients, marketing my business, taking photos, researching, responding to emails/comments- I have a general to-do list of what needs to get done each day/week, and I kind of go where my attention flows each day, and tackle each one by one! I get so much more done during the day when I start it off taking good care of myself!

3. What practices help you to stay centered?

4. What practices, ways of thinking, or actions help you to get where you are today?

I really think my best friend and asset over the 6 years of writing my blog, becoming self-employed, opening shops, closing shops, starting things, ending things- has been just to experience it all. Experience is the best teacher, so if you're curious about if something's right for you, the only way to know is to try! Experimenting and not being afraid to change things up mid-course, or quit when things aren't working or head down a new path- those are the qualities that have led me to get where I am today. And I think where I am today is in a happily self-employed, creative career that I get to play with and redefine as I wish. I feel a real sense of contribution and connection in my work and more fulfilled than ever before with where life has taken me so far!

5. What is the best little piece of advice you could give to someone starting out in the blog-o-sphere?

The best advice I can offer is to stay true to yourself. Don't try to keep up with the Joneses, because the competition is always growing and evolving and it's exhausting to put your energy into worrying about it. Put your energy into you. And show yourself through your blog. The real you, in whatever that means for you- in how you curate things, in the art you create, through your words- just be open and dare to be YOU. Shirk what everyone else is doing because the most popular blogs are ones with a clear, authentic voice and a unique point of view. So no matter how scary it feels to go your own way, or reveal too much, head in that direction as it's where you'll find your audience, your happiness and your motivation to keep on blogging!

6. What’s churning your inner muse these days? Where do you look for inspiration?

With spring springing up, my garden is really churning my muse lately- planting, pruning, planning, picking out new stuff- I love it! I've also been getting back into painting lately and am working on a little something for my mom's birthday this April. And I've also been fired up lately on new ideas for blog columns on VIDEO! It scares me to be in front of the camera, speaking (all those people judging?!) but that's exactly why I need to do it. And I have a Minor in Videography, so it's been fun to get back into editing and working with audio and getting back to my geeky roots! (not like I ever stray far from them :)

7. Favorite color combo? Last best read? Place to seek solitude?

My fave color combo right now is tangerine orange and turquoise with gold- especially for summer! And I don't remember the last time I sat down with a book other than for research- boo- but I'd love to share the last documentary that rocked my world- PBS's 3-part series, This Emotional Life. It's all about happiness and what that means and our emotions and what they tell us- it's fascinating and thorough and I loved it!

8. Any excited upcoming projects you like to share?

I just started offering Mojo Sessions that I'm really excited about, working 1-on-1 with designers, makers & artists to help them get past obstacles and fears to create a business that really shines! I'm also in the middle of a course my friend and I are teaching called The Catalyst- we're helping our students move through mental and emotional blocks to find their spark again! It's going so great, I already can't wait til we do the next round this summer!