Blog Interview #18 ~ The Farm Chicks, Serena & Teri

I'm sure many of you have heard of The Farm Chicks (aka, Serena Thompson and Teri Edwards). I am so pleased that Teri has graciously agreed to do an interview with me this morning.

Thank you for being with us today, Teri. Please tell us a little bit about The Farm Chicks.
Serena and I started our business in 2002. In addition to producing an antique show, we're also contributing editors to Country Living magazine and just had our first book released [entitled] "The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen".

Why did you decide to blog?
Although we have a website that shares information about our business, we knew that a blog would allow us to interact with visitors on a more personal and creative level.

What date did you begin The Farm Chicks blog?
It was the end of October 2008 so we're still newbies at this!

What did you talk about on your very first post?
It just so happened that I was on vacation when we went live so Serena did an introduction post. We were so pleased that it was so well received and everyone made us feel so welcome to this new and unknown world of blogging.

Do you prefer to blog with words or pictures or both?
Both. Words are necessary, but pictures really help to tell the story completely.

Have you met people through blogging?
We've met a lot of really nice fellow bloggers!

Can you describe a friendship you've established through your blog?
Christina from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho has become a blogging friend. We found out that she's been to some of our past antique shows and even asked her doctor to postpone inducing labour so she could attend our show last summer!! We recently featured how Christina decorated her daughter's bedroom and we just met her in person to discuss photos (she's an amazing photographer) over a cup of coffee.

Did you design your blog or did you have it professionally done?
Oh gosh, we had it done professionally ~ we're not very techie!

Have you ever been featured in Artful Blogging?
We don't believe so.

What does your "About Me" (or in your case, "About Us") read on your blog?
We talk about our childhoods, how we met and got our business started. "Our childhoods couldn't have been more different. Serena bounced through the first years of her life in a hippie gypsy wagon, wandering the back roads of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Teri grew up in tiny White Swan, Washington, herding geese, doing farm chores and kneeling in daily prayer. Who would have guessed that 30 years later, an Irish Nun would bring us together, seeing instead our many similarities...."

What feature do you like the most on your blog?
We like that readers can comment. It's a great way to not only interact with guests to the blog, but it really helps us to see what they'd like us to blog about.

Is there anything on your blog you'd like to change?
I can't think of anything, but that's probably because we're still so new to all of this. I do wish that I could post better photos. Many times, there's something I'm excited to blog about, but because the photos don't turn out well, I just skip it.

Do you ever blog when you "don't feel like it"?
We're really fortunate that two of us are responsible for the blog. We've never set a schedule, but decided that if we feel like blogging, we will, and if we're just not in the mood, then we don't. Nothing is ever good if it's forced. We usually always post at least once a day and sometimes twice, but never on the weekends. It works best for us to keep that time just for family.

What words or themes would best describe your blog?
Well ... I like to think it's happy, colourful and fun!

Do you have any interesting directions you want to take your blog in, in the future?
Right now we're just really working on getting to know the blogging world. There are so many amazing and creative women out there sharing what they love to do and inspiring others to search out their creative dreams. We're thrilled to be a part of it!
Well I'm thrilled that you took time out of your busy schedule to talk to us, Teri. Thank you so much!

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Teri and Serena's brand new book, The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen is flying off the presses and can be purchased online at Chapters or Amazon!

The Farm Chicks Annual Antique Show takes place on June 6th and 7th, 2009 at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, 404 N. Havana Street, Spokane Valley, Washington. Admission is only $6 per person, and kids are admitted free.