Photo by Bonnie Tsang
In seven short years, Joy Cho has taken the blogging world by storm with her delightful blog Oh Joy! After working as a graphic designer with numerous fashion clients in New York, Joy brought together her passions for food, fashion and design with the launch of her blog and business in 2005. Her ensuing blogging and design success have led to collaborative opportunities to design stationary, textiles, wallpaper and even a line of children’s clothing. If that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, this lovely and talented lady has also amassed an impressive portfolio of brand development projects for clients in the fashion and food industries through her Rx program. Joy Cho is clearly a woman for whom the sky is the limit, and the launch of her latest book, Blog, Inc! is just further proof of her creative prowess.

Blog, Inc! really reads like an inspiring conversation with a great friend who is offering you her best advice over a good cup of coffee. Packed with insights for everyone from seasoned bloggers to those just starting out, Joy offers wisdom on how to create community while translating your passions into an inspiring online presence. Joy’s business savvy and strategic approach {along with the many features of other interesting and highly successful bloggers such as Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere} left me dog-earring countless pages! She also left me feeling like this little blogging adventure I’ve nicknamed “my sanity project” isn’t so crazy after all. In fact, it might just be a really wonderful way to knit together my life and work. Thanks for the encouragement, Joy!

Joy was kind enough to do a small interview with me as a part of her blog tour. I hope this little Q & A offers you a more personal glimpse into who Joy is and what she’s all about.

1. If you could express your blog’s mission statement in one sentence, what would it be?
A place to come and feel inspired and happy.
2. Your blog has evolved into a beautiful business, leading to several opportunities to create lovely product lines via collaborations with other creative individuals and companies. How many of these opportunities developed organically, and how many of them were as a result of strategic goals you set for yourself?
Thank you! I’d say it’s a mix. I certainly set goals for myself of things I want to accomplish. So, some opportunities came from me approaching various companies I wanted to work with and simply asking or pitching my ideas for a collaboration. And, in some instances they approached me with the opportunities. I’m all about being a go-getter, and believe in going after what you want. The worst thing that can happen is someone can say no. And the best thing that can happen is it works out, and you’re now working on your next big dream project!
 
3. How do you envision the next season of your creative life unfolding? Dreaming big, where would you like to take your blog and your business next?
I’d love to design more products. So far, I’ve done lots of smaller capsule collections, and I’d love to go into more in-depth collections where I can really showcase more of my ideas on home decor products.
 
4. In what ways does your blog enable you to live and work outside the boundaries of your physical location, and in what ways has it empowered you to nest and savour the sacredness of “home?”
My blog has made it so that I can do my job from anywhere. A few years ago, we had to move twice in two years for my husband’s job. While many of his colleague’s spouses stayed behind and had to have long-distance marriages during that time, I was in a unique position to be able to move with my husband since I have my own business that’s not dependent on being in a specific location. And in contrast, I’m even more of a homebody than ever. I love the fact that I can work from home, but I always try and make work time separate and stay in my office most of the day if I’m not out at meetings or running errands. I keep the non-working areas of my home (living room, dining room, etc.) separate from my work day so that they feel special and a place I come to unwind at the end of the day.
5. What are your best recommendations for creating meaningful community in the ever-changing, fast-paced world of social media?
Just be yourself. People love seeing your style, your creativity, and the things that make you special. But they also like knowing you’re a real person dealing with the same things as everyone else.
 
6. What is your favourite way to decompress from work and stay grounded?
It used to be exercise. I’d work out 4-5 times a week as my stress relief, and it was always an activity that totally distracted me from blogging or my design work since it’s so different from what I do for a living. But ever since I had my daughter last year, now my favorite thing to do is spend time with her. Nothing gets me away from the computer and living real life more than playing with a baby!

Photo by Bonnie Tsang
I’m with you, Joy! Time spent with my sweet family is truly my favourite way to decompress and get reconnected with what {or more importantly, who} matters to me most. As my little guy is getting older, working out has started to become a part of our family time together as well! Best of both worlds. 
Wishing all of you, my lovely friends, the opportunity to just unplug today and get nose-to-nose, eye-to-eye and heart-to-heart with the ones you love. Happy Thursday!
xo
s.
P.S. Here is Joy’s outrageously adorable trailer for the book. {Warning: you may come away craving a slice of chocolate cream pie and a mint green Vespa!}