Now, bloggers are a funny breed because we work on projects and then we force people to look at them by shouting it from the social media rooftops. By putting ourselves and our work out there we are subjecting ourselves to judgment, for better or for worse.

Brittany, The House that Lars Built

After the article which featured Brittany as one of a select number of bloggers in the New York Times, Brittany is the lady in the spotlight. Can I say that I loved her first? Actually she's well loved all over and has been for quite a while through her on point aesthetic and beautiful creations.

She sums up her work on The House That Lars Built like this:

CREATE: I'm first of a creator. I create crafts, style them, design products and interiors, write, illustrate.  

PUBLISH: This blog is a great platform for featuring your work as well. Let's talk about how to make that happen!

AMPLIFY: Want your word to spread? Let's talk about how to take it to the next level with my social media platforms.

And she does all those things, really well, and also these things:

The incredible Kentucky Derby hat that won on the Today Show. These larger than life, bigger than your imagination flowers.

The fun fruit balloons and the Language of Flowers series.

I click over to her blog for the beauty she regularly posts and creates. She's so versatile - seemingly talented in every arena. And she's totally humble in person, too.

I don't need to shout out the list of high-end magazines that have featured her or list the uber designers with whom she's worked, but I can say that I am always intrigued to see her next post. She keeps challenging herself to try something new and styles to perfection.

I don't know how she gets it all done...but I do know that she's moving into her own studio space, and I know Brittany will have more beautiful projects to share.

Here's a snippet of her from the interview in the NYT responding to blogger burn out:

Perhaps one day I might get burned out to the point where I don't want to do this anymore. But again, I think that's a part of life. There are natural transition points in which we tackle something new while letting go of the old. I don't think it's something to feel guilty about. I do think it's something we should be aware of. I don't think we should unnecessarily overwork ourselves. I do think we can work smarter not harder. Every occupation and job goes through this period self-evaluation and hopefully it ends with what's best for you and your family.

Perfect! Thanks for all of your tireless work and attention to detail and design, Brittany.

I'm a total fan girl.

Blogger pals, are you burnt out? Do you think this job leads itself more naturally to burn out?

xoxo, MJ

Finding fabulous projects is not as easy as it may seem. These three curators are the ones to follow for the best DIY round ups on the worldwide web.

Before I began blogging, I had little appreciation for what we lovingly term a "round up post." These are typically a list or a collage of ideas or images found around the web based around a particular theme or topic. Searching out the best of the best is a tedious process; it's more than a Google search or Pinterest entry. It's a keen eye, a great sense of design, and a knowledge of what's possible and practical.

Rachel, Marlene, and Sarah post the best DIY round ups to be found.

You've likely seen Rachel's round ups on Pinterest. Her blog The Crafted Life is jam-packed with her process, inspiration, and business-sharing advice. Her themes are unique and her picks are always beautiful. Rachel mixes the complex with the super simple to create a lovely blend for every level of creator. Even when I'm not ready to make one of the recommended pieces, I find myself returning to her pages just to see what's inspiring her and what's trending for DIY. She always has the latest.

Marlene of Jade and Fern has a modern and clean feel to her round ups. I am always surprised by her finds and wishing to find time in my schedule to create such beauty. Though a handful of her tutorial links are outside of my comfort zone, none of them feel unapproachable or, even worse, undesirable. She has her eye set on her brand and every DIY that she selects fits well with her own posts that are in their own right gorgeous as well.

Sarah of Sarah Hearts wins for color and pattern. She finds DIYs with texture, design, and charm. Her projects are just the kinds you want to create for your best friend and yourself. The energy with which she creates her own posts comes through in her picks. My favorite part? She never picks a dud. Every project is fresh, unique and approachable for a variety of skill levels.

In today's busy times, finding great projects can be a challenge, or at least a time challenge. Follow these three curators for only the best of the best. You'll appreciate their careful editing and helpful suggestions, I promise.

Who would you add? Who always finds just the right project?

xoxo, MJ