The place where we take refuge from the chaos of life and surround ourselves with what we love. It is where we find peace and contentment…and to-do lists.

 

In the world of DIY’ers, gone are the days that we budget and wait for someone else to do what we can do ourselves. We are daydreamers. We are visionaries. We are frugal. We see something done, and we ponder how we can do it for less. We want something done, and we ponder the tools we need to do it.

What does this mean for you? Haven Conference is the place to celebrate that DIY spirit. It is where DIY lovers from all over will gather together to encourage and learn from one another. You will find hands-on sessions led by some of the top DIY bloggers who will share their knowledge on subjects such as painting furniture and using power tools. For those of you desiring to learn more about blogging, there will be sessions on topics that include social media and how to monetize your blog.

Perhaps most importantly, Haven Conference will be a place for encouragement. There will be time set aside just to mingle with one another and share DIY stories. The DIY/Home blogging community is special, and we encourage you to form connections with those in it!  You are guaranteed to walk away from Haven refreshed and inspired.

We hope to see you at Haven, our DIY home away from home.

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Rhoda- Southern Hospitality
Rhoda is a thrifting diva who frequented second hand shops long before it was cool! She loves repurposing and sharing her trash to treasure inspiration, as well as cooking and fun excursions, with others and does so daily on her blog, Southern Hospitality. Considered a veteran in her niche, Rhoda began blogging in early 2007 and has successfully turned her hobby into a full-time business. Rhoda’s passion exudes as she encourages others by instilling in them creativity and confidence that they, too, can achieve a beautiful home on any budget. Finding inspiration and sharing creativity at blog conferences is something that Rhoda loves to experience with other like minded DIY/home bloggers; therefore, she was motivated to get the ball rolling for Haven 2012!

Kristin- Stockdale Design
Kristin has been creating inspiring events and interiors for over 10 years. She enjoys creating and implementing every aspect of her events. She is client centered, taking time to clearly understand the needs of her clients and their guests. Kristin’s commitment to quality comes through the positive experiences had by her clients. She works closely with the Haven team in the creation, organization, design, and branding of the Haven experience, delivering a unique vision for DIY Bloggers. She is excited to be a part of this enlightening, educational, and bonding conference. Travel, Entertaining, Reading, and Family, occupy Kristin during her off time.

Beth- Home Stories A to Z
In January 2009, Beth discovered decorating, crafting, and design blogs and her world was forever transformed…and so was her blog! Decorating on a dime has always been a passion of Beth’s, and she couldn’t resist joining the party. Unlike some home bloggers, Beth possesses zero special talents. She is just incredibly tenacious, resourceful, and willing to take risks. What this means for you is that if she can do it, you can too! When Beth isn’t blogging, or consuming copious amounts of chocolate, she is having escapades with her husband and two little boys Asher and Zephan (A to Z).

Chris- Just A Girl
Chris is a high school English teacher who stays busy balancing her career and family. Throw in a passion for DIY, and it proves to be a crazy life at times! She buys herself cordless drills instead of shoes, and she reads articles on the best glue guns instead of lipstick. Providing her family with a comfortable and lovely home is her ultimate goal, but she doesn’t spend a lot of money doing it. Chris and her husband are a perfect example of “opposites attract”, yet they’ve been happily married for 16 years. They have two perfect children, and she’s very thankful that they support her crazy hobby.

Kate- Centsational Girl
Kate Riley is better known around the blogosphere as Centsational Girl, a self professed incurable DIYer who loves to paint things, cook things, and design things from small crafts to large spaces. Her motto is “fabulous for less” and she’s in pursuit of diamond style on a dime.  Kate lives in the California Wine Country, and when she isn’t dragging things home from local thrift stores to repaint and reupholster, you can find her sipping Syrah and not taking life too seriously on her blog Centsational Girl.

Kristi- Creative Kristi

Kristi has been blogging since 2008 when she found herself a stay-at-home Mom with a deployed husband. Sewing, crafting & DIY have always been hobbies for her from a young age. She never imagined that blogging about it would become her profession and passion. With a background in business & hospitality management she finds that she uses her degree daily either as a home manager or a business owner. Kristi lives in Maine with her husband, 4 year old son & 1 year old daughter. In February 2011 Kristi opened Creative Kristi Designs to help other bloggers afford the blog design of their dreams. It has since taken off in ways she has never imagined and she is thrilled to be welcomed to the Haven team!

Marian- Miss Mustard Seed

Founder and owner of Mustard Seed Interiors, a small business born out of a love for antiques, decorating on a budget and giving old pieces of furniture new life. For over ten years, she transformed second hand finds, hunted for unique antiques and designed functional and beautiful spaces. In 2008, that passion for DIY and home décor became Mustard Seed Interiors and eventually the blog, Miss Mustard Seed, in August of 2009. In addition, Marian writes freelance tutorials for HGTV.com, is a contributor to Cottages & Bungalows magazine and sells her antiques and refurbished furniture out of The Old Lucketts Store in Lucketts, VA.

Sarah-Thrifty Decor Chick
Sarah has been blogging about thrifty home decor and DIY projects at Thrifty Decor Chick since 2008. After ten years working in the marketing and PR field, she switched careers after her son was born and followed her dream and pursue a career in decorating. But after two years of decorating for others, she fell more and more in love with decorating her own home and sharing the process with her blog readers. It was then that Thrifty Decor Chick really blossomed, and she’s been trying to keep up ever since. Sarah lives in central Indiana with her amazingly supportive husband, four-year-old son and her 21-year-old stepdaughter. Blogging has changed her life for the better in more ways than she can count.

Traci-Beneath My Heart
One of Traci’s favorite things about being an elementary school teacher was decorating and rearranging the furniture in her classroom. So it is no surprise to the people who know her that she now has a DIY decorating blog,  Beneath My Heart. Being a stay at home mom for the past 12 years and learning to raise her 4 boys on just her husband’s income has caused Traci to think outside the box. She loves finding treasures at thrift stores and giving them new life. Her blog is full of DIY home projects that cost very little money, and her motto is, “Why buy it, when you can make it?!”  Traci’s husband is her DIY partner in crime, and you will often find her 4 boys joining in the fun on her blog too! She loves running, daily stops at Goodwill, and believes a large coke from McDonald’s is a spiritual thing.