Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Ballard.
Hi Kelly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved using my creative side to come up with ways to decorate my space. Even as a little girl I was finding ideas by window shopping at Mervyns or page-turning the JCPenny catalogue. That followed me into my college and young married days. I had to get very creative as a young mother on a tight budget, and my love of DIY projects was born. I would shop all the local thrift stores and see how I could turn something old into something new. I taught myself how to stain, paint, craft, glue, and sew. These hobbies kept my mind fresh and my hands busy. At age 40, I found myself wondering how to spend my newly found time when all the kids were at school. I had always wanted to build things, but tools made me nervous. So that every birthday (per my request), Mr. Farmboy picked up some takeout and then sat me down to teach me how to use a nail gun – exactly what I wanted. From that day on, I was hooked. I committed to a project a week for the year I was 40. I slowly started to document these projects, and CITYGIRLMEETSFARMBOY was born. Over the past few years I have not only continued my projects, but also taught myself how to document them. So, THAT is what this blog is all about. My journey. My ideas. My do-overs and my “hope this works” projects. I am learning as I go and now have a full time job working with brands and I love it!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
NO way! Creating DIY projects is filled with mistakes and mess ups. I am real about these with my readers so they, too, can understand that things get messy. But that is just part of the journey. It is also hard to be so vulnerable on social media. I have to train my mind to be confident and let go of comparisons or unkind comments. It is definitely a mind came, but its work it!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a professional content creator for brands. This means, a brand will reach out to me and ask me to host a project in my home, using their materials. I document the process through still images and video content. I prepare this footage for the brand to use as well as for my own page to share with my readers. It is a very unique job that allows me to work from home and on my own schedule. When I first started in 2017, NOONE was doing this as a career. I had to work with other content creators to pave our way and be pioneers in the industry. Now it is common to be paid for your work as a content creator and I am very proud of contributing to this industry.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I come across as very confident and secure in my work. Which most days I am. But I also battle serious anxiety and have to work constantly to work on my mental health so I can show up every day and be ready for the public eye. This is a daily battle but I have an amazing husband and family who help me gain confidence and have learned over the years of how to work through the anxieties I have faced. I have also received help from professionals and do not shy away from discussing the importance of understanding our limits and getting help when we need it.
Pricing:
- $37 for my Intro Class to working with Brands
Contact Info:
- Website: https://citygirlmeetsfarmboy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citygirlmeetsfarmboy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citygirlmeetsfarmboydecor
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/citygirlfarmboy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/citygirlmeetsfarmboy
- Other: https://citygirlmeetsfarmboy.mykajabi.com/5StepsToBrandInfluencer
