Hello world! Get ready for a veritable treasure trove of interior and garden delights!
….and the odd rather rude double entendre thrown in for good measure!
What’s this? J.P’s on Substack? Tell me more!
Well, hello there you gorgeous people. If I already know you from my interiors and gardening blog, Insta or anywhere else, then I’m thrilled to bits and tickled pink that you’ve found me here. If you’re completely new to my ramblings and giggles, then you are most welcome and thank you kindly for taking the time.
I’ve been equivocating for months now over whether to take that leap of faith and move over to Substack. Please tell me it’s not just me that’s had sleepless nights over this? When you’ve worked your socks off creating your own website and building a following, it’s hard to let it go. But, times have changed and it’s time that I changed with them. Owning a blog is expensive and seems to get more so, the more successful you are. There just came a point where I had to decide. Do I give hosting companies and email distributors more money and keep plodding on? Do I fight that constant battle of ranking on google, or do I jump ship? So, I put my big boy pants on, closed my eyes and jumped!
I’ve had the loveliest welcome already. It really has blown me away. You really are a super-friendly bunch.
Sorry, but who are you again?
Oh, okay! Spoke too soon. I’ll forgive the impertinence, this time, but check yourself! WHO AM I? Well, I’m a full time interiors and garden blogger, stylist and creator, who also does a little professional interior and garden design on the side. However, my true love is writing and I secretly want to be a published author.
I’ve been blogging over on my website for five years. I’ve won awards for my writing, which kind of knocked me for six, because I had never won anything in my life before. Well, actually that’s not entirely true. I did win the egg and spoon race at school most years (steady hand!) and, if I remember rightly, I did win the most dog ugly giant panda teddy bear once. I think it had been regifted as the left eye was missing and one leg was shorter than the other, so it was always on the lean. Shame. Anyway, slight segue there. Where were we? Ah yes, the blog. I have a lovely following over there and now they’re all over here, so that’s calmed my nerves.
What else do I do? Well, I also have a successful interiors and gardens Instagram account: @jpslifeandloves ,where I post about my life and all the things I love, including interiors and gardening obvs. I’m a serial renovator and garden makeover man. In the 26 years, me and my hubby, Mr C, have been together, we have totally transformed nine of our own homes and gardens and I’m telling you now, there will be a tenth! We like taking unloved properties and turning them into dream homes and gardens. It’s all been done in our spare time, we’re not developers. We do have a bit of a knack for seeing beyond the ugly when no one else can though.
One of the homes we transformed is a monochromatic waterside ‘60s deckhouse on stilts. We did it all in lockdown, which was supremely awkward. But, now we rent it out as a luxury holiday home. We currently live with our little cairn terrier Missy in a coastal Victorian Gothic house with a walled garden. I’m not saying how long we will be there though. It’s finished, just sayin’.
Ok, but what makes you different? What’s makes you so special that I should subscribe?
Well, you’re rather to the point aren’t you Miss Thing! Enough of the Gen Z attitude, or I’m not playing! What makes me different? Well, how many other newsletters/blogs, or instagram accounts do you know that serve up both interiors and garden news, advice, makeovers and trends in equal measure? I can’t think of many. Sure some interior accounts might show their garden and the latest lounge set they’ve acquired, but you won’t find them telling you much about horticulture.
In the same way, how many garden accounts can you think of that provide the same amount of knowledge for interiors? I actually can’t think of one other, unless you’re talking about magazines in print like House & Garden.
That’s because we’re all told to stick to a very small niche if you want to be successful. The problem is, I just can’t. When you’ve designed and built as many homes and gardens as I have over the years, it’s just impossible to choose between the two. I’ve been a plant and cushion freak since I was a little boy. I’ve hoovered information up about them both ever since. I love them in equal measure, so there ain’t ever going to be no Sophie’s Choice around these parts. It’s worked so far and I’m not stopping now.
I’m going to be writing one of these fabulous trendy newsletter thingies (used to be called blog posts, but that’s so 2019) up to five times a month. It’s going to be full of all my latest musings on interior trends, gardening tips and a bit of gossip and giggles thrown in for good measure.
As the title of my substack suggests, I’ll be filling you all in with the latest details about all things home and horticulture. I’m also not shy about divulging the things I’m not so keen on either, so be prepared! If you’ve followed me on other channels before, then you’ll know that I long to write that book. I was so close to a publishing deal a while back and then it all fizzled out. So, that’s the other reason I’m here!
Do you know? I’m really excited about all of this. I’ve got a whole lifetime of knowledge to share with you. Actually that’s one of the reasons I started a blog in the first place. We don’t have children, so I have no one to impart my learnings to. Before I kick the proverbial bucket one day, it would be nice to have left some kind of legacy. The way I see it, if I can write as much of what I know down and publish it on the internet, then at least it won’t all die with me.
That’s marvellous, but why are you here and, actually, why am I reading this? What will I get?
Okay, okay! Crikey Moses, I’m getting to it. Cheeky bugger! In all honesty, I’m here because I want to reach a wider audience and I want to be amongst other people who have a passion for interior design, gardening and life’s funny stories. I also yearn to be amongst other writers. It’s a lonely old world writing on your own website and there isn’t that much in the way of a conversation. Substack allows me to send newsletters direct to your inbox, but it also encourages a good old chat, which really nurtures the community we create together.
But, I’m a pretty honest chap, so I think I should also address the enormous “paid subscription” elephant in the room. Writing is my favourite thing. I love doing it and I’m truly honoured to have so many people that want to read it. However, spending at least two days a week writing a post for free has become untenable. I need to pay the bills. So, it’s time to shift gear and change direction. Pivot!
On Substack I can continue to write for free for the time being. As things progress and I find my way on here, I really want to offer much more though. To do that I will need to earn a living. So, at some point in the future I will be offering a paid subscription option.
My aim is to keep as much of my writing free as I can. That’s the free “pop concert”, if you like. However, the VIP backstage pass will be a paid option. What else do I hope to offer? Well, I love the idea of recording audio versions of my posts, so that you can listen while you prepare supper. I’d like to do live tours of my home and garden, have featured guests and weekly hot interior and garden trends.
I’d like to offer live chats as well as access to me personally for interior and garden advice (don’t be calling me at midnight with boyfriend trouble!). I want to be able to pop on and tell you the funny thing that happened to me that day and we can all have a good old giggle. In essence, I’m hoping that my Substack will become a platform that encompasses everything that I am and everything I do, sharing my life and loves, my ups and downs, my successes and disasters with all of you.
Sounds right up my alley!
Well, enough about what’s been up your alley, thank you very much! But, yes, you will be enthralled and delighted once you’ve hit that subscribe button. To start off with it’ll be up to four newsletters a month free of charge. I’ll also be here for chats once I work out what the difference between a thread and a note is.
So, where do I sign up?
Just hit the subscribe button above. It’s free, as I’ve said before. You can pledge support for the future if you want to, if and when I go to a paid subscription option. If you’re already a subscriber to my blog, then once you hit the button above you’ll continue to get posts via email, just like you did before. If you’re new, then get ready for fun in your inbox (not a euphemism)!
I’d absolutely love it if you left a comment or shared this post, so do feel free! Bye for now.
Hooked already, love your chats under the canopy it's like chatting to an old friend🌷
Loved the first instalment on sub stack and looking forward to future editions x