The 10th March 2010 was when I was sat in my bedroom creating Raindrops of Sapphire. I remember spending ages into the early hours of the morning trying to get the layout how I wanted, the logo as I had hoped etc, and it’s with so many fond memories now that I look back over the last 8 years and see how far I have come. If you had told me back then that I would have almost single handedly grown my blog into my own business, I wouldn’t have understood what you meant. Back then, fashion blogging was still relatively new and it definitely wasn’t what it is today, so even the likes of Chiara Ferragni was just taking off and we have all had to make it on our own. There’s so much help and advice out there now for bloggers, even people you can pay to do it for you, but it was a sea of the unknown in 2010 and it was just a hobby that I greatly enjoyed, so I’m extremely proud and happy to be celebrating 8 years on and enjoying it just as much, if not more!
I used to look back and cringe at my earlier posts – the outfits I used to put together I would never, ever wear now. I didn’t used to wear make-up, I didn’t know what Photoshop was, what good lighting or locations meant, or what an DSLR camera was. I didn’t know barely anything and as I’ve grown, Adam’s grown, the years have gone by, we’ve combined all of our knowledge and skills into making it better every single month. I now look back on my earlier images with fond memories in seeing just how far I’ve come. How much my style has changed, how much the quality in my photos and writing has improved, and just how it’s all professional now, compared to the fun and joke type things I used to share.
Going back through these photos has reminded me of items I had forgotten about, when I first started collaborating with brands and what my first gifted items were, when I first started learning to do photo shoots in town with people around and I was extremely nervous, when I put together outfits I thought were amazing and felt excited to share them with you… There’s so much nostalgia and fondness and I’m really happy to have a blog that holds all of those memories. Raindrops of Sapphire has meant that I’ve been able to document my life since 2010 and share it with you, showing just how much things change and grow and having you all here for the journey has been incredible!
I will say that I am incredibly proud of myself. I don’t often give myself praise or acknowledge achievements much at all, usually because (despite what everyone thinks) I dislike being the centre of attention and I feel it’s often big headed, however if I actually do take a step back and look at what I achieved from my bedroom, all because my health was too bad to actually get a job I had to attend in person, I’m very proud. I’ve never been a quitter (did you know most blogs go dormant after a year?) and I’ve always made things work to the best of my ability, so hard work and determination has meant that I’ve got my own business and I’m extremely happy about that as it fits in around my health issues and allows me to be my own boss. Don’t get me wrong, it’s in no way easy as I’m switched on 24/7 and it’s hard being pretty much the only person in the business (besides Adam), so if I want to take time off, I have to schedule that in and make sure things are done in advance as there’s nobody there to pick up where I left off, but I do love my job, very much. I’m happy to be switched on all the time and creating what I do for you all.
I know it wont be permanent because if you asked me what I wanted to do 10 years ago, I barely even knew what a blog was and it just wasn’t a thing anyone could consider as a business. Then along came social media and that’s now a business too, so I can only imagine what might come in the next 8 years and what new ventures there are to take. I will be blogging for as long as possible though, so don’t worry, I am just intrigued what the future may bring and what new platforms or ideas come along that can be made into a business as well. So, without going on too much, I thought it would be cool to share with you some of the milestone achievements in the 8 years I have been blogging as well as how things have changed! First up…
Logo Changes
From 2010 to now, these are all of the logos/banners I have had for my blog! I used to be hosted on WordPress.com when I started out, so you can actually still see my old blog before I transferred to self hosted by clicking here. It’s crazy looking back at that and seeing what a difference it is. It was all bright and colourful, very small, but I still had so much passion for it! I loved all of my logos too as I used to spend hours on them! One of my favourites to date is still the rainbow umbrella with the sapphire rain in the background. I absolutely adore that one! Unfortunately it doesn’t really fit with my theme now, but I still have so many fond memories! Now we can take a look at the collages I put together from 2010 and 2011 so you can see some of my older photos and how things used to be.
2010
In the above collage is a mixture of some of my very first photo shoots! I was 21 when I first started my blog so I was incredibly young, as you can see. I remember receiving my first lot of troll abuse for the photo near the top sat on the bed in the pink top. Someone told me my face was too red and sweaty and that I would look better with a paper bag over my head. It’s funny how we remember the negatives isn’t it? That sort of abuse ended up making me incredibly tough though and I deal with abusive comments on a weekly basis, but that’s only about 5% of the time, the other 95% is filled with love and support from you all and I couldn’t be happier. What’s funny though is that I took the main image at the top for this post at Christmas in front of the carousel, but when I was making the collage, I found an old 2010 photo of my in front of the same carousel! What a coincidence!
As the year progressed, you can see I started learning how to do different poses, use different locations, style together my outfits a little bit better and I actually have really fond memories of some of these. I remember feeling incredibly proud and excited to share the photos with you. When I look back though I used to go overboard and include about 20 photos of each look, including flat lay shots of the clothing as well. I’m glad I cut that down to around 8 now, ha ha. Since I never used to edit the photos though, it was just a case of re-sizing and uploading, so it never took that much time. It’s a whole different story now! A photoshoot and editing can take anywhere from 2-5 hours!
2011
Now moving onto 2011, I started travelling to different places now and again, and doing photos on the trips. This is where blogging really helped me get my life back as it gave me a sense of purpose and excitement of something different to share so I wasn’t just filled with anxiety and worry about the trip. I learned how to use light in different ways, attended my first set of press days, released my Lorna jeans with PAIGE, and even got my first few gifted items in 2011. I remember thinking that was amazing and I was extremely lucky because like I mentioned up there, blogging was not what it is now, so getting gifted an item was a big thing. It’s changed a lot now though as every single person is trying to give you their products for free and request a huge amount of promotion and work from you in exchange for it, so I have to decline a lot of what goes on now. I still have my very fond memories though and smile when I look at some of the photos.
Now moving on again, things got better as time progressed. More gifted items, more trips including to London to visit the Donna Ida clinic and model for her, as well as sight seeing. I supported a charity campaign for Hudson, I got a fringe cut in (I didn’t like it, I wont do that again!) and I got my very first Mulberry bag at the Shepton Mallet outlet. I even attended a PAIGE party on a roof top penthouse in London and thought all of these things were really cool.
I can’t share with you every single year, but some more highlights as the years went on would be attending the Luisaviaroma Firenze4Ever event in Florence, Italy – that was incredible and one I will remember forever. Winning the Fashion Blogger of the year for Bath in Fashion in 2013. Collaborating with some incredible brands that I love. Attending more events and shows. Designing more jeans in collaborations with brands. Generally learning more and more about blogging and everything that goes into it… There’s so much to document and I am lucky that I have been able to over the years! It’s been a journey with many highs and many lows, but one I am very happy to be on. I’m leaving you with a few of my recent photos to see how things have changed with my style and looks over the years just below.
And that’s it! I promise to do a big and very special post in 2020 when I hit the 10 year anniversary! For now though, I’m celebrating 10 years with Adam next month and my big 30th milestone birthday in August, so it’s a big year for me! I can’t thank you enough for supporting me and making all of this possible as well. It means the world, my life, my dreams. And thank you to everyone who has supported me in the process, especially Adam and my mum for helping with photos. I know it’s not been easy for Adam having to endure photoshoots all the time! Since he’s a blogger himself now though and I’ve taught him everything I could, he now understands, ha ha. Enjoy these photos from 2010 and 2011 as I’m sure a lot of you haven’t seen them! It’s crazy how much I’ve changed! You can also see a roundup I did for my 6th Blog Birthday here. Lorna xx.
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Congratulations Lorna. I have followed you since started and you have come such a long way. Still as beautiful as ever. Well done xx
Author
Thank you so much, Ali! It means a lot to me!
congrats on the anniversary! you are so pretty!!
kisses from the sandpit ♡
http://www.mahryska.com
Author
Thank you!
Congretulations! What an achievement! I hope I can read and follow your lovely blog for many more years!
Author
Thank you! I hope you will continue to as well!
Happy 8 years of blogging. Isn’t fun to look back on old blog post. It fun to see how much you have grown over the years.
http://www.amysfashionblog.com/blog-home/
Author
Yes! It’s definitely been a journey, thank you!
Lorna, these are fantastic photos! I’ve never seen them. Congratulations on the anniversary. 💕❤️😎
Author
Thank you, John! I thought it might be nice to share older ones!
You have had such a journey- and I love seeing it here! Congrats on 8 years, babe!
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
Author
Thank you so much!
It’s amazing to see how much you and your blog have grown in these 8 years! I can imagine how proud and satisfied you must feel with all the hard work and passion you put into your project!
Thanks for sharing this post! It was very inspiring for me to read!! Congratulations!!! 🙂
Andrea.
Seize your Style
Author
Thank you so much, Andrea! Really pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
Aww, Lorna… how inspiring! I’m always a fan of how you managed to post regularly, unlike me haha… but I will take this very inspiring post of you to start over and go back to blogging again despite having a very busy life as a mom.
I can still remember when I first found your blog, it was 3 years ago and I’m so happy to see where blogging take you… You deserve it, and may the future of blogging bring you more good opportunities.
Take care always and may your health be okay.
Xoxo
Jhem | JhemSays.com
Author
As someone who does it full time, I can see why you wouldn’t have time with other commitments as it’s so time consuming. Just keep doing it out of passion and love though! Those 3 years went by so quick, it’s madness! Thank you for your continued support and I’m so glad you enjoy my blog!
Wow Congrats! I can’t believe you have been blogging for so long. Your style definitely has changed and become more sophisticated.
http://www.fashionradi.com
Author
Thank you so much!
Happy blogiversary!! So much fun to read how the blog has changed and see the change in the phots too! Xx
http://www.thefashionfolks.com
Author
Thank you!
This really does show such a lot of progression. I think a lot of the early photos that you have included in this collages are fascinating. Although you had a much less sophisticated style, look and approach back then it’s still possible to see flashes of what was to come later. Especially in that 4th grouping of photos I can see several that I have not seen before but think could sit fairly comfortably with your present output. The one where you are leaning on the wooden fence with one heel on the bottom bar of it is great – as is the outfit.
I’m a little shocked to read that you have to deal with abusive comments at a rate as high as 5% but I suppose I shouldn’t be… sadly there are enough mean spirited people out there. 🙁 That and success breeds jealousy in others, I suppose. I am glad that you feel the warmth, affection and appreciation that the vast majority of us feel towards you though.
I am very happy for you that you have a job that you enjoy and find so rewarding as that is such a rare and precious thing. I also think it’s wonderful that you give so much good advice and inspiration to other people. I am sure that aspect must be rewarding too.
I hope that your blog and your brand, in whatever forms it takes in the future, will continue to go from strength to strength. 🙂
Thank you too for the kindness and generosity you have always shown towards me (and my often long-winded notes)… LOL
Author
Thank you, Steven! I can see little hints as well from some of the outfits, little flickers of what I could associate with me now, but it’s so strange how much my style changed over the years. There’s been so many phases and even though the last 2-3 years have been quite similar in my way of approaching outfits, I still feel like more change will come. Probably not too much as I think I’ve found my signature now and what I’m comfortable with, but I know changes will happen as they always do in humans.
Negativity comes in everywhere, but like you said, it’s often from bitter people or people who are unhappy with their own life or don’t feel confident enough to try and make their own business. I never take it to heart. I’ve had abusive comments about my knees and stuff too, but I can’t help my skeletal structure lol. I’m much more appreciative to the love and support I get given, especially from people like you, it means everything to me. There’s no need to thank me for accepting you here, everyone is welcome and you’ve always been one person who genuinely paid interest and comments because they wanted to, and had something valid to say, rather than posting for your own gain, so I really admire that 🙂 The thank you goes to you!
Well thank you for the thank you! 🙂 I appreciate it. Well originally I found your blog randomly… so randomly that I don’t even remember how now… and I just took an instant like to it and stayed. 🙂 It really was very random though as I’m certainly not part of either the fashion community or even of the blogging community. LOL
I totally agree that you’ve found your signature look(s) now and that, in of itself, is another sign of growing confidence in yourself and in your brand. 🙂
I’m glad that you don’t take the abusive comments to heart as I certainly don’t underestimate the difficulty of that. Hopefully some of the trolls will have read this and realised that they can’t hurt you – that or taken a hard look at their behaviour.
Author
Or maybe it might make them comment worse things, ha ha! I don’t worry either way, they just get blocked 🙂
That is funny then that you found me randomly! I’m intrigued to know how now, think hard!!
Last night I was chatting online with a friend and I literally couldn’t remember what I’d had for dinner the day before when she asked me… now you want me to think back to over 3 years ago… Well good luck with that. LOL But I’ll try… 😉
Author
Ha ha 😀 Oh dear, I can see that wont happen!
Congrats on 8 years of blogging!
Author
Thank you!
Congratulations Lorna. Eight years is no joke. You looked so young in the earlier collages. Your style is still fabulous!!! Cheers to another 8 years of amazing blogs!!!
http://www.fashionablyidu.com/
Author
Thank you so much!
It’s nice to see this post, you look pretty from then until now. It’s good to learn your struggles too and how your blog evolves. You’re strong and creative to last this long and as long as you want. Cheers!
http://www.busyandfab.com
Author
Thank you so much! That’s really kind of you!
Your style changed a lot! I need some tme to check these old posts the next days :-*
Melanie / http://www.goldzeitblog.de
Author
Hopefully you like them!
Happy 8 years to you! Congrats! It’s crazy how fast the time goes when you’re blogging. I also love to look bsck to see how far I’ve come on my journey. I’ve made lots of changes and have become more inspired and confident in my write. I’m coming up on my 30th birthday this year too. Only about 2 months left of my 20s.
Author
It’s crazy isn’t it how fast it goes! I’ve got 4 and a half months left of my 20’s, ha ha. Happy early birthday to you!
Wow!! Congratulations! I love seeing the improvements along the way! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.jessicabroyles.com
Author
Thank you!
So many awesome milestones for you this year Lorna! Congratulations on 8 years of your blog, that’s quite an amazing feat. It was nice to see how much you’ve evolved through the years 🙂
Coco Bella Blog
Author
Thank you 🙂 So glad you liked it!
Congratulation Lorna! Wow 8 years, that is a lot. It is fun to see how much your style has changes from when you first started to now
xx Freja
http://whatmakesmesmileblog.com/
Author
Thank you! So glad you like it!
8 years! Wow that’s a huge time!! Congratulations Lorna! That’s a beautiful round up of your style journey! These are such cute pictures!
I hope you’re having a smooth sailing week! 🙂
xx
Ankita
http://realgirltalks.com/
Author
Thank you so much!
I can’t remember when I found your blog but I’m glad I did as you not only have a lovely sense of style and an amazing handbag collection, but a great eye for photos and you are so incredibly sweet – it’s been fun getting to know you through your posts. Happy blogaversary! 🙂 I’ve only just hit 6 years of blogging so I’m impressed you’ve been doing it for much longer. My first few years of photos were incredibly embarrassing, haha!
I look forward to seeing your blog continue to grow and reading more about your life in the years to come Lorna!
Hope you are having a good week so far 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
Author
Thank you so much, Mica! I don’t remember how I found yours either, but it’s been great following along and seeing your outfits too, especially since we love a lot of the same bags, and of course, you’re really nice too 🙂 6 years is great! The time really does fly by 😀
How absolutely wonderful Lorna!! It’s such a testament to your hard work and dedication that you’ve come this far!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Author
Thank you, Jodie!
Happy Anniversary! You sure have perfect your craft. Loved seeing the evolution of your style and site. Here’s to another year of amazing fashion.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Author
Thank you so much!
congratulations, happy birthday
xoxoxo
Author
Thank you!
Happy B-day!!
https://julesonthemoon.blogspot.it
Author
Thank you!
I know it really is amazing what one can create from their bedroom! But seriously the world is at our fingertips today and we can even shape it if we want to. Congrats on 8 years!! WOW! And yes a much deserved pat on the back.
Allie of ALLIENYC
http://www.allienyc.com
Author
Thank you so much, Allie!
Congratulations!! Such a milestone for your blog
Lesley Kim
Author
Thank you!
I really love your blog!
FASHIONLOVIN BLOG’ | INSTAGRAM
Author
Thank you!
Great to see how much your style changed! Have a great weekend.
Gemma x
http://www.jacquardflower.uk
Author
Thank you!
Congratulations on 8 years of blogging! It’s so nice looking at all these photos and I see that you have progressed which is the way to go! Well done and keep going!
xo Yvonne
http://www.aproposh.com
Author
Thank you so much!
Congratulations! Thats wonderful! ♥
http://nikolaknazikova.blogspot.sk/
Author
Thank you!
This is amazing! Happy 8th anniversary – that’s a LONG time! I love seeing the progress and evolution throughout the years – it must be so much fun to look back on for you!
Nicole | http://www.nicolegramcko.com
Author
Glad you liked the post!
congratulations on your eighth anniversary! The quality of your work has really improved along the years, but it started our well, so don’t get me wrong! It is also fun to see you grow up right before my very eyes. Your style is quite sophisticated and your backgrounds are beautiful.
I’m not sure I’ve ever taken the time to tell you how much I like the name of your blog as well. It reflects how thoughtful you are and how much consideration you give to the details. This really shows in your blog and the quality of your content.
Really enjoyed seeing all of the photo collages of you over time!
❤️❤️❤️
Elle
https://theellediaries.com/
Author
That’s so kind of you, Elle! Thank you so much! It’s always nice to receive a compliment on the name. Not many people actually comment on a blog’s name, so that means a lot to me. So happy you’ve followed for a while and enjoy all the work I put in! Your blog is great too! xx.
It’s so important to see where you’ve been to help understand where you’re going. Such a fun trip down memory lane!
xx Yasmin
http://banglesandbungalows.com
Author
Glad you liked it!
So many people give up after eight months, or eight weeks; sticking with it for eight years would be praiseworthy even if you hadn’t learned a thing in all that time. (I don’t think I learned much in my first eight years.) But you’ve definitely blossomed as Someone Who Styles; whatever your outfit of the day, by now we know it’s going to be great.
Author
Thank you, Charles! That’s so kind of you! I know you’ve been blogging for way longer than I have, so it’s admirable that you have managed to go for so long as well. Testament to strength!
Congratulations! 8 years blogging is amazing. I enjoy your blog. I love your openness and your love for fashion. Those old photos are the best lol….
http://www.comfycozyup.com
Author
Ha ha, thank you!
This is amazing! Time indeed, flies so fast. I can see the evolution of the blog, and how you remained truthful and genuine with your style. Cheers for more blogging years!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Author
Thank you, Jess!
Congratulations Lorna! You have come a long way and I am so very proud of you. You are doing a fantastic job. Keep up the good work and you know that you had a fan here that’s always rooting for you.
Maureen | http://www.littlemisscasual.com
Author
Thank you so much, Maureen! That’s so kind!