There are so many fabulous bloggers out there, and we want to highlight them on Cityline.ca. We’ll be profiling different lifestyle bloggers from month to month — they might write about food, fashion, beauty, décor, parenting, entertaining, gardening, you get the idea! For May 2013, we’re putting the spotlight on the creative and fashionable My Little Secrets. Run by Natalie Ho, the blog showcases Natalie’s love for all things DIY and style, with fabulous how-to posts and lust-worthy fashion photos. Here’s our Q&A with Natalie:

When did you start My Little Secrets and what was your inspiration behind the blog? How did you come up with your blog’s name?

I launched My Little Secrets in 2009. It was initially an online fashion boutique, focusing on goods for women that offered both fashion and function. I had a mandate to share “my little secrets” with women around the world, especially those locally in Canada. That was the birth of My Little Secrets and the name behind my website.

Late last year, I found that I had very little time devoted to fulfilling customer orders due to a very sporadic work travel schedule but I still wanted to keep my hobby of providing women with “secrets”, tips and tricks, so I came up with the idea of sharing my love for DIY inspirations and projects. My Little Secrets is now a place for women to seek DIY, fashion, and style inspiration.

Has fashion always been an interest of yours? What makes you want to share your DIY fashion projects with the world?

I have always had an interest in fashion and definitely dreamed of becoming a designer of some sort when I was young. I remember always taking apart old clothing and jewelry and refashioning them into other items. I just absolutely adore creating my own items and having people be amazed that I made it myself at home. It’s an extremely rewarding feeling.

I enjoy sharing my DIY fashion projects with my readers because I love providing a source of inspiration. I believe that if you love something, you can make it and add your own touch to it. That is so true when I see my readers share their version of my projects and it always amazes me how much creativity we all have.

What’s your absolute favourite item in your closet?

My absolute favourite item in my closet? There are oh so many! If I had to pick, my most favourite item is my classic lamb skin Chanel purse… however, the items I can’t live without are my skinny jeans from Zara and my super soft Wilfred v-neck tee!

Tell us about a post (or two!) that you’re particularly proud of and want to share with Cityline.ca readers.

Earlier this year, I created a pair of Heart Print Denims inspired by a designer pair I saw at a store. I woke up that morning and decided to take a pair of my existing denim and try it out with a simple heart shape pattern, the results were awfully cute, and I got so much great feedback from my readers! I had my first mini ‘viral’ moment.

I am also extremely proud of a DIY project I recently participated in for the Couchiching Jubliee House Bowls for Beds Charity Event. I, along with several other Canadians, had the chance to decorate a bowl to be auctioned off in order to raise money for a housing program for women. I was inspired by the wonderful city of Toronto and decided to decorate with a Toronto skyline. The results were fantastic and the best part is, it is for a wonderful cause.

What do you hope your readers get from visiting your blog?

I really hope that my readers find inspiration from my work and be inspired to follow their passion. I also hope that my readers will try a new haircut or a new style from some of my other fashion/style content. I think fashion is supposed to be fun and reflect your own personality!

What are some other blogs you love reading?

I have a list of blogs I follow almost on a daily basis! It includes a variety of fashion, DIY and food blogs. My favourites from these categories are: Wendy’s Lookbook and Atlantic-Pacific for fashion, HonestlyWTF and A Pair and A Spare for DIY, and No Recipes for food!

What’s your top advice for other bloggers?

Blogging requires hard work and passion. You have to love blogging and have to truly write about the things you love and want to share. If you don’t enjoy it, you will dread it, and it is extremely hard to find a community of readers that will support your work. I have also learned that building a network of readers is not an overnight event and it is no accident. It takes time, patience, and also requires authenticity. Treat your readers like they are your friends – share with them, listen to them, and be there when they need you – this last point, refers to posting and writing consistently.

We want to hear from you! Do you know a blogger we should feature on Cityline.ca? Maybe it’s you! Email us at submissions@cityline.ca and include “Cityline Featured Blogger” in the subject line. And don’t forget to include a link to the blog! Look forward to hearing from you!