Pictures

Pinterest

ChicagoPinners_Amiated
Username: Amiatead
Who: A Chicago-based blog dedicated to showcasing every inspirational wedding detail imaginable
Stats: 9,398 pins and 73 boards
Followers: 21,720

Why We Love Her Pins: From fashion to flowers to stunning ceremonies and receptions, you could plan your wedding by these pins alone. At Elizabeth Anne Designs, all tastes and budgets are represented, including some super-cool DIY projects for the crafty bride.
ChicagoPinners_GirlsOfLincolnPark
Username: Girls of Lincoln Park
Who: Lauren Nelson, blogger behind Girls of Lincoln Park
Stats: 5,000 pins and 45 boards
Followers: 12,872

Why We Love Her Pins: GOLP's Pinterest page truly runs the gamut of all things stylish — from gift guides to design eye candy to book lists. You can find everything from gorgeous inspiration to helpful tips on living the high life.
ChicagoPinners_PaperSource
Username: Papersource
Who: One of Chicago’s leading stationery stores
Stats: 1,987 pins and 55 boards
Followers: 15,945

Why We Love Their Pins: We live in a virtual and text crazy world, so it’s nice to see someone bringing back the art of paper correspondence in such a beautiful way that we can’t wait to pick up a pen and buy some stamps. And after seeing some of their creative invites at Paper Source, you may never use Evite again.
ChicagoPinners_PrettyFun
Username: Prettyandfun
Who: Chicago blogger Cait loves all things pretty and fun
Stats: 12.574 pins and 46 boards
Followers: 20,818

Why We Love Her Pins: With over 12 genres covered, this gal is no one-trick pony, and each visit to her board can be a completely different experience. Standouts you have to check out: the tips and tricks, organization, and to make categories will help make any gal’s life a little easier — even the laziest of ladies.
ChicagoPinners_SequinsandStripes
Username: Liz Schneider
Who: Liz Schneider, blogger behind Sequins & Stripes and R29 expert stylist
Stats: 3,700 pins and 37 boards
Followers: 9,938

Why We Love Her Pins: For outfit advice, Liz is our constant go-to — she shows her followers exactly what to wear for every occasion under the sun. Plus, we're always getting caught up daydreaming thanks to her enviable travel pics.
ChicagoPinners_ShariPres
Username: ShariP
Who: Shari Press, founder of The Daily Dish
Stats: 4,600 pins and 25 boards
Followers: 60,578

Why We Love Her Pins: It's impossible to scroll through Shari's Pinterest page without developing some serious food cravings. She shares pretty much every delicious recipe ever (Lasagna! Bean dip! Homemade pizza!), and offers tips on the best kitchen products and party ideas.
ChicagoPinners_TheEverygirl
Username: The Everygirl
Who: The Chicago-based blog for all things life advice
Stats: 3,400 pins and 34 boards
Followers: 34,295

Why We Love Their Pins: Consider The Everygirl to be your online BFF, lending a hand when it comes to beauty, fitness, your career and even your love life. We're all about the inspiring quotes, and a little fashion and home eye candy doesn't hurt either.
ritzybee
Ritzy Bee

How do you use Pinterest? Just for inspiration? For plotting a wardrobe or interior design?
"All of the above! Pinterest has changed the way we communicate with our clients on idea collaboration…and has provided custom inspiration for our newly purchased homes. The inspiration you can find for home interiors includes everything but even the kitchen sink."

What is your favorite personal board and why?
"We love our Style & Color board — [it's] a curated group of images consisting of fashion, color, and inspiring style, which influences work and play for us!"

What sites do you pin from most?
"We love Haute Design by Sarah Klassen, House Beautiful, and Martha Stewart Weddings.

Any pinners that you love following? Why?
"Our studio mate Suann Song of SIMPLESONG design [and] Tristan Brando of the Besotted Blog. One of our past interns, Blythe Roberts, has the best eye, so we love to keep up with her via Pinterest, too."
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Kate Warren of Go Kate Shoot

How do you use Pinterest? Just for inspiration? For plotting a wardrobe or interior design?
"I use Pinterest for several things. For my job as a photographer, I use it to gather reference materials for editorial shoots on everything from the lighting to locations and styling ideas — many of the magazines I shoot for appreciate that I'm able to communicate my creative vision using it. It also comes in handy for creative inspiration for my own shoots; I use it to get new ideas for projects and keep challenging myself to become a more creative and technically advanced photographer. I also use it to plan apartment design projects; my boyfriend is an artist and an incredible painter and woodworker, so we often collaborate on bringing my interior design pins to life."

What is your favorite personal board and why?
"Since I'm a photographer, my favorite personal board is probably my Light board. I use it to gather images that use light in a really breathtaking way. I'm always looking for new ways to manipulate light in my own work, so this board serves as perfect inspiration! That may make me a bit of a photo nerd, but that's what's so awesome about Pinterest — it enables users to really focus on their specific passions."

What sites do you pin from most?
"I pin from art, photography, and fashion sites like Nowness, Artinfo, The WILD magazine (which I also shoot for), as well as a variety of foreign fashion magazines. That being said, I'm more of a re-pinner; there's nothing like finding a stranger's board where every image is more inspiring than the next and seems to fit my aesthetic. Everyone's tastes vary, but finding someone who appreciates the same things I do always results in a flurry of re-pins!"

Any pinners that you love following? Why?
"My good friend and fellow Washingtonian Haya of Good Good Gorgeous is an incredible pinner; we have really similar taste and she never ceases to amaze me with the beauty and diversity of images she shares! I also follow photographers I admire who use it — it's incredible to see what inspires the people who inspire you."
annakahoe
Anna Kahoe of GoodWood

How do you use Pinterest? Just for inspiration? For plotting a wardrobe or interior design?
"Definitely sharing ideas with a friend about making a change. Though I am now repinning every pair of flared-leg trousers and jeans, because I want the skinny pant-leg thing to end — so I am hoping I can create some energy around that."

What is your favorite personal board and why?
"My favorite personal board is my hair inspiration board with my friend Mandy. This is what got me into pinning. We both wanted new 'dos, so we pinned for each other. Haircuts are done, we look fab, and pinning paid off."

What sites do you pin from most?
"Before the hair board, I just couldn't get into it, so I am totally new to this. But, I do love repinning from The Selby — hello, that Madrid apartment has my name all over it and you know I speak Spanish."

Any pinners that you love following? Why?
"I'm gonna go fantasy here: My ideal pinner to follow would be a curvy mid-forties gal with tons of style, who shoots photos of all her flattering, chic outfits that actually make sense for her day-to-day life. Then I would stalk her and we would become best friends and then we would post photos of ourselves having all kinds of fun in our flared-leg trousers in Madrid. Do you know her?"
jennlore
Jennifer Lore of Dear Heart

How do you use Pinterest? Just for inspiration? For plotting a wardrobe or interior design?
"I could easily write a book titled Confessions of a Teenage Scrapbooker. I was always cutting ads and articles out of magazines that I loved. I even had separate binders for different topics. It was the analog Pinterest, and I’m still kicking myself for not coming up with the idea myself. Some of my pins, especially recipes and DIY projects, are meant to be used, but most of it is just a heavy dose of aspiration/inspiration. Looking at pretty things is weirdly calming to me, and it helps me hone my taste."

What is your favorite personal board and why?
"With my wedding less than two months away, I've been spending a lot of time with my wedding inspiration board, Happily — (as in 'ever after'). That board is the first one I've used for event planning, and it’s incredibly helpful. It helps me organize my ideas, but more importantly, allows me to convey my vision to vendors. One lesson I’ve learned from the planning process is to never assume that you can convey your vision verbally. Pictures help prevent things from getting lost in translation. Aside from that, my all-encompassing Home board is always growing."

What sites do you pin from most?
"I’m always pinning things from my favorite style blogs — See Jane, Ann Street Studio, and Garance Doré."

Any pinners that you love following? Why?
"I’m always looking out for excellent curators with a genuine point of view. My top five: Paloma Contreras, Joanna Goddard, Kate Headley, Happy Menocal, Lauren Santo Domingo."
casiemace
Casie Mace of Whipped Style

How do you use Pinterest? Just for inspiration? For plotting a wardrobe or interior design?
"I primarily use Pinterest for inspiration. It's the best for getting home decor ideas, DIY inspiration, or outfit direction. But, secret boards have certainly come in hand for planning events or gift buying!"

What is your favorite personal board and why?
"Looks I'm Loving is definitely my favorite board. I check it almost every morning for outfit inspirations."

What sites do you pin from most?
"I pin a lot from street style sites or street style bloggers, but I also love finding unique items from sites like Cool Material."

Any pinners that you love following? Why?
"I love following Dallas Shaw — she never disappoints when it comes to super-chic inspirations."
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Name: Maia McDonald

Gig: Art director, blogger, and online curator

Hood: Downtown Oakland

Followers: 1,853,635

Tell us how and when you first started using Pinterest.
"I started using it in the spring of 2010, because I kept reading about it around the blogosphere. Once I started using it, I became addicted. It was such a perfect tool for me as a designer and blogger."

Maia posted up in front of her impressive tome collection.
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How have you seen the platform or the content change since you first started?
"There are a lot more people! When I started using Pinterest, the logo was blue and they had these handy drop-down menus with suggestions of people to follow in different categories. It's definitely been fun to see how things have changed over the years."

What’s your favorite subject-slash-category to pin?
"I like pinning to my food boards and my art and illustration board."

Where else do you go to find online inspiration?
"I follow and visit a ridiculous number of blogs."

Inspiring little knick knacks.
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What about your real-life inspiration? What are some things that inspire you offline?
"I like hiking around the Bay and taking photos — there are so many great parks. I also love to eat out or cook at home, nothing inspires me more than a really great meal."

Do you think your real-life inspiration has a direct impact on what you choose to pin?
"Yes, in real life I think way too much about what I'm going to eat next, and my food boards are definitely some of my most extensive for the same reason."

Let’s talk pinning etiquette. What’s the one thing that drives you bonkers?
"Negative comments — I just don't think it's necessary. What's the old adage? 'If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.'"

Let's pin!
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We’d love if you could share a few secrets to your pinning success — any rules, dos, or don’ts to follow?
"I think consistency helps, and great content — don't pin it if you don't love it!"

Who are some other Pinterest power players to watch out for?
"This is a hard one! I could probably make a list a mile long, but a few of my current favorites are Julie Goebel, Chantelle Grady, Eva Kolenko, Mindy Gayer, Breanna Rose, Amanda Rodriguez, and Erin Hiemstra."

When you aren’t pinning, where can we find you?
"Mostly at my computer, either designing the newest issue of Rue Magazine or working on one of my other projects. But, when I pull myself away from work, I'm usually cooking, exploring, or watching TV with my husband."

Maia's many cooking-themed books.
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Name: Christine Martinez

Gig: Creative Director of Luvocracy

Hood: Oakland

Followers: 5,371,038

Tell us how and when you first started using Pinterest.
"I was lucky to be one of the first users on Pinterest. I believe I was the seventh user. Looking at where the site is now, it’s pretty cool to be able to say that my pins were some of the first!"

Christine in her adorable Oakland home with her equally adorable pooch, Miles.
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How have you seen the platform or the content change since you first started?
"There's so much food on Pinterest now! I have to avoid it when I’m hungry. From what I remember, Pinterest seemed more product focused in the beginning. Personally, I was excited when the fashion community started getting involved and pinning some fantastic inspiration. It’s also been exciting to see how creative brands have gotten on this inspiration platform."

What’s your favorite subject-slash-category to pin?
"My Words to Live By board has always been my personal favorite because prior to this board, I used to purchase a lot of cool wordspiration posters for my office. This was the first board I created on Pinterest, so it’s significant to me and I’m very thoughtful about these pins. Otherwise, I love pinning fashion and interior spaces because I started my career as an interior designer who was greatly influenced by fashion."

Where else do you go to find online inspiration?
"I’ve got a long list of go-to blogs that I visit regularly. But, lately I’ve been enjoying the process of falling down the internet rabbit hole and discovering other web communities based around subjects outside of fashion and interiors. It’s always cool to see what other people are up to on the web, and I enjoy broadening my horizons in that way."

Christine's fireplace mantle, filled with artsy bric-a-brac.
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What about your real-life inspiration? What are some things that inspire you offline?
"I’m a magazine hoarder, and I never get tired of revisiting some of my old ones. I also love sneaking my dog into bookstores, and occupying a space on the floor under the design books. I could sit there with him by my side and pour over these beautiful books for hours. I’ve always found a lot of inspiration in music, as well. My husband has a great vinyl collection, and most nights we just talk and listen to music."

Do you think your real-life inspiration has a direct impact on what you choose to pin?
"Absolutely! I’m always seeking out beauty. I can’t get enough vibrant imagery. I think that’s why I fell in love with Pinterest instantly. I knew it was going to be the place to store and share everything I was passionate about."

Let’s talk pinning etiquette. What’s the one thing that drives you bonkers?
"Mean comments that are mean for the sake of being mean. I can handle harsh criticism or thoughtful disagreements, but I can’t stand random drive-by word dumps. I pin what I find personally inspiring. If you don’t like it, feel free to engage in a meaningful conversation about it, or move on."

All smiles!
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We’d love if you could share a few secrets to your pinning success — any rules, dos, or don’ts to follow?
"I’ve always stayed very true to the platform by pinning large and gorgeous imagery. And, I generally use Pinterest’s second opportunity to inspire by writing thoughtful descriptions. I think the best way to enhance a pretty picture is to add interesting or descriptive copy. Repinning is also just as fun as pinning. So, I always recommend that users explore who their favorite pinners are following in order to add some amazing repinnable content to their Pinterest world. As for dont’s, don’t pin tiny images or fall into the habit of just pinning in one subject area. Keep it large and diverse!"

Who are some other Pinterest power players to watch out for?
"I certainly have my favorites — don’t we all? My personal power players are Dree Harper, Katja Ollendorff, Erika Brechtel, Meg Biram, Erin Hiemstra, Jessica Colaluca, Amy Sia, Jeanne Chan, Kimberly Pesch, and so many more!"

When you aren’t pinning, where can we find you?
"I’ve lived many lives on the web and my latest work revolves around recommending my favorite products on Luvocracy. It’s such a joy and an honor to be a big part of building a new online community that loves to shop and share cool products as much as I do. These days, when I’m not pinning, I’m building out my Luvocracy collections and searching for others to join me."

Adorable wooden birds that Christine purchased abroad!
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Name: Vanessa Corrêa

Gig: Creative Director at University of California

Hood: Oakland

Followers: 568,394

Tell us how and when you first started using Pinterest.
"Natasha Foote, a designer I work with, invited me to join in late 2010, and soon the rest of our creative team was on Pinterest. We initially used it to share visual ideas and create specific visual narratives around certain themes. From the moment I started, it felt like a natural way to catalog and curate the things that intrigued me visually."

Vanessa lounges against her piano in her Oakland home.
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How have you seen the platform or the content change since you first started?
"The content has certainly shifted. There are a lot more brands looking to reach folks using Pinterest now that the user base has exploded. And, it seems like there are more pins featuring nail polish applications than might normally be deemed healthy."

What’s your favorite subject-slash-category to pin?
"My three most pinned-to boards also happen to be my favorites. My Maison board lets me catalog my slightly eccentric taste in architecture and furnishings. I veer between quirkily opulent and monastically spare. Good Taste Plus a Dash of Vulgarity combines people I find iconic, street-style shots, sartorial recommendations, and atmospheric portraits. Take Care Of The Luxuries and the necesseties take care of themselves provides an umbrella for my thoughts on living playfully, thoughtfully, and well. It’s a board about the details that make everyday life fun."

Where else do you go to find online inspiration?
"There are a spate of online magazines and small boutiques that I check in with regularly to see what’s new. The interiors and photography in Milk magazine, the jewelry at French Garment Cleaners, and the design coverage at T magazine have been top of the list recently, but there are a whole host of design and lifestyle blogs, far too numerous to name, that overrun my Google Reader daily. I love it."

Gorgeousness!
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What about your real-life inspiration? What are some things that inspire you offline?
"Good grief! That’s a question with a very long answer. I really admire the design team I work with, they inspire me on an almost daily basis. Reading, particularly about some of my favorite icons — people like Giacometti to Axel Vervoordt to Grace Coddington to Lee Miller — lets me think about my own work and my life in new ways. And, I’m always inspired by people who care about the quality of their day-to-day life, as well as the quality of the communities that surround them. Finally, I also appreciate intelligence topped off with a very fine dash of subversive intent in a person. Keeps you on your toes."

Do you think your real-life inspiration has a direct impact on what you choose to pin?
"Of course! Many of my pins are not just things. I not only feature objects of retail lust, but images of my favorite people, art objects, places, and books that I love. I think like most things, curation — whether on Pinterest or in your home — is an expression of your values."

Let’s talk pinning etiquette. What’s the one thing that drives you bonkers?
"That’s pretty easy: Comments that don’t add anything to the image pinned. Posting the comment 'ewwww' doesn’t do anything but clutter the page and show that you’ve got too much time on your hands."

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We’d love if you could share a few secrets to your pinning success — any rules, dos, or don’ts to follow?
"I love finding new, beautiful, and interesting things — almost as much as I love digging up the stuff I’ve always admired. I do it to please myself, yes. But, I also do it because I truly enjoy sharing it with people who might also be charmed, interested, or provoked by whatever that object, thought, or person might be. I find the whole business incredibly fun and oddly relaxing."

Who are some other Pinterest power players to watch out for?
"There are so many interesting people on Pinterest — how to choose just a few? I always look at I'm Revolting for her smart finds. She’s a pinner’s pinner. Myan Duong is playful and prolific, and 5.oo h has an extremely precise aesthetic I admire. Finally, I couldn’t finish this list without mentioning Lauren Santo Domingo. Her image archive is a lesson in the history of fashion, and her taste is, let’s face it, exquisite."

When you aren’t pinning, where can we find you?
"In the fall, I’m launching Coléoptère, a line of fine jewelry. I’m currently designing the initial capsule collection, which I’m pretty sure will be the bee's knees. But when not working on Coléoptère, I’m most frequently spending time with my family, hanging out in the hammock, and drinking something nice."

Some real-life and online inspiration pics!
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Name: Victoria Smith

Gig: Editor and publisher of SF Girl By Bay

Hood: Noe Valley

Followers: 501,628

Tell us how and when you first started using Pinterest.
"It was my collaboration with Ben Silbermann, one of the founders of Pinterest. We met at the Altitude Design Summit two years ago, and he invited me to check out this small site he had in beta-testing. And, when I did, I could instantly see what a unique tool it was, a great device for sharing, and for me, an insanely helpful blogging tool. So, Ben and I talked more about introducing other bloggers to Pinterest, and came up with a twist on Blog it Forward, a previous event I’d hosted, and we created Pin it Forward as a way to introduce a whole community of bloggers to this great visual-bookmarking tool. For my part of the collaboration, I had a readership to share that was perfectly suited to benefit from what Pinterest had to offer. And, Ben had a great platform for bloggers. So, we invited 300 bloggers to each create a Pinboard of what inspired them most, post it on their blogs, and then to virtually pass the torch on to the next blogger. Kind of like a blogging chain letter, which also turned out to be the perfect collaboration for new bloggers hoping to gain more readership and connect with other bloggers."

Victoria relaxing in her Noe Valley home.
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How have you seen the platform or the content change since you first started?
"Well, it's certainly grown — I think there may have been less than 100 pinners when I started. And, it has changed the look sightly, adding a new logo. But, the general grid layout it originally developed has remained an integral part to why I think Pinterest succeeded so well in attracting very visual people to the site. The content has, of course, changed, simply due to the fact there are millions of people pinning now with very diverse interests and taste."

What’s your favorite subject-slash-category to pin?
"Definitely interior inspiration. For myself and for use on the blog at some point in time."

Where else do you go to find online inspiration?
"There are a few interior-design blogs I follow religiously — I love Emma's DesignBlogg, Door Sixteen, DesignLoveFest, Design*Sponge, Freunde Von Freunden, Weekday Carnival, and more. I could go on and on. I like them all for different reasons. I also really like online magazines Covet Garden, Est, Llamas' Valley, and Lonny."

Home envy!
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What about your real-life inspiration? What are some things that inspire you offline?
"I'm inspired by San Francisco in general. There's a lot of eye candy here as you walk around — every neighborhood has it's own personality. I love walking around with my camera or iPhone, snapping away. I go to Makeshift Society to be around inspiring people — it's a creative co-working space I helped launch and decorate, and I work from there a few days a week. Good books and design magazines like VTWonen, Anthology, and UPPERCASE, gallery exhibits, and great movies. Any kind of escape into nature sort of refreshes me and helps me clear my thoughts and let inspiration in."

Do you think your real-life inspiration has a direct impact on what you choose to pin?
"Definitely. My life is pretty much life intersecting art. I'm lucky to have a career that lets me pin, share, make, and blog in a creative way. It all ties together and overlaps."

Let’s talk pinning etiquette. What’s the one thing that drives you bonkers?
"I have a couple of pet peeves, but I think what truly drives me bonkers is when people leave snarky comments on my or other members' pins. I don't get the joy in that — if you don't care for something ignore it and move on, or don't follow that particular board or person if it consistently isn't your thing. Don't belittle someone for being inspired by something that just isn't for you. Why bother? It's not funny, it's rude and unkind."
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We’d love if you could share a few secrets to your pinning success — any rules, dos, or don’ts to follow?
"I'm not sure if I have any 'secrets' per se — I try to pin images that I can attribute and credit properly. I don't generally pin something I just found on Tumblr without any credit. Sometimes, I'll break that rule, but for the most part I try very hard to respect people's work and give credit where credit is due. I don't think there's any hard and fast rules for Pinterest — I think being respectful of others is important, don't 'hog' the Pinterest stream by pinning a ton of images all at once, especially if they are images of your own."

Who are some other Pinterest power players to watch out for?
"Well, I know who I like to follow: Bonnie Tsang has a great eye; I love Ban.do's kind of irreverent, fun, and often retro-inspired fashion pins; Aaron de Simone has beautiful pins. I don't always follow just 'Power Pinners' — I follow a lot of pinners I just really resonate with. I love pins from people like Nikole Herriott, Nicole Franzen, and Angela Ritchie — there are just too many to name!"

When you aren’t pinning, where can we find you?
"Mostly blogging — either from my sofa or at Makeshift Society. I love hiking with my dog Lucy every weekend at Fort Funston and the Alameda Flea Market. Oh, and at a local bar that shall remain nameless because it can't get any more crowded."

One of Victoria's many inspiring little vignettes.
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Name: Jeanne Chan

Gig: Lifestyle blogger and curator on Shop Sweet Things

Hood: Twin Peaks

Followers: 31,809

Tell us how and when you first started using Pinterest.
"I started Pinterest about two years ago, a few months after I started my own blog. Sourcing online inspiration was a new thing to me, and I remembered learning about Pinterest on Victoria’s blog, SF Girl By Bay. I saw all the beautiful images she pinned, and I quickly got onto Pinterest. I remember spending two full days creating my boards and my husband thought I was a little ridiculous. It was really addicting, maybe because I was also craving inspiration and Pinterest was providing endless amounts of it. I haven’t stopped using it since."

Jeanne looking lavish in her Twin Peaks home.
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How have you seen the platform or the content change since you first started?
"I think the most obvious change is that the platform has now become a marketing tool, and even a sales tool, for a lot of businesses and blogs. The immense amount of traffic and exposure Pinterest can bring makes it a really attractive platform — if you do it right, that is. As for the content, I used to see a lot more of photography and arts and design, but now there are a lot more products and info-sharing pins like how-to tutorials, tips, and advice. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that — but, at the same time, I think the platform has lost its innocence. I also feel like the platform is starting to replace other bookmarking tools in the market."

What’s your favorite subject-slash-category to pin?
"It’s funny, I thought I would be pinning more on fashion and trends when I first started. Instead, some of my favorite boards to pin are entertaining ideas, decor for the home, home interiors, nursery and kids, grub, sweet treats, and DIY — that last one is surprising because I'm not a crafty person at all. I never thought I would attempt DIYs, but it turns out to be one of my favorite boards to pin."

Where else do you go to find online inspiration?
"I certainly follow a few fashion, home, and lifestyle blogs for inspiration, but I try not to go overboard. Other than that, I don’t have any specific site I go to for inspiration. There are certain people I trust on Twitter and Facebook, and I would discover content from the links they share. Also, I find inspiration and discoveries through Instagram."

Pretty!
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What about your real-life inspiration? What are some things that inspire you offline?
"I think just being out and about gets me inspired pretty easily. Since the nature of my blog is about lifestyle and shopping, I love going to shops, cafes, and restaurants to discover and experience things in person. I also love paying attention to the décor and details in those spaces. Whether it’s the music they’re playing or the art they have on their walls or the décor pieces they have near their register, I love to observe. One of my most popular blog posts was an inspiration I spotted while I was out getting macarons at Chantal Guillon on Hayes Street. I saw a really cool pottery piece with a neon handle at the counter and I really wanted it for my home. Since it wasn’t for sale I decided to make it myself. It turned out surprisingly cool and it actually ended up pretty well received on my blog, as well as on Pinterest."

Do you think your real-life inspiration has a direct impact on what you choose to pin?
"Not all the time. I certainly pin things that are more of a fantasy or that I know are out of my reach. However, I think the impact is stronger the other way around, where online-inspiration has a direct impact on what I choose to buy or how I choose to live."

Let’s talk pinning etiquette. What’s the one thing that drives you bonkers?
"I think the one thing that annoys me the most is when the pinner bombards my feed with every image that drives back to their site. I understand we all love the benefits of Pinterest, but I don’t think people need to pin every image they have from their site. Choose the really good ones, and then mix it up with pinning from other sites — or just repin! When I follow someone or a brand, I like to get inspired by their taste and their vision, not so much every product they’re selling or every image from their feature. I have unfollowed a few pinners because of this reason."

Getting down on Pinterest!
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We’d love if you could share a few secrets to your pinning success — any rules, dos, or don’ts to follow?
"My secret to pinning success is really just pinning beautiful images and cool ideas. There are times I would like the idea, but if the image doesn’t appeal to me I wouldn’t pin it. However, there's now a private board option, so I would pin to that for reference later. Another 'do' is that if you have the time, come up with creative names for your boards and have nice board covers. That’s actually one thing I haven’t gotten around to it yet, but I think it will definitely help make a stronger and more interesting pin board. One person who I think does it really well is Rebecca Minkoff. She’s always pinning inspirations for her next collection, it’s almost like sharing sneak peeks, but not really. I think that’s a pretty clever use of Pinterest. And the last 'do' is don’t forget to follow people who share similar aesthetics or tastes you admire."

Who are some other Pinterest power players to watch out for?
"I love seeing pins from Mrs. French, Jennifer Chong, Joy Cho, Bri Emery, Satsuki Shibuya, Glitter Guide, Emily Schuman, Rebecca Minkoff, Nina Garcia, Jonathan Lo, Kanako Yamaguchi, Kirsten Grove, Bonnie Tsang, and Holly Becker."

When you aren’t pinning, where can we find you?
"Since I’m a mother to two lovely girls, I love to take them out for family walks. I love going to neighborhoods that are kid-friendly, but also have shopping and cafes around. You can probably find us strolling the streets of Noe or Fillmore on the weekends with me pushing a bright-pink stroller and toting a Baby Bjorn carrier."
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Geri
Username: Gerihirsch

Who: Geri Hirsch, Blogger behind Because I'm Addicted and LEAF.tv

Stats: 567 Pins and 13 Boards

Followers: 5,354

Why We Love Her Pins: As an extension of her popular blog, Geri shows us nifty DIY tutorials and street-style snaps that beg for copycat looks. She also strikes the perfect balance of lifestyle content with pins that satisfy our inner foodie, interior-design junkie, and music nerd.

Photos: Via Pinterest
Carrie
Username: Carrie Hosozawa

Who: Carrie Hosozawa

Stats: 10,365 Pins and 30 Boards

Followers: 5,936

Why We Love Her Pins: This SoCal gal covers all topics, style-wise. Of course, we're all about her Etsy-centric board, but we're also avid followers of all those that are interior-design focused. And, you better believe there's enough to go around!

Photos: Via Pinterest
JoyCho
Username: Oh Joy

Who: Joy Cho, Blogger behind Oh Joy!

Stats: 6,575 Pins and 70 Boards

Followers: 4,954,302

Why We Love Her Pins: Nope, that's not a typo, Joy has nearly five million followers (and counting!). The graphic designer obviously has a great eye, and there's no further proof than her carefully curated boards.

Photos: Via Pinterest
Justina
Username: Compai

Who: Justina Blakeney, Designer and Blogger behind Justina Blakeney Est. 1979

Stats: 9,511 Pins and 54 Boards

Followers: 1,262,525

Why We Love Her Pins: This lady loves color, and isn't afraid to pin a rainbow's worth of art, shoes, and more. We named this new mama's blog one of our fave home-design sites for a reason, so it's no surprise she ended up on our Pinterest list, too!

Photos: Via Pinterest
Michelle
Username: Mee_chelle

Who: Michelle Halpern, Social Media Manager at Joie, Equipment, and Current/Elliott

Stats: 2,679 Pins and 42 Boards

Followers: 1,842

Why We Love Her Pins: Ok, it's pretty obvious that this gal knows her stuff when it comes to style, and her stacked resume isn't the only proof. From runway to red carpet, Michelle's got you covered. Plus, check out her ode to chandeliers — it may leave you breathless.

Photos: Via Pinterest
AGJeans
Username: AG Jeans

Who: AG Jeans, the folks behind one of L.A.'s most recognizable denim brands.

Stats: 600 Pins and 18 Boards

Followers: 386

Why We Love Their Pins: Not only do we get a sneak peek at the upcoming styles, but we also get an insider look at the inspiration behind the trends. We're thinking those awesome Santa Fe jeans were influenced by this rad rug.

Photos: Via Pinterest
Minnie
Username: minniemortimer

Who: Minnie Mortimer Gaghan, Fashion Designer with a sick Brentwood pad

Stats: 1,670 Pins and 60 Boards

Followers: 1,987

Why We Love Her Pins: The bicoastal babe's Pinterest is the perfect balance of East and West Coast offerings, with loads of lovely inspiration in between. No joke, you'll want to be her BFF after just a few repins.

Photos: Via Pinterest
Ray
Username: Therayandthero

Who: The Ray And The Ro, an L.A.- and London-based fashion blog

Stats: 2,266 Pins and 36 Boards

Followers: 216

Why We Love Their Pins: With a board filled to the brim with L.A. pride and others dedicated to labels like Céline and Chanel, we could get lost in their pins for hours (and we have!).

Photos: Via Pinterest
Bri
Username: Designlovefest

Who: Bri Emery, Designer and Blogger behind Design Love Fest

Stats: 4,438 Pins and 32 Boards

Followers: 98,641

Why We Love Her Pins: Take note: If you enjoy geeking out over typography as much as we do, then don't miss Bri's baller collection of fancy fonts. Oh, she also pins loads of posters, illustrations, and packaging — girlfriend's got it going on.

Photos: Via Pinterest
Bonnie
Username: Bonnietsang

Who: Bonnie Tsang, Photographer

Stats: 10,978 Pins and 43 Boards

Followers: 3,097,629

Why We Love Her Pins: With the greatest amount of pins in the group, this photog not only shows of her stellar snaps, but tons of additional eye candy. There's a lot to sift through, but we bet you'll love every minute of it!

Photos: Via Pinterest
Lacma
Username: Lacma

Who: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Stats: 344 Pins and 24 Boards

Followers: 1,083

Why We Love Its Pins: Too lazy to get your butt to Miracle Mile? Though the Levitated Mass and slew of new art is best experienced in the flesh, the museum's Pinterest page is a pretty awesome alternative.

Photos: Via Pinterest
Joie
Username: Joieclothing

Who: Joie, the Cali-based brand with loads of French influence

Stats: 914 Pins and 15 Boards

Followers: 836 Followers

Why We Love Its Pins: Joie's chic offerings are closet staples for any stylish sister, and you better believe we're crushing on each lady featured in the Sunday Girls series — including our very own Connie Wang!

Photos: Via Pinterest
Dominiqueduque
PINNER: Dominique Duque
It's not really a surprise to us that people who are really in love with Miami are often realtors who love highlighting Miami at its most lovely. Dominique Duque is one of those gals who keeps her Pinterest beautified with treasured shots of the city's colorful hot spots. You'll also see her personal style shining through her "Fashion" board, where she's wise to show off a sun-kissed body with bright colors paired with white. How do these Miami girls look so good? Dominique's "Healthy Recipes" board will tell you how. Here's to good living!

Photos: Courtesy of Dominique Duque's Pinterest
Miaminice
PINNER: Miami Nice
Known to aid local hipsters with fun ways to celebrate their city, Miami Nice's creative team keeps the sunny groove going through their upbeat and playful Pinterest. It's like a giant mood board, highlighting the staff's quirky humor and inside shots of what's inspiring them at the moment. (Read: great repins.) Pink hair, cult-ish flamingo obsessions, and behind the scene party photos? All we can say is Miami "nicely done!"

Photo: Courtesy of Miami Nice's Pinterest
Miamism
PINNER: Miamism
As editor-in-chief of Miamism, a real estate and lifestyle blog for Miami, Ines Hegedus-Garcia keeps busy doing what she loves most — loving Miami! And when she's not promoting beautiful properties or the best mojito recipes, Ines keeps Miamism's Pinterest alive and well. You'll find gorgeous shots of the city's landmarks, sunny living, and epic views, plus, for fun, she's added a community-based board that allows fellow Realtors to post their "Treasures and Trash," for when they are out in the field. Gold toilet paper dispensers complete with printed money tissues? You've got to see it for yourself!

Photos: Courtesy of Miamism's Pinterest
Miamiandbeaches
PINNER: Greater Miami And Beaches
If there's ever a fact that remains solid, it's that Miami's tourist scene remains ever-present. And, as leaders in helping that scene flourish, Greater Miami and Beaches gets our vote in making sure tourists (and locals alike) are equipped with endless options for exploring this enchanting city. Simply cruise through their Pinterest and view everything from romantic wedding spots to all things foodie via their "Miami Spice" board. And if you want to participate in showing off your Miami love, make sure to check out their "Photos Taken By You" board.

Photos: Coutesy of Greater Miami and Beaches' Pinterest
Huffpostmiami
PINNER: Huff Post Miami
One of the greatest aspects of Pinterest is the way media companies can highlight their hottest stories with telling imagery. Peep Huffington Post Miami's "News" board for some funny tennis faces from the Ericsson Open or learn what the 305 has going on with "Style & Swag." A must-follow Pinterest for Miami die-hards; you'll definitely get to see the city from a rather unique (and comical!) point of view.

Photos: Courtesy of Huffington Post Miami's Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Celisse

Who: Celisse Müller, Stylist and Minted.com Staffer

Stats: 2,812 Pins and 54 Boards

Followers: 344

Why We Love Her Pins:
We're obsessed with the tomboy-chic essence of the Minted.com staffer and stylist's boards. While you'll come across pinned images of motorcycles and tattoos, you'll also find stunning fashion, jewelry, and enviable travel destinations.

Photos: Via Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Enid

Who: Enid Hwang, Pinterest Community Manager

Stats: 3,701 Pins and 27 Boards

Followers: 353,630

Why We Love Her Pins:
If you're not already following Enid, community manager at Pinterest, then you've barely scratched the surface of the site. Everything from street style, interesting spaces, and innovative art pics reside in her well-balanced boards.

Photos: Via Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Jchung

Who: Jenny Chung, Owner of Acrimony and ACRE/SF

Stats: 205 Pins and 11 Boards

Followers: 274

Why We Love Her Pins:
Jenny may only have 11 boards, but you'll fall in love with her sharp eye for fashion, interiors, and even cats. As the owner of Acrimony and ACRE/SF, expect the same kind of expert curation when it comes to her pins.

Photos: Via Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Gilmer_Amy

Who: Amy Gilmer, Social Media Associate Manager at Stella & Dot

Stats: 681 Pins and 17 Boards

Followers: 518

Why We Love Her Pins:
This blonde babe and social media manager for Stella & Dot has an eye for pinning girl crushes, spaces, and places. Be sure to check out her Patterns and Textiles board for bold, inspiring designs.

Photos: Via Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Cali vintage

Who: Erin Hagstrom, Blogger at Cali Vintage and ModCloth Staffer

Stats: 1,295 Pins and 37 Boards

Followers: 4,442

Why We Love Her Pins:
Blogger and ModCloth staffer Erin Hagstrom’s pins embody the spirit of, well, vintage Cali. From photographs to clothing, her color-soaked boards are timeless and dreamy.

Photos: Via Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Katepruitt

Who: Kate Pruitt, Anthology magazine Online Editor and Design*Sponge Senior Editor

Stats: 1,923 Pins and 42 Boards

Followers: 2,680

Why We Love Her Pins:
This Oakland-based babe juggles being the online editor at Anthology and senior editor at Design*Sponge — so we're not surprised how easy it was to be blown away by her boards. Her pins are a great go-to for home and design eye candy.

Photos: Via Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Katiearmour

Who: Katie Armour, Editorial Director at Matchbook Magazine

Stats: 847 Pins and 39 Boards

Followers: 3,866

Why We Love Her Pins:
Our Pinterest roundup just wouldn’t be complete without Matchbook's resident maven Katie Armour. And can you blame us? Every board, from the ones packed with interior inspiration to her style icons are a visual treasure trove.

Photos: Via Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Maia_McDonald

Who: Maia McDonald, Graphic Designer and Blogger at Conundrum

Stats: 13,356 Pins and 40 Boards

Followers: 1,598,764

Why We Love Her Pins:
Already a Pinterest celebrity, there's just no way we're leaving her off the list! If you're familiar with her boards already, then you're good. If not, you're in for a treat. You might have to lose a day or two re-pinning and loving her picks of food, drink, fashion, patterns, home, and destinations! There's even a board dedicated to her picks of fun DIY projects!

Photos: Via Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Katewoodrow

Who: Kate Woodrow, Editor at Anthology Magazine and Chronicle Books

Stats: 1,169 Pins and 34 Boards

Followers: 1,569

Why We Love Her Pins:
Everything about this Chronicle Books editor's boards screams quirky. From party ideas to paper crafts, you'll want to re-pin everything.

Photos: Via Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Meigsotoole

Who: Meighan O'Toole, Community Manager at Wired

Stats: 1,747 Pins and 34 Boards

Followers: 2,242

Why We Love Her Pins:
Just one peek at Meighan's boards and you’ll fall head over heels. With fashion, beauty, home, bike style, places, and animal pins galore, we just can’t get enough of her enticing imagery.
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Kellyw

Who: Kelly Waters, Designer, Illustrator, Architect

Stats: 755 Pins and 35 Boards

Followers: 977

Why We Love Her Pins:
As a designer and architect, Kelly Waters brings all the divine possibilities of building a casa to the surface. Lots of pins for home entertaining ideas will be found. There's even a board she's starting to build just for nail art that already looks promising, so we'll have to wait and see what else she adds in the near future.

Photos: Via Pinterest
san francisco pinterest users
Username: Ruemagazine

Who: Rue Magazine

Stats: 1,089 Pins and 12 Boards

Followers: 20,398

Why We Love Its Pins:
Come for the pretty, and leave with loads of creativity. There may only be 12 boards, but if you want an example of what it means to have a tastefully curated Pinterest, Rue's would be it.

Photos: Via Pinterest