Instagram Influencer Spotlight On: Kathryn Vercillo @kvercillo

1) Tell us a little about yourself. What are you doing now and where do you come from?

I am a writer and artist living and working in San Francisco. My educational background is in social work and counseling therapy, and what I am most interested in is how people can use craft/ art/ making to improve their own lives and connect to others in communities. My visual artwork is in the medium of crochet. I have shared my own story of healing through crafting in my book Crochet Saved My Life and provided ideas for others in my book Hook to Heal.

2) What are your topics of interest? What do you post on Instagram the most?

My blog, Crochet Concupiscence, is specifically about crochet, and I write often there about the health benefits of crochet / yarn crafting. As a result, my Instagram images are primarily images of crochet or yarn. I love sharing what others are doing in the community and offer reposts of crochet; anyone is welcome to tag their crochet with #crochetconcupiscence for a chance to be featured.

(My dog also has an Instagram so people who like pups might be interested in her daily posts @rescuedogkatara.)

3) How did your Instagram name come about?

No interesting story here – just my name. My last name is fairly unique so it works well for handles.

(As for my dog’s Instagram, she’s a rescue from the South Korea dog meat industry and she was named Katara by the group that rescued her so that’s where her IG name comes from.)

4) What are some apps you use to edit your photos? Share with us your photo-editing routine!

I really believe in authenticity so I try to limit my editing in both writing and art. I like the real thing to show through, because I believe it encourages others to be brave in sharing their own work. So I try really hard to choose smart composition and lighting in photos instead of editing later. That said, I do sometimes play with the filters and tools on Instagram itself. And I like turning photos into painting or pencil art style using Brushstroke app or Prisma app.

5) Any Instagrammers whom you really like? Which Instagrammer inspires you the most?

So many! So many! I especially like the accounts that are really communities: @craftastherapy, @cylcollective, @wemakecollective, @flashyourcraftstash, @makersvillage, @creativemorning … These are all accounts that celebrate creative people and do posts highlighting awesome folks in the community.

6) If there’s one thing your fellow Instagrammers just gotta try now, what’s it gonna be?

Make a list of all of the things that you wish you were brave enough to do. Pick one and do it. Share a photo on Instagram to inspire others to be their bravest selves!

7) What’s your favorite part about being an influencer?

I really enjoy connecting one person to another, one group to another, so it is just a joy to me to find things/ brands/ people that are amazing and to connect them to other things/ brands/ people that are equally amazing. I believe wholeheartedly in the power and importance of community and love being a part of making more connections happen.

8) What are some of your top tips to brands for running campaigns? How do you maintain authenticity?

I love campaigns that provide a lot of information about the product and what key messages they want to share but don’t choose the phrasing, instead letting the influences write in their authentic voices about why they want to share these key messages.

9) What would your advice be on the importance of quality and original content?

I have a favorite quote, by Martha Graham, that really speaks to what I believe about this:

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action,
 and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. 
And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost. 
The world will not have it. 
It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable it is, nor how it compares with other expressions. 
It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.” – Martha Graham

Always be you.

10) What do you like best about partnering with brands?

It often gives me a chance to learn about new companies or things that I end up really loving and believing in. I love sharing what I love with others so it’s a great opportunity to do that. And it allows me to keep doing what I love doing – blogging and social media – so it’s a win-win.

Topics:

• Animals & Pets
• DIY & Crafts
• Fashion
• Film, Music & Books

Country:

United States of America