If you haven’t seen Lin’s account by now you’ve been seriously missing out. Whether she’s creating drool worthy recipes, or plates that will have you saying AWWW out loud, this girl has got SERIOUS talent. At only 17 we see huge things for Lin in the future and hope that by sharing her talent with you all on the blog today she will gain a new following of number 1 fans!
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Hi Lin, thanks for joining us today, can you briefly introduce yourself:
Hello! I am Lin, better known as @tumblinbumblincrumblincookie or @sofinewasthemorning on Instagram and YouTube. On my account, I take photographs of the food I eat – primarily breakfasts and bakes, where chocolate and peanut butter feature heavily – I also make films, food videos, and write on my food blog!
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What was the initial reason for starting your @tumblinbumblincrumblincookie account?
I first started my food account in an attempt to deal with my recovery from anorexia – it was a way for me to make sense of the whole healing process and try to create something good and something I liked from what was a very painful and dark time. Things just went uphill from there as I found a genuine passion in combining my love for photography with baking and cooking to produce the art of creating good food, of making something nourishing and healing and preparing food from scratch.
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We can’t believe you’re only 17! You’re incredibly talented and already incredibly successful, how does it feel?
Ah thank you! I won’t say I’m incredibly successful though – I still have a very long way to go despite being blessed with a few serendipitous events in the process, and it takes a lot of hard graft, perseverance and a burning passion in order to keep going through tough times. On the other hand the practice of creating art is something that gives me so much catharsis and brings light into my life – and that feels incredible. I’m just glad I’ve found a community of wonderfully kind and embracing people on my journey!
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You’ve recently started a new account, tell us a little about that?
I’ve started a new account yes, @sofinewasthemorning ! I’ve always loved photography and film, and I wanted to create a space and solid platform for me to share my work. I’m starting from nothing and piecing together what I have, but I hope to create a gallery for the different photography projects and short snippets of films that I will take up in the future! Whilst making food is an incredibly big part of the creative process I currently take part in, I love other things too – capturing light, capturing human emotions, creating stories and crafting narratives with photography and cinematography. Hopefully this account will help me do so!
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Besides social media, you’ve been studying really hard. What is your dream career?
Yes, I have! I’m still uncertain as to my future, but I’d definitely want to do something in the realms of writing/literature, film, photography and hopefully food as well; whether that is writing for a food/lifestyle journal or creating my own art on my own platform (which would be an absolute dream).
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What do your parents do for a living? Have they inspired you in regards to educational choices?
My dad is an engineer and my mum works from home! They’ve definitely been incredibly supportive of my passion in photography, cooking, literature and filmmaking although those aren’t the most conventional or well-established paths to take with regards to the future – I’m incredibly thankful that they encourage me in pursuing what I love doing in little ways.
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It’s sometimes hard to differentiate between social media and reality, how do you make sure that you don’t get engulfed by it all?
It definitely is! I think the most important part is just taking time to be thankful, to be grateful for everything that has been and will be; and knowing that what is most important is creating work that makes one happy and proud to produce. It’s easy to let everything become a race of numbers, or feel discouraged when efforts do not come to fruition; but I think trusting in what will happen and letting go whilst doing the very best one can is in itself a most admirable achievement. That’s how I deal with things and keep level-headed, at least!
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If you had to choose, would it be chocolate or peanut butter?
Why do you make me do this! Chocolate? Or maybe peanut butter… How about both?
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Do you play any sport?
Pancake stacking! (No, I don’t – nothing professionally or competitively at least!)
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What advice would you give someone looking to start a blog?
Just do it – create things that you are proud of, do what makes you happy. Be true to yourself and don’t be afraid to create, to go the extra mile, to put in and give your all in everything you pursue.
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Who taught you how to cook?
My mum, for the basics! I am very much self-taught though, through trial-and-error and a few kitchen disasters.
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What’s the best thing about living in Singapore?
I guess the abundance of trees! And the lovely sun all year round. Singapore is actually incredibly beautiful; there are hidden pockets in the outskirts and in the city alike that are absolutely breathtaking.
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I visited in 2014, I loved it but the humidity was crazy. How do you cope?
Haha, I concur wholeheartedly! I’m still trying to cope to be honest. On the worst days it feels like walking around in a swimming pool of damp, uncomfortably warm cotton wool, or like a cloud of the breath inside of someone’s mouth. Yuck. I eat a lot of fruit to cool me down and stay hydrated, I suppose!
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Where’s your favourite place to go in the city?
I love City Hall – the amount of lovely architecture, museums and places for good art and photography around there is actually pretty amazing!
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Where do you hope to see yourself in 4 years time?
I hope I’ll be able to create better, beautiful things; I hope there will be chances and opportunities that would allow me to reach even wider audiences to spread the ideas of a plant-based lifestyle, food as something that is wonderful and communal, and also the importance of mental health. I definitely would love to be creating art for a living, whether that is through writing, filmmaking, photography, cooking or a combination of all of them! In the meanwhile, I’ll be giving my all in everything I do, working as hard as I possibly can, and keeping hope alive.
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Gosh, Lin, we’re in awe. We’ve no doubt that the future will turn into something great for you and we cn’t wait to watch you blossom.
To keep up to date with Lin and her adventures don’t forget to follow her on her instagram accounts @tumblinbumblincrumblincookie and @sofinewasthemorning