At the web development firm where I work, we have done work for people who have weblogs before (we’re doing some right now, actually). However, none of our core, long-term, clients have maintained weblogs. That is starting to change.

When you realize your professional clients read your personal weblog, it can be a bit disconcerting (see killing independent George). I like to think that I am the same person, regardless of what sphere of my life I’m in (family, work, friends, etc.) but it still takes a better person than I to be truly “yourself” in all such aspects of life.

Such was the case over the last year, when one of our favourite clients, the good people at the Horton Brasses company in Cromwell, Connecticut started reading some of our weblogs. At first, it felt a bit weird. Even though I know it’s all publicly accessible, I still do a lot of talking out of my ass on this site – stuff I wouldn’t say directly to my mom, or my clients. After a while, though, we got used to it, and now I really enjoy getting feedback on a personal weblog post from a client.

Now, Barb and Toby Rockwell, and their son Orion, from the Horton Brasses company have started a weblog of their own: the Horton Brasses Weblog.

Why read a weblog about an authentic reproduction cabinet and furniture hardware company? You’d be surprised – their lives are far more interesting than my own.

For example, Barb and Toby recently returned from a six-week trip to Vietnam. The travel diary of the trip you’ll find in the Travel category of their weblog is fascinating. The’ve also posted loads of photos from their Vietnam trip in their photo gallery.

They’re also writing about company news and some of the great projects their customers are producing.