Vintage I'm Already Nostalgic For...

I absolutely love love love thrift shops, salvage yards, and of course - antique stores. It delights

me that part of my "job" includes being able to go to said places and justify my shopping habit simply by selling on Etsy. However, there's always a small moment of...dare I say it, reluctance - that occurs when I have to part with one of these treasures. This morning I woke to see another goodie sold, and while I'm of course happy that someone will truly enjoy this small wonder, the reluctance to part with her has crept in again. I'm reminded of being a young child, shopping for birthday party gifts for friends...and not wanting to wrap them.

So I have, over time, tried to make a celebratory process of packaging. If it's a figurine you're getting, you receive a teensy thank you note for bringing it home (from the figurine, of course). Accessories, home decor, etcetera are also treated with an air of honor, sans note. This helps me resolve the "reluctance" and create real joy, imagining the buyer opening the package with delight - dancing around the house, clutching their glass bowl, figurine, or pillow close to their heart.

Today, after parting with the Glass Songbird, I decided to pay a little homage to a few of my favorite vintage sales:

I'm Baaaack!

Hello again everyone, I'm back from my short jaunt off the blogosphere. It's been busy busy busy at home and work - fortunately, the good kind of busy. I've adjusted my daily schedule to support my hubby's endeavor to get some money-making skills (you know, like nunchuck skills, bow-hunting skills, computer hacking skills). Also, I've got my family visiting from out-of-state - sooo good to see them. This means I've got to get much more Etsy work done in far less time. Fortunately, I am blessed with understanding clients.

Speaking of my fabuloso clients, I have decided that for anyone who purchases a gift for the upcoming holidays, birthdays, etcetera - I will be making custom gift wrap which doubles as art. I've always really enjoyed wrapping presents, since I was a youngster reading Martha Stewart Living, I've tried to make my own wrapping. It's so much fun to do - and I believe my clients will really appreciate it. The photo is a gift wrap I just recently made for a client who purchased the last "Rex the Snuggle Pup" for her young son.

As my mind is numb from sewing, wrapping, emailing, tweeting, all the while entertaining family - I can't recall if I've brought your attention to Jordan Moore's Handmade Success blog. I definitely want to point out her blog right now, as she's having the best Etsy giveaway imaginable to Sellers. Jordan is giving away five free half hour consultations to assist the lucky winners with whatever areas of business/marketing strategies they most need help in. To enter the giveaway, just visit her blog - and post a comment about what your biggest business frustration is.