My Latest Endeavor

I've been collecting vintage things for YEARS. I discovered thrift stores in high school and haven't spent very much money on new clothes since! I prefer the uniqueness and the history that vintage items have.  I have also been hoarding things for ReLove Projects. I'll find a cool vintage dress and think that I may someday want to use it for the fabric, but then the dress is so awesome that I can't bear to cut it! My collection has become quite large...

About a week ago Brad went to a job interview. The job was to take photos of vintage goods to sell online. It was a part-time job, the pay was measly, but it was an opportunity that he wanted to look into nonetheless. The night before his interview I was looking around my house at all of the unnecessary things I have. My first thought was, "I should sell this stuff." That thought developed into an idea and the idea became Vintage Rhino! Brad and I have officially gone into business together selling quality vintage goods.  Brad is the photographer, tech savvy, and business development. I am the artistic director, collector, and customer service. Right now we're both working constantly on getting our website launched, but until then you can check out our goods on Etsy: www.thevintagerhino.etsy.com.

We are SO EXCITED! It's been really fun- we make a great team. Vintage Rhino gives me a way to sell my vast collection of unused vintage things, it gives Brad a way to use his photography skills and have a job that will pay more than it would for someone else. Over the weekend we photographed a bunch of things I'm ready to let go of. These are some of my favorites: (click on the picture to be directed to our shop)

Because I appreciate your support over the years, I'm offering 15% off your Vintage Rhino purchase at Etsy. Enter 'ReloveProjects' in the coupon code when you check out!

Oh yeah, and if you're wondering about how Brad's job interview turned out... Before I even pitched my idea he decided that the part-time measly paying job wasn't worth the drive (1 hour + in traffic).

Valentines

I just listed these sweet heart cards in my shop!

2012

Happy New Year! I always feel like the start of the year is brimming with possibilities and potential. I usually don't do resolutions but this year I decided to go for it. Resolutions are all about embracing change and improvement, so why not, right? I wanted to keep them realistic (and achievable), so each month I have 2 goals. This gives me some flexibility if something just isn't working and I don't want to stick with it for a whole year. My goals for January are going well- I might actually want to keep it up for 365 days! It's pretty simple: Floss my teeth every day and exercise 3-5 times a week. It's 2 things I should be doing anyway, but before I made the resolution I didn't do either nearly enough. So here's to 2012- with better oral hygiene and all the benefits that come with regular exercise. How do you feel about resolutions? Did you make any?
Before I go, I wanted to share a photo of my super cool daughter. She got hair dye from her grandma for Christmas and used it all at once. (Isn't it great that her grandma, of all people, got this for her? I love that)

Handmade Christmas

Have you heard of the Barbapapas? It's a book series by Annette Tison and Talus Taylor that I used to read when I was young. It really is great- whimsical, happy, good messages. The books have been out of print for awhile and are now considered collectors items. So when my niece wanted Barbapapa dolls for ChristmasI knew I had to make them! 

Holiday Pictures

If you've been reading this blog for a few years then you've probably figured out that I'm not a big fan of the holidays.  I don't like the obligations, running around like mad, sending out the required Christmas cards with sweet family photos... So this year Hana and I made our own kind of holiday card!
I'm getting them printed tomorrow (and don't want to spoil the surprise for those of you on my mailing list), but these are some of the extra pictures we took:

 Hana is really good at doing a straight face, mine is totally insane, and Rosie, well, she's cute no matter what, even when she was a pest and insisted on being in the pictures (seriously, a part of her is in almost every photo)!  And yes, those are Christmas vests and turtlenecks we're sporting. Um, yeah, and potholders. Please don't blackmail me.

Pssst...

Get 10% off your purchase in my Etsy shop! The coupon code is 'Holiday2011'. Enjoy!

I received the following conversation from a customer at Etsy:


Hi,

I really love your little whale here. I was wondering if it was possible to mark the year somewhere on the little guy? I started an ornament collection for my baby last year (this will be ornament 2/2, and he is definitely not a little baby any more...) - and having your whale with 2011 tagging him somewhere would be really cool. If you can't, I totally understand - I would still want to give him a home with us.

Thanks,
Angeline

I was thrilled to be a part of such a sweet tradition! And of course, I was happy to include the year. Do you have any holiday traditions?