My ANZAC

As some of you may know my first job while I was at school and while I was studying was at the Palmerston North RSA. While working there I had the pleasure of meeting, talking and getting to know some of our local returned serviceman and their families.

Some of them talked about the war, some didn't. Some told jolly stories of their lives as children and some spoke of poverty and sadness.

ANZAC day was obviously the busiest day of the year, everyone in for breakfast before the service, returned serviceman and current serviceman and their families. Mostly in high spirits but some of them looking very somber and deep in thought, perhaps thinking of a fallen brother.

Some of my family members have served great uncles and great grandfathers but my deepest connection with ANZAC is from my time working at the RSA, so many surrogate grandparents I gained while I worked their. I have so much respect for those men and women seeing them dancing together and pulling out a chairs for their wife even after 60 years of marriage. I now know why today's youth can annoy them so much they really did grow up in a different time.

To think some of them went to war as children as 15-16 year olds full of gusto and the feeling of being invincible as all teenage boys do! To think of those mothers who waved their sons off to war not knowing when or if they would be back. To the wives who were left to hold the fort while their husbands went to war.

I know current military families and it isn't just the person who serves that makes the sacrifice. It is a sacrifice of the whole family. It isn't just a job like you and I have it is a way of life that you and I have no idea what it is like to experience.

So to our fallen serviceman I have you in my thoughts and I will remember the ultimate sacrifice you made and to our current servicemen and women I will remember the sacrifice you and your families continue to make. I hope for peace one day so that my daughter won't have to.

Robin xx

Do you know how much I love you?

Yes Vintage Spice is a business.
Yes Vintage Spice provides me and my family with a source of income.
No Vintage Spice is not just a job.
I don't work 9-5 (it's more like 7pm-3am with little bits done during the day) I don't get the same pay check every week and I can't call a guy when I don't know what to do.

Vintage Spice is a part of my life and a part of my families life, you may have seen my husband at markets maybe even my daughter. My father-in-law made my amazing displays that make it so easy for you to see my products. My mum watches my daughter when I go away for markets and fairs and my niece has even helped me at a few markets.

So do you know how much I love you..... I don't think you do. Every smile when you see my products, that comment to your friend that what I make is really pretty, that you wish you had a girl you could buy things for because they are so lovely. All of these little things even if you don't make a purchase means the world to me.

My customers who have worn things to weddings, special occasions and even babies coming home from the hospital with a little Vintage Spice headband on. These are all moments that you will treasure with photos to remember them by and something I made with the same hands that are typing this got to be apart of that. It's actually really overwhelming to me, while I know it sounds absolutely ridiculous to everyone else! I make hair clips for crying out loud!!! The fact that I get to bring joy to other people through doing something I love makes it all so worth it!

When I first started this business almost 2 years ago I had no idea what I was doing, how I was going to do it or where it was going to lead but I am here! I'm still in business, our products have grown, our brand has evolved and our customers (and my family) have come along for the ride. I would not have been able to do this without your support. I put a lot of pressure on myself to succeed, to provide you with products that you will love, that will last at a price that makes them accessible to everyone.

Do you think I make a lot of money by selling a person one $2 hair clip-no I don't, but if that little girl or women or toy poodle walks down the street feeling awesome with their new bow in their hair it is so worth it!!

So I guess this is my long winded, way too emotional thank you for all of your support and love that you show me! Remember this business is me, I write the blogs, I make the products, I do the website stuff, email you answering your questions, talk to you at markets and posts silly pictures on Facebook. If you want to purchase from a handmade business you are looking at it! Even our bags are handmade using a stamp we brought from another small business and bags purchased 2 hours away from our house because it was the best deal!

I love it when you share your photos of you wearing your clips, or walking up the aisle carrying a bouquet I spent 35 hours making. I love it when you comment on blog posts and Facebook photos and I love getting to know you as people.

Thank you for bringing joy into my life by admiring what I create and I hope I have brought some to yours too, even if it was with a headband!


Robin x

Big Plans for Twenty Fourteen!

It's hard to believe we are almost a month into 2014 already! I have so much I want to accomplish this year I better get a move on! So far I have already got our new logo, new packaging and I am prepping for Martinborough Fair!

Here are a few other things I want to do this year in no particular order....

1. Go on a buying trip to Auckland.
2. Buy a DSLR camera.
3. Re-stock the website.
4. Keep blogging on a regular basis.
5. Do more markets further afield.
6. Re-open the Etsy Shop
7. Have better time management
8. Quit my addiction to caramel lattes.
9. Travel more
10. Take more photos
11. Meet more bloggers and small business people.
12. Update my wardrobe
13. Get a funky haircut
14. Get out the sewing machine more.
15. Read more
16. See more live music
17. Spend more time with friends
18. Renovate my daughters bedroom
19. Buy more shoes
20. Buy more handbags
21. Spend more quality time with my family (we already spend heaps of time together but I can't get enough!)
22. Be more organised!! 
23. Have more faith in myself.
24. Achieve my business goals.
25. Volunteer more.
26. Expand my cooking repertoire.

What are some of the things on your list for this year? 

Robin x
 

Business Wish List!

Everyone has a wish list! I actually think wishlists are a great thing to have, it doesn't matter how long it takes you to acquire or do the things on your wish list as long as they happen!

Here are a few things on my business wish list!

1. DSLR camera! I'm not sure what model yet possibly a Cannon 600D. I think it would take both my blogging and social media to the next level! Not to mention the thrill of having a new toy to play with and I will of course use it for personal stuff too. 

I don't want to be a photographer at all, I just want to take high quality images for my business and myself and I have been hanging out with photographers to much so I have noticed my old point and shoot just doesn't cut it!

2. A new logo. I first got my logo almost 2 years ago the resolution is really bad so if I make it any bigger than thumbnail size it gets really blurry and again this just doesn't cut the mustard!

Also my business isn't what it was 2 years ago it has grown and evolved into something much bigger and better than I expected and it's time to reflect that! 

3. Kind of goes along with the new logo but I also want new branding material- business cards, brochures etc etc. It's time for a big overhaul and new look!

4. An assistant! This year particularly the latter half of the year I found myself feeling quite overwhelmed and in need of some help behind the scenes! 2014 I will be taking on someone to help with the financial stuff as that is what I find the most boring and it is something I really don't enjoy. I am also looking at taking on someone to help me with the website, uploading new products etc as again this is something I don't enjoy and it takes me away from the things I am good at! 

5. Advertising. So far I haven't really done much in the way of paid advertising I have really just let the business grow which is great but I think there is a wee bit more I could be doing in the way of advertising the website.

6. New products. 2013 saw me introduce heaps of new products including 2 really special new products which have been doing amazingly well. I hope to add to this next year!

7. A new phone! I really don't need the latest gadgets but I would really like to upgrade the phone I brought 3 years ago for $100. Nothing too flash I just want one with a decent camera for taking cool Instagram pics!

Well I think that is all for now I will be writing a personal wish list over on the other blog Crazy Mother Crafter soon! 

What is something on your wish list? Share it below in the comments :) 

2013 in a Walnut Shell

This year has been a bit of a blur, I remember this time last year feeling overwhelmed and super excited about 2013. Having just booked my first Martinborough Fair and Auckland's Grand Wedding Show I felt really out of my depth and doubting whether or not I could actually pull it off!

But I did, I managed to pull it all off with most of my sanity remaining.

2013 was huge in all areas of my life not just professional but personal too, we brought our first home in April, complete with a 2 room studio out the back for me to work out of! I had grown out of the tiny spare bedroom I had been working in and my work seemed to be taking over the entire house- other crafters out there will know what I am talking about!

I also began attending Playcentre with my daughter and have since been elected President  which is a huge honor but also another thing I must shuffle! I have continued to watch my darling daughter grow up before my eyes, at almost 3 she is a real character and a total mini me!

It still remains a big juggling act between the business and my family, I actually missed my first wedding anniversary because I was out of town for work which is disappointing but I am really lucky to have such a supportive husband! I'm telling myself one day I will get the balance between work/home just perfect!

This year has seen me launch the new website www.vintage-spice.com complete with online store (which is down for maintenance over the holidays). I have been to more fairs, markets and shows than ever before and have been busier than the year before which is always a plus! I have been continuing to blog, however rather sporadically due to time management.

2014 I have big plans, this is the first year I will actually have a plan and a direction. I'm not spilling any secrets just yet but it is going to be awesome! I hope you all follow along with me.

Robin x