Bowling date!

Bowling date! by anatomyvintage

This chilly weather has me totally re-thinking my life decisions!   Just kidding.  It's not all that dramatic, but I'm definitely re-thinking my weekend activities post-clock setback. Since moving to Cincinnati I've spent a fair amount of Saturday mornings perusing Findlay Market and wandering the historic Over The Rhine district's charming shops, but I see more indoor activities in my near future. I'm thinking movies, the Krohn conservatory, and ... yes... bowling.   What are your favorite cold weather passtimes?  

making your dollars count

Please pardon me while I stand atop one of these: 

And please check out this awesome vintage Arm & Hammer crate from Season's Organics on Etsy!

Yesterday I sold something fairly pricey for my mid-range price point shop.   I did a happy dance that, thankfully, no one saw and I immediately texted my mom and my boyfriend with the news.  The sale not only made my business tick along a little further, it touched my life... and I know the gal is going to enjoy her purchase, because it is unique and amazing and in incredible condition... and functional! That transaction gave me the money I will need for a tank of gas to go visit a friend who is going through a sudden and unexpected loss without missing out on a bill this month.   Now I'm crying. I've been struggling to find my blogger voice.  There's so much I want to write about, and lately I've been suffering from paralysis of the analysis, thinking too hard about how a piece of writing supports the culture of vintage clothing and style.  Finally I have something to say that simply cannot wait for its niche to be carved.

When you buy something on Etsy your dollars matter.  When you buy something on Ebay or Craigslist your dollars matter.  When you shop locally, your dollars matter. You're not feeding a machine.  You're feeding families. When you choose to shop with microbusinesses the money goes directly into the pocket of someone who needs it to keep the lights on or bring home the local, free-range, non GMO bacon. 

When you shop micro, you're shopping

 pro-small business

pro-vote with your dollars

 pro-economy reform

 pro-American Dream

pro-take matters into your own hands

pro-independent business person

pro-independent thinking

 pro-positive values

pro-quality counts

pro-take care of your neighbor

pro-good karma.

I'm so sorry to get preachy, buy I just needed to say it.  We all want to feel that we're making positive choices with our money.  One of my biggest goals for 2013 is to see to it that my spending reflects my values.   For me, that means a lot less Kroger, Starbucks and Target and a lot more Findlay Market, farmers' markets, independent coffee shops, and yard sales (I know, twist my arm, right? Try keeping this girl away from a yard sale.) One can find lots of statistics about shopping locally and how much more money stays in the local economy, but as an independent vintage seller, I am writing today to emphasize the personal impact of what your second-hand shopping and local- and micro-business spending habits have.  Each shop you browse has an electric bill that is coming due. They have insurance bills, product invoices, shop repairs, burnt out lightbulbs,  It costs money to bring locally made soy candles to the masses, and they are doing their neighborhood a service, making it a more interesting and vibrant place to live or visit.  Shopping on Etsy?   Every item you view cost 20¢ just to list, not to mention the cost of the camera that took the photos, the computer they were edited and listed on, and the precious space of that shop owner's home that the inventory takes up.  Not only has that item been made or found, it has been cleaned, measured, catalogued, and carefully described and packed by the time it reaches your doorstep.  Small local shops and online micro businesses are two sides of the same coin.  Many Etsy businesses are now supplying local shops, and micro businesses owners online are more likely to shop locally too. 

Shopping micro may cost a little more money, but haven't we figured out that more stuff doesn't make us happier?  I'm a miser by nature.  I instinctively scoff at pricetags, and I am trying to unlearn this behavior.  I am lucky to live in a neighborhood (shout out to Cinci Northside!) where the only chain shopping locations are a KFC / Taco Bell and a BP, and even those are locally franchised.  Yesterday while shopping for some birthday gifts, I spent a little extra to buy cards and trinkets locally, but when I reflected that I didn't have to do any of the following:  1) get in my car or spend a single cent on gas 2) fight the crazy-aggressive Cincinnati drivers 3) wait in a checkout line 4) search for the aisle where I would find greeting cards 5) deal with any ungrateful clerks.  I talked to business owners about sleep deprivation, the effects of coffee on someone who is already tired, whether it was appropriate to give a "funny" birthday card to a significant other's parents, taking the leap to becoming self employed, and how to have a more successful Etsy shop.  It may have cost me an extra couple of dollars, but I actually came home feeling inspired.  When was the last time a big box store made you feel that way?

Maybe you don't live near a lot of locally-owned businesses, but you still want your dollar to count. Next time you're feeling spendy or charitable, next time you're shopping for a gift or for yourself, please consider local businesses and micro businesses first. Browse your neighborhood boutique or the vast array of goods on Etsy.  Converse with the shop owners.  The clerk at the bix box store doesn't care about your new shoes.  Buy them from someone who will do a happy dance with you. 

*steps off soapbox*

Want to read more about shopping locally?  Here are some great links:

US News from October, 2011, full of additional links

Reclaim Democracy.org, that beautifully frames how local businesses add value beyond dollars

Entrepreneur, a great article that puts into perspective how Etsy, an global online business, is promoting local spending

Do you have any great links to share?   Comments on shopping local?  Awesome micro business experiences you're dying to talk about?  Please comment below, and thank you for reading!

 

An Inspiration Culmination.

So there are a few things on my list of obsessions right now.
1) The Man Repeller.  If you haven't seen this blog, please do us both a favor and check it out.  You'll laugh.  You'll cry.  You'll weep for all things fashion-forward and opposite-sex repelling.

2) Learning to knit. It has been a long, long winter.  There was lots of snow here in Indiana, and I always say that I am going to "slow down when it gets cold outside" and learn to do things like knit.  Although it's never too late, I fear I won't get to it this winter.

3) Etsy. Big surprise here.  As I become more and more excited about my shops, especially the vintage shop, I become more and more excited about Etsy in general.  You can find so many awesome things on Etsy!

So, without further ado, let's get to the good stuff.  I don't know if you have ever seen the knitwear at Yokoo, but if you have, you know that this lady has got it figured out! Her photos are amazing, and the styling in her shop is decisive and fashion-forward.

a scarf with sleeves!

 I think this uniscarf is the best idea since sliced bread.  My boyfriend, however, has differing opinions on it.  The high-wasted pants and the awesome bob, let's just say it's Man Repeller fodder in the making.  As I scrolled through Yokoo, I found that I would be just as likely to buy prints of these photos as I would be to buy the items in them.  If I had unlimited funds, I would be stocking up on Yokoo. Check out this awesome photo:

in case you're wondering, you can buy this necklace here

I want a print of this to hang up on my wall!  The colors and composition are just so fresh.  And the clock?  Yes please. 

this cowl is to-die for. 

This photo is so cute!  The glasses are rad.  The plaid is rad. But it kind of reminds me of someone you may know...

Edna Mode from the Incredibles!  In a way, they are both superheroes themselves, as they design wearables for superheroes. Want Edna Mode's look?  I've got you covered.  Just click here.

I'm sorry about the blatant Man Repeller rip-off, but I just couldn't resist.   I just felt like a touch of silliness would help brighten the snowy day.  As always, I hope you loved it!  Thanks for reading.

XO
-Amber

Monday's Muse.

I've found myself in full-swing excitement for Valentine's day..... or at least all of the lovely reds that come along with the holiday.  The day itself will probably be nice.  I'm sure Matt and I will go out and have a nice dinner or something.  But that's not what I'm jazzed about.  It's the reds!  The rich, cherry reds, the vibrant, bright reds, the dark cordial reds, and all of the ruby tints.  So here are some cherry hues from the vintage shop.

 

You can find all of these items, and much more redness in the Scarlet Tanager section of BirdsChasingBugs.  

Special thanks to Kim, the lovely lady in the photos.  Red is a great color for her, don't you think?   Please comment and share a link with your favorite red goodies!

Cheers,

Amber

Lady-like

When fall arrives, I always have a craving to mix it up with some menswear. The prospect of layering makes my heart go all a-flutter. Ruffles with knife pleats. Plaids with florals. Vests with v-necks. Bomber jackets. I just love adding a little menswear to the mix. These are some of my favorites on Etsy right now. Go ahead, androgynize.

If you want to put all of these items at once, like I do, you can find them here:

* Fabulous Grandpa Sweater on 10th Avenue East, a shop that has a fresh, yet classy mix of vintage

* Amazing High-waisted Wool Blend Pants on HumpAStuff, a shop whose name suggests that there is some adult content (and there is), but that also has a bold collection of vintage apparel and housewares

* Gorgeous Silk Blouse on GreatestFriend, and one of my personal favorites, a shop with quality hand-selected timeless pieces

* UNBELIEVABLE Deadstock Oxfords on kakronti's Bummertown, a shop run by a lovely lady here in my home town

* Totally unique Elk Cufflinks on PossumGully, a shop I'm hoping to see more of in the future