My Vintage Life: 2012

Monday, December 17, 2012

SALE!!

i have temporarily closed my kitty's vintage home etsy store until i get my new studio up and running and can redo all the photographs and add many new products.

in the mean time, i'm having a 20% off sale at montgomery june! it's a short 2-day sale just in time for christmas. just enter the code: hollyjolly at checkout and receive 20% off your order. the post office guarantees delivery by christmas if sent by 20 december, so that is why the sale is short and sweet, so you can receive it before christmas. if you'd like the package sent to another address or a card added, just let me know!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Luna

if you've known me for even a few minutes, you'd know that i'm a cat lover. i have been since childhood when a black and white stray showed up on our doorstep one cold, rainy, October day. i convinced my mom to keep her, she was my first cat, kelly.

when i graduated college and was on my own, one of the first things i did was get a cat. and i've had them around ever since. i just adore their sweet little faces.

a few weeks ago, scott's niece and nephew found a kitten, took it to their grandma and begged her to keep it. his parents already have several animals and are nearing 75. they couldn't keep her, so his mom took her to the humane society. they were so over crowded that he said they'd keep her for 3 days, then she'd be sent to a shelter where she would be put down. i know this happens in every city, every day. it's tragic and i hate it. if i don't know about it, or about a specific cat, i can push it out of my mind and not think about it.

but...scott told me about the kitten. then she was all i could think about. this poor little kitten who wouldn't get a chance to know a loving home. scott told me that i couldn't go get it, that we had too many. then his dad came over and was asking if we'd take it, that he'd go get her from the humane society. i told him that i couldn't go get her, but if she showed up here, she'd have a home.

well, 2 weeks ago yesterday, his dad showed up with this skinny, scared little kitten! i was so thankful, i'd been feverishly asking for someone to save her, to give her a chance, and i guess that person is me. i honestly was going to find her a home, but i came home from work wednesday and scott was sitting on the couch, snuggling with her and asked me what we should name her. i knew then that she was going to stay.

i'm very thankful to have her, she is a sweet little baby, loves to snuggle, give nose kisses (!!!), and has a rediculously loud purr-box! i'm glad to say that everyone is finally getting along, the other kitties were pretty unhappy for several days, but now they play with her and groom her and snuggle with her.

so, without further babble, i'd like you to meet luna!

Monday, December 10, 2012

2013 Fashion Show!

Hello vintage lovers! Last year's Anti-Fashion Show was such a blast to be a part of, if you weren't able to make it, here are some of the outfits that were featured:

And who could forget the darling little Meadow, showing off her shoes:

I'm proud to announce that the 2013 Anti-Fashion Show featuring vintage fashions and local handmade beauties will be March 9, 2013!

I've already started planning and putting special vintage pieces aside. I have 3 models lined up, Natasha and Nicole from last year, and the beautiful Sage has agreed to strut her stuff this year! Soon I'll be adding sneak peeks of this year's runway worthy looks: clothing, shoes and accessories. I'll keep you updated on adding a 4th model and if I can snag Meadow again, she was the audience favorite!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

splurge or save: jewlery

every girl needs a little sparkle! these jewelry picks let your save or splurge on that special item!

studio changes

i appologize for my absense, but it is with good reason!

recently tara informed me that she will be leaving our studio, which makes me sad, but also gives my little business room to grow. i've been brainstorming new products to offer, gathering supplies, making the first-round versions to see if it could be put into production and enjoying the time i have left with tara and little meadow in the studio.

i will have a meeting tomorrow with the trio-in-charge to present my new ideas and convince them that i'll be able to maintain the studio on my own, especially since we just expanded!

i also, finally, found a clothing rack with a small enough footprint to fit on the floor of karma rags, the vintage clothing store at the flying monkey. this means, starting tomorrow, i'll have a rack of clothes for you to check out and try on here locally!

and remember, at the end of this month, all the book currently for sale at kitty's vintage books will expire and will not be relisted. if you are in the market for vintage books, please shop now, as i will be closing the store!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

small business saturday

i know you've all seen the ads for black friday, which will actually start on thursday evening for some stores. i've never really been one to jump into that madness and get trampled for a new pair of shoes. i'd rather spend my money locally or with small businesses online. i like knowing where my money is going.

there are a few great places here in town that i frequent, most of them are a part of the lowe mill/flying monkey art collective that i belong to, but that's because i spend most of my free time there!

a great local gift shop, the switch house, (who tara and i both wholesale to) will be featured in the december 2012 issue of southern living magazine!

it is so important to spend your money wisely. you work hard for your cash and you should know where it goes. when you buy locally, and i don't mean a locally owned store that is part of a chain or that sells mainstream manufactured items, i mean truly local, with locally made items, your money stays right in your community. that money is well spent and probably isn't as much as the owner actually deserves!

being on the other side of business, actually owning one and dealing with rent and supplies and the time put into making and finding the objects to sell, it's almost shocking how little money is actually profit. it's minuscule, but it's so worth it. i am overjoyed if i make a single $8 sale on a saturday. something that i made, that i dreamed up and put together, is leaving with a person who will enjoy it and use it. it's so special!

last year, 103 million people saved their black friday dollars that they would have spent in chain stores (where the money goes to the uber rich owners) and spent it on small business saturday, where the money stays in the community.

i hope you take the time to research a few local businesses in your community and choose to spend you hard-earned cash there. i know there are local coffee shops and eateries no matter where you live. i have nothing against starbucks, but if you trade one cup of coffee purchased at a chain a week for one from a local shop, you'll do your community a heap of good!

if you shop at any of my 3 etsy stores and find something you'd like to see in person, or some clothing you'd like to try on, please email me and i'll have it with me on saturday.

if you print off and bring in either of the 2 signs above, you'll receive a 20% discount on your entire purchase from now until christmas. with a bonus if you pay in cash!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

i am thankful

i have so many things to be thankful for in my life. my job, my home, my family, my fur-babies, my studio and etsy stores, a full pantry, warm sweaters, hot showers, crackly music coming from the record player, friends that have become family, almost being out of debt from unemployment (!!!), good books, and as always - my too far away, successful, beautiful sister.

here are a few lovely vintage items in honor of thanksgiving!

Montgomery June Vintage Boutique

what are you thankful for this year?!

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Holiday Rant

i love holidays, always have. my mom would decorate the house for every possible holiday growing up. we had tons of those thin cardboard cut-out decorations and my sister and i had great fun changing the shapes for each season/holiday.

i don't see why we have to rush things when it comes to holidays. why do we have to start preparing for one holiday before others have even come?

i noticed yesterday that a local radio station has already started playing christmas music 24/7. thanksgiving is still a week away! i have no issue with starting that next friday, but why now?

it seems to me that retailers don't make a lot of money for thanksgiving, so why even acknowledge it?! there is nothing for them after halloween when people spent billions on costumes and candy. until christmas.

i refuse to listen to christmas music before next friday, and i love christmas music! i won't decorate, shop, or bake.

this world needs to slow down a bit and enjoy the days as they come. thanksgiving is an important holiday, reflecting on the year and being truly grateful for all the blessings you have in your life. don't overlook that one. celebrate.

ok, i'm done, it just irks me!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

splurge or save: leather

sometimes you are on a budget, and sometimes you need something really special! here are my splurge or save picks for leather:

what are your favorite items to save or splurge on?!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

etsy roundup - election edition!

today in the US, it's election day. i encourage all of you to go out and vote. it wasn't very long ago when many of us weren't allowed to vote, have a voice, or speak our opinion. this is a privilege that not everyone has, so do your part for your country, and help decide the next leader!

USA

try it, you'll like it!

freedom

Behind the "freedom curtain"

A simple curtain of cloth - not iron or bamboo - is a symbol of our liberties. It helps to protect the right to vote privately and freely. By voting, we reaffirm our faith in the American for of government and make our voices heard in matters affecting the preservation of our heritage and way of life.

To vote is a right and a privilege...and a responsibility.

To vote intelligently is a duty.

Be sure to VOTE on Nov. 6th