11 Alamesa
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Monday, 13 May 2013
Meet Swirling Orange
Tell us a bit about you and your shop
Ugh, how can one describe or talk about themselves inside a little box? Suffice it to say, I am way outside the box, lol. My shop, initially, I joined Etsy as a jewelry designer. I had 5 designs that I wanted cast in silver in a variety of metals and articles. I did have one cast, a small Ganesha Pendant which sold out, but then silver, even cast silver got so expensive I could not get the rest of my designs cast. Fast forward 6 months, I was waitressing at the time and was tired, it is hard work, and went on a rummaging trip with a friend. By the end of the day I did not want to see an old thing ever again. I ended up talking to the shop owner and we became friends over the next few months. She was in a dilemma and needed someone to work the shop with her and I wanted out of waitressing, this was the start of my obsession of old stuff, vintage, retro, eclectic etc. So here I am.
How did you choose your shop name?
My shop name goes back to my initial jewelry design on Etsy. I love yoga and practice almost daily and there is a study of energy centers that are not tangible but easily accessible. The second chakra, is orange, and after practice one day, the name popped in. The second Orange Chakra, is the seat of creativity, it so fit what I was doing at the time that it just stuck!
Where else can we find you?
I do have my own website, http://swirlingorange.com but it is sort of a test site at the moment. You can reach me there and I do offer discounts if items are bought through my website as the fees are non existent except for paypal which allows me to pass that discount on to my customers. I am researching ecommerce solutions right now, so the site will go under some changes over the next few months, though I will always be reachable there.
Where did you get your love of vintage from?
Ah, my love of vintage originated with my Grandma, I loved her jewelry and still have her pearls that are way over 100 years old as they were given to her by my great grandmother on her wedding day. I did not have much of an appreciation for everything vintage until I was older and really began to see the quality difference between what is made now and what was made in the US before the 1970s.
Do you have a vintage obsession, for instance, I am totally addicted to vintage glasses, I have way too many?
Absolutely YES I am obsessed with anything fortune telling. I have been a practicing psychic astrologer for all of my adult life, yeah, over 30 years, YIKES, but never knew there were fortune tea reading cups and games and the like. I was always into tarot cards, but honestly I love anything old with destiny, fortune telling or astrology connected to it.
What’s the strangest item you have ever found?
Hmmm, the strangest item I have found or sold? LOL, I have found some really weird stuff, mostly taxidermy which I think is really gross. I found some old scrimshaw (whale tooth etching) that I thought was absolutely fantastic but sold it before it made it to Etsy. I have not come across anything much like that in some time.
What is your favourite item in your shop?
This is seriously difficult to nail down. The reason being, is I buy for resale only things I can stand looking at, as I not everything sells right away, so I figure, I best like what I am selling in case it hangs around a while, so to be honest, I don't have a favorite, I love it all :D
Tell us what you love about your favourite era?
My favorite Era is a cross between Art Deco and the 1960s. I love Art Deco because it was such a drastic change from Victorian and primitive. It was like space age for the time. The 60s, is the same thing, it was all Hippy and so flower power so different and varied from any era before it. It seems to me that most of the other eras now are a variation of something before it. These two eras seem to stand alone which I love. I also love the contrast between the two as the Deco era is sharp linear lines where the Hippy Dippy 60s is all round and fluid, think lava lamps etc.
What advice would you give to people just starting out?
My favorite Era is a cross between Art Deco and the 1960s. I love Art Deco because it was such a drastic change from Victorian and primitive. It was like space age for the time. The 60s, is the same thing, it was all Hippy and so flower power so different and varied from any era before it. It seems to me that most of the other eras now are a variation of something before it. These two eras seem to stand alone which I love. I also love the contrast between the two as the Deco era is sharp linear lines where the Hippy Dippy 60s is all round and fluid, think lava lamps etc.
Starting out on Etsy? Persistence. You need to know that you may not be found immediately, but this is a good thing in reality. I was lucky my shop did not explode the first few months I was online as it is a learning period of how to ship, how to pack, how to market, how to take pictures etc. But if you don't let that get you down, there is room for everyone. Also, I think buying the things you love helps too, as I mentioned above, if you are "stuck" with something, it is a much easier pill to swallow if you can use it or like looking at it while you wait to be discovered. Patience is the biggest piece of advice. We all want to quit our day jobs, but truth be told, it takes years to build a business whether on line or in real time, I still consider myself a novice and am always open to learning. This is why I love what I do, it is a constant learning process so you can't get bored.
Is there anything you wished you had done differently?
Yes, I wish I had taken the time to understand how to market and that I had established a facebook page much earlier than I have done. I dislike fb but feel compelled to have a presence as a business. I think had I established this way way back, I would have more of a presence there now. But, truth is I try not to look back and don't really think I could have done anything different than I did. I am one of those people who learn fast and furious from Mistakes, LOL.
If you could learn something new what would it be and why?
OMG SEO for sure, Graphic Design on a basic level, the inner workings of the web, SEO is only a portion of it but understanding and learning the languages ie. php, c++, etc. I would love to learn how all of this is intricately entwined.
My Yoga Mat!
I’m a big foodie fan, what is your dream meal?
I love love love Salads, but I hate hate hate cutting all those veggies, my favorite meal is chopped salad with all fresh garden grown veggies and real sour cream ranch dressing YUMMY! Okay, I love love love Nachos with tons of cheese and jalapenos too, but I thought the salad would be a better thing to put first :D
Once upon a time……
Once upon a time, there was a girl who grew up on the beach building sand castles. While building one day, she found a shell, a very special shell. When she ran to the ocean to wash it off, it sparkled brightly and as she was coming back to her castle, a big cloud of smoke started to emerge from the shell ... in that cloud was a genie ... and well you know what the genie offers ... 3 wishes. My wishes if they were able to be granted would be Peace for all beings, no poverty or hunger, and a place where creativity is appreciated whether it be through art, food, writing or any other avenue, just that it was appreciated more than it is today.
What question do wish I had asked and what would you answer be?
What really makes you tick outside of Etsy/your shop? Oy, not enough room to answer it, but in a nut shell, I wish I could share my passion for yoga, vintage, and life more widely without judgement. Hope this make sense!
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Sunday Crushing - The Everything Issue
The Everything Issue
This week I haven't been crushing on one thing in particular, I have been crushing on everything!
Here are my favs.
Oh yeah and Happy Mother's Day to all those celebrating today (Ours has been and gone in the UK)
Enjoy the rest of your weekend
Friday, 10 May 2013
Thursday, 9 May 2013
New In This Week
I have had a little listing spurt this week. Here are my new items for sale in my Etsy shop right now. If you would like to see more info about each item click the photo to go to the listing.
Star of The Day
This is the cat that got the cream! This has got to be one of the best decanters I have ever found.
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Star of The Day
It's a dish!! How awesome is this vintage pressed glass bowl? What would yo u put in yours?
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
Star of The Day
Here's another item that reminds me of visiting my family in Switzerland. Every lunchtime we lay these on the table and put the hot pots on them. One of my favourites is fish fingers, risotto and carrot salad. Sounds bizarre but I love it.
Monday, 6 May 2013
Meet Apartment 528
Tell us a bit about you and your shop
I'm a color-loving gal who lives in a color-filled apartment with my gorgeous husband. We're obsessed with bowling even though we suck at it and we eat like 5-year-olds in a candy shop! We have no kids but for some reason we watch the Disney channel and Nickelodeon all the time. Apartment 528 started in 2009 as a way to peddle fun, quirky, colorful housewares that fit in to today's homes. Our goal is to offer products that can actually be used in your house to cook, clean, entertain, play, work, and live.
I'm a color-loving gal who lives in a color-filled apartment with my gorgeous husband. We're obsessed with bowling even though we suck at it and we eat like 5-year-olds in a candy shop! We have no kids but for some reason we watch the Disney channel and Nickelodeon all the time. Apartment 528 started in 2009 as a way to peddle fun, quirky, colorful housewares that fit in to today's homes. Our goal is to offer products that can actually be used in your house to cook, clean, entertain, play, work, and live.
What is the story behind your shop name?
Apartment 528 is named after my mom. Her birthday is 5/28. She's an amazingly gifted woman/mother/designer/everything who always encourages us to try new things. I hope to be her when I grow up!
Apartment 528 is named after my mom. Her birthday is 5/28. She's an amazingly gifted woman/mother/designer/everything who always encourages us to try new things. I hope to be her when I grow up!
Where else can we find you?
We try to be everywhere. We have our own website (www.apt528.com) where we sell vintage as well as handcrafted housewares from talented designers. In a few weeks, we'll start market season and travel around the midwest and maybe even make a stop in Boston doing vintage markets. We're also working on opening a brick and mortar shop here in Chicago this year.
Where did you get your love of vintage from?
I honestly don't know! The first vintage item I ever bought was a 70's alarm clock at a thrift store back in high school. It was just so neat looking to me. Then I got addicted to old tshirts and even started collecting colorful men's ties. Once I was on my own, I bought vintage furniture off craigslist simply because it was all I could afford. After awhile I noticed that I kept buying things that were the same mid-century/retro style and I knew I was on to something.
We try to be everywhere. We have our own website (www.apt528.com) where we sell vintage as well as handcrafted housewares from talented designers. In a few weeks, we'll start market season and travel around the midwest and maybe even make a stop in Boston doing vintage markets. We're also working on opening a brick and mortar shop here in Chicago this year.
I honestly don't know! The first vintage item I ever bought was a 70's alarm clock at a thrift store back in high school. It was just so neat looking to me. Then I got addicted to old tshirts and even started collecting colorful men's ties. Once I was on my own, I bought vintage furniture off craigslist simply because it was all I could afford. After awhile I noticed that I kept buying things that were the same mid-century/retro style and I knew I was on to something.
Absolutely! Once I see that pop of color or something teak, I have to have it. Our house has been handmade-and-vintage-only (except for our gadgets of course!) for 5 years now and I love it!
What’s the strangest item you have ever found?
Hmmm...I stumbled upon a gynecological exam table and some old medical machines once at an estate sale. That was weird. And kind of scary. Why would you need that in your garage? It was like the set of a twisted scary movie!
Hmmm...I stumbled upon a gynecological exam table and some old medical machines once at an estate sale. That was weird. And kind of scary. Why would you need that in your garage? It was like the set of a twisted scary movie!
What is your favourite item in your shop?
I LOVE the George Briard acrylic tumblers. Each cup has a coaster that doubles as a lid. So neat. I was going to keep them until I realized I'm not cool enough to own them. They need to go to someone who has a big family or who likes to entertain so that they'll be put to use.
I LOVE the George Briard acrylic tumblers. Each cup has a coaster that doubles as a lid. So neat. I was going to keep them until I realized I'm not cool enough to own them. They need to go to someone who has a big family or who likes to entertain so that they'll be put to use.
Tell us what you love about your favourite era?
I am ADDICTED to color and I love clean lines so I think that's what draws me to the 50's-70's. Back then, everything from your countertops to your furniture to your carpet, was colorful. Nowadays, countertops are neutral, furniture is neutral, and carpets are beige. I don't know how we made it to this point but I want to go back to the days of avocado-colored fridges!
What advice would you give to people just starting out?
If you're collecting vintage for fun, be practical, otherwise you'll end up on an episode of "Hoarders." It's easy to go overboard so make sure you actually need something or you really like it and have a plan to switch stuff out. If you're doing it as a business, edit yourself so your shop's not a hodge-podge. When you're first starting, you tend to buy stuff just because it's vintage. After awhile, you figure out your style and your shop's aesthetic and it becomes easier to pass up things that don't fit. And whether you're doing it for business or pleasure, you have to be creative about repurposing things and suggest to your customers ways they can do so. I use fondue pots to hold things from plants to silverware to napkins. I turned a non-working 70's Crockpot into a planter. We took 2 wood record cabinets and made them into a window bench to hold electronics and DVD's in the living room. You can use platters and serving bowls in your entryway to hold mail and keys. It's all in how you look at things.
I am ADDICTED to color and I love clean lines so I think that's what draws me to the 50's-70's. Back then, everything from your countertops to your furniture to your carpet, was colorful. Nowadays, countertops are neutral, furniture is neutral, and carpets are beige. I don't know how we made it to this point but I want to go back to the days of avocado-colored fridges!
If you're collecting vintage for fun, be practical, otherwise you'll end up on an episode of "Hoarders." It's easy to go overboard so make sure you actually need something or you really like it and have a plan to switch stuff out. If you're doing it as a business, edit yourself so your shop's not a hodge-podge. When you're first starting, you tend to buy stuff just because it's vintage. After awhile, you figure out your style and your shop's aesthetic and it becomes easier to pass up things that don't fit. And whether you're doing it for business or pleasure, you have to be creative about repurposing things and suggest to your customers ways they can do so. I use fondue pots to hold things from plants to silverware to napkins. I turned a non-working 70's Crockpot into a planter. We took 2 wood record cabinets and made them into a window bench to hold electronics and DVD's in the living room. You can use platters and serving bowls in your entryway to hold mail and keys. It's all in how you look at things.
Is there anything you wished you had done differently?
I wish I had better impulse control sometimes. I love to build things so I'll often buy something broken or that needs a little TLC thinking that I'll fix it later. Then years go by and I still haven't fixed it. Such a waste of time, space, and money! Every few months, I end up giving things away or donating them back to the thrift store because I just don't have the time for anymore projects. I have to learn to be more realistic about things! Pricing is the other thing I wish I'd figured out earlier. Some of my early customers got AWESOME deals! I'm still learning pricing but I'm getting better.
I wish I had better impulse control sometimes. I love to build things so I'll often buy something broken or that needs a little TLC thinking that I'll fix it later. Then years go by and I still haven't fixed it. Such a waste of time, space, and money! Every few months, I end up giving things away or donating them back to the thrift store because I just don't have the time for anymore projects. I have to learn to be more realistic about things! Pricing is the other thing I wish I'd figured out earlier. Some of my early customers got AWESOME deals! I'm still learning pricing but I'm getting better.
If you could learn something new what would it be and why?
I'd learn to sew so I can stop using fabric tape and finally do something with my stash of vintage fabric! My mom's a designer and sews everything by hand and it's better quality than stuff made with a sewing machine. She's been trying to teach me to sew since I was a kid so that I could do my own basic repairs but it seriously takes me over an hour to make a 16" hem on a pillow. Whenever I go home I bring something with me for her to fix! I think I may break down and buy a sewing machine and take a class this year.
I'd learn to sew so I can stop using fabric tape and finally do something with my stash of vintage fabric! My mom's a designer and sews everything by hand and it's better quality than stuff made with a sewing machine. She's been trying to teach me to sew since I was a kid so that I could do my own basic repairs but it seriously takes me over an hour to make a 16" hem on a pillow. Whenever I go home I bring something with me for her to fix! I think I may break down and buy a sewing machine and take a class this year.
Where is your most favourite place on Earth?
I guess it would be a tie between my apartment because it's so colorful, my mom or grandpa's houses since both of them are amazing cooks, and Home Depot because I'm constantly building something.
I guess it would be a tie between my apartment because it's so colorful, my mom or grandpa's houses since both of them are amazing cooks, and Home Depot because I'm constantly building something.
I’m a big foodie fan, what is your dream meal?
A bowl of my grandpa's seafood gumbo, a few slices of my mom's homemade pizza, a big pile of shrimp fried rice, a pork burrito from Chipotle, a side of cheddar bay biscuits from Red Lobster (they're amazing!), a jar of Claussen pickles (they're my favorite food) and for dessert, a cookie dough blizzard from Dairy Queen. If all of those things were in one meal I think my head would explode!
A bowl of my grandpa's seafood gumbo, a few slices of my mom's homemade pizza, a big pile of shrimp fried rice, a pork burrito from Chipotle, a side of cheddar bay biscuits from Red Lobster (they're amazing!), a jar of Claussen pickles (they're my favorite food) and for dessert, a cookie dough blizzard from Dairy Queen. If all of those things were in one meal I think my head would explode!
Once upon a time……
...there was a girl named India who lived and breathed rainbows.
...there was a girl named India who lived and breathed rainbows.
What question do wish I had asked and what would your answer be?
What's my TV design inspiration? A mix of the house from "The Brady Bunch" the furniture and style from "Bewitched," and the warm homey feeling of "That Girl." One day...
What's my TV design inspiration? A mix of the house from "The Brady Bunch" the furniture and style from "Bewitched," and the warm homey feeling of "That Girl." One day...
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)