gratitude

this week's gratitude post is short and sweet (and late) because i had a longer than usual work day at one of my 'day jobs' (i really meant to get this posted this morning but ran out of time just after finishing up with the photos). the good news is- today will be one of my last days at this particular job, which means i'll have more time to focus on the site, the space at the vintage mall, and gathering goods for the farm chicks show booth! i suppose that could have been today's gratitude really- but i don't have any good photos for it. ;)

instead, today i'm grateful for this:

no, i'm not an archer or a bow hunter, i just love the way it looks (i'm sure my brother, the hunter, would be laughing at me if he was reading this)! it also has a bit of extra meaning for a few reasons...

one. the mister and i, along with some of our good friends from the church we met at, have little inside jokes regarding a fellow in the bible named Joash and 'dropping bows'- like i said, inside joke (that probably isn't funny to anyone but us)!

two. because of said inside joke, i think this is one of the first vintage pieces i've found that the mister was actually excited about (it's not that he's opposed, vintage just isn't his thing so he doesn't get excited). it was fun to bring it home from idaho knowing he would be happy i did.

three. i found this at the Funky Junk Show while Melissa and i were on our girl's weekend celebrating all our accomplishments with dear darling, and enjoying a few days together sans babies before her newest arrival made her debut. it was right around when i was working on launching Gather and Hunt and the bow and arrow imagery really jumped out at me as a potential logo. it would be nearly 4 months until that logo came to life thanks to my talented designer, but i think this bow, with it's arrows, will always remind me of the early, exciting, and slightly uncertain, days of Gather and Hunt.

i recently found some more colorful arrows to replace the hunting arrows that came with the bow (a little safer).

love the model name!

aren't they neat?

yes, that clamp light normally lives back there- i'm a fan of weird directional lighting!

what do you have gratitude for this week? i love seeing what you all have to say, so please leave a comment!

gratitude

there was a time when i worked in a cubicle. a grey cubicle. i was surrounded with perfectly lovely people, people whose voices i could hear over the walls of my cubicle, but who i couldn't see. this made me a very sad girl. then one day, i left this land of cubicles and ventured out on my own. i miss the people i met in those cubicles (and the ones who were lucky enough to have offices), but i greatly prefer the life i have now.

if you didn't already guess- today i am grateful for the opportunity to have a business. and this business wouldn't be what it is without a place to display and sell all the vintage goodness i gather each week- the Fremont Vintage Mall.

{photo via Reware Vintage}

the FVM is a collection of vendors who lease spaces and then fill those spaces with whatever sorts of vintage goods appeal to them. the FVM provides an awesome staff so as a vendor all i have to do is restock my inventory, tag my goods, reset displays, and tidy a few times a week (in an ideal world). it's a great, low-risk way to start a brick and mortar vintage business. this made it a great choice when Melissa and i were starting our first vintage business, Dear Darling, since we were living in different cities and had no idea if we'd make any money!

a bunch of our friends, Melissa, and i at the Dear Darling grand opening.

 the space at the FVM has definitely changed over the last few years...

at the Dear Darling grand opening

the last few months of Dear Darling

right after the transition from Dear Darling to Gather and Hunt

after trading out some grey shelving for white cabinets

...but every day i'm filled with gratitude for a place where i can bring vintage treasures to find new life with others who love vintage.

what are you grateful for this week?

P.S.

if you're in the Seattle area i hope you'll visit the Fremont Vintage Mall to see all the vintage goodness for yourself. starting tonight you also have the chance to get some great deals at the grand opening of FVM owner Jamie Hoffman's newest project, Auction House. for those of you outside Seattle you can shop for great vintage clothing and accessories at their sister company- Atlas Clothing- on Etsy.

farm chicks love

over the weekend i received a fun email- my 2012 confirmation and the digital promo materials for The Farm Chicks Show! i admit, i had a tiny moment of panic when i realized that the show is only 4 months away (ack!), but then i remembered that just means i get to spend even more time out at sales, hunting down more amazing, beautiful, and fun vintage goodies to take with me to the show!

a few things i've been saving for the show

if you haven't heard about The Farm Chicks Show, it is a meticulously curated antique/vintage/'junk'/handmade show happening annually in Spokane, Washington. co-founded, organized and juried by the lovely and talented Serena, the show is a two day extravaganza of amazingness! vendors save their best goods for the show and you will see things you can't find anywhere else.

Funky Junk Jennifer's booth, photo by One Girl One Camera

last year, my bestie and partner in Dear Darling Vintage, Melissa and i were honored to be selected as vendors and we had so much fun!

this year, i'll be taking Gather and Hunt on the road to Spokane and i'm so excited! i hope to see some of you at the show this year! if you already know you'll be attending leave a comment below- i'm working on a special project for the weekend of the show and i'd love to be able to invite you along!