Dream a Little Dream {or a big one}

I'm an ideas girl.  My brain is always swirling and spinning with thoughts of how I could make little tweaks to things around the house...or maybe brace the ceiling and knock down a wall.  I'm always dreaming and scheming about how to reconcile my loves for collecting vintage and designing spaces (homes, gardens, Airstream travel trailers...you name it).  Most of the time my dreams and idea just swirl around in my mind.  My home, my garden, my Airstream travel trailer...they are my creative playground.  They are the place where I get to test my ideas and see if they sink or swim.

And then sometimes I have ideas that just can't really be tested here at home.

You know I love design and my heart sings for vintage.  You know I'm always reading 5 books and only finishing 3.  You know that I occasionally tackle sewing, knitting, and crocheting projects for my family.

Did you know that I have always been a stationery hoarder?  Always as in since age 5 at least.  Back then it was the excitement of a new box of crayons and a spiral notebook just for me.  Remember those toy catalogs that would come in the mail every Fall?  The ones with every toy possible?  There were play kitchens (which I adored) and blocks and baby dolls and remote control toys and cars you could actually drive.  There were unending possibilities in those catalogs...and I would sit and stare over and over at the pencils you could have your name on, and the little pink diary with colorful hearts and a lock and key on which your name could be engraved, and the little pads of paper....which, you guess it, could have your name.

I'm not sure if my love of stationery came because of the love of the thing itself, or because of the ability to have my name put on it.  You see, every gift shop on the planet stocks those pencils and mugs and play license plates that come pre-printed with names on them.  But you'll never see a Judith among them.  When I was little, the closest I could come would be Judy...but this option has always bothered me because there is no "Y" in Judith.  Even in high school when my name was shorted for awhile, I insisted it be spelled Judi.

So why did I love the stationery from the catalog so much?  Because my mom and dad could order it for me with my name printed on it, and because to me, that was rare and special.

I still love stationery.  My heart still takes a little leap of joy when I come across the perfect set of notecards.  And I have special pens that I bring out just for writing notes to friends.  But over the last few years I've moved away from using bought stationery and have started designing my own.

It started with a Valentine's Day card when the Kiddo was 2 months old, and since then, with only one notable exception (when I was massively pregnant and my husband was recovering from a major illness) I have created our own cards and invitations for every family event and had them sent out to print.

And so I'm dreaming again.  I love collecting vintage goods, but if I'm completely honest, I'm not in love with selling them.  I have such respect for all those who are able to collect, refresh, and resell vintage items.  There is so much work behind the scenes that I just don't have time for as a mom of two tiny ones.  Every item has to be cleaned, staged, photographed (lighting has to be right!), a description has to be written, it has to be priced, and then you have to figure out shipping to Timbucktoo.  If you do guess right on shipping and there is any small profit, it doesn't come close to paying you for your time.  In my case, my time is extra precious because it is my time away from my children.  So, my goal for this year is to slowly but sure get the rest of my inventory listed in my Etsy shop and sell out.

But there is another dream which has creeped into my mind these last few months.  And that is the dream of designing my own line of stationery.  How can I do this in a way that is sustainable for me as a full time mama of two?  I'm not entirely sure, but my early thoughts are it would be in the form of purchasable digital files which people would then be free to have printed as many times as they wish.

Is it crazy?  I don't think so.  Not as crazy as my dream of selling vintage.  :)  Will I fail?  Well if I do, it won't be the first time.  :)

What about you?  Any crazy dreams for 2014?  Knocking down any walls?  Starting new exciting projects?

Announcing The Tids&Bits Collection Launch!

It's a little scary...and extremely exciting!  I'm working my fingers to the bone in every spare moment I can find adding new items to the Tids & Bits Shop.  The last time I launched, I launched quietly.  I turned my store on and I whispered timidly to the world "shhhh....I'm here".  I ran a handful of listings for 4 months and let them expire the week my daughter was born.  They left the interwebs as quietly as they entered.

I took the last 2 months to adjust to being a mom of two, to wage war on my daughter's acid reflux which has plagued our nights and days, and to rest and reflect...as much as one can with a newborn.  I've read wonderful books as I've sat up all hours of the day and night nursing my little one.  And as exhausted as I still am, I also feel refreshed and inspired.  So this time, I'm excited to announce

The Tids & Bits Collection is launching July 4, 2013!

In it you will find vintage homegoods I've carefully collected from my thrifting adventures and estate sale hunts, along with some handmade homegoods which I think you'll love as much as I do.  They compliment one another, the vintage and the handmade, and I'm thrilled to be taking the shop in a new direction.

I will give you sneak peeks of the collection as it gets closer to July 4, and if you'd like to stay informed of shop updates (including sales!) please feel free to "like" the Tids & Bits Collection Facebook page.

Introducing Tids & Bits Vintage!

I did it!

It's been a long time coming...at first it was just an idea which I hesitantly shared only with the Hubster.  And then, a little more bravely with my brother.  And then...slowly I began sharing with friends.

I love all things vintage.  I love finding an item that has history.  An item which might have been once mass-produced, but has been discarded for decades, and now seems fresh and new and exciting.  I love the process of hunting down exactly the item that I want to bring into my home and my daily life.  It might be pretty, and I might value it solely for looks, but chances are that if it's in my home it's functional and meant to be used.

And, more and more I've come to see that I'm not the only one who values vintage goods in this way.  But, many people don't have the time to hunt down fun treasures for their home and office.  And many people like the idea of buying vintage, but don't have a clear vision of how to integrate it into their lives and homes.

And so, I very enthusiastically announce that I have opened...

...my very own Etsy shop!

Yes, I do realize that I only have four items listed.  :)

Rome wasn't built in a day, and I want to do this right.  Which means taking good photos that showcase the beauty of these vintage treasures.  So, slowly but surely, this shop will be growing and expanding until it is bursting at the seams with all kinds of wonderful, vintage, mid-century goodness.  I am only selling items which I truly love...things that I would want in my home...and often times things that I am drooling over.  Let me tell you, this is the hardest part!  I am constantly finding things I want to keep for myself instead of list in the shop.  But I spent last summer building inventory, and I cannot possibly bring all these fun things into my home permanently. 

So please feel free to browse and enjoy the fruits of my labor!  This shop is my baby and I'm so excited to share her with you.  :)