What I Learned at Blogshop...

I spent my whole weekend at an an amazing class called Blogshop.  You see, I have been wanting to learn Photoshop for years, but I just didn't know where to find a class tailored to my needs.  I wondered how bloggers made their pretty inspiration boards and email templates, now I know, they use Photoshop! I felt like I was watching that show, can't remember what it was called, where they reveal the magician's secrets.  The thing is, though, it's not super easy, so I have even more respect for all the eye pleasing posts I see on designers blogs.  The class is taught by the lovely and energetic duo, Bri Emery of Design Love Fest and photographer Angela Kohler.  Seriously, the best teachers, they were clear and specific, patient and just fun to be around! So, you better expect to start seeing some amazing posts on here and if you don't, please call me on it!  Here is a little sampling of what I did at the class.  From what I have heard, Bri and Angela are taking this thing on the road, so sign up! Here is a link to info on the San Francisco class. 

 

This is an animated gif, so fun!

 We learned how to create mood boards and pull colors and patterns from photos.

Another one, these are a blast!

Retouching photos was something I was really excited about, I always want my hair to look more voluminous and now you won't have to look at the bags under my eyes unless you see me in person, HaHa. No seriously, don't expect me to retouch all the photos of myself that I post on here, but this will be great for photo shoots or terrible breakouts.  

 

One of the best things I learned was how to make a collage on a white background.  I always wondered how that was done.  :)  

1. dior bag 2. naka earrings 3. scarf  4. sam shoes 5. ruche swimsuit

Thank you, thank you, Angela & Bri!!!  I learned so much, but I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of what the program can do.  Now I have the base knowledge and confidence to try things out!

Memorial Day Weekend

I had a wonderful three day weekend, how about you?  I used to always work when everyone else was off and just accepted that as part of owning my own business.  Not anymore, if I was someone's employee and wasn't given the day off yesterday, I would have been pretty upset.  We all need to rest sometimes.  Rest doesn't always mean doing nothing though, often doing something different than you normally do, can really recharge you.  Over the years I have struggled to find a hobby because all my creative hobbies are connected with my business and therefore never really feel restful.  Since moving the business out of my home I have been able to see home making more as a hobby and less as a difficult chore.  Cooking, organizing, decorating and entertaining have given me a creative outlet without the pressure of deadlines.  I tend to be pretty casual in my cooking, making up and altering recipes as I go.  I love to experiment and sometimes it really pays off.  

Over the weekend, we did a lot around our home.  We are in the midst of a backyard remodel (not sure going from just dirt to real landscape is considered a "remodel", but you know what I mean).  We have lived in our home for almost four years and have been fixing it up from the inside out, we have finally gotten to the backyard and hopefully it will be done in time to enjoy it this summer!  My husband is amazing!  Over the three days, with the help of a few friends and family members, he put in a ton (actually 6 tons) of flagstone.  We now have a pathway to our front door that continues to the backyard, an area for seating with a fire pit and a large patio for an outdoor eating area.   I helped piece some of the flagstone in and get it level.  I also made some homemade lemonade with lemons I bought at the farmers market and organized my cupboards with some vintage canning jars.  Food looks so much better in glass jars than it does in scrunched plastic bags.  Lastly, I made a little feast for Memorial Day.  My brother and sister-in-law took Ruby to the Strawberry Festival while I cooked and when they came back we all ate together.  It was a wonderful weekend!

 future outdoor eating area

 path to front door and on to backyard

 

Fresh homemade lemonade

Newly organized cupboard

Easy & Healthy Oven Fried Chicken (6 chicken legs, 1 egg, 1/2 cup almond flour, 1/2 flax seed meal, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 1 tsp salad, 1/2 tsp cracked pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder : dip legs in egg and then in flour mixture, place on a baking sheet and bake at 400 for 30-45 minutes)

  

 Broccoli Salad - I used this recipe, but substituted halved green grapes for the celery and used balsamic for the vinegar.

 farmer's market fruit salad

 homemade oven fries with chipotle mayo. (1 cup mayo, 1 garlic clove minced, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tbsp chilli powder)

I Can Be A Little Vintage Shop Owner if I Want

Over the past few weeks I have been confronted with my own dissatisfaction with life.  I am not smart enough, pretty enough or successful enough for my own preconceived, unrealistic standard of what a women in America in the 21st century should be.  It's just so easy to focus on what you don't have instead of what you do have.  It hit me this week...having the freedom that we do, allows us to set our own path.  We were taught as kids that we could be whatever we wanted when we grew up and if I just want to have a little shop and raise a family, I can.  I do not have to be the President of the United States or the most successful online vintage retailer, I can just be Beth Giles, mother, wife and owner of an itty bitty vintage shop!   Right now I feel free, free to enjoy MY life.  I am sure a time of discontent will come again and I just hope I can remember these words I wrote.

Some photos of last Saturday, picking flowers in the front yard with Ruby.  My wonderful husband did all the work to make our front yard beautiful.  What a lucky girl I am to have them both!

Born to Thrift ~ A letter about my beginnings

 

My Mom recently told me about how she had been reading through a box of letters that she found at my Grandparents house when they passed away.  She had written the letters to my Grandma when I was about Ruby's age (2). It's pretty funny because my Mom had taken me to thrift stores and flea markets at that age, just like I do with Ruby.  I hadn't realized that I started living the Salvage Life so early on.  In this letter I got a dress for 50 cents and a top for 10 cents!  I guess that was before "old" things were such hot commodities.  I acquired some beautiful things at the flea market yesterday, I will share some photos tomorrow, have a nice Monday!

Not Buying Anything NEW and NEW Items in the Shop

Yesterday, I completely forgot to mention our crazy "no buying anything new" goal for 2010.  In fact, I really haven't shared too much about it on the blog because I try to keep posts heavier on visual content rather than writing.  If you aren't sure what I am talking about, let me bring you up to speed...my family and I decided last year that our New Year's Resolution would be to try to not buy anything "new" for the whole year, with a few built in exceptions such as food and toiletries.  The challenge was to put living the "Salvage Life" to the test.  Could we really find the things we wanted and needed by buying used instead of new?  The answer, for the most part was, YES!  We gave creative used and vintage gifts, we found used clothes and shoes for the whole family, we borrowed, we scoured ebay, etsy and craigslist.  I don't think however that I bought less stuff in 2010, I just replaced new purchases with used ones.  I want to think more about what and why I buy in 2011, we'll see how it goes.  If you want to read more about this challenge, visit Adelaide Homesewn's Blog, Maria did an interview with me there.

Today I will start adding some new items to the shop and the first collection will be this sweet group of vintage brooches.  Sometimes when I think of brooches, I think of an old lady pinning Christmas tree brooches all over an already hideous sweater, but let's think again.  Brooches can be worn in so many interesting ways.  Here's five ideas to get the most out of your brooches:

1. Pin a group of three small brooches to a knit cap
2. Secure a piece of ribbon around your waist with a statement brooch
3. Pin it onto a plain clutch purse to spice it up
4. Hang it on a string or thin ribbon around your neck
5. Pin it on a stretchy head band for an instant hairdo

New Year = New Goals

Wow, it feels like I have been gone forever!  This is the longest break I have taken since I started Salvage Life 4 years ago and I needed it.  2010 was a whirlwind which brought many blessings to me and my family.  With Taylor Swift buying from our shop, the People Magazine feature, and the Today Show, I really feel encouraged that Salvage Life is on the right track.  I have some exciting ideas fro 2011 and I can't wait to get started.  Here's a few photos from our holiday festivities:

2010 was a fantastic year and I am hoping that 2011 will be even better.  It's hard to limit myself on Goals, so I have along list, but I'll spare you because I prefer that you keep reading my blog. :)

My top 4 Goals for 2011 (read these as if I am giving myself a pep talk in the mirror)

1. Get Salvage Life the heck out of my house ~ get a studio!
2. Suck it up and get pregnant with baby #2, it's not going to get easier if you wait another year
3. Be sure to make my hubby a priority, he is my number one supporter and he deserves it!
4. Don't be a hermit, seek out friendships with other moms and business owners

Best of luck to you in all your endeavors this year, please check back soon as we will have new merchandise, blog posts and events in the weeks to come. Happy New Year!

Staying on the Farm in Los Angeles

Over the weekend Jeff and I celebrated a belated wedding anniversary.  It was 7 years in July, boy how time flies.  We got away for one night without the baby, which was such a treat.  Thanks Mom!  We stayed at a boutique hotel in West Hollywood called Farmer's Daughter.  It was a old motel that was renovated in a kitschy vintage farmhouse style.  They have an adjoining restaurant, Tart, which has delicious breakfast foods and uses only grass fed meats and local produce.   We also ate and window shopped at the permanent Farmer's Market across the street and at The Grove.  A stop at Anthropologie was a must, even though I can't buy anything.  It's amazing how just a one day getaway can make you feel so refreshed.  We need to do this more often!

Hospital Recovery SALE

So, I took last week off to go on a couple of short trips with my family and I ended up in the hospital with an appendicitis.  We had a nice stay in the mountains at a friend's cabin and on the day we were planning to come home, I woke up at 3am in terrible pain.  After getting home, I spent some time at Urgent Care and the ER before being admitted to the hospital and having surgery.  The worst part is that a good friend of mine from high school got married on Saturday with a beautiful vintage style wedding and I wasn't there. :(  I had helped her find coordinating vintage ties for her nine groomsmen and was anxious to see it all come together as well as celebrate with her and many other friends I haven't seen in a long time. Thanks for all the well wishes for those who read my tweets from the hospital!

I got home yesterday and am feeling ok, but I don't expect much to happen around here for a bit.  I am hosting a bridal shower this coming Saturday for my dear cousin, so I will be putting what little energy I have towards that.  In the meantime, I have significantly marked down summer items in my shop to make room for fall, (is it really that time already?) so that should keep you busy.  There are 40+ sale items and they are up to 75% off!  I am also hoping to get another giveaway going this week, we'll see how it goes.

Don't worry, I'm not...

Ok, so I cut the last post off a bit abruptly. I had people calling me and asking if I was moving or pregnant. Please people! Jeff and I have chosen a challenging resolution for 2010. We are going to attempt to refrain from buying anything NEW for the whole year. There are some exclusions:

food
toiletries
necessary paper goods
cleaning supplies
underwear
diapers/wipes
medical and safety supplies

This is not a vow and nothing is going to happen to us if we don't follow it, but I want to see if it is possible to really live a "Salvage Life". I want to practice what I preach.

I am sure this will evolve along the way, I am already thinking that I need to add "items that help you salvage other items" to the list.

Wish me luck!

a breath of NEW air

Why is always so hard for me to blog? I have been thinking about this post for at least 14 days now and have still yet to write it. It's not even that exciting. I'm one of those people who have so many unachieved (why is spell check underlining this?!) ideas in my head, there just isn't enough time for all that my mind thinks up. So here goes...

I'm excited about 2010, you wanna know why? Because this is the start of my 2nd year of motherhood and my 4th year as a business owner. Sometimes I think (actually, often) why am I doing this? Because I LOVE IT!!!! I love being a mom and I love my business. So this is the year of making it happen, really moving forward with Salvage Life and being a great mom at the same time.

I am now selling in two stores and it's going really well. Online sales have been steady and I have some ideas for increasing those also. I have built some great vendor relationships and am in the process of finishing the website and working on more branding materials.

Other reasons to be excited:
.Styling the Harvey's shoot at the end of the month
.Handmade Brigade Show on March 7th
.my daughter's first birthday is almost here
.teaching a class on starting your own Etsy shop

And now for the last reason why 2010 is going to be a great year....

this will have to be continued at a later time, I have to go to a meeting, this post is getting pretty long anyways.

My little lady bug...

The Giles family had a wonderful Halloween. I spent much of the day preparing for the Handmade Brigade Show on Sunday, but I managed to squeeze in pumpkin carving and a short visit to a carnival with the baby. Jeff and I didn't dress up this year, since we figured everyone would just be looking at the baby anyway. She was a lady bug, not super original but I think she was super cute! We even dressed up her little animals.

There's always next week

Well, I was hoping to get more items listed in the shop this week, but I spent many of my precious hours making baby food, playing with my daughter and cleaning house. The last one is really funning because my house doesn't look clean at all, there is merchandise and baby paraphernalia everywhere, but the tub and floors are clean! I would be frustrated except this is the life I chose. I don't have to be a stay at home mom and run my own business, but I choose to and with that choice I purpose to always put my family first. That requires cleverness and sacrifice and I am sure I will never find a balance in all of it, but I love my daughter and I really enjoy running Salvage Life. I try to include her in things by telling her about the clothes "we" sell and how the business works. I think she likes it even though she probably doesn't have a clue what I am saying. She gets excited and waves her arms when I hold up a pretty dress. Yesterday, I was trying to take pictures and she was whining so gave her this old camera and she thought she was working too. I love what I do!

Another must have item for my baby's room is an owl shaped pillow! Here are a few that I am considering after an extensive Etsy search. Maybe I'll even make my own in my spare time. :)

From Pretty Lil Things

From Joo Sweetie


From Pinch Face



From The Small Woods



From Manic Muffin Totes


From Cuore



From Zemphira

So, I have about a month until my due date and the insomnia has really set in. Luckily, I have Etsy searches to keep me busy. I have been looking for something to hang on the baby's wall and I just came across this shop, Icing On The Cupcake. Here are some of the adorable prints they have!

Wondering what I have been up to lately? I have been busy preparing for the baby's arrival! I had my final baby shower on Saturday and on Sunday I had a big Salvage Life Sale at my house. This will probably be the last sale for awhile. Let's see...what else?...setting up the baby's room, selling furniture we no longer need on Craig's List, clearing some of my clothes out of the closet in the baby's room, getting massages and Chiropractic adjustments for my increasingly painful back, going through baby hand-me-downs from family and friends, doing extra photo shoots and stocking up on merchandise so my business can make it through the newborn stage, and waddling my way through the mall to find Christmas presents.


My favorite three-layer dip from Trader Joe's. Sun-tomato, Pesto and Cream Cheese. How cute are those star crackers?


Pinwheels! Cream cheese, ham and green onions wrapped in a flour tortilla and sliced up. The other version has olives and bell peppers, Delicious!


Pretty centerpieces!


The cake was made of cupcakes and had the cutest little baby made of fondant on top.


My mom gave me a box of my baby things and I absolutely love this sailor dress! i can't wait for her to wear it!


My Grandma got me the travel system (stroller and car seat) that I registered for.


My sister Amy got me the most adorable white faux fur coat for her to wear next winter.


Me and my dear cousin Joan!