Hi Guys! As you all know my store is currently down. We should be back with many new changes and inventory very soon. We’re very excited to be back up and running for 2016!
Love, HeatherVintage88
Designing on a Dime!
Hey Guys!
We’re back!!! I know it’s been ages since we have written anything but these few past months have been super busy with tons of wedding and event orders, organizing our inventory and fixing our shipping area. We have also been working on our new product line and been planning the upcoming photo shoot in January 2015. Very exciting!
I have also been doing some home organization and re-decorating in the meantime. I thought I would start the topic on home decor. When you think of the word home decor…What do you usually think about? Where do you usually shop? What is your budget? What is your style? The list goes on..
When someone asks me for my help and to give guidance and tips on how to decorate their home…I usually tell them that I am a thrifty person and love great quality all at the same time. There are so many ways to decorate without having to paint, assemble huge furniture, draw a floor plan, or spend tons of money.
The thing is..everyone that steps through my doors at home think…”OMG! That must of been expensive!” When of course, it does give the illusion..it wasn’t at all. Most of the items in my home are either found on the street, re-purposed, recycled or found cheap without compromising their quality. When I look for home decor..I look for solid sturdy furniture thats going to last.
Certain stores have their “reputation.” I occasionally shop at the home store named Ikea. I am sure all of you know it. Ikea has a not so good reputation. It’s known for furniture that falls apart, cheap, crap, not well made, etc. Well, usually its the people who haven’t ever shopped there before, only purchased for their dorm room or can’t assemble furniture to save their life that say these things. If you go there with the mind set “I just want cheap stuff” thats certainly then what you will get. If you go there thinking “I want something that is well made and will make my home look beautiful” you will find something. Trust me. Also, you must trust yourself when looking for something of good quality.
Here are a few of my tricks…If you know your Ikea well like me…like the back of your hand you will know that…half the stuff shown on Pinterest that designers use is either from Ikea or Home Goods. Yes, Ikea..not Pottery barn, not EQ3 Furniture, not West Elm..etc. When you shop at Ikea..its like a hunt. You have to search within the rooms for the good quality finds. You cannot expect to find something right when you walk in. You need to truly LOOK. Yes-it’s also very hard to look when there are mobs of people. My trick is to go during the week when there are less people pushing or rushing you. Go midweek when no one really goes shopping. You will have more time and can go slow. You see so many more beautiful things when you simply slow down.
You can also do your research online before hand and find what designer made that item in the certain country. I usually can spend under $150-$200 and fully completely design a room by using these certain techniques. Including accessories, rugs, linens, plants, picture frames and accent pieces. Im sure if you ask any other designer out there..they love being thrifty too! Don’t believe me? Come shopping with me one day..I will take you to all my secret stores!
There are tons of stores out there where you don’t have to spend a atrocious amount of money just to decorate your home. I know many people who say “forget it” because they just simply give up when it comes to decorating. Thats just too bad. What they don’t know is that you can find things everywhere without going completely broke. I can count over 20 items in my home that I got for free or I’ve found on the street. All I needed to do was either clean it, paint it or recover it. So simple and very cheap!
So next time your thinking about decorating a room..think with your thrifty cap on and think outside the box. I love mixing old pieces with the new. Look on craigslist, ask a neighbor for stuff just sitting around in there garage, look around at local sales, find consignment stores, score finds on trash pick up day and etc.
http://diyready.com/ikea-hacks-diy-furniture-you-must-try/
I hope some of these tips helped you! Try to have some fun with it!
Love, HeatherVintage88
Gatsby Glamour by HeatherVintage88
I wanted to thank all my lovely ladies who helped out with yet again another beautiful photo shoot! Kathy @ Awesome Blossoms, Jen @ New Vintage Photography and our beautiful model Rebecca Verhoek! Stop by for many new products being added! Check out the Gallery here: http://newvintagephotographybyjen.pixieset.com/heathervintage88/
Love, HeatherVintage88
Behind the Scenes of HeatherVintage88
Do you ever wonder where it is that I work everyday? Well, here I will show you more behind the scenes here at HeatherVintage88 and what I do everyday. I always have people asking what it takes to start an Etsy shop and how to run one. Well, all I can tell you is that it’s very hard work, takes a lot of motivation and dedication to run a successful small business. Between answering customer requests, designing custom orders, gathering and stocking supplies, constantly changing listings, making sure my tools are clean and ready to go, merchandising during the day, organizing inventory and shipping supplies, writing up order slips, watching shop stats, getting my business known on social media sites, designing and thinking up new items, running out to the craft store, ordering boxes and envelopes, shipping out 10-15 orders a week..I may have a little time to eat and rest out of my day. haha! But, I love it!!! All of the other small businesses know how much work it really is..but when it comes to family or friends-I am not so sure they truly know. Sorry peeps! lol
I work out of my condo that is about 700 sqft of space. I am always finding new ways to get organized and minimize clutter for my business. Everyone who comes over always compliments how well it is organized…but when I pull everything out of my rabbit hat…its a tornado of lace, ribbon, burlap, fabric, scissors, tools, glue, buttons, yarn and so much more. I enjoy finding new ways to keep things in their own space and on a budget without cluttering up where I live. Here is a picture of my office space.
I am always trying to look for deals! My keep calm & carry on picture frame I found at a thrift store and is my main inspiration for my business. I found the lamp by the trash when someone was moving out..it’s clean, looks brand new and works! Score for me! The wire mannequin that I had at my wedding for holding place cards now holds purses and totes. I found at another thrift store for under $10! You can’t forget my baskets..they’re my favorite! This basket was actually given to me by a family member. It was about to be donated but I had so much use for it. Also, bins!!! They’re a must when running a business. I know they’re not pretty but they keep me sane. One day they will be put away or in a craft space. I hope these little tips helped you get more organized too!
Now, here is some new and exciting news..This has been a secret for some time now but my husband and I have officially started our planning process to move to the U.K. and buy a cottage home. We will be moving HeatherVintage88 with us. We are looking forward to where our journey will take us and meeting new people and clients! This process could take at least 1-2 years to achieve so don’t worry we are here for awhile. Until then, we are looking forward to what this new year will bring us. We are so happy to be apart of your wonderful life changing events! Stay tuned for more! Enjoy this picture of Bandit one of my babies.
Love, HeatherVintage88
Easy Thanksgiving Decor
Taking it easy or on a budget this Thanksgiving? There are simple ways to spruce up your table or centerpiece without spending a ton of money for decorations. Here I will list a few fun ways to decorate for the holidays!
1. Display beautiful vibrant vegetables in a bowl and put Autumn candles or flowers in a few. Just buy extra vegetables while shopping for your feast.
2. Use your buffet table or sofa table to display pumpkins, food, flowers, drinks, banners and etc. By using only one area for all your Thanksgiving decorations will keep it very festive yet cost efficient. Its also easy take down to get ready for Christmas.
3. Use natural resources if you are using Autumn as the main inspiration for your centerpiece. Like corn, leaves, twigs, pumpkins, pine cones, acorns and tons more. Just go outside for a walk with a bag, see what you find, wash them all and display on your table.
4. Create pretty but simple fire place mantle decorations. With a Thanksgiving banner that you can make with the kids, some candles and leaves.
5. Make beautiful front porch decorations! A big wreath, banner, pumpkins, leaves, corn and more! Everyone on the block will be driving by slow just to see it!
I hope you enjoyed some of these ideas for Thanksgiving decorations and got some inspiration or ideas of your own! Stay tuned for more exciting things coming soon!
Autumn with HeatherVintage88!
I want to thank Awesome Blossoms, New vintagePhotography and Rebecca Verhoek for being a part of our Autumn Photo shoot this month including my fans! It came out so beautiful! The concept of what I was going for was “Natural Elements”. I used a mixture of leaves from outside, twigs, moss, birch, sola flowers, succulents and more. I wanted to show the natural beauty of Autumn that people seem to forget in their busy schedules. This type of setting would be perfect for weddings, garden parties, baby showers and more!
All my props I used were from items I’ve had in my storage, from my grandmother and from the thrift shops. I love to rummage around at a little thrift shop and get lost in all the treasures. My model and I shopped for her dress & shoes at the thrift shop as well. We attached pearl buttons to the front of her dress for a little more elegant feel. We also found the beautiful Autumn chair and lace table cloth at the thrift shop and I cleaned them up..they costed a total of $15. I ran around styling my model, throwing leaves on her and setting up products while my amazing photographer Jen from New vintagePhotography took the pictures. She truly captures the natural light and beauty of everything around her. My florist is amazing beyond words..I told her the idea of what I want for my arrangements and she always delivers so much more! Kathy at Awesome Blossoms is such a talented lady and I think she deserves way more credit for what she does! You can make any event beautiful with just items you already own or find by treasure hunting. Thank you ladies! I can’t wait until May 2014 for our next photo shoot..Gatsby Glamour! ❤
Thank you for being my wonderful fans & customers! I appreciate each and everyone of you! We made it to 800 likes! YAY! 🙂
Love, HeatherVintage88
How I made $420 from Gift Cards!
Do you ever end up with a bunch of gift cards with a few dollars left on them? I do for some reason. I recently went through my desk and decided to go through my gift cards that were thrown everywhere in there. I was just wanting to throw them all away, they were dirty and thinking its not much money anyway.
My husband called each gift card company on the back of the card. He wrote down each balance with the last 4 digits on a piece of paper so we could keep track. After we called every single company..I decided for fun to add the total up. The total came to $420! I couldn’t believe it! So, don’t throw away old grimy gift cards you haven’t used in years! Use them! Its free money that was just sitting around.
I ended up getting a lot of grocery, shopping, beauty supplies, craft stores and pet food money! WIN! Learn from my lesson and keep them all and see what they total up to be even if they are $1! Stay tuned for more exciting things! Happy spending! Love, HeatherVintage88
Anti-aging Beauty Tips!
People always ask me how do I stay looking so young? I am 25 years old and people say I still look 15-18 years old. I have always been obsessed with keeping my skin looking healthy and young. I also have been told people who are younger than me look way older than me. I have always liked looking for new ways for my skin and face to be healthy since forever. Here I will share a few tips with you that I use daily:
1. Drink lots of water. Your skin can become wrinkly and dry just by not drinking enough water during the day. You need to keep not only your body hydrated but your skin as well.
2. No smoking or drinking. I know this is hard for some people but if you can stop all together its better for your health all around. Smoking and drinking can cause pre-mature aging, wrinkling and cancer.
3. Washing your face before going to bed. During the day, environmental toxins like dirt and pollution build up on skin and invade pores, which can cause complexion problems.
4. Sleep at least 7-8 hours every night. Getting enough sleep is very important to your health and also can age you faster if you don’t get enough rest.
5. Wearing makeup with UV protection in it. This is important to wear some kind of protection on your skin from the sun. Not wearing any can cause spots and age you quicker.
6. Natural cleansers for your skin. Using all skin care products with natural ingredients is really good for your skin because the harsh chemicals in other ones can take a toll on your face and cause it to look and feel worse.
7. Wash your pillow and case in hot water once a week. Keeping your pillow clean is important because you use this every night. Dirt from your skin or hair can brush onto your face and cause random breakouts.
8. Vitamins. I take about 10-15 natural vitamins a day with a meal. Your body needs extra nutrients that our food is sometimes missing. This is important for staying young, healthy and keeps you away from doctor visits.
9. Home remedies. I am always making face masks and scrubs that are good for exfoliating and getting deep inside the pores. Such as olive oil, avocado, honey, sugar and more.
10. Find out what your face mapping means. Learning this will help you find out why you get breakouts and what you need to do to help them. Mine usually break out on my chin which is linked to monthly hormones. These are usually harder to treat but vitamins help them.
http://www.realbeauty.com/health/diet/anti-aging-foods#slide-1
My motto: The healthier your skin is the less makeup you need to wear or buy and the more money you save!!
I hope you enjoyed reading some of my tips! Stay tuned for more exciting tips coming soon!
Tips for a Squeaky Clean Home!
Ever wondered how you can keep your home clean just like the homes on Pinterest or even better? Well, I am here to give you a few tips and tricks I have learned over the years. I love having a clean home to live in. Fresh laundry, fluffy carpet and the nice cool refreshing breeze flowing in through the windows. The great part about these tips is that it only takes about 10-15 minutes of your day/time and you’ve got a nice clean home once again..how awesome is that?!
Here are a few great tips below:
1. Gather a bunch of cleaning rags or terry cloths, leave the laundry lid open and take an all purpose cleaner (preferably Mrs. Meyers-I like the lavender scent!) then swoop through each room wiping everything down. Once done with each room..throw them all in the laundry, shut the lid and wash them in hot water to kill all the germs.
2. Store everything in baskets. I have pretty baskets in every room! I have them in the kitchen for baking tools and measuring cups, also in the bathroom and living room for towels and magazines, one in the bedroom for hats and socks, laundry room for detergent and softeners, and one for yarn & knitting in the main room. Baskets are my go to item! They save you and your home from looking cluttered and make it really nice looking for when you have guests over.
3. Load at least one load of dishes & laundry once a day. This will not take much time at all. If you do this once a day you can keep the mountain of dishes or clothes at a more manageable size…BUT, you have to do it once a day to keep it that way. No making excuses or getting out of it!
4. Vacuum 3-4 times a week. I know that may seem like a lot but even if you have cleaned nothing else the entire week..the house will always feel better and cleaner. Especially, when you have kids or pets!
5. Make your bed every morning and wash the sheets in hot water once a week. Theres nothing like getting into nice clean sheets after a stressful week at work. It feels so nice! Treat yourself to making yourself feel better each week by doing this.
6. Do a big cleaning, scrubbing, mopping and washing once a month..if you can. Go around the house and wash all pillow covers, throw blankets, rugs, windows, floors, clean bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms and living room. If you try to manage this once a month it won’t feel so overwhelming when you do and its a lot cheaper than paying a maid.
7. Mow your lawn every two weeks and do a big yard clean-up once a month. It will keep the front of the house looking fresh. If you do a big yard clean-up at least once a month and pull all weeds, cut sucker branches, water everything and maybe plant some new fresh flowers or plants. This goes hand in hand with the last one. It won’t feel so overwhelming if you do this once a month and you won’t have to hire anyone to do the job for you. It’s actually kind of fun..you could even get your husband/wife and kids involved and make a game out of it. Store all sporting equipment inside a big outdoor basket with a lid.
8. Once a month wash outside furniture and windows on your home. There is a product that is for tall outside windows called “Windex Outdoor Sprayer”. It attaches to your hose and it sprays the cleaner very high to reach the windows or your outdoor furniture that has gotten dusty and grimy over time. It’s really cool and leaves all of your windows and furniture sparkle!!
9. Clean your driveway and rain gutters monthly. This will keep your home from having birds, mice, branches and leaves build up there dirt or dust. Also, they will work more efficient once the winter and rainy months come. If your roof is too high or dangerous it’s best to call a professional.
10. Wash your drapes every 2-3 months. You may not notice but over time they get really dusty and collect lots of dirt. This will make them look so much brighter, colorful and more flowy.
I hope these few tips helped you like they have helped me! Stay tuned for more exciting things coming your way!
Love, HeatherVintage88
Closet Makeover Madness
So, a few weeks ago my closet went crashing down and I did everything I could to avoid it. Every time I looked at it I felt disgusted by the way it looks. This past weekend my husband and I decided to tackle the closet. We didn’t want to spend a lot of money. So, the whole project cost less than $20. The way it was obviously wasn’t working since my clothes ripped the rack off the wall and I could never seem to fit anything in there. Here is the picture of before..
So, we took the closet doors off and emptied the entire closet…by that time our room was a utter disaster and such a mess! We measured everything and brainstormed up what would work best for us. We ran down to Orchard Supply Hardware and picked up two small shelves, putty and a sample size off-white paint. We got back home and my husband cut the shelves to size as I worked on filling in the holes with putty. Then my husband hung the shelves as we waited for the wall to dry before painting.
We saved the top shelf and just moved it up about 2′ and attached the small ones across from each other leaving an opening. Then we started hanging the clothes. The top shelf holds about 20-25 sweaters at the top. The small shelves are for pants and jeans. I was amazed at how much more room it gave us by just simply moving a few shelves around.
I left the center open for shoes. I had this great idea of using a book shelf to hold them. Awhile ago someone left an ugly old bookshelf by the trash and I ran over there & held onto it because I knew it had potential. This was the perfect use for it. I didn’t even have to buy anything. I dug it out of my storage and started painting it. Then after it was dry..I added my shoes to it.
I love the way it looks and works for me now. Of course, I would love a walk-in closet but for now its great! I hope you enjoyed watching my closet makeover! Stay tuned for more projects coming your way! -HeatherVintage88
HeatherVintage88 