Hello friends! How was your Christmas? Did you spend lots of time with family and friends? I sure hope so! I've enjoyed taking a bit of a break but have missed you all!
So, I have to be honest...I was really spoiled this Christmas. Like ridiculously so. I thought I'd share a few of the blessings I received with you, because I can still hardly believe it's all real. Just to warn you, this post is long, but it's good stuff so hang with me!
First, you might notice a bit of an improvement in the photo quality here at HCC. Well, that's because I got a Canon Rebel! My head is spinning with trying to learn to use it...aperture, shutter speed, ISO...what? I'm already having a blast teaching myself the art of good photography! Stay tuned as the photos here should improve with time : )
To go along with my new toy, I also received
The Natalie camera bag from Jeanne Oliver Designs. I. love. this. bag. Not only is it gorgeous to carry, it is so well-made and perfect for holding my camera and lenses. Yes, I said lenses plural...my sweet uncle (who is a photographer) blessed me with a new lens that is perfect for product shots for the shop. It was totally unexpected but so exciting!
I just had to practice with my new toy on one of my other fave presents, burlap wreath pillows my sweet husband got for me. I just love them!
He also gave me these fun picture frames, which I absolutely love! (Can you tell I was totally camera happy for this post?! Hey, practice makes perfect!)
Now for the big surprise...Matt got me a Mac Book Pro! I have to tell you, this is such a God thing. Being newlyweds and saving for a house doesn't leave much room for extras like, oh, the most expensive laptop on the market. But my husband got an unexpected tax return (long story) and was able to use it for a new Mac. This is huge because I constantly get asked to do graphic design work for people (that's part of my day job as a communications professional) but I never had the tools to do it at home. What a blessing!
It's also exciting because...drum roll please...I am going to be part of a new shop in Wichita opening in spring of 2012!
A Prairie Market is expanding from etsy into a local boutique filled with vintage finds and handmade goods. I could not be more excited!! God has truly blessed me when I am so undeserving. He has shown my business favor and I am just so grateful.
The shop will be a collection of ladies selling vintage/repurposed items or handmade goods. I met the sweet owner of
All Dolled Up, Abbe Doll, at a garage sale I held in November. We have loose family connections and I had heard of her work refinishing and reselling furniture. We got to chatting and she mentioned she did quarterly tag sales. I later sent her a Facebook message asking if she ever needed another vendor for the sales, since I did vintage decor, but not furniture. We decided to meet for coffee, but before we met, God was at work and orchestrating a miracle. When we went to coffee Abbe told me she had wanted to talk to me about the tag sales, but in the last two days she had found a space for a shop and God had given her a vision for a vintage/handmade boutique. She wanted to know if I would be interested in selling there since our specialties complimented each other so well. I cried. You see, the reason I started my etsy shop, besides my love of vintage home decor, was to eventually be able to be a stay-at-home mommy. I love my job but it's my heart's desire to pour my life into my family. Matt and I want to wait a few years to have kids, so I was trying to feel out different business possibilities that would allow me to be at home but still have an income. I feel like God opened all the doors and just dropped the opportunity for a shop in my lap. I was never expecting it, especially at the age of 24. But he has worked out all the details for me in a way I could never have even dreamed. And the fact that we were able to buy a Mac and camera {hello shop marketing!} at the same time just blows my mind.
Oh, and did I mention that all the vendors in the shop are Christian women and stay-at-home moms? We'll all split time at the shop so everyone has plenty of family time. Pretty cool! I will actually still work full-time, but will do shop stuff on nights and weekends, just like I do for etsy. I know it's a big job, but I'm up for it! There's nothing I would rather be doing and I feel so blessed with this opportunity! I also will handle the marketing/communications for the shop, which is great because that's my other love and what my degree/professional experience has been in.
Isn't God so good?! I went "junking" with my mom yesterday to get the first of the inventory for the shop (the last few photos you see are a few sweet things we found). Stay tuned for more on the shop and all God is up to with Honeycomb Creative Co! I still can't even believe it! Thank you all so much for your constant support, sweet comments and wonderful friendship. I would have never started down this path if it wasn't for all of you!
{live beautifully}
Courtney
PS- as if that wasn't enough information thrown at you in one post...I'm also
on Facebook now : ) Feel free to follow along!
