Thursday, September 6, 2012

Get Real: On Blogging About and Selling Vintage

We both love fashion, but our lives are made up of more than just pretty things.  So we plan on doing a little "Get Real" series once a week or so, where we share things we are thinking about or what's going on in our lives/hearts. We hope you can get to know a little more about us, and also that we can help support and encourage other creative spirits by sharing some of our own questions and struggles.  Amanda's taking her turn today.
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I have had many different jobs in my life:  teacher, office manager, tutor coordinator, online instructor. I have a million different interests, from fashion to music to literary fiction to cooking and on and on.  But selling vintage and working on this blog has been one of the only jobs I've ever stayed passionate and motivated about.  Even the tedious parts of this job (wrapping packages, tweaking blog designs, measuring item after item) still make me happy.



So it's extremely frustrating when people treat my job as though it is: 1) a hobby, 2) cute or 3) irrelevant.

A hobby is something someone does for fun, on the side.  While I can't yet treat blogging and selling as a full-time job (so I do have to work part-time to pick up the slack), I take it as seriously as a job. I work hard at it.  And while I have fun, it's still a very big part of my day/life.

Most people who are not in the blogging world can't quite understand how a blog can be a job or anything more than just a personal space.  Our blog is an integral part of our business. It encompasses writing and design and photography and vintage.  We work hard on it. We plan our posts on a weekly basis.  It is not cute. It is work. We are always learning, improving and adjusting (it's been three years and we're just starting to use Photoshop because it was graciously gifted to us!).

our Etsy shop photos (and me!), circa 2009.

It's hard to live in a place like DC, which is surrounded by overachievers and people who work in the political sphere.  Being a blogger or a vintage seller (and a mom who works from home no less) seems unimportant or even silly.  When my mother-in-law (who I love dearly) asks about my work, she always asks about my editing job, which is the side job I dislike, but is more "recognizable" to regular people. A decent portion of my friends and family don't even read or support our blog or shop (as far as I can tell--hell, people won't even take a second to Like us on Facebook, just to say they value us.  How lame is that?!).  And while I understand that vintage and fashion aren't everyone's cup of tea, I still make it a point to support and encourage the people I love, even if I don't quite understand what they're doing. I try to understand it. I ask them about the work they're doing. I'm genuinely interested.  I feel like I don't get that kind of response in return. And that stings a little.  My job is relevant to me. It's what I love.  Think I'm not changing the world?  Did you know that 85% of textile waste ends up in landfills? And that textile waste makes up 5% of all landfill production in the United States?  That's just crazy.  I am living and selling a very secondhand life, and through our business and our blog, we want to help people to do the same (and see that it can be fun and stylish!).

All this to say:  I have dreams too, and they may be very different from your dreams and they may not fit a certain mold, but I am doing what makes me happy, and I am working hard at it, and that's more than I can say for a lot of people stowed away in offices in the city, counting the minutes on the clock.  Each year both our blog and shop have grown, and we don't plan on stopping any time soon.

One of my absolute favorite "self-help" books is Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way (I may have even mentioned on the blog before).   It's a book about living the creative life you are meant to live and not fearing what other people may think or whether or not you're good enough or whether you'll make enough money...it's about trusting your instincts and doing what you love and waiting for good things to happen, i.e. Leap and the net will appear (one of my favorite reminders about risk-taking and faith).

Planning on getting this little beauty for myself as a constant reminder.


I think for anyone pursuing a creative dream without unlimited finances or a huge support system, this quote from the book from Paul Hawken really resonates:

Always leave enough time in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, even joyous.  That has more of an effect on economic well-being than any other single factor.

My work brings me great joy, and I believe that in time, with hard work, it will be able to sustain me.  I don't think vintage will ever go out of style. Granted, right now it's a little trendy, perhaps, but style is cyclical so every look comes about again. I think the blog world is getting oversaturated, but I think that people will quickly tire of half-hearted attempts at content (mostly lifted from other blogs) and photos and will eventually come back to the blogs that inspire them because they are real, original, and relevant.  I'm not sure our blog has reached that status yet, but it's definitely what we're working towards.

Can anyone relate?  Words of wisdom?  I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading!

xo,
Amanda




15 comments:

  1. Thank you for posting this.

    I've been doing this for over 4 years and while I absolutely LOVE it---it is hard work. I have a full-time job (that I DREAD going to everyday)and then I come home almost every night and work another 3 or 4 hours. I think my friends and family think it's just an excuse to shop and that it's not real work, but it absolutely is. I don't mind though---I'll work as hard as I have to because it's my dream. It would just be nice to know that they supported me.

    "A decent portion of my friends and family don't even read or support our blog or shop (as far as I can tell--hell, people won't even take a second to Like us on Facebook, just to say they value us. How lame is that?!)."

    I thought it was just me!
    Like I said--I've been doing this for over 4 years and I have a total of FOUR friends who have 'liked' my facebook page and NONE of them read my blog. It's very sad, but I've just decided to stop taking it personally and in reality---it just makes me work harder---just to prove that I can do this.

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    1. You are SO welcome...it's also nice to hear it's not just ME! At the same time, it stinks that so many people deal with it. I think it's pretty common in creative-type jobs. In the book I mention here, Julia Cameron also talks about the fact that people who are especially hard on our decisions are blocked creative people themselves! In some ways, it's a little bit of jealousy. Not sure that makes me feel much better.

      We're here to support you too! :) Thanks for reading and responding. It means a lot.
      Amanda

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  2. Oh man! You have no idea how much I needed this today. I am so glad I tumbled across your blog, and right when I needed it most. Isn't it amazing how that happens? I have just returned from a trip traveling abroad and I came back and I lost a bit of my zest for my shop! I used to LOVE it more than anything else, and now, I am stepping back and taking a break, hoping that in doing so, I will miss it and the passion I had for it comes back. I cannot go through the motions unless my heart is 100 percent in it, and for now, it's not. And I am OK with that. But I KNOW and I appreciate the work and love that goes into running a vintage store. I just get so overwhelmed at times when things start to pile up, and I think: updates? photos! measuring! descriptions! and then my store chirps and is slow and it makes me re-think everything, even though vintage is my passion. Have you felt like that? What did you do? Thank you again for this post. So glad I found you! <3

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    1. I'm always glad to encourage! There have definitely been times when I've thought about quitting altogether (of course, working with a partner who is my sister makes it a little easier to hang on!). When we feel that slump, we tend to try something new (even just a new thrift spot, or a new header on the blog. sometimes a small thing is a good kick in the pants!).

      I think it's actually quite noble to take a break from something if your heart isn't 100% in it! But it's also important to figure out why that is, and what you should be doing instead that is going to make you joyful and fulfilled.

      Thanks so much for reading, responding, and following--I think we'll be great blog friends and supporters of each other from this point on!

      xo
      Amanda

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  3. Love this post! I am so envious of folks who truly get to do what they love for a living. I know that I have the power to get my Etsy business that I've been working on for months off the ground and to devote more time to my blog, but it's so hard when I work 8 hours a day and come home and not want to do anything else. You and your sister have been a huge inspiration and I'm so glad that we have re-discovered each other through the blogging world!

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    1. Bren- I am so glad we inspire you! If you need a y help, encourage,ent, advice, we're here! (not that we're total experts, but we do have some experience under our vintage belts). ;)

      I feel you on the working thing too...before I was able to work part time and at home, it was a lot tougher to feel motivated...but it goes back to that whole joy thing! If you're doing it because you love it, it should energize you. If you think of it as more work, it's unlikely you'll ever want to do it!

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  4. Thanks you so much for sharing this post with us. I just started out 6 months ago and haven't reached that point yet but right now I am too busy thinking of what I have to do next! Its just nice to read about others who are doing what they love - sometimes I think I am mad to go down this route but I keep telling myself not to give up. You guys are doing an awesome job with your shop and I just happened upon your blog and am reading and learning so much from both of you. Best of luck and keep doing what you love...........that is THE reward.

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  5. Thank you so much for reading! 6 months is still a pretty big deal...it seems like about every 6 month there is a push for us to grow/change. I don't ever think it is crazy to do what you love...I think it's crazy NOT to!

    Let us know if we can help/encourage you any time!
    Xo
    Amanda

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  6. I finally had some time to read this post today and I just want to chime in and say that I totally understand what you and others in the comments have said. My experience has been similar. Unless you get dressed, get in the car, and leave the house each day to join the rat race some people don't think you are actually working. Blogging is work, sourcing and purchasing new items is work, prepping the items is work, and taking great photos is work. Just keeping it real! I think your blog is great so keep up the great work!

    And I love the "leap and the net will appear" quote. Thanks for sharing that.

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    1. Collette! So good to hear from you! It's both sad and encouraging that so many people have to deal with this kind of negative opinion about creative careers... but the joke's on those people! We're at home, hanging out, doing what we love, maybe in our PJ's even. ;) And we're HAPPY!

      xo

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  7. LOVED reading this post! I have had 2 problems- either people are completely disinterested and think my work is a hobby like you described or they have started copying me behind my back. Both are annoying! I have had every job under the sun...teacher, marketing director, you name it, but blogging and writing are the first things I have ever WANTED to do and never tire of. My goal is to make women feel better about themselves, and I cherish those who support me in my mission. For the others? You don't have to support me, but hopefully you can respect and appreciate what I do. Again, thank you for posting and I appreciate your passion!

    -Cheryl
    alldressedupwithnothingtodrink.blogspot.com

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    1. So glad my post brought you over to the blog, Cheryl...it's so good to have at least a virtual support system. Our biggest supporters should certainly be cherished, like you said...I try to tell my husband daily how much it means to me that he not only believes in me, but SHOWS how much by taking care of my daughter while I work, giving me little breaks to get things done, and promoting me to his own friends.

      You're right: it's about respect! If you dislike wearing vintage clothes, I completely understand that, but you should respect my business and work because it's not easy! :) I'm with you.

      xo

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  8. I'm very similar in that I have so many different interests that it's hard to stay pinpointed on only one thing. I love them all. I really want our blog to be a movement and for our etsy shop to be part of that. It's hard to be patient and hard as a mom with a "regular" job to devote the time, but it's still something I think about a lot. I would love to know how you got an editing job because that's actually something I would love to do. I love correcting other people's mistakes and grammar. ;) I'm really wanting to branch out into professional writing too. Ultimately, I really want to be my own boss and not just freelance on the side as a graphic designer and writer but make my living off it on my own terms. It's scary not knowing how much you will bring home every two weeks if you're used to planning by a salary (even if you're living paycheck to paycheck, you know how much you will get). But something is stirring inside and telling me this is my time. So that book you mentioned seems like something I really need to check out.

    I thought I had liked you on FB already, but I had only liked your band. Now I've liked both on both my accounts. :) Looking forward to more "Get Real" posts because you girls have personalities as fabulous as your fashion sense.

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    1. You MUST check out the Artist's Way...truly lifechanging, and it has made me so much more confident in my own creativity and belief that creativity is connected to our hearts/spirits and is necessary to thrive in life!

      Thanks for all the FB liking--as for the band, I SWEAR we will have music up there soon. My bandmate recently lost his mother, so we have not gotten together in a while to finish new songs. We're hoping to record soon...

      xo

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    2. I got this bracelet in the mail today for Christmas. :) So glad you brought it to my attention.

      Now just hoping the dress I wanted will be mine by Tuesday as well. And I might have my eye on another one too... ;)

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