Happy New Year to all of my wonderful blog readers and friends! 2013 was a craptastic year for many but I have a very good feeling about 2014. Although a new calendar year really is just a number on paper, there's something inspiring and refreshing about the idea that you can start over with new plans, goals and a new lifestyle.
This year, I have a lot of great things planned for myself and for this blog. In 2013, I had great things planned too but with a lot of crazy personal stuff going on towards the end of the year, much of it had to go on the back burner. So, let's see what I've been up to lately.
Instagram
Since starting Instagram a few months ago, I think I post more things on there than anything else. Here's a peek at the past few weeks. Follow me here @vavoomvintage
Back to Full Time Blogging
As I said about a month ago, I was going to go back to an out-of-the-house day job for the winter. Well, that happened and it turned out to be a terrible decision. I don't think I've been so exhausted and stressed out in my life. Next Saturday will be my last day and I'll be back to full time blogging/ housewife mode. I've always been one of those people that thinks she can do it all and the truth is, no one can. It's very important to know what your limits are and to not push yourself past that point. I pushed myself way past that point and nearly lost my marbles. I'm really happy to be back to doing what I love most and to have more time with my family.
Art
Art runs deep in my family. My mom is a full time fairy/fantasy artist. My grandpa has been an award winning watercolor artist since his college years and both of my siblings are very talented artists too. As a teenager, I loved to paint, draw, sculpt and all manner of creating but I stopped one day and haven't gone back. This weekend, I picked up some new art supplies and signed up for an online watercolor class on Skillshare with Katie from Paper Fashion. I'm very out of practice with my sketching but I'm having a lot of fun getting back into the swing of things. Its very relaxing and it's something that I can do with my kids at the kitchen table. Olivia especially loves to paint with her watercolor set. When I was shopping for my supplies, I picked up a new palette for her but I think she will soon want a rinse pan, tube paints and a watercolor pad of her own.
Too Much Plastic
With Christmas money comes more stuff to add to my collections and this year, it was Bakelite and Lucite in mass quantities. I scored some really amazing new pieces both online and around town. I've been learning a lot more about Bakelite too, which we'll be discussing here later. In the mean time, here's a peek at my addiction.
This year, I have a lot of great things planned for myself and for this blog. In 2013, I had great things planned too but with a lot of crazy personal stuff going on towards the end of the year, much of it had to go on the back burner. So, let's see what I've been up to lately.
Since starting Instagram a few months ago, I think I post more things on there than anything else. Here's a peek at the past few weeks. Follow me here @vavoomvintage
Back to Full Time Blogging
As I said about a month ago, I was going to go back to an out-of-the-house day job for the winter. Well, that happened and it turned out to be a terrible decision. I don't think I've been so exhausted and stressed out in my life. Next Saturday will be my last day and I'll be back to full time blogging/ housewife mode. I've always been one of those people that thinks she can do it all and the truth is, no one can. It's very important to know what your limits are and to not push yourself past that point. I pushed myself way past that point and nearly lost my marbles. I'm really happy to be back to doing what I love most and to have more time with my family.
Art
Art runs deep in my family. My mom is a full time fairy/fantasy artist. My grandpa has been an award winning watercolor artist since his college years and both of my siblings are very talented artists too. As a teenager, I loved to paint, draw, sculpt and all manner of creating but I stopped one day and haven't gone back. This weekend, I picked up some new art supplies and signed up for an online watercolor class on Skillshare with Katie from Paper Fashion. I'm very out of practice with my sketching but I'm having a lot of fun getting back into the swing of things. Its very relaxing and it's something that I can do with my kids at the kitchen table. Olivia especially loves to paint with her watercolor set. When I was shopping for my supplies, I picked up a new palette for her but I think she will soon want a rinse pan, tube paints and a watercolor pad of her own.
Too Much Plastic
With Christmas money comes more stuff to add to my collections and this year, it was Bakelite and Lucite in mass quantities. I scored some really amazing new pieces both online and around town. I've been learning a lot more about Bakelite too, which we'll be discussing here later. In the mean time, here's a peek at my addiction.
Glad you're back to full-time blogging :)
ReplyDeleteCount me amongst those who would use "craptastic" as an apt description of 2013. Was it all gloom and doom? No, thank goodness, but it wasn't exactly a shinny, happy field of unicorns munching on wildflowers most of the time either. I share your enthusiasm and optimism for 2014 big time and have really hopes - and ambitions - for this year!
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
I,too, am so thankful the the craptastic year is over and am hopeful that 2014 will be a better one.
ReplyDeleteOh there really were lots of people who had a bad year last year... here is hoping the new year is a better one :)
ReplyDeleteI love drawing and painting too. I have yet to figure out how to do it ALL though LOL I did find a lovely 'fashion drawing' book from the 1940s last year though :) I might try and work through it this year!
Question: how do I know what real Bakelite is?
ReplyDeleteFollowing you on Instagram now and I'm so excited about it, I'm themamapirate on there.
I wrote a thorough post on identifying bakelite a while back, you can read that here:http://www.vavoomvintageblog.com/2012/03/how-to-identify-bakelite.html
Deleteif you have any other questions though, just ask! Check out the instagram #thedailybake great stuff!! x
Yeah I think we should banish craptastic. No more of that- we've had enough. Here's to a new year full of wonderful new possibilities! And bakelite. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou are blessed that you are able to quit your job and do what you love. I wish it was me, but I have to work full time, although I am a homemaker in my heart. But this year I will look for a new job, which will not be as stressfull as the one I've got now. I got to get out of the IT business, a decising I finally made in December, and which took a lot of thinking before I could do so. I love your plastic collection, and there is no such thing as "too much plastic"! :) Son moved some months ago and I will get his room as creative room. We will start the renovation soon, and I can hardly wait. I will take up drawing, water colouring, sewing, etc. again. It will be wonderful, I know. Happy New Year to you, dear. :)
ReplyDeleteI spotted an Enid Collins purse in there! LOVE them!
ReplyDeleteI dont' have a cell phone and I don't have any way to see the Instragrams...that is a bummer! That said.. yeah, I have had FOUR craptastic years and I am really tired of it. I am OVER IT and ready for the 'better" for a change (was going to say 3 yrs but realized it has been FOUR craptastic years). Well, while I am jealous you will be able to go back to being a homemaker and stay-at-home and do your blog, which I so wish to start my own. I have to work full time as I am my sole support -so wish I could stay home and work on my crafts, oil and acrylics and ...thrifting!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my! How much I envy your bangles - being Bakelite or plastic! I adore the colors <3
ReplyDelete