By Contributing article by Ashely Pahl aka Ashley Pahl

The Ten Step Tax Filing Plan for Indie Business Owners:

The new year is here and tax season is upon us. This can generate a lot of anxiety for people, especially for some creative types who shy away from numbers, and in some cases, even organization.

For those small, creative business owners who did not file their receipts, categorize their purchases, keep track of their expenses, or even sum up their profits, then the following 10 steps may be the organizational plan needed to get ready for the Tax Man. The plan is meant to take up to 10 days, or 10 weeks if it is an extremely busy time of year. However long it takes to correctly file your taxes, April 15th won’t be such a looming deadline when following these 10 steps:

1. Dig out all of those saved receipts, bank statements and credit card statements. Questioning what can be counted as a business expense, and what cannot? Basically, a business expense is anything that is necessary to carry out a business, but cannot be mixed with personal use. This can include materials, advertising, office equipment, travel expenses, etc. Certain items that serve both a personal and business purpose, such as a laptop, may be deducted, but it requires proof and very specific record keeping. If you cannot prove the percentage for which you use an item for business purposes, it may be best not to try to expense them. Remember: any item that you wish to expense must have proof of business usage and a record of purchase. A tax guide for small businesses can be found here: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p334/index.html

2. Familiarize yourself with the 1040 Schedule C, which you will need to file your 2009 taxes if you are a sole proprietor. You can find the official form here: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sc.pdf
The form itself already has the general list that you should be categorizing your expenses as. Use this as a guideline when categorizing your expenses, and the whole process will seem a lot less daunting. It may be helpful to have physical copies of your receipts and statements, and then label them accordingly.

3. Once you have all of your expenses categorized and labeled, add them up in a lined note pad, or alternatively, you could use a simple spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel or Google Docs. A simple template can be found here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=rWhxbBtSd82A-6pwKL6E6Gg&output=html

4. Go through each month and add up your sales. If you sell exclusively at online sites, go through your sold sections. Etsy makes it easy to do this, as they provide the data to be downloaded at the bottom of your sold items section under Your Etsy. The data can be downloaded as a CSV file here: http://www.etsy.com/sold_orders.php?page=1&order=&export=csv If you sold at craft fairs, hopefully you kept excellent records and created receipts.

5. Input totals. After you have located the data for all of your sold items and added up the sales, input this total into the correct page on your excel sheet or record book. This is your gross profit. Subtract your business expense total from the gross profit. This is your net profit.

6. Find your forms. Go online or go to your local library, for example, and obtain the necessary tax forms you need. Sole Proprietors will fill out the 1040 or 1040 EZ form and the Schedule C. LLCs with only one member will do the same. Partnerships will fill out the 1065.

7. Fill out your forms, and go over them at least once to check for mistakes. Have someone check your work if possible – there’s nothing worse than thinking you will be getting money back when in reality, you end up owing money!

8. Mail in your forms, or file online at http://www.irs.gov/efile/

9. Take precautions in case you are audited. Keep a filing system for your receipts and statements for up to 5 years, so that you can prove your expenses to the IRS. Creating a labeling system in an accordion box or binder will help greatly.

10. Get organized for 2010. So that you don’t feel overwhelmed or unorganized when you get ready to file 2010’s taxes, create a spreadsheet to fill out monthly, buy another accordion box or binder and label it with the same categories you just created for 2009. Keep up with expenses as they come. Keep an on-going tab of all of your sales. Be prepared, and filing taxes for 2010 next year will be a piece of cake!

For questions, the IRS has a very informative website for small business owners at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html

Coaster image courtesy of Etcetera Media

Tracy Smith of Cinnamon Jewellery

I have to be honest, sewing is not one of my favourite things, in fact if at all possible, I avoid it like the plague. I can sew I just choose not to. Hem of your trousers come undone? No need to get out the needle and thread, just use safety pins! See what I mean!

Needlework classes at school were interesting. The first thing we had to make was a needlework bag to keep everything in. Lets just say the way my foot hit that peddle on the sewing machine wouldn’t have put a boy racer to shame at a green light. I made various items of clothing, including a checked granddad shirt (hideous) and a voluminous blue skirt (even more hideous). I never wore either of them and was very relieved when I could drop the Needlework class and try woodwork instead. My efforts there resulted in an “interesting” but rather shapeless piece of wood, but at least it was lovely and smooth ( I was very good at sanding apparently). I’m so glad I eventually found my “calling” in beads and wire! Strangely, I still have the needlecase I made for my Mum years ago. It’s tucked away in the sewing tin that I never open……

I asked three Folksy sellers who do enjoy sewing to let me into the secret of the attraction of the world of needles and thread and sewing machines.

Zoe of Top Floor Treasures has always wanted to be an artist/crafter since she was a young girl. She uses beautiful fabrics to make pencil cases and cushions. “I love working with printed fabrics that have a design that I love; the best part is seeing the finished product and feeling proud of what I have created. It’s lovely when you create something and someone wants to buy it, that’s the biggest compliment you can get and is a great feeling!”

Gemma of SugarandRhubarb is inspired by fabric prints and life’s little happy moments. She takes beautiful fabrics and turns them into tea cosies, take-away cup huggers and iPhone covers. She has just lauched her new range of cute Ninja Kitties on Folksy. Gemma loves the sense of achievement she felt when she got a gold star from the teacher when she was at school and when she had finally finished a piece of work that had taken a long time to do. “I get this same buzz when I sew. The process of thinking of a design, figuring out how to create it and then the end result is so rewarding, it may take a while and several moments of throwing unsuccessful attempts across the room, but to be able to create something beautiful gives me that same sense of achievement that I felt as a child. Being a part of a community like Folksy makes it even better, you can share ideas and support and you really feel that there are fellow craftsters out there rooting for you to do well. My favorite moment is when a customer buys an item and then takes the time to thank you for it. As each of my items are handmade I become attached to them so it’s lovely to know that someone else is enjoying it as much as I did making it.”

Kate of Bluebell and Rosie makes cushions and purse and also sells sewing supplies. She likes the way sewing takes her away from the stresses and strains of everyday life. “I love being able to get lost in the moment. I find it doesn’t matter whether I make something thats useable/wearable etc – its the whole process of making that I find really therapeutic and a great way to relax.”

Being handy with a needle and thread means recycling is an important part of creating for Zoe, Gemma and Kate.

Zoe recycles materials if she has enough for the task in hand. “I’ve used old jeans to make bags, ribbons from other bought items get re-used. At the moment I’m working on some magnets which feature scraps of a lovely fabric that used to be one of my daughter’s blouses!” She also uses buttons from old clothes in other projects.

Gemma gets a particular buzz from using fabrics that other people might have just thrown away. “When I was younger I’d regularly clear out my wardrobe for new items (My name’s Gemma and I’m a shopping addict) and send the unwanted clothes to charity shops, now they become a part of my fabric hoard, and I love that. I love being able to make a cosy or lavender bag out of something that was once unwanted by myself or someone else. If anyone is having a wardrobe clearout I’m usually there stroking the clothes or inspecting the print, the same happens if I go near a charity shop!

I never throw out the scraps that I create whilst sewing new goodies. I have a box filled with randomly shaped ends of fabric that I find are perfect for those appliqué moments. It’s especially satisfying when you find a scrap from a yardage you had months ago and, even if it’s the size of a penny, to be able to use it in another project makes me really happy.”

Kate has been given a lot of fabric which she recycles. “I’ve not been sewing for long but I have a stash of materials passed to me from my mother in law which she has had for years and I’m constantly on the lookout in charity shops for any materials I might be able to use.”

It’s not just the haberdashery store that provides a source for new supplies. There are lots of other sources to increase your stash.

Zoe: “The materials I use come from a variety of places, such as charity shops, online auction sites, fabric websites, local craft shops, and I’m also given things by friends that they think I might be able to use. I can happily spend hours looking at fabric websites wishing I had enough money to just buy everything they have!”

If fabric obssessed Gemma had the money she would build another house just to store all of her finds, “colour-coded obviously!” She is always on the look out for pieces to add to her collection and will find any opportunity to buy or nip into a fabric shop. “The unexpected pleasant surprises come from eBay or online stores like Fabric Rehab. Otherwise my favourite places to spend an afternoon are Kirkgate Market in Leeds and Ditto Fabrics in the North Laines in Brighton. I bought some stunning Paul Smith and D&G fabric from them in their sales which I can’t wait to use. Plus charity shops, be it old clothes or pillow cases there’s always a fabric treat to be found, my best find was a duvet cover on sale for 99p which will make some lovely homeware goodies and toddler dresses.”

Kate loves the sales for her fabric finds. “I’m in the process of building up a varied fabric stash so I’ve got fabrics from Ikea, Fabric Rehab, Gaga Fabrics and Laura Ashley.”

Thank you to Zoe, Gemma and Kate. When I look at the lovely things in their slideshow it’s possible to make with a needle and thread a small part of me wishes I liked to sew. It’s only a very small part though!

Pic courtesy of Hello Monkey

 
By Contributing Columnist Lauren  aka  Jewels Of Saraswati

No matter how big or how small, our conscious choices make an impact on our environment. Many of us try to do our best in our everyday lives, but what about when it comes to our businesses? This can sometimes be a challenge!

Lately, I have been really inspired to consider the eco-friendliness of my own shop. As with any business, you need to utilize tools, gather materials, use packaging, print invoices and receipts…the list goes on! Running any business creates waste of some kind. Although it can seem discouraging, there is so much we can do with so little effort.

I have decided, after so many inspiring conversations with other businesses, close friends, family and random strangers, to compile a list of ideas on how to get your shop more earth loving! Even choosing just one of these options can reduce waste, and make you feel darn good about yourself!

Supplies:

•  Buy necessities local.
•  Walk to the store.
•  Buy organic.
•  Buy in bulk- less trips to the store, less packaging if shipped!
•  Purchase thrift, destash. and vintage
•  Use natural ingredients.
•  Use up old supplies before purchasing new ones.
•  Find creative ways to use scraps of other projects.
•  Buy recycled and upcycled online, Etsy and Folksy are great choices!

· Upcycle!

• Use cloth bags instead of plastic.
• Include leftover materials as freebies to your customers.
• Your crafty friends may also have leftovers that they would otherwise discard. Ask around and see what you can find!

Shipping and Packaging:

• Walk to the post office.
• Reuse bubble wrap from other shipments.
• Reuse plastics bags, ribbon, boxes, envelopes.
• Use shredded documents for packing delicate items.
• Decorate your packaging with old magazines.
• Try recycled paper for your thank you notes to customers or get creative. You can use old playing cards, books and magazine clippings too!
• You might also consider not including a paper invoice in your shipments. You can   always offer one upon request.
•  If you print anything, use recycled paper.
•  Don’t use stickers on your packaging so that your customers can reuse them.
•  Encourage others to upcycle/recycle too!

How is your shop eco friendly? Share your creative eco friendly solutions here!

 Organic Nesting Bowls Pic courtesy of  Eco Chic Hand Knits

By Contributing Columnist Ashley Pahl aka AshleyPahl

Every day, countless new shops full of beautiful art and handmade items open on Etsy.com. Among those shops are artists who think outside the box and fill their online store with amazingly creative and unique ideas. Shops to Watch, a monthly article, highlights these artists and the works that fill their shops.

This month features the art of Melissa Wagner-Lawler, shop owner of Red Thread Letter. Wagner-Lawler, a printmaker, sculptor, and book artist, has trained at both the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where she earned her Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies. Her portfolio of prints, sculpture, and books are available for viewing at her website, www.RedThreadLetterPress.com. Currently located in Milwaukee, Melissa Wagner-Lawler exhibits locally, nationally, and internationally.

Melissa’s Etsy shop, however, focuses on handcrafted jewelry inspired by natural and organic forms. In particular, her series of cellular-inspired necklaces stands out. The necklaces are inspired by irregular and organic patterns found in nature. They come in many different colors and no two are alike. Wagner-Lawler shared with me her thoughts on running a shop an Etsy shop and creating a focused collection, receiving an education in art, and her biggest inspirations.

What led you to your decision to get an education in art?

For me, there was never any decision that had to be made; it was really the only thing
that I ever wanted to do. It was the natural progression. The real decision was what
did I want to do after receiving my master’s. I debated about whether or not I wanted
to teach, and in the end, I just kind of fell into it. Currently, I’m teaching art at two
institutions and I couldn’t be happier.

Where did your love for organic forms come from?

It’s hard to pinpoint. Overall, I’d have to say that I like mimicking or attempting to
mimic natural forms. I’m more attracted to other people’s representation of organic
forms than the actual forms themselves.

What else inspires you?

Most of my inspiration comes from subtleties in texture and pattern and slight shifts in
color; this is why the majority of the pieces in my shop are somewhat monochromatic.
Keeping the colors very similar or the same allows for the focus to be put on the design,
pattern, or texture and maintains simplicity, in that respect.

Also, contrasts in materials and forms, such as organic versus industrial, continually
interest me as well.

What is your favorite piece, current or sold, in your Etsy shop?

The larger asymmetrical pieces with the chain are definitely my favorite. They embody
the contrast of the materials – the beauty of the beaded form versus the industrial, rock
‘n roll side of the chain.

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=21955640

This piece was definitely hard to part with as well:

http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=22341273

What work of art from your portfolio means the most to you?

On some level, I am attached to all of them. It would be difficult for me to pinpoint one
over another, but typically my sculpture items I can never part with simply for the
amount of time that it takes to create them.

Is there an art technique you not yet tried, but would like to?

I’ve always wanted to try blown glass, but have not yet found the resources to do so.
I’ve tried nearly everything that is art and crafty, especially when it comes to my
professional artwork.

What piece of advice would you give to another artist wanting to open an Etsy
shop?

Producing high quality items that you can stand behind is of the utmost importance. It
can be a daunting task to decide what you want to focus on in your shop, but having
one type of item that you excel at producing will get you further than trying to dabble in
multiple areas. Overall, I believe that buyers want to see an Etsy seller that is
committed to their product(s) and have taken the time to refine them. The old adage
practice makes perfect definitely applies!

What are your long term plans for your artwork?

Well, one can never show their work in too many exhibitions! Being a cross‐disciplinary
artist (printmaking and sculpture), I find myself often being pulled in one direction over
the other and then a few months later that direction flips back again. Currently, I am
focusing on printmaking and making some small‐scale etchings and larger collagraph
pieces. However, in a few months, I’ll be interested in sculpture again and then I’ll be
working on expanding a piece from my MFA Thesis that I’ve been continuously putting
on hold.

Thanks so much to Melissa for taking the time to talk to us at Indie Smiles, and may your success continue!

By Contributing Columnist Jessica Lunk of InkBlotCafe

Online tutorials are awesome, but it’s always interesting to try a new technique for the first time. I wanted to see for myself how to make t-shirt yarn.

It looked easy enough online, but I did run into
some difficulty. Sharp scissors are a must. The best method would be to use a rotary cutter and ruler to get a really consistant yarn gauge.

Here is a slideshow of my first attempt.

The finished product, should look similar to this:

Sample and finished product pics courtesy of DevilMakesWork

By Contributing Columnist, Cynthia Nodland aka Puddin Pies

For anyone who has enjoyed visiting shops that think outside the box as well as inside the box will enjoy this interview from the owner of Blisstopiabox.

1)How long have you been in business?

I started Blisstopia Box this past fall in November 2009.

2)I was wondering why you started your own business (website) instead of joining one of the other handmade venues, did you start elsewhere and then started out on your own or did you always have your own .com.

I started Blisstopia Box with the concept of creating themed gift boxes using handmade bath & body products from small indie businesses. As a woman I wanted to share my passion for bath & body products by purchasing from other women and re-selling these fabulous products on my own website. This is my first online business.

3)What caused you to decide to start your business?

Blisstopiabox is a concept of mine that started out of the idea to categorize bath & body products by scent into themed boxes, such as, The Bakery, The Beach, The Chocolate Shoppe, The Happy Home, The Spa and others. blisstopiabox is an online boutique featuring fabulous handmade bath & body products made by small indie owned businesses.

4)What is your favorite/recommended product

I carry so many different products that I don’t really have a favorite. I do love the handmade soaps if I would have to pick one. As for recommending a product, that would be all the gift boxes of course!

5)Your shop reminds me of a boutique that I would enter in a quaint but lovely tourist town, did you ever have your own bricks and mortar shop and do you have any thought of doing this?

No I have never run a boutique shop before. But in designing the website that was the look I was going for. I feel I have succeeded in bringing the boutique style when you visit my shop. At this point I am happy just to run the online store. But you never know where things will take you, so I could never rule out opening a bricks and mortar shop if that is what the future brings.

6)If you were asked to pass along advice to others about starting their own .com as opposed to a group venue: what would that advice be?

I like being the boss and having total creative say over what my website looks like. I do everything behind the scenes that is needed to keep blisstopiabox up and running. All the pictures and written material and where they are placed is all done by me. I believe with a group venue that your creative input would be limited since they already have a format for you to follow.

7)Have you always been into crafting, tell us about any other businesses or day jobs you might have had or still have?

I have always had a hand in crafting. I love to paint with acrylics, but unfortunately have not done a painting in a few years. Recently I have been making up-cycled trinket and keepsake boxes from old cigar boxes and adorning them with beautiful papers, paint, vintage brooches and bows. I have them for sale on Etsy and Artfire under the name of Bejeweledboxes. I do work outside the home as well with two part-time jobs. I am an in-home caregiver and also an administrative assistant.

You obviously have a passion for your business. Why do you love what you do?

I love what I do because plain and simple, I am creative and need that outlet to express myself. I also love to share my love (bath & body junkie) of these fun and fabulous handmade bath & body products with others. Not only are customers benefiting from these products but I am also helping other women by purchasing their wonderful products for resale.

9)Tell us a bit about your family or home life, how does where you live play into your art?

I will be married to my wonderful husband this upcoming April for 16 years. I have a son who is 14, and twin identical daughters who are 12. As my children are older now it allows me to run my business from my home with minimal interruption. My husband is supportive of my online craft business and is proud of what I have done with my website, and of course that makes me feel good. The kids think it’s pretty cool too!

Thank you blisstopiabox for a wonderful interview and for sharing your life and and loves with us!

Chinese Valentine Boxes by BlueRockGourds

By Contributing Columnist Nicole M. Sugar Shox Crafts

Etsy Spotlight: Here Comes the Sun Fingerless Gloves by theemptynest

A love for all things fabric and a classic Beatles song “come together” to create the perfect antidote for those cold and gloomy winter days in this edition of the Etsy Spotlight.

Inspired by “Here Comes the Sun” from The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” album, and a few random sweater pieces, theemptynest’s (real name: Janet Metzger) Here Comes the Sun Fingerless Gloves are an all-in-one cozy glove and arm warmer. They are made from a repurposed wool sweater, and extend all the way from the fingertips to the forearm. A tall tree and a smiling yellow sun give the gloves a fresh, cheerful and environmentally “green” design. Green thread is also embroidered along the top cuff and thumb openings of each glove to take this theme even further.

“My gloves came from my love of The Beatles and that particular song,” said Janet, who hails from Warrenton, Va. “I happened to have some wonderful pieces of a yellow sweater that screamed ‘sun’ and the green wool just said ‘tree’ to me.”

The Here Comes the Sun gloves were one of the very first entries in theemptynest’s line of couture gloves. Janet said the idea for the gloves came about on a cold day while she was remaking a sweater in her studio.

“To keep my arms and hands warm while I was working, I quickly slipped on one of the cut sleeves from the sweater,” she said. “It worked so well I decided to save all the sleeves and make my couture gloves.”

Janet said most of the sweaters that she uses for these gloves are culled from her local Salvation Army, as well as from friends of her blog who have recently started to donate. Many of her finds have surprising luxurious histories.

“98 percent of the sweaters I use are fabulous and expensive, and often come from high-end European boutiques; I know this because the tags are still on the garments!” says Janet. “One of my favorite finds was an unworn, still tagged Pringle of Scotland cashmere sweater set…my purchase price…$3.29.”

Janet has been selling her work since 1998 at mainly home shows and holiday craft shows. She came to Etsy in September 1998. Theemptynest shop name comes from her two sons, Billy, 29, and Sean, 27, becoming adults and leaving home.

Her shop has a very special dedication. It is dedicated to her sister Mary Sue, who passed away from cervical cancer in 2008. Mary Sue frequently encouraged Janet to be creative online.

“Mary Sue always pushed me to do something creative on the Internet, and I like to think she is looking down on me and smiling,” Janet said.

Later on, as Mary Sue’s primary caregiver, she would use her crafting talents for her sister’s benefit.

“I would bring suitcases filled with my aprons, knitted scarves, gloves and handbags and bribe her nurses,” Janet said. “Every time a nurse or aide came into Mary’s room to check on her, their name would be entered to win something from my stash. It worked like a charm—she always got the best care and attention.”

In addition to working with fabric and making gloves, scarves, upcycled sweaters and nationally recognized aprons for her shop, Janet also enjoys folkart painting, which is also available at theemptynest. She said her future plans are to expand on her fabric and painting talents. Look out for more original paintings, prints and more new creations made from wool and cashmere sweaters at theemptynest on Etsy!
Here Comes the Sun Fingerless Gloves:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21792553
Theemptynest on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/theemptynest

By Contributing Columnist Lauren of Jewels Of Saraswati

I have always had a fascination with vintage. Roaming through thrift stores, handling materials that were once a reflection of eras gone by, pondering who once owned and loved various items. It all creates an exhilarating nostalgia that I am sure all vintage lovers can relate to!

One day, as I was browsing the cyber vintage world on Etsy, I came across Marie Retro Revival and just knew Christine Marie had a story to tell. Here are some questions I posed to her all about her passion for the past, and her little vintage “problem”. It all began with a striped sweater from the 70’s…..

1. Tell me about yourself and your passion for vintage…
Well, I am a 30 year old mother, married to a dashingly handsome man, living in the middle of nowhere who also happens to have a blog and an etsy vintage shop. I am extremely lucky to have a plethora of vintage clothing available to me and have come to love, honor and respect the quality, uniqueness, and charm of vintage pieces. It sounds like I am married to this stuff, and, in a way, I sort of am. It has become such a huge part of my life’s passion and, well we live together, so I thought we should probably just make it official. Just joking.

2. When did you start loving vintage?
My respect for vintage actually started with an old, 70’s striped sweater that I found at a thrift store as a teenager and wore just about everyday the winter of my Junior year. It was .25c and made me the envy of every cool grunge girl in my art class (this was the mid 90’s) Growing up, my family didn’t have much money (in fact my “Reward” for not having cavities when I went to the dentist was that I got to pick one item out at the thrift store! Without sarcasm, thank you mom.) The ability to dress well from things others have discarded, and for next to nothing, is a skill I am so thankful to have been taught.

3. What made you decide to open your own shop?
Well, vintage collections sort of multiply like rabbits and since I am compulsive about thrift shopping, the huge walk in closet (my husband actually moved out of for me) the two closets in my spare bedrooms, the 4 rolling racks in the studio above my garage and all my vintage suitcases were stuffed to the brim and over flowing and making me feel like a greedy, dirty, terrible hoarder. The really sick part was that I never wore the stuff. . . And I quit my job. . . I felt guilty using money I hadn’t made myself to buy more stuff I didn’t need or wear, so I decided to start selling it off to fund my shopping trips. It was so exhilarating to let it go and feel some weight of my guilt removed! I kept my prices really low and still do, in an effort to move more stuff. I still have rolling racks full of stuff waiting to be listed and I have given so much of it back to the thrift shops since It feels better to have a very paired down collection than just a ton of junk.

4. You describe your town as a great place to find rare “pre-loved” clothing. Tell us about it!
My town is small, but very picturesque, old (for the west), and nostalgic as a Norman Rockwell painting. Many people have either been living here their whole lives, or come here to retire. To be very delicate about this, well, people of retirement age lived through some really great years fashion wise and many women who have saved their clothes from those times, as memories or because they simply still love them, bring them when they move here. Through eventual turns of events, these very loved and cherished clothes end up in the thrift stores. Due to the lack of a “youth scene” in any great quantity, I have most of it to myself. The shop ladies say, “You are the only one who buys that crazy stuff!” Good for me!!

5. What elements attract you when purchasing vintage?
I love the idea that this garment had a full life before it met me. It was born way before me (usually) and has lived through things I can only read about. I would like to say I was influenced by being “green” or whatever, but it has never been about that. I just like good design and feel like it never really goes out of style. Plus it is very inexpensive!

6. I have always wondered about the admiration of vintage style. What do you think creates this fascination with vintage? (I know I am fascinated!)
You know, I am not sure what it is exactly, but I know that my fingers understand it when they feel the fabric, my eyes understand it when they see the patterns and colors, and my body really gets it when I put the clothes on and feel the fit. There are usually so many special details that provide the wearer with a one of a kind piece that may have at one time been mass produced, but now is just an individual.

7. What would be your ultimate vintage find?
I am still endlessly searching for the perfect vintage boho, flat riding boots. I refuse to buy a pair online in my size because it will defeat my efforts. They are out there waiting for me in someone’s closet I am sure.

8. What are you up to when you are not on the vintage hunt?
I do a lot of freelance work. Right now I am working at a residential care facility for individuals with eating disorders where I give Yoga instruction and facilitate Art Therapy projects. (if anyone would like more information about getting help to overcome an eating disorder please contact me) When I am not working there, I volunteer at my town’s local High School in the Art Department. They let me use their ceramics studio (my major in college) and screen printing studios in exchange for giving workshops on ceramic whistle making and thrifted clothing reconstruction. It is a pretty sweet deal because I love working with and among teenagers!

Get your vintage fix at her Etsy shop Marie Metro Revival

And some sweet styling tips on her blog Second Skin….