alright friends. here we are again. after yesterday's alleged "quick" post...i got my act together and am excited to announce that today...sept 14th...officially marks my...
...year of me sharing my interests & passions thru patinaWHITE! yep. a decade. that always sounds like more of a milestone when you can say a DECADE don't you think??
i remember the day well. i had planned & prepped all summer gathering up special wares w/ this little "business" plan in mind. i was working full time in product/line development with a progressive apparel company in my town. loved the job & the experiences + knowledge i gained. not to mention the fabulous people i got to work with. but my heart longed to share my personal interests of decor & flea marketing.
so i gathered. and gathered. til my tiny garage could hold no more {and forget housing the car. that was banned to the driveway LONG before}. i then rented a storage unit that oh so conveniently was only a couple blocks away. picked the fall to showcase my collection for the first time. and this was the invite {below} i sent out.
after the first show i thought long & hard...deciding shortly thereafter to leave the security of my "day job" to pursue patinaWHITE as a "business". that was then and here we are today. can't even recall how many events i have had to date. had a cottage @ shady hollow for 8 years now. met amazing people. grew from a list of 75 interested folks to over 2000. started a website. then a blog. these days find me quietly growing my new FACEBOOK page. {more on that later}. been honored to be a part of a few well know publications. learned many new skills. {everything i do is self taught. the only schooling i had was a short stint with accounting. and that was to please those who loved me & feared the "starving artist" fate i would surely encounter if i took the creative path in life}. well i am happy to report that i am far from starving {i never miss a chance to eat}...thankfully!
and i owe that to you. yes. you. if you're reading this...you are a big reason i am who i am today. because you are taking the time to share w/ me the excitement & commitment i made long ago. that treasure hunting is my passion...but my customers are my priority.
now...remember those skills i said i learned along the way?? well...jewelry bits and baubles were not even a part of the first patinaWHITE experience! but i've always prided myself on unique offerings. and i started making typewriter bracelets {9} years ago before it was even a trend. and still do to this day. i never tire of these relics and it's a core part of what i did...and continue to do!
so that being said...my jewelry making has evolved thru the years. and i love to make it. sometimes my schedule doesn't allow for it as much as i like. but i was inspired by today's special meaning in my world. and made a one of a kind piece to share w/ one lucky patinaWHITE fan! i stamped up a disc with the tree of LIFE to represent the growth & change my business has brought forth. the other disc is a reminder to choose joy...because it's the "KEY" to happiness. i am proud to present her {below}.
so. are you wondering when i am going to just stop gushing and get to business on how this {PRIZE} giveaway works?! alrighty then. here goes...
i just ask that you leave a comment here...at this post. with a story you might share about patinaWHITE. whether you were @ my first show...last year's event...any of 'em inbetween. maybe you visit my shady hollow cottage. or like to follow my "ramblings" here on my blog...show & tell. perhaps you just jumped aboard and recently found me by way of the fleaMARKETstyle article. or...you may very well just be here to get a cool necklace! whatever the case may be....i look forward to hearing from you. your comments and notes are always the fuel for my fire. i love 'em all.
it's easy to leave a comment...no special skills required! but i understand if you have trouble and would really just rather shoot me an email...please do so to the address below..
{ prize@patinawhite.com }
i will randomly throw your names in a hat and pick a winner on THURSDAY september 20th. to give you all a little time to see this. and announce the winner shortly thereafter...good luck!
now of course i only have the one necklace to share this time. i wish i could give one to you all who take the time to send a shout out my way.
but what i do hope to keep sharing with everyone is the love of what i do. i aspire to inspire. and if i can do that a little everyday...i can't think of a "job" i'd rather have!
thank you for the first decade...i'm looking forward to many more!
