let go and fly...

That is a phrase my daughter suggested when I was trying to think of something to stamp on a necklace last year.  I liked it.  It sums up the past year for me very well.  I let go of fears about some things and started this blog and my jewelry business and right now I feel like I'm flying - and I like it.

In March I opened a second vintage shop on Etsy - Maude and Lola (after my grandmothers) and decided to take about a month off to really devote myself to both shops just to see what happened.  They took off.  My jewelry business has never been better, both online and locally (with real life customers) and the launching of Maude and Lola is slow and steady.  I realized to get out of these ventures what I want, I need to put in about 12-15 hours a day.  This leaves no time to read blogs so I have to let that go.

I know people eventually stop coming to your blog if you don't go to theirs, that whole thing has become a bit interesting to me.  I have been asking myself why on earth I care about how many comments or followers I have.  Sure it's nice but what does it all mean?  For me, well.....I'm just not sure.  Do I continue to post on my blog knowing everyone who comments will eventually stop coming because so many people come just to get you over to theirs?  I don't know.

I do know that some of you came by, even when I wasn't knocking on your door.  You emailed or sent notes just to check in and sometimes it made me a little teary to know the connection I felt was more than just about comments - thank you very much.  Other people disappeared completely and that's okay.  We had our time.  I'm going to take like a loooong break now and stay focused on my shops.  I won't say I'll never be back because for some reason, I can't.  I might post something once in a blue moon.  I hope to be able to check in on some of you from time to time and wish you all the very very best of it all.  Email me if you feel the urge for a little chat. 

Quick updates because gosh, so many of you have asked....

The daughter is doing great, has one more year of law school left and will be interning in Washington D.C. this summer - very excited for her!

Andrew Henry is just as fabulous as ever.  He has become my assistant (when he gets home from his regular day job) and is polishing the jewelry and things for my shops till he gets blisters on his hands.  We are still playing cribbage every morning over breakfast but we stopped keeping score.

We are going to England this month to spend a week in Cornwall wandering the countryside and then to China in October - crazy crazy world.

Wishing you all the best of the best and hope you'll keep in touch!