Valley Vintage has begun thriving as a business. With our official one year anniversary as a business happening this month, I have no doubts that VVLLC will continue to grow and be something I will continue to love curating and running.

Jillian Lyons Designs on the other hand, has had a very troublesome year. Sales had progressively gone down. On top of this I had burned myself out last year from crafting. I took a break for a while. I had very little inspiration or drive. I think this is something many artists go through at one time or another. To make matters worse, I hurt my arm and wrist for a prolonged period of time at the height of the Holiday season. When 2015 rolled around, my precious JLD started to feel like it was dead in the water. I toyed with the idea of closing it. Putting all my eggs in the vintage basket seemed like what would eventually happen. But it hurt me deeply to have to publicly say my inspiration is gone and so is JLD.

Then Marissa at Sassy Mouth Photography tapped me to use some of my angel wings in a Victoria Secret inspired series of photo shoots. As I said in a previous post, I HAD to say yes. She was practically magical! I admired her work. So off I went.

Seeing her finished images moved me. I was finally ready to make wings again! The flood gates opened and I started creating. I also started posting new items to Jillian Lyons Designs for the first time in a year. It felt so good. Like an awakening of my authentic self.

Soon enough offers came my way. PopUp55 offered us the use of their wonderful pop up shop space for a 2 week run with a Spring theme. Assuming they meant Valley Vintage I started curating bright Spring colors in my mind. Then a surprise. Elinor Slomba, my contact at PopUp55 and New Haven's Project Storefronts said no. She was actually looking for Jillian Lyons Designs to bring in the Spring. I was surprised, nervous, worried. Even though I had new product, I wasn't sure if JLD was enough for the PopUp55 shop. or it's New Haven customers. I negotiated for both vintage clothing and my costumey accessories to have a presence there. Elnor said ok, but let's say Jillian Lyons Designs @ PopUp55.



So that brings us to the present. I have just wrapped up my two week long pop up shop event. What I learned from this, is that people liked Jillian Lyons Designs. I sold both old and new products. The things I felt weren't my strengths did just as well as the things I thought were shoe ins. AND the vintage clothes weren't the huge success I expected them to be. They did EQUAL business.

I learned many valuable lessons about working with a staff, what works for me in person versus online, how to better market myself in all respects. I learned so much that the powers that be from PopUp55 / Project Storefronts have invited me to share my experience and Etsy marketing tips at a workshop. So on April 23rd I will be at The Haven Collective giving a little talk about all of these things. This is happening from 7:30 - 9pm at 938 State Street New Haven. You can find more info HERE.

In my next post I'll be adding some of the gorgeous shots from our Pop Up Photo Shoot on the streets of NHV! For now you can find a few in the I Love New Haven blog, courtesy of Mr. Chris Randall.

You know what never ceases to amaze me? The small business brands that come alive in and around New Haven. I think the area attracts the best and brightest of Connecticut to come and share their passion. It's pretty fantastic.

The Haven Collective hosted a 3 hour event to welcome just such a brand, Cinder + Salt. Owner / designer Rachel DeCavage creates low impact printed t-shirts, ties and totes with unique graphics and slogans. I was drawn to a tote that had Makin' Moves emblazoned on it in hot pink lettering. I couldn't resist!



Cinder + Salt with Vintanthromodern Vintage create a unique marriage in The Haven Collective. The main focus has been put back on vintage clothing. But Cinder + Salt sprinkle in modern appeal with color and vibrancy. It also lends more men's oriented products to The Haven Collective's inventory. These skinny ties for example are ridiculously cool. Look at the spaceman! Love!




So if you happen to be in the New Haven area or are  looking for some new duds, hit up The Haven Collective! You're bound to find something with such diverse pickings in a trendy boutique setting.

I never did post the rest of my photo series with Julia Karen & Abstract Koncepts. We've actually had a second photo shoot since then focusing on my collection of vintage clothing from Valley Vintage. After receiving a rather surprising Anonymous comment, I thought maybe it might be time to post more.

The dress featured has since been sold. The wings however are still available.

There has been a few deaths in affecting my life recently. I guess that is all the more reason to come back to this angel session.

The little girl featured here was playing in the park the day we took the pictures. Her Dad allowed her to join us. I can't credit her, simply because I don't know her name. I just know she is from the area.

The idea behind this is that Wednesday passes her power on to this little angel. When she touches her, the littlest angel comes into color - and into her own.

Here we go.

















Photos by: Abstract Koncepts & Jillian Lyons Designs
Model: Julia Karen
Hair and Make Up: Julia Karen & Jillian Lyons Designs

So I haven't posted in a bit. The catch up for last three months is this. I had some great times working for a small vintage business in 2013 and part of this year, but I hit a point where things were getting worse instead of better. Working for someone else's success is tough and requires you to neglect your own. This culminated with a small financial failure in trying to open a shop / office in the New Haven area, as well as an unexpected raise in rent for my own small maxi-pad.

My boyfriend and I lost a small chunk of change by pulling out of a commercial lease last minute. The best way I can explain this scenario, we looked at a space in a not so great neighborhood that claimed to be trying to "rebuild". This was during the height of mountains of snow here in Connecticut. As the snow began to melt, we started seeing things look worse and worse. Then the space we had secured was damaged by another tenant and no one seemed to want to bother to fix anything. So after a few scary days and consulting with a lawyer, we said goodbye money. And goodbye Money Pit. We both believe going through with this space would have ended very badly and even with losing some money, saved ourselves even more loss in the end.

I'd be lying if I said all of these things didn't take a toll on me personally. I felt like I was having a complete life fail. But being the resilient lady that I am, it only took about a month before I had regrouped with a new plan, and let it go. As a human being and small business entity, I am always willing to talk about my failures. I think there is no shame in it. Successful people fail. In fact they fail a lot. The road to awesome is usually paved with lots and lots of oopsies. How can we learn and grow if we're too busy pretending to be perfect?

Moving on and out put me in a whole new perspective. We moved out of New Haven and found a great townhouse apartment in my hometown of Seymour. Honestly, this was the last place I expected to end up. The Valley and I did not part on good terms the last time around. But the apartment was too good to pass up! I now find myself in love with my town's charm. Located in the adorable All American Valley, Seymour is a small town full of great antiquities, beautiful buildings, small businesses, farms, and all kinds blue to white collar locals.

My love of all things vintage is still a constant. So it seemed logical to open a new online Etsy shop showcasing my own vintage collection that I had been quietly hoarding over the past few years. My newest venture is fittingly called Valley Vintage, LLC.

Things are going pretty well so far! I have lots of new projects in the works. Some beautiful pictures coming up that will showcase a collaboration with an old pal of mine as well as handmade and vintage. We've even started scouting out new locations and trying to put our pennies aside in hopes of finding the perfect place to have our own small biz. My dreams, never stop - even if I am.

If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative.

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

I met Petra Szilagyi one afternoon inside of the English Building Market in a work related meeting. At the time we both were assisting Melissa Gonzales of Vintanthromodern Vintage. Petra was knee deep in vintage clothing and  accessories while designing a 1920's window display. I instantly liked her when she cheered upon hearing about the drag queen patrons who were buying up some of Vintanthromodern's wares.