Vintage Indie

Making the Most of Monday: Reader Discussion - Encourgement

If you are new to the magazine, Making the Most of Monday is a regular part of our features. Mondays  signify one important thing, a fresh start. It's like a new years resolution at the start of every week.

Hopefully by Monday you've taken some off time during the weekend to rejuvenate, spend quality time with loved ones and friends, which makes Monday your chance to really get to work and make the most of your week.

If you missed the last Making the Most of Monday click here for "Set Your Own Pace"

Encouragement

 I posted to Twitter this morning, " What kind of encouragement do you need today?"  Often times, I look to others for encouragement in many areas of my life. Whether it's fairly simple topics like restoring a piece of furniture or more serious areas like, parenting, working from home etc.

Reader Discussion -

What area in your life are you seeking encouragement? I'd love it if you could post them below and maybe myself or one of our lovely readers can help.

In the meantime, here are a few places I visit for encouragement.

Starr Strung

NieNie ( This family, touches my soul on so many levels. They have such a great testimony of faith & perseverance. Prepare yourself with tissues.)

The Lazy Organizer

Michelle Wegner

Centsational Girl  (love her tutorials)

Inspireco

Nature Moms Blog

I realized that this list could go on and on so I had to stop here. So what kind of encouragement do you need?

Have a great week, I look forward to this discussion with you.

xoxo Gabreial

Reader Discussion: Jams? Jellies? Marmalades? Preserves? I want the good stuff!

" You are the teacher of my pupil? This isn't art class, this is heaven"
 - SpongeBob SquarePants 

I've had this desire to learn how to make my own jams, jellies, marmalade's and preserves for as long as I can remember. Maybe it's the old school gal in me but mostly, it is because I want something natural from my own hands. I want the good stuff, you know minus the artificial everything. I've never made any of these before and I'm reaching out to you the experts for some advice and recipes.

Blue Mason Jar & Lifter - LittleYellowDoor
Vintage Food Mill - ArtsFarm


One Pint Queen Fruit Jar - VintageHomeRecycled
Canning Funnel  - Marianneclare

Do you have any recipes you could share? Do you have memories of making jams and jellies as a child? I'd love to hear! Feel free to post them below or leave a link to your own blog post with them.  My belly will thank you for it! xoxo Gabreial

Vintage Pulse Community Question: Do You Know? Lobster Claw used in Jewelry

Glenna from Glenna's Garden wrote, "Hi All! I was wondering does anybody know when jewelers started using the lobster claw on necklaces, thanks. "

We asked our previous guest reporter Sandy Garrision if she knew anything about the lobster claw.

She replied, "Our Chicago show neighbor is a jewelry dealer. He said he's not positive, but his best guess is that you start seeing lobster claws in the '40s, but that they were not commonly used until the '70s. Hope this helps! Sandy Garrison/Rhubarb Reign."

Does anyone else have any other information for the lobster claw?

Please feel free to include them in the comments section below.

Reader Discussion: The Results are In: What Does Vintage Mean to You?

This past week we took a poll and asked What Does Vintage Mean to You? Here are the results:

15.4%   Anything 20 Years or Older 15.4%   Anything Provoking Memories of Childhood 53.8%   Enduring interest, importance, or quality 3.8% Obsolete 11.5%

Looks like the majority says that vintage means enduring interest, importance or quality. We'd like to keep this discussion going. What sorts of vintage peeks your interests?

Reader Discussion Part II - Back to School Blues

Did you participate in the Reader Discussion Part I ?
If not, head there now and leave comments. I'd really like to know, What does it mean to you to "live green" ?
Please feel free to join in discussion all this week in the comments portion of this post.

Today I'd like to discuss going green & eco-friendly back to school.

I just looked at the calendar and realized school starts NEXT WEEK!?! (Yes I meant to scream) Where did the summer go? Seriously, I thought school wasn't supposed to start until after Labor Day. What about you, how much time do you have before school starts.

I'd like to know how you handle back to school blues. Finding an eco-friendly backpack isn't easy or cheap. Any good sources? I came across this fabulous blog post over at Nature Mom's Blog. Back to school Green Style. I've been to every site there and have throughly researched backpacks and lunch boxes.

My questions to you, and Nature Mom please feel free to let us know what you think.

I have my son's school list of what's required. Many products listed aren't so eco-friendly or maybe I need some direction (where to find the alternatives). What do you do when the school requires your child to have products like Red/Blue Folders, Zip Bags (even naming the brand of what to buy) as well as paper towels, plastic pencil box and more.  Do you just give in? How do you stand true to natural and green living for your family all of the time?

Natural & Green Living - Reader Discussion August 4th - 8th

I know the words natural, green and organic seem to be flying out of the mouths of everyone these days. Not only is it important to find the true meaning of each of these words but to incorporate them into our lives. I hope with this weeks series on Green & Natural living you will learn something new about these topics.

First of all, let's talk about living "green" It's a hot buzz word in the marketing world, but without all the cliché what does it mean to you to live green? To me, living green means living off the land. Not necissarily running out to purchase every product labeled green and eco-friendly but living sustainable with what has already been provided to us. Sustainability defined by the US EPA is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

What does it mean to you to "live green" ?
Please feel free to join in discussion all this week in the comments portion of this post.

Thanks Shabby Miss Jenn for all of the beautiful things you offer that are now being used to beautify Vintage Indie.

Let's Talk - Reader Discussions - Successful Yard Sales, Garage Sales, Tag Sales

I think I can safely say that all of us have visited a market, yard sale, antique show or thrift store at one time in our lives. We all love to scour and hunt treasures of all kinds and they probably vary  from person to person on what we look for.  So what happens to those items that we are ready to part with or in my case no longer have room for. The cycle continues and we prepare for our own yard, garage and tag sales.

I'd like to start our first ever Reader Discussion with you on the topic how to have a successful yard, garage or tag sale. I'm preparing for my first yard sale outdoor vintage attic sale along with my savvy mother-in-law.

I've been doing my research and have taken the first step in to having my sale which is obtaining a permit from my city and advertising via the local paper and other venues around town.  I know from experience, that I really enjoy sales that are organized, eye catching and no sign of four legged hounds ready to pounce. To me there is nothing worse than starting your day with someones puppy muddying you up and scratching your legs ( I know this one from experience). No doggie here and don't get me wrong love the furry friends, but I like to shop without worrying about them.

My questions for you as a buyer or seller. I'd like to hear both sides:
1. Price Tags?  Stickers or nothing "What's the price on this" ?
2. Light music in the background?
3. Drinks? Yes/No Coffee, Lemonade, Bottled Water
4. Haggling, yes, no make me an offer?
5. Organized? by vignettes, price, item.
6. What about a sale that's actually good and not a bunch of junk. How do your determine a price?
7. How to price children's clothing, adult clothing? I didn't advertise clothing because I don't have a lot of it but I do have some. Me personally I skip the sales with all the clothes it's just overwhelming to me. You?

Post your best Yard Sale Tips:
Share from your experience your likes & dislikes of buying and selling at a personal home sale.

My Tips - Sites to advertise your sale (please ad yours if I'm missing any)
Local Newspapers
Local Community Papers/Recorders
Craigslist
YardsaleAD.Com

New Feature Poll - Reader Discussions

Good morning everyone! I'd like to introduce a new feature on Vintage Indie. "Reader Discussions". I'd love to hear your thoughts about our philosophy here at Vintage Indie. Modern Life, Vintage Perspective. There are many subjects that fit into our style and some that I'm personally very passionate about. What do you think about this new feature. Please participate in this short reader poll.

Thank you!

Opinion Polls & Market Research