Monday, April 18, 2011

Featured Member {OhSydney} with Vintage Duck Lamp Giveaway

VKC: Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop, OhSydney
Kristen: I began my Etsy shop after Sydney (Sydney the SURPRISE!) came along.  I couldn't return to my previous flight attendant job, since I didn't want to leave my new family behind.  I had already accumulated an extensive collection of vintage toddler duds from my mom, who had saved pretty much every single outfit from my childhood.  When I stumbled across Etsy and realized that you could sell VINTAGE as well as art and crafts, I knew I had to get on board!  Now I get to stay home with my kiddo and earn a bit of income
 VKC: Why are you drawn to vintage?  
Kristen: I was in middle school when my mom pulled out a few pairs of her old bell bottoms for my sister and I to play dress up with.  Dress up?  Heck no!  I wore those beauties to school, and thus became the wierdo (I grew up in a really tiny country town, and non-conformity was frowned upon unless you wanted to get teased).  My parents were also avid yard-salers, which I'm still hooked on when I can find the time.  I also came to appreciate the awesome power of thrifting with my grandfather.  He would take me to the Salvo downtown on Fridays (where EVERYTHING was half off, can you imagine?).  Friday soon became my favorite day of the week!
VKC: Where do you find your treasures? 
Kristen: I generally stick to thrift stores, but my town isn't a large one.  The thrift store circuit can dry up pretty quickly if I'm not patient, so I occasionally have to yard sale.  I've purchased items on eBay before, but I was careful to only buy items with grainy pictures or clothing that came in a big lot.  I don't want to become the dreaded "reseller", but when you live in a small town and crave thrifting like a normal person craves coffee, sometimes you have to get creative!
VKC: What is your process like?  
Kristen: I normally wait until I have a good amount of clothing to list in my shop, then I try and take the pictures of said items all at once.  I've become more and more comfortable and confident with picture-taking and editing the photos, but I still have a LONG way to go before I am up to par with some of the amazing shops I've seen on etsy!
VKC: How do you promote your business?  
Kristen: I really only get exposure when I have an item or two featured/mentioned in a blog.  I have business cards that I give out whenever possible, and I've actually been able to trade items for ad space on a few blogs.  Other than that, I just rely on word-of-mouth!
VKC: What do you do when you are not creating/working?  
Kristen: Honestly, I absolutely love thrifting.  It's pretty much all I want to do when I get any spare time!  Besides raising my little girl (almost two years old), I like reading thrillers.  We had a yard sale a while back, and letting my books go was almost comparable to giving away a beloved pet.  I could totally benefit from having a spare bedroom just for my books.  Speaking of spare bedrooms, my saint of a mother is storing my Barbies in one of hers.  I began collecting them when I was young, and I have about 500+ in my collection.  I have all of the obligatory holiday dolls and generic collectible dolls, but my favorites are slightly random.  I have every single Kelly doll, and they aren't really made anymore (sad face).  I love the vintage dolls, of course, but I don't like spending too much on them unless I come across something that must be mine.  My third favorite category of dolls are foreign dolls, especially from the late 70s, early 80s.  I have two Teen Talk Barbies, one has a British accent (so cute!), and one speaks in German.  I also have a really cool French Barbie board game, which will be fun to make up rules for when Sydney is older!  
VKC: What is your favorite item in your shop or that you have sold and why? 
Kristen: I found this owl bag at my favorite little antique store.  I sometimes kick myself for selling it!  I also loved this little German toy that I found at a yard sale.  I definitely regret letting this one go, it would have been fun to pull out every once in a while and let Syd play with it.
VKC: How do you juggle your business and your family life?  
Kristen: I've been a stewardess.  I've worked for the Ritz Carlton.  I was even a Hooters girl for almost three years.  Nothing has been as amazing as being a mom and getting paid for something I've always done anyway!  Motherhood is what allows me to do my business!  I think if I had a regular nine-to-five, I wouldn't be able to give my local thrift stores the love and attention they get from me now. :-)
VKC: What giveaway or discount would you like to offer our readers?  
Kristen: Since my items are generally gender specific, I would LOVE to offer my vintage duck lamp, great for a girl OR boy.

GIVEAWAY

 
Enter to win this 

by visiting OhSydney and leaving a comment on this post letting us know your favorite item from the shop.
OTHER WAYS TO ENTER:
(Leave a separate comment for each one!)
  1. Become a follower of the VKC blog (along the right sidebar).
  2. Blog about this giveaway and comment with the link.
  3. Follow OhSydney on Facebook.
  4. Follow VKC on Facebook.
  5. Subscribe to the VCK via RSS or email (along the right sidebar). 
  6. Visit another member shop and let us know your favorite item (one comment per shop visited).
Giveaway ends Thursday, April 21st at midnight (EST).  Winner announced Friday, April 22nd. 

65 comments:

  1. This is awesome! I feel so honored to be featured, thank you SO much! Good luck to everybody!

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  2. i love the Vintage Embroidered Infant Dress!

    josephine.a.king@gmail.com

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  3. following your blog!

    josephine.a.king@gmail.com

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  4. following OhSydny on FB!

    josephine.a.king@gmail.com

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  5. following VCK on FB!

    josephine.a.king@gmail.com

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  6. Oh Sydney is now my all-time favorite Etsy shop! I'm totally overwhelmed by how pretty all the items are! Check out the Infant Tennis Shoes, those embroidered hearts just melt my heart away!

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/45130841/vintage-infant-tennis-shoes-9-12-months

    yumihamano@gmail.com

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  7. I follow VKC via gfc, thanks for the sweetest giveaway.

    yumihamano@gmail.com

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  8. I subscribe via email, thank you.

    yumihamano@gmail.com

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  9. At Sweet Shop Vintage: Love the French Telephone Shaped Transistor Radio, sweet sweet vintage!

    yumihamano@gmail.com

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  10. Love the Vintage Japanese Mouse bank.
    fastkat at gmail dot com

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  11. I love the Vintage Spanish Handcarved Wooden Stool

    abstufftobuy at gmail dot com

    Thanks!

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  12. Following with GFC

    abstufftobuy at gmail dot com

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  13. I love the Autumn Princess Dress 4T from lishyloo's shop

    abstufftobuy at gmail dot com

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  14. I love the Vintage Rusty Red 70s Trench Coat with Plaid Liner from MissShapes' shop

    abstufftobuy at gmail dot com

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  15. I love the vintage Black and White gingham square dance dress from edithscloset's shop

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  16. I like this patch http://www.etsy.com/listing/49490229/vintage-80s-rainbow-decor-half-off and the bowlling shoes. So cute!

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  17. Hi! I would love to win this lamp and give it to my mom. She loves stuff like this:). My favourite is "Vintage Caran d'Ache Colored Pencils". I love drawing, painting etc., so it would be great for me:).
    olsza_@poczta.onet(dot)pl

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  18. I am also a follower via GFC as Aglolga;).

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  19. My favorite item is the Vintage Corning Ware Baking Dish, 1975. I might have to buy that!
    katelyn.j.stephens at gmail dot com

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  20. i love the "Vintage Spanish Handcarved Wooden Stool", it has adorable prints in it <3

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  21. im a Fan of OhSydney on FB (Jung Rae Woo)

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  22. liked Vintage Kiddo Collective on FB (Jung Rae Woo)

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  23. My fave from BInspiredVintage's shop: Vintage Mikasa Country Gingham Salad Plates

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  24. My fave from jherrmann's shop: Vintage Argus 75 Camera with Flash Unit and Case

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  25. My fave from OopseeDaisies's shop: Esprit Purse 80s

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  26. My fave from 3ringcircus's shop: vintage 1950s girls zig zag dress

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  27. My fave from littlereadervintage's shop: Vintage Navy and Yellow Nautical Dress (2T)

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  28. My fave from mybabyvintage's shop: vintage 80s BARBIE by mattel (my liuttle sis will love it)

    punkme15 at gmail dot com

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  29. My favorite is the Vintage Butter Yellow Infant Dress, how cute!
    mtsmeal at gmail dot com

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  30. Oh, the vintage Dutch folkart!

    a i m e e h a g e r t y j o h n s o n a t g m a i l d o t c o m

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  31. Oh the Vintage 1987 LauriLand Puzzle Playset is very fun!

    coriwestphal at msn dot com

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  32. I'm a Google Friend (follower): Cori Westphal

    coriwestphal at msn dot com

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  33. I'm an RSS subscriber via Google Reader.

    coriwestphal at msn dot com

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  34. I like OhSydney on FB: Cori Eckstrom Westphal

    coriwestphal at msn dot com

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  35. Love the vintage Japanese mouse bank and the vintage yellow Cancun 1979 hat!!

    elizabethglassturner (at) gmail (dot) com

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  36. I just love http://www.etsy.com/listing/53599246/vintage-dutch-folk-art-serving-trays-2 made me feel I'm in the "small world" ride at disneyland!

    babalisme at yahoo dot com

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  37. from 3 ring circus I like http://www.etsy.com/listing/70139589/vintage-navy-blue-sailor-girl-dress

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  38. from toysofthepast I like http://www.etsy.com/listing/72218041/vintage-fisher-price-hospital-playset

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  39. from googoogalerykids I love http://www.etsy.com/listing/71626586/if-i-ran-the-circus-dr-suess-1956

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  40. I like the Vintage Pleated Minty Bubble Romper, 0-6 Months
    lusizov aat gmail.com

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  41. Follow OhSydney on Facebook = Lyudmila Sizova
    lusizova at gmail.com

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  42. Follow VKC on Facebook = Lyudmila Sizova
    lusizova at gmail.com

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  43. Love the Vintage Japanese Mouse bank!

    kristianne.obrien@gmail.com

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  44. My favorite item from their shop is the Vintage 1979 Hugging Raccoons, so cute!

    luckysluna(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  45. I quite like the Vintage Dutch Folk Art Serving Trays (2)
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  46. Following via gfc.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  47. Blogged: http://skittlefairy.diaryland.com/110421_86.html
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  48. Following via google reader.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  49. I like Oh Sidney on FB as Andreia Sousa.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  50. I like VKC on FB as Andreia Sousa.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  51. On Sweet shop vintage I like the vintage 1964 Mary Poppins Carousel Game Board
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  52. On 3ringcircus I like the vintage baby girl white dress.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  53. On toys of the past I like the Vintage Fisher Price Sesame Street Big Bird and Nest. Big biiird! :D
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  54. On Lishyloo Vintage I like the Back to School Sweater Girls 5-6.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  55. On MissShapes I like the Vintage Sergio Tacchini Robin Egg Blue Tennis Skirt.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  56. On prettylittlestudio I simply adore the K is for Kite Vintage Flashcards.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  57. On OkHappyHome I like the Vintage Boys Dress Shorts with Suspenders.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  58. On littlelovecompany I like this sweater: http://www.etsy.com/listing/72135044/vintage-handknitted-unisex-sweater-size
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  59. At Mooies Im fond of the Vintage Velvet Green Baby Dress.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  60. With rachelchayes, I liked the Vintage Blue and White Stripe Overalls. What an adorable yellow submarine.
    so.kitsch at gmail dot com

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  61. I like the Vintage Rainbow Tin Salt and Pepper Shakers

    email is in profile

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We'd love to hear what you think!