Road trip!

I had the pleasure of taking a mini road trip last week with my friend Jen Kahn last week. I've never visited many of the stores I sell to around the country and it's always
such a fun experience when I get to check one out after having sold there for a while.  Revolution in White River Junction, VT is one of the first shops that carried my line when I moved to Vermont and I finally found time to go visit. Nearby is Jen's old stomping grounds from when she was an apprentice with Celie Fago. So we decided to make a day of it. Jen was kind enough to show me around all of the funky parts of the Upper Valley. I'll be splitting it into two separate trips because the visit to Celie's studio deserves a spotlight post of its own.

Kim Souza and Jen Kahn with my pile of clothes! 

Revolution is a great shopping experience with a lovely combination of vintage clothing and handmade. They have a lovely selection of jewelry as well! I was delighted to bump into Philly artist Heidi Roland's line. I had to buy a pair of those beaded chevron earrings. (pictured above)

So much fun handmade clothing by local artists! I spotted Sarah's skirts from Mountain Ash Design (her skirts pictured all the way to the left), Thimble and Acorn, Salaam and many more!

Cute and colorful upcycled sweater skirts by Where Designs. 

It was so much fun to see all of the talented artists that are spreading their wares all over! 

We also happened to check out a thrift shop where I scored this amazing Kevin Bacon t-shirt for $1. Sweet! 

Later on today or sometime this weekend I'll continue with another post about the inspiring trip to Celie's studio! 

Giveaway time!

I wanted to celebrate my new packaging by giving a set of bobbi pins of your choice!

There are four ways to enter, and each way gets you an extra chance at winning.

1.Like my facebook business page here.

2. Share my facebook page by copying and pasting this address: http://www.facebook.com/NicolesThreads

3. Add me to your circle on etsy

4. Include your e-mail with an asterisk (*) to be added to the e-mail list. 

I will pick a winner at random on February 25th at 10pm EST! 

Inspired by this cold...

Holy crow! It is cold out there. I was inspired by my friend Erica and this weather to create some new ear warmer headbands. I made three prototypes that I may list on etsy, but I make keep myself. I think these will be around $28. They are made from vintage & reclaimed sweaters!

Some new things...

Valentine's Day Goodies

pink patchwork dress. $82 available here

This is the second to last week of my big new year's sale. This week select clothing from last year are marked down 20%. Next week they will be marked down 15% and after that they'll be back to full price. Here are some items that I made this week. It's been a pink week and i'm trying to stick to Valentine's day themed items!

pink snowflake leggings. $20 available here

cute little heart earrings.$10 available here

weather pending!

We're currently being hit with a big snowstorm. This means two things for me today: 1. Way too gloomy to take product photos and 2. Too dangerous to get to the post office. While I have lots and lots to mail out and lots to take photos of, I'll have to postpone.

My second week of sale has continued, this week select handmade clothing is marked down 30%, the week after it will be 20% and then 15%.

I've added another goal to my new years resolution. To make a physical product catalogue. While I like the idea of just being able to e-mail businesses and stores, a lot ask for a catalogue to be mailed. I may be missing out on great opportunities until I am able to mail one of these out.

happy new year

Happy new year ya'll! It feels good to be back in Vermont after being away for a week and a half. The time away has given me time to think of new ideas for the new year. This year is my first year starting out Nicole's Threads as a full-time gig. I had a job waitressing but it was so very part time and I wasn't quite ready to let go of a semi-stable income. It feels great, overwhelming and scary but most of all, exciting! In order to keep things rolling, I have to work long, hard hours between sewing, fulfilling orders, scouting out new places to carry my line and keeping up with the web stuff. Also, here in rural Vermont we got ourselves into a situation of having satellite internet... which totally sucks. I enjoy my big day out to the laundromat to use their high speed internet [note sarcasm]. Living here has been an experience in many ways.

Some of my business goals for 2011 are:

*create a limited edition line using sustainable organic fibers. While I have ordered some organic cotton blends, I will continue using my original fabric sources too. All fabric that I use is sourced from places that either have so much that they are getting rid of extra, there is a little blip every so often that I work around, remnant or vintage. I'm going to expand into a line of organic fibers and will also be using wool blends made by a local company based out of Vermont!

*develop a printed catalogue to send to brick & mortar shops.

*get a website (about time!)

*more craft shows. While I currently vend at a few local Vermont craft shows (Queen City Craft, BCA Holiday Market, and some further away (Art Star Craft Bazaar, Bust Craftacular @ World Maker Faire, Craftland) this year I'll be scouting out & applying to other shows (Renegade Craft, Bazaar Bizarre, SOWA Holiday Market)

*prepare ahead of time & set deadlines! This is something that I don't do every year! In the clothing world, you should be preparing your clothing way in advance. Instead of making clothing for winter, I should be making clothing for Spring & Summer right now.

*keep up new etsy shops. While I haven't been working another job, I've found the time to reopen my other etsy shops.

http://potterylottery.etsy.com - you'll find handmade stoneware & porcelain jewelry

http://grannysthreads.etsy.com - vintage finds (mostly clothing)

*blog more often! I find that most successful bloggers blog EVERY DAY! While I know I can't set a daily blog goal out for myself, I can set a goal of at least one post per week.

Some personal goals for 2011 are to start a garden, learn how to can, paint more, learn to snowshoe and or ski and to find out what it would take of me to buy a house.

What are your goals for 2011?

cozy on up!

Just wanted to share a few items that are super warm + great for this time of year! This cowl is available in my etsy shop. I also have a bunch of smaller ones, button up, + one for the dudes.

Legwarmers made from recycled sweaters! This is a new item in my shop. Find this one + more here.

it's the bee's knees

bees knees. morrisville, vermont

Pictured above are some of my skirts and patchwork scarves (inspired by the women of Gee's Bend). Those scarves took forever to make but are SO MUCH FUN. To the right is some art by local artist Jess Graham. As I've mentioned before, I'm really excited to be gearing up for this weekend's holiday show Queen City Craft Bazaar. Here are some sneak previews of artists that will be there!

the candy thief bathilde band

subsixstudios fabric earrings

robot dinosaur fiddlehead

skateboard heart pendant by cooboriginals

Like what you see? Come by the Queen City Craft Bazaar!

DIY Brick & Mortar.. meet Sally & Mud Season sale!!

I recently took a trip to Maine to play music. First stop was the Dogfish Bar and Grille. One thing that made me fall in love with New England when first coming to Vermont was how hospitable and open the community members seemed to be to people traveling through. We had two great shows, the second was at She Doesn't Like Guthrie's in Lewiston. I can't wait to make another trip again. While I was in Maine, I was up to my multi-tasking ways, trying to find local boutiques to carry Nicole's Threads. To the left is Sally of Eli-phant. Eli-phant is a super unique boutique which carries lots of handmade designer goods. I also dropped some things off at Material Objects. Both are located in Portland, ME but I am looking to get some things to Kennebunkport as well. Check out my etsy shop for tons of spring tops and jewelry all 20% off until May 1st.

Cyber Monday

Free button earrings with the purchase of a top on cyber monday!

Bobby Pin Giveaway!

Long over-due! I'll be giving away this bobby pin! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with your favorite item from either my Nicole's Threads etsy shop, or my new Pottery Lottery etsy shop and also what you'd like to see more of. I'll be picking a winner out of a hat on November 15h. Good luck!!!