Would you believe me if I told you just over a year ago I had never picked up a can of spray paint?
Or that I would have my MIL come over and decorate my house because I didn’t think I would do it right?
Or that I thought shopping at a thrift store was
1. Nasty
and
2. Only for poor people and soooo embarrassing that I would never be caught dead at the DI (Utah’s version of Goodwill)because then someone might see me and know that I really am poor and that I cant afford to buy anything from catalogs and trendy furniture stores and that my living room doesn’t have a perfectly matched set of black slightly distressed furniture. Phew, exhausting right?
Well its true.
This year has flown by and I want to share with ya’ll the ups and downs and what I have learned along the way.
I started Vintage Revivals in July 2010 after discovering the blogworld through All Things Thrifty. I spent hours at night after everyone was asleep on my iphone clicking though all of the links that Brooke has on her sidebar. I could not believe the talent that people had!! Some of my very faves were House of Smiths, Funky Junk and Miss Mustard Seed. I IDOLIZED these ladies…not just because of their talent but because they KNEW what their point of view was, they knew what they were teaching all of us.
So I was hooked. I went to the DI and bought 3 pieces of the ugliest furniture that I could find and got to work…spray painting them bright yellow.
I thought that if these ladies were doing it, I could too. So I started this here bloggy.
I started linking up to parties, the first feature that I ever had was on Remodelaholic for this chair. (Don’t judge the crappy picture….I claim ignorance.)
I think that I got around 100 hits from it and I was JAZZED!! I started making friends with cute girls like Jennie @ Cinnaberry Suite and Lins @ Domestic Goodness. I had all of 6 followers and I could not believe how lucky the girls that had 200 followers were! How did they do it? I wanted 200 followers!!
I kept linking up to parties and being featured, I kept busting out new projects but more importantly I was establishing my point of view. The way that my bloggy idols did.
So I started to grow. One person at a time.
I entered Crafting With The Stars (BIG announcement coming later today about that!) Crafting with the Stars gave me the confidence to put myself out there project wise. I was so excited when I won because I worked SO hard.
I never even dreamed that an opportunity like Nate would come along. I remember my Mother In Law telling me I should submit some stuff to his site and I thought “But its NATE BERKUS!!! They could never want someone like me on the show!” When I got an email from the producer I wanted to DIE I could not believe it.
This year has also been hard. I have struggled with finding balance between motherhood and blogging. I feel like us Creatives have an even harder time than most because our creativity never shuts off and if you are impulsive like me, well then its all over!
I have put my heart and soul into projects that weren’t very well received. I have met incredibly rude people that baffled me beyond words (which is pretty hard to do). I sometimes struggle with feelings of being too “out there” in my designs. My organizational skills suck. My garage is a furniture hoarders heaven that my husband is cleaning out on Thursday; and says he is going to throw everything away. I have said things that I shouldn’t have said. I struggle hard with blogger guilt because I cant reply to every email and comment that I get. I have had mom guilt, and wife guilt. My husband tells me I need to get out of the house more.
But more than all of that crap.
I have been so touched by your comments and emails that many many of them brought me to tears. I have expressed myself without reservation all the time. I have never given in to the voices telling me that I am not good enough and that no one wants to hear what I have to say. I have made some incredible friends.
I have worked SOOOO hard to put out awesome projects that are 100% me, I have shared my story with you and in return you guys have made me a better person. In my mind you have set certain expectations for me and I enjoy rising to meet them!
So thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your support!! You have impacted my life in ways you will never understand.
Heck has frozen over!! Vintage Revivals is now on Facebook!
Hey Mandi!
Congratulations on 1 year! I know what you mean in everything you’ve said… I’m not at a year yet but everything else hit home!
Congratulations on all your success!
Susan
Congrats, Mandi!! Thanks for being YOU and sharing all your fabulous creativity with the rest of us. Here’s to continued success!!
Heidi @ Show Some Decor
Happy anniversary, Mandi! Keep the faith and carry on – you are amazing.
M.
CONGRATULATIONS Mandi! It is HARD work running a blog and I love what you do, so keep strong and march on girlie! YOU CAN DO IT! HUGS! 🙂
Mandi – I’m a newbie blogger who idolizes your blog and talent! You can be Proud of your accomplishments. Just remember it came out of hard work and from being “good people.” Happy Birthday to Vintage Revivals!
YAY Mandi, congrats my dear. You give all of us sooo much inspiration. I’m so proud to say that I’m a follower
: )
HUGS ~ Deanna
Mandi, I just want to hug you! {virtual hugs} You are so stinkin’ cute and I just love your style. Seriously girl, congrats!! I think all of us who are in the same “creative blogger” boat as you know those same feelings of guilt. It’s SO hard sometimes, but the rewards are ginormous. XO
you’re awesome 🙂
I have to say of all the creative blogs that I frequent, yours gives me the most confidence to actually DO something. I don’t know what it is about you, but I love coming here and seeing what you’ve done and realizing that I can do some awesome things too! So thanks for the inspiration! Maybe one day I’ll be a real creative blogger, with followers and everything, but for now, I’m just trying to keep up with my life and family and projects one day at a time.
Wow, you have almost 5,000 followers in just a year? You must be doing something right!! Keep it up!!
You are just so….well YOU. YOU as you put out the real you, your try and succed, try and fail. You dont pretend like everything is perfect which I feel is a pressure out here in blog land. You show that just with hard work and creativity..in just ONE YEAR..you can have a house that is fun and happy, go on tv, get thousands of followers…make a difference. I think this is just great. You inspire me and I hope too start getting my projects that I have started from reading you and a bunch of awesome ladies.
Congrads on making an amazing, impactful blog in one year! That’s hard to do. I found you (and featured you) when you had less than 50 followers. I think it was the tin foil night stand first and then the teacup clock. I knew you were a rockstar back then. You continue to rock today! Way to go!
You probably already know this, but your blog rocks….and everyone has mom/wife guilt, not matter what you do, so keep doing what you are good at, and you are passionate about. Your children will see that and learn to live the same way. See, now you can do your ‘thang’ guilt free! =)
Oh good grief, Mandi! I didn’t realize you had only been doing all of this for a year. It just goes to show how insanely talented you are!! Keep rockin’, girlfriend!
Happy one year!!! I think I have been reading you for just about a year. I remember finding you from a linky party, probably at tatertots and jello. You are awesome, I have been so touched by your posts, you are so genuine and real! Love your guts!
Love your blog girl! And this is one of the best one year blogiversary posts I have ever read….seriously!! 🙂
And I want a CWS announcement!!! 🙂 I am ready to audition!! 🙂
Mandi,
I love your blog. You are amazing. I’m glad you shared this post with us.
I hope we meet someday. You have been a great friend to me!
xoxo
Allison @ House of Hepworths
Congratulations on 1 year of blogging!
I’ve only been reading decorating blogs for 3 or 4 months, but I’ve found so much inspiration out there… including your blog. Like you, I never spray painted a piece of furniture either… much less a lamp. I didn’t know that was even possible! LOL
Now I have all kinds of projects going.
Thanks for the tips and inspiration. I really enjoy your blog and all the hard work you put into it.
I remember when you started this blog- has it really been 1 year?! I guess so, since it’s been a year since we moved out of the South Pointe Ward 🙁 Wow! But I have loved reading this blog from day one. I love how incredibly honest and real you are. Your blog is so fun to read! And your talent is truly amazing. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you.
You’re awesome Mandi! And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise 🙂
Thank you for being real and bold and honest! I’m still new to blogging too, although I read blogs long before I started mine, and your blog has always been my favorite. Just keep doing what you’re doing because you’re awesome at it.
Congrats on 1 year! I would’ve guessed you’ve been doing this for a lot longer–not because you look old, but because you have already featured SO many amazing things–congrats!!
Thanks so much for posting this! I’m somewhat new to the blogging world and struggle with some of these same things (minus juggling being a wife and mom 😉 )
It’s encouraging to hear that it’s all worth it. So far I’m loving it and loving all the people I’m ‘meeting!’
Congrats and keep it up!!
Congrats! I think I started following you almost at the beginning of your blog 🙂 I didn’t realize at the time that you had just started because your projects were so great already! You are so inspiring- Thank YOU!!
Oh mt word I can’t believe you’ve only been doing this for a year!!! You’re a PRO! I’m so impressed!! 🙂
Brooke got me hooked on blogging/DIY/spraypaint too!!!! 🙂
You are absolutely amazing and inspiring Mandi! So glad to have found your blog!!! Keep on keepin’ on!!!
You are one of my favorite blogs. Just want you to know you are doing an awesome job.
Congrats! Wow you have accomplished so much in just a year! You are so successful because you are so talented! So glad I found your blog!
Congratulations!!! Well done. I love your ideas. wonderfully talented young lady.
I feel you on the creativity, organization, blog guilt, Mommy guilt, wife guilt! Love what you do though. 🙂
Hi Mandi! Just logging on to your blog for the first time and I love it! I just started blogging too and all of my followers are family and friends as of now. Im wondering what you mean when you say you kept “linking up to parties”. What does that mean and how do you go about it?
Thanks for your time, Melinda
Hi mandi
Reading your story, feels like e, I have two favourite bogs and read everyhing on their side bars I.e. The French Flea, Polka Dot Closet and have emailed them for advice. Living in Australia, I read the tutorials. And have to ask what some things are. We do not have the choice you guys have over there,
. I am also a Nate fan and pass many an hour watching and learning, we are behind here so I do not know when people I have en in blogs will. E on. Ou have gi en me hope, and maybe one day I will post a project that I have done. Thans for sharing.
Larain
Hi! You are adorable and totally inspiring! I just read this post and the part where you said: “I have never given in to the voices telling me that I am not good enough and that no one wants to hear what I have to say”… thank you & stay awesome.