Catch your dreams little one

When it came to styling my new home I was particularly excited about decorating my daughter April’s room! She had just turned 9 when we moved in and it was the first time in years that she would have her own room. During the time our home was being built we spent some time at my parents and all 3 children shared one room. It was actually very cute, there was 3 little beds lined up in a row and teddy bears everywhere! They shared for 7 months and despite being 6, 8 and 11 they all got on really well, and it strengthened their bond. Instead of sleeping children we heard giggles and secret chats well past their bedtime!

Before we sold our previous home Aspen and April shared a room purely by choice, they wanted to be together. They have a gorgeous relationship and I am sure even though it may get rocky during the teenage years yet to come, that they will share a strong bond for life like my sister and I do. So moving in a few weeks ago was a big change for our children, not only because it was a new home in a new area, but also because they would be having their own rooms for the first time in a  long time.

April was probably the most nervous about having her own room, so I wanted to make it extra special, a place where she felt safe, loved and would enjoy spending time in. This may have worked a little too well, as she spends so much time in her room that we barely see her! She loves it! She has a gorgeous spirit, she is a dreamer, a dancer, and loves to escape into her books or music. She also loves pink! It happens to be my favourite colour too, and so I was excited that she was keen to have a pretty pink room, (especially as Aspen is not a huge fan of pink, she like greens and aqua’s and not overly girly things). I love being girly, so between April and I we had so much fun choosing things for her room, her little oasis.

So you can imagine how thrilled I was to come across Steph from The Vintage Boutique  and her absolutely stunning Dream Catchers! I had actually been looking around for the perfect dream catcher for April, and I couldn’t find one that I felt was the right colours, or feel. This is why after speaking to Stephanie I knew the The Vintage Boutique was what I had been searching for.

Steph was amazing, we talked about what style of dream catcher April would love, her favourite colours, and the sizing that would suit her little oasis. Steph got to work searching out the perfect vintage centre pieces for the dream catchers, and sent me photographs of sizes and how they looked together.

And then the magic really began when she started adding the beautiful touches of lace and colours!

The lace and little pom poms are just beautiful.

I decided to keep it a surprise for April and I am so glad I did. When the box arrived April was super excited to see what was inside. As she opened it she found beautifully coloured tissue paper and gently encased inside where two of the prettiest dream catchers a little girl could dream of! Seeing her face light up was priceless I couldn’t thank Steph enough!

Stephanie’s business is based in Adelaide, South Australia, but she ships all over, and not only does she make beautiful dream catchers for children’s rooms, but also for kids parties, adults parties, baby showers and weddings. She also hires out pieces for special occasions, and makes buntings and wooden letters too! Check out her HIRE PAGE.

Stephanie was also nice enough to answer some questions about herself and her business for me.

First of all thank you so much for April’s gorgeous Dream Catchers, both April and I love them.

You are very, very welcome Mackenzie!  I am so glad to hear you and April love the dream catchers!

Can you tell my readers a little about yourself, were you always so creative?

I was born and raised in Adelaide and am the third of four children.  I am now a primary school teacher, recently married and am the proud mother of two fur babies- Cairo and Charlie! I have always loved arts and crafts and my Mum and Nannie taught me how to sew, knit, cook- basically anything crafty, from a young age.  I’ve always been interested in making things.  My poor younger sister often bore the brunt of the ill-fitting tops I’d design for her to wear, funnily enough even though I thought they were stylish, she never wore them out of the house! 

What made you decide to just go for it and start your business?

Having my own business has always been a dream of mine.  I have always told my close family and friends that my ideal job would be to be a professional gift-wrapper and florist. (I am renowned for my present-wrapping skills!)  I designed and created all of the decorations for our engagement party and wedding.  After it all finished I thought to myself- this is something I would love to do more often.  From here, my childhood dreams of creation have become a reality with the inception of ‘the Vintage Boutique’.  I decided to just go for it and stop putting it off because you only live once!

What are your favourite things to make? Why?

I really love making anything custom-made including bunting, dream catchers and wooden lettering.  I enjoy being able to work closely with a customer and being able to turn the ideas they envisage into a reality.  I thrive on the challenge of creating a piece that suits my customers perfectly and even more than this, I love the feeling I get when my customers tell me that they love their item and that it perfectly suited the occasion in which it was meant for.  It makes me feel so proud that I can help people out during special and memorable times in their lives.

Do you have further dreams for your business?

I would love to continue to build the Vintage Boutique up and continue to create beautiful and special items for people.  I am really excited to start selling my items at fairs and markets and just want to reach as many people as I can.  One of the most important things for me is providing a very high level of customer service- and this is one thing I pride myself on.  I want to keep building up the reputation of my services- within Australia and overseas!

It must feel amazing when you see your pieces come together and look so beautiful?

It definitely is amazing!  It can be a nervous time, during the design and creation stages where I am putting a client’s ideas into action.  To see the item completed and knowing that my customers love what I have made for them makes me feel very, very proud and happy.

Do you have any key advice you give to clients when they are styling a beautiful outdoor event?

Be prepared!  For outdoor events it is vital that you consider all possibilities- from the various weather conditions you may encounter, to providing sufficient restrooms for the number of guests you plan to have.  Always have a backup plan.  The last thing you want is for your guests to get soaked by the rain, develop heatstroke or get stung by bees!!  

Have a tent, marquee, shed, pavilion, etc. on standby to shelter yourself and your guests.  Provide fans or portable air conditioners to keep guests cool, portable heaters and blankets for chilly nights and plenty of readily accessible refreshments- especially water- to keep guests hydrated throughout your event.

Communicate your plans very clearly to all vendors involved prior to your event.  Make sure that everyone knows what they are responsible for and what you expect of them.  Make checklists and remember to tick items off as you go- this also gives you a great sense of accomplishment!  Check the power requirements of your vendors, for things like food, lighting, music, etc.

Research any rules or regulations your location may have, such as time constraints, permits needed, noise ordinances etc.  You want to spend your hard-earned money on things you love- not paying fines. 

Keep all your plans, appointments, quotes, invoices, receipts, etc. in a folder- being organised makes the whole process a lot more enjoyable.

Get onto Pinterest, Google, Etsy, anything that will give you ideas and inspiration for the style that you love, use this as a basis for creating a setting that reflects your true personality.  Think about the season and the types of flowers, greenery that will be readily available and locally accessible.  Choose colours that are fresh and inviting and reflect your natural surroundings.  

If you get stuck or do not have the time, look into hiring an events coordinator or stylist, to help you bring your visions to life.    

Can you share any tips for my readers who may be considering opening their own business?

Be brave!  It is hard going and a LOT of your time, energy and effort goes into running a business, it never leaves your mind and you’ll constantly be planning, researching and doing.  It is not easy but you need to persist- especially if it is your true passion.

Do your research, consider studying a course in small-business, talk to other people who own their own business.  Know how much tax you should be putting aside and paying, organise insurance if you need it, etc.  The more knowledge you have, the better off and more prepared you will be.  

Learn from your mistakes and use them as a learning tool to better yourself and your business.  

Make sure you have a supportive network around you- close family and friends who you can share your excitement and successes with, as well as turn to when things get prickly, as they inevitably will do at some stage.  

Give yourself time off to relax and enjoy life.  In due course, your hard work will pay off and you’ll be glad you stuck with it!  I know I definitely am!

Thank you again Steph, you have made one little girl and her mum very happy xx

Thank you so much Makenzie!  I hope we can work together again in the very near future.  All the best with your own endeavours and family life. xx

Please check out Steph’s website thevintageboutique.com.au

you can follow Stephanie on Instagram @thevintageboutique 

Thanks for joining me, love Mackenzie xx

 You can email The Vintage Boutique at vintageboutiqueonline@gmail.com.

I was sent the dream catchers with the promise of this review, but all opinions are true an my own. As you can see by the photographs they really are gorgeous!

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