Votiv

I has been quite the month, good thing it ended with chocolate

2008-06-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

I just finished up another final about 30 minutes ago and have one more tomorrow.

I've been buried under assignment after assignment. Also my computer went down twice this month. The first time wasn't too bad. We got a mean virus and the computer got sick. So we fixed that but lost a lot of pictures of our glass and stuff for the business. Mistakes are lessons that we are supposed to learn from. I learned mine. Back up, Back up, Back up. But you know how people say,"When it rains, it pours". I guess that last week was a lesson in what to do when it pours. The computer went down again last week. This time I tried to save everything before we reset the computer to the factory settings. I had written two papers for my classes and thought that they were safe, but they were not. I ended up having to rewrite one and a half of the papers that I had been working on for the last week or so. It is a good thing that I decided a few months ago that when I can't do anything about a situation now or in the past, I just need to think about what I need to do to move on.

Sorry to those that tried to drop by the little store last weekend. Papa and I needed to get out of the house for a little while. We went to our favorite retreat in Swisshome, Oregon. Ahhhhh ..... It was so nice. There are no street lights, no main roads and our cell phones don't work out there. Just what I needed. As a bonus our friend is a masseuse. Papa's back was having problems so he got two messages and I got one (my back is still a little sore from having the muscles worked). I also got to cook and garden out there with our friends. Sometimes I wish that I could just stay there for weeks.

To top every thing off I found chocolate with the best mouth feel eva. Such good chocolate. I knew I should have gotten more.

Living in Seattle we have wonderful coffee and delicious chocolate. Good thing because they make the best combination. I usually don't buy things that not made locally unless I can only get them somewhere else but this is something that I may have to send away for if I can't find it in Seattle.

This weekend the little store is going to be closed again. Papa and I are going to the east coast for his niece's bat mitzvah. I hope that the weather out there calms down (the news reported that Boston is having a heat wave) or that maybe we can get a little of that sun on this coast. I'll try to being some back along with my bagels.

So far so good. I'm looking forward to gardening this summer and working on the promoting the little store. Also plans are coming together for our fireworks and fish 4th of July sushi party. I can't wait. That is going to be so much fun. I'm gearing up for summer.

It's been a long time, long time...

2008-05-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've written here, but I do have pictures. I've just been clawing my way through my school assignments. I can't wait til I'm done with this quarter. It's been a much more difficult course load than I have had in a while. I'm going to try to be better about blogging.

Some how this week I was able to take some time to go to a friends soccer game. It's been a few years since I went to one of those. Actually now that I think of it, last time I went to one was with my friend. I had a really good time.

Papa has been making me more vases for the little store. I really like these new ones that he is bringing home.
Speaking of the Little Store, I am going to be closed Memorial Day weekend. I know that most stores are open on Memorial Day and having sales but this Little Store is closed. Every Memorial Day weekend my family and I go to the cemetery to put flowers at our relatives graves and to clean up the grave stones and to pay our respects to those who gave their lives for our country. I will be open next weekend with our new vases.

Next door we have some new neighbors. Papa goes over every day. They are kinda cute. When they weren't looking I took a picture of them.

Making glass for the little store

2008-04-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

Last week I spent much of my time planning and preparing for our days in the hot shop. I worked on new color combinations, and picked out old favorites that have been requested and planned out our days. Papa Iano orgainzed and scheduled the hotshop and team. We went out and picked up the glass color that we needed and other matherials.

This time I brought my camera to take pictures of the process.

Papa making glass for the little store

And here is some of the glass that we made. Come on by and check out our new designs. We have a limited number of our new votives and a variety of new small vases for Mother's Day.

A once in a life time opportunity

2008-04-17T22:24:00.001-07:00

About a month ago I noticed a screen saver on the School Computer. It was a to promote the visit of the Dali Lama to Seattle and to inform students of available tickets. On my way home I called my friend to infom him of the visit. Once at home I went on-line to check for the tickets. All the student tickets for my school were reserved. Just in case anything became available I bookmarked the site so that I could check back.

So my week begins last Friday...

My friend called me in the morning to tell me that he got tickets to see the Dali Lama in a discussion as a part of Seeds of Compassion : 5-Day Gathering in Seattle, and wanted to know if I would like to go. Yes, please. It was a wonderful experience. Thanks to my friend for thinking of me. I am so thankful that I was able to go.

I have some practicing to do.

Designing and dieting

2008-04-08T22:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was a little cold, breezy and wet for sales. But I met some new people in the neighborhood that came by to check out our little store. I met a gentleman and a new family that have moved into the neighborhood from Chicago. Since it was quiet in the shop I was able to make up some new display cards, finish up homework for my online accounting class and started a sweater for myself. Sometimes it's nice when the store is a little slow.

I have been working on our new color combinations for our new votive designs. It's like writing down recipies for our glass. When I have a some free time I get my sketch book and start going through our glass color and pick out and write down color combinations that we can make up in the hotshop. I can't wait to make up some new glass for the store.

Papa Iano and I shop mostly at consumer-owned natural food co-operative (the neighborhood co-op). On that note Papa Iano and I are trying to eat healthier. I do feel better eating more vegetables. Sometimes I find that it is hard to find specific foods that I like that are organic sometimes.

Side story... A few weeks ago I went to B'ham to visit some friends and while I was there I went grocery shopping at Terra Organica. It is one of the best natural markets that I have ever been to! In the grocery store there is a juice bar, espresso stand, chocolate and gelatto shop, sushi and pizza resturants, gift store and a special section called Bargainica (discounted organic and natural foods). Here at a co-op in B'ham I found orgainic melba crackers! I can't find these anywhere in Seattle!

Back to eating organic... Well we ran out of the melba crackers that I bought in B'ham so I called my friend up there to see if we could order some. She is going to get us the crackers! I guess that if I can't buy something locally at least I can find it at another local independently owned business.

Back to the grind...

2008-04-03T09:03:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a busy week so far. During my spring break I was able to take a day to run up to B'ham last week to visit a couple of friends and to stock up on the best salmon in the whole world (thank you Mark). I was fortune to get some white salmon (my favorite), sockeye and king. I love visiting B'ham. Most of my time during my break was spent gardening, spending time with family and working on things for my little store.

Here is a preview of the cards that I made (I love designing these)

The little store went well last weekend and I was able to work on a new baby sweater and fine tune my knitting skills. Our vases are selling very well and we have received wonderful feedback on our new designs. We are going to have to schedule another day in the hot shop soon. Word of mouth has really helped us to grow over the last few years. I am so thankful for the support of the neighborhood and the community.

This week I started classes again. I am excited about my schedule for my classes this quarter. I may be able to open the little store on Fridays too. I'm going to wait on that for a few weeks once I get used to the course load. Well, it's time to get back to it.

New designs in the little store

2008-03-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend in the little store I got a wonderful suprise. One of our customers from Idaho came to visit us! After emailing back and forth it's nice to put a face to the buyer. She came with a friend that lives in the Seattle area and made a special trip to the little store on her visit.

Last week Papa Iano and I designed and make up some new vases. We still have many votives in stock but were in desperate need of some vases. So we made up more organic vases, and tried out some new designs for vases too. It was so much fun trying out the different color combinations on the vase shapes that I drew the day before. When I go into the hot shop with Papa Iano I get to put out the colors and choose the vase shape that I want made. While the vase is being made I take notes on the colors used and pull the next color combinations for the next piece.

The feed back that we get in the little store has been so helpful. I was able to take many of the suggestions from our customers and use them in the designing of the new pieces that we made. The input that we recieve from our customers is an important part of our design process.

Thanks to the inspiration from designing the vases I was able to finish two pairs of booties. I'm on a roll with these baby knits.

Knitting = Fun

2008-03-05T13:27:00.000-08:00

When I am in the store I often spend my time knitting. So far this year, 2007 I have knit four hats for my friends, a sweater for myself (that still needs to be blocked and stiched) and these,

Many of our friends are having babies this year. One of my best friends had his first a few days ago. Another friend had their little girl in January and our neighbor is due today. So I have been knitting baby booties for the new ones and a little sweater for the little girl born in January. I think that knitting for the babies is my way of satisfying my maternal instincts in a very passive way.

I love knitting. I was lucky enough to inherit my Grandmother's knitting needle collection when I moved to Seattle. Ever since I have been reteaching myself how to knit. My favorite thing by far is buying yarn. Alpaca, bamboo, cotton wool blend, they are all so wonderful.

Last week a friend came by to pick up two champane grape vines that need a better home. His girlfriend knits too and he is interested in the process of making yarn. He was telling me about how he would like to get into dyeing and spinning yarns that his girlfriend could use in her knitting. Sigh... Doesn't that sound wonderful? From sheep to finished product you could be apart of the entire process of making a garment.

Ok, enough about knitting. The little store was lots of fun this weekend. The weather was nice and I met some wonderful people. We are finishing up a custom lighting job for a customer that we have been working with. The votives are still our best sellers and we are working on new colors for the summer. I can't wait to have some time to make some new glass for the shop, but for now I have to concentrate on the last few weeks of classes for winter quarter.

Well, the sun is out and I'm done studying for now, so I'm going to go flower shopping and play in the dirt.

Playing in the dirt and catching up with the neighbors

2008-02-26T09:37:00.000-08:00

The weather has been beautiful this last week here in the Rainy City. So I took advantage of the nice weather to weed and feed the garden. I also picked up a few hellebores from the nursery on Friday to put in the bare spots. I re potted a few house plants and found some better places for my orchids to live in my house. I know that we have a few more weeks til spring but I want to be ready.

This past weekend was wonderful. So many of the neighbors came by to talk and browse the little store. In the winter we don't see each other too much because we stay indoors to stay warm or we might see each other in passing in our cars but when the sun comes out so do the neighbors. I was so nice to catch up with everyone and hear how they were doing. There are up coming weddings, babies, plantings for the neighborhood beautification, and cookie sales!

My neighbor that lives around the block came by the little store on Saturday walking his mother's little chiwawa Lola and told me that he and his fiance was having an engagement party that evening in West Seattle. They are a nice couple and I am so happy for them. On Sunday my favorite lady (mother of my neighbor around the block) came by with Lola the chiwawa. She comes by almost every week to sit and chat with me in the little store. The engagement party for her son was actually a surprise wedding from their friends and family. She showed me pictures of their wedding and told me all about it. Her son and his wife looked so amazing. When Papa Iano and I see them they are usually wearing bike, kayak, or ski gear. Papa Iano and I are going to put together a wedding present for them for when they get back.

One of the greatest things about the little store is that I get to connect with my neighbors like this. Also when the weather is nice our street comes out and we all work in our gardens. It's a great time to see how everyone is doing and what is going on. I'm so glad to be apart of the neighborhood and the community here. I've got my fingers crossed that we can buy this house so that we too can be a permanent part of the neighborhood.

My new favorite flavor

2008-02-19T08:37:00.000-08:00

It was one of the best weeks. Papa Iano and I don't celebrate Valentines day with eachother on Valentines day we usually wait a few day later when things are on sale. But we do celebrate with family and the neighborhood. Every february 14th Papa and I get flowers for the people on our street. We have been doing this since we moved in 3 years ago. This year our little neighbor across the street made cupcakes for Papa and I. She is 3 years old and the cutest thing on the block. The cupcakes were marbled white and chocolate cake with pink frosting.

Papa Iano: "What flavor cupcakes are these?"

Little Neighbor Girl: "The top is pink and the inside is zebra flavor."

I should have taken a picture of the cupcakes but I wasn't thinking about taking picutes after dinner. Now pink and zebra are my new favorite flavors.

The little store was closed this weekend so that we could attend the wedding of one of Papa's old roommates (we will call her Flora) on the Oregon coast. We visit Flora and her now husband a few times a year. Going to their house is like escaping to an oasis 6 hours away from the city. Our cell phones don't work at their house, there isn't a grocery store for 30 miles and we can stop for the best pizza in Olympia. I love it there. Anyway I digress. It was the best wedding that I have ever been to. At the wedding we were able to see all of the friends they have introduced us to over the last 4 years. We all stayed at a beach house right on the ocean for two days talking, eating and getting to know eachother. There was wonderful organic food, the best people, and perfect weather. I couldn't ask for a better weekend getaway.

Next weekend we will return to our regular schedule for the little store. Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. I have my fingers crossed for sun.

New Phone Number

2008-02-06T10:27:00.000-08:00

Votiv now has a Seattle area phone number!! Check it out on the website.

I've had the same phone number since 2000 and it's time for a change. I moved to Seattle from Bellingham about four years ago to follow a man that is now my husband. Almost three years ago I started Votiv. Votiv was just a way for me to meet the neighbors, educate consumers about buying local and a way for me to make a little extra money. Votiv has grown over the last couple years from a little "glass garage sale" to a full time job and it is about time that I have a local number.

I'm excited about the changes that we are making this year. We are working on a new website that is due to come out in a couple months with e-commerce, a new 206 phone number and we hope, home owners.

After years of renting we put in our first offer on the house we are currently living in and where the little store is located. I love the neighborhood and the people that we met here. I have my coffee shops, my bakery, my grocery store, my friends and neighbors.

2008-01-28T13:13:00.000-08:00

The weather this weekend has been a little of everything. It was overcast, rainy, sunny and cold. I am so thankful for the doors on our little store. Before them I would be sitting on the yellow couch, knitting to keep my fingers warm with the elements coming in through the double doors. Now the little store is warm and dry. Customers can shop comfortably, I can knit and feel my fingers and I can be open no matter what the weather. Thank you to all of our customers and artists that have helped in making my little store a reality.

We have received so many compliments on our new votives and vases. I have been writing down new colors that I want to try out next time we go in to the hot shop. This weekend there were many wonderful people that dropped by to check out our votives. One lady came prepared to pick out a gift for her friend. She had written down the colors of each room in her friend's house to help her pick out the perfect votive. This was such a wonderful idea that I have had each of my girl friends email me the colors and accent colors that they have in their own houses.

I have been working on making a logo for my little shopping bags. I often over think things and I bet that if I simplify things I will end up with what I want. I found someone that is going to help me redesign my website. Maybe in a few months I will have e-commerce and a new look! Things are starting to move, even if I haven't done my photo shoot.

Bringing back some old favorites

2008-01-22T13:27:00.001-08:00

We went back in to the hot shop on Friday and made up some of our best sellers. The holiday season and the mention in Seattle Magazine wiped out many of our votives and vases. It was wonderful! We still have a few more to go but for the most part we finished most of the patterns and colors that have been selling best for us. I'm sure that we will be going in again before the end of the month to stock up before Papa Iano (my husband) gets too busy. I am already planning all the new colors that I want to make for the year.

As is the norm for January I have been thinking of all the thing that I want to work on.
1. Website
2. Product packaging
3. Getting more press
4. Buying a house
5. Finishing school
(These are not in order of importance)

I made my website a few years ago using trial and error and a few instruction books for Frontpage but I think that it may be time to get some help. I am working on a logo for my bags and a small story about how I started my business. I will be posting new photos of our votives as soon as I have time to do a photo shoot. I also need to make up new postcards for the store. I get so excited when I think about all the new projects for the year. As you can tell I'm still in the planning phase.

First things first...

2008-01-17T13:31:00.000-08:00

My name is Meredith. I am a wife, a sister, a daughter, a student, a designer and a little business owner. Votiv was created to suppot local Artists and educate our customers about the importance of buying local.

A few years ago I moved into a little house with basement perfect for a little shop. I had just moved into the area and decided to have a glass sale on the weekends to meet the neighbors. After a month of selling glassware out of the basement, meeting the curious neighbors and people following my handmade signs I decided that what I wanted was a little store.

Over two years later, I still sell handmade glassware out of my basement on the weekends. Thanks to my neighbors, customers, paper signs, word of mouth and a little press I am still in my basement selling glass made by Seattle area glass blowers, meeting new people, knitting, and listening to NPR.