You guys! We’re celebrating six years of blogging this month. SIX YEARS. Isn’t that crazy? To be totally honest, it feels like much longer to me. I guess so much has changed in my life these past 6 years that it feels longer. Anyway, in honor of six wonderful years, here’s a walk down memory lane, a blast from the past and a brief history of how A Beautiful Mess grew into what it is today!
In July of 2007 I started A Beautiful Mess as a just-for-fun personal project. In those days I shared mostly scrapbook pages and personal photos. My job was designing scrapbook products. I didn’t know that blogging would ever in 10 billion years be a side-job, much less my primary career.
I often say I feel sorry for people starting blogs in 2013. They know too much, and they can have unrealistic expectations. They hear about people making a lot of money from blogging, getting stuff for free and gaining thousands of readers. I think they can sometimes put too much pressure on themselves for all those reasons. Because I know I would do the exact same thing if I started today, a part of me is definitely thankful my start was so adorably clueless and strictly for fun.
In October of 2007, Emma moved to California. My heart broke into a million pieces (dramatic much?). In retrospect it was a healthy season for both of us to pursue our dreams as individuals.
2007 was a year of growth, the year of the original iPhone (HOORAY! Yes, I was in line on the first day!), a year of missing Emma and gaining some independence and a year that ended perfectly, because I spent new years eve with Jeremy on one our very first we’re-just-friends-this-is-not-a-date dates. One month later we were a couple. 😉
In June of 2008 I visited Emma in LA and we took a daytrip with a few pals to Salvation Mountain. It was an incredible experience, and we were lucky enough to get a tour from Leonard King, the artist himself! It was on this trip that I started to consider the idea of leaving my job and starting my own business, the first Red Velvet Art local shop and website. A new dream is born.
Over the next few months, I moved to a new loft with a space below it large enough to become a beautiful studio for Jeremy and a teeny, tiny local shop in the front room. A few other especially happy memories from 2008 were Rachel’s pirate birthday party, a Red Velvet weekend, visiting Jeremy’s childhood hometown and getting tattoos with Rachel. Oh! and this photo…
2008 was mostly special because it was the year we fell in love.
In February of 2009 I opened my first local shop and website. You can see photos of the shop here, here and here. It was teeny tiny and super cutesy. Starting the business was an incredible learning experience. It was really, really hard. Sometimes it felt worth it, and sometimes it didn’t. I can honestly say 2009 was the hardest year of my life. It was hard to make ends meet, and my young business still needed so much creative development. I was sad and frustrated a lot, which of course is not good for the creative process. On the bright side I was in a place where I was forced to learn, forced to improve and forced to try to think bigger.
In 2009, I took a lot of selfies like this one (a. lot. of. selfies… sigh), but I also started blogging more regularly. I started a (very small) advertising program here on the blog. I know some people think of advertisements as a negative thing, but for me it’s always been the exact opposite. That small step served as a huge motivation for me to take my blog more seriously. I started actually planning blog posts getting really excited about geeky stuff like analytics. To be clear, I still had no idea where blogging was headed or that it would soon be my full time job. I’m a slow learner.
The highlight of 2009 was definitely adopting Suki. ♥ No contest.
2010 was a year of big change. This is the year I started to feel serious about blogging. You can see one of my very first DIYs here. I had a few friends sharing projects too, and it just kinda stuck. I started to enjoy writing teaching content. I also started to experiment with fashion—this was one of our very first style shoots in an abandoned school building.
In June, everything changed. Emma decided to move home and become my business partner. We bought out a bigger vintage store across the street from our first shop, I drove to California to help her move, and we spent the next few months getting our new shop ready to open. We were mostly broke, starry eyed and so excited.
In October of 2010, Emma and I opened the second Red Velvet location in Springfield, Missouri. This location included a bake shop, run by Emma, and a much more size-able collection of vintage and handmade clothing. You can see photos of our second retail store here + here + here + here.
Emma and I worked in the store by ourselves every single day for about two years. During that time we learned a lot (A LOT). We learned that blogging and online products (like e-courses) were a more profitable and fulfilling business for us than retail. We learned that we enjoyed collaborating with established companies more than creating and selling our own collections. We learned that we LOVED blogging as a team. During the first year of working together our blog traffic grew by more than 400%. I invited Emma to become a co-author of A Beautiful Mess, and since then we’ve done every project together, as partners!
In August of 2010 Jeremy and I got engaged! It was complete surprise… I mean, I went to his show with my hair still wet (oops!) and had a ring on my finger by the end of the night. Wohoo! You can see a few of our engagement photos here, here and here.
In 2011 we started sharing more DIY projects, recipes and regular blog features. We learned, we grew, we tried lots of things. 2011 was a great year for growth!
On May 15th 2011, Jeremy and I were married. It was a beautiful day full of loving faces, colorful details and a million little memories.
Emma had blue hair. It was epic.See a few more photos here- our rehearsal, our portraits, the ceremony, our DIY bouquets, the desserts, dancing and a few honeymoon snapshots!
2011 was a year of firsts…
Our first magazine feature together.
At the end of 2011, we started talking to Julie, our first editor from Random House. She found us because of this blog post and started talking to us about a photography book deal. Around the same time we started working with our literary agent, Lindsay. Soon after that we got our first book deal offer while working at the shop one day. There were lots of happy tears that day. We often talk about our first book as the start of a brand new season in our career.
Oh yes… one more important addition from 2011…
Dolly!
In 2012 we wrote our first book (the one that is now available for pre-order
!!!) We learned a ton through that process. First of all keeping up with a blog AND writing a book at the same time is no joke. It’s one of the hardest things we ever do and something I’d like to share a full post about sometime. I now understand why so many bloggers have trouble keeping up while writing a book. We did our best, learned a lot and ordered way too much pizza along the way! 🙂
In June, we breathed a huge sigh of relief after book 1 was turned in, we took a trip to New York with our mom and I started house shopping. Later that summer we found our house and started the crazy process of renovating. A few of my favorite updates in this home have been the restyled bar cart, the pony wall, our homemade dining room table (that seats 8!) and the light up headboard.
In the autumn of 2012, we took another huge leap, hiring Trey to become our full time Business Development Manager. For the past two years previous to this, Emma had been managing our advertising program. It was successful, but we both knew that it wasn’t the best use of her talents and that the program could be developed much further with another team member who was able to focus all of their energy on that area. Trey had been working for agencies since college, and we somehow convinced him to join us on the dark side (aka the blog world). And it was one of the best business decisions we ever made. Since then the advertisements you see here on ABM are more thoughtful, more natural and we’re working with companies that we’ve always dreamed of collaborating with!
On the day after Christmas Emma and Trey got engaged. Yes, we are truly a family business and we love it that way!
Emma’s wedding season was incredibly fun! We loved sharing it with you.
Emma’s Peanut Butter Themed Wedding Shower
In May we released the A Beautiful Mess Photo App! It was a crazy and exciting experience. We spent nine months developing it, and it’s been so exciting to see people from all over the world using it! I shared a little about our experience here. The launch of the app was a huge milestone and dream come true for our business!
This past spring and summer have been crazy busy around here. We hired Laura full-time as our project assistant, have been working on writing a second book (it’s a FUN one!) and have been seriously dreaming about what’s next for the future of our business. It’s crazy when I sit back and think about all that has taken place in just six years.
Over the years some things have changed. Our hair (yikes! no regrets, haha), our dreams have evolved, and we’ve grown up in a lot of ways. Blogging is funny like that. You get to look back on things and laugh… sometimes a whole lot. Looking back there are also so many things that haven’t changed. Our love for photography, crafts and food has only grown. More than anything, the business experiences that have brought Emma and I closer together as sisters and best friends are my favorite part of writing this blog. Thank you SO MUCH for reading A Beautiful Mess. I wish we could have coffee with every single one of you, but more than a million cups of coffee just can’t be healthy for anyone, right? Seriously though, we adore you so much! We’re so thankful to do this full time. It’s a dream job that only gets better each year!
Cheers to the next six years! Elsie + Emma
331 Comments
This was so inspiring! I’m sitting here drinking my morning coffee and I’m finding a huge smile across my face as I’m reading this! You girls rock (and your guys too)
xx
Happy 6-year blogiversary! I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of years now (I think I started right around the time Elsie got married), and I’ve loved all your DIYs and sister styles and other fun features. Cheers!
ahh wow, it’s been such a journey for you two! I remember when I first found your blog about two years ago. It’s such a lovely little corner of the internet with beautiful photos and plenty of posts to make me smile. Keep up the good work guys! Can’t wait to get my hands on your book 🙂
Hannah xx
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Happy 6th anniversary! I’m glad you posted your story. Sometimes I subconsciously assume that everything is so easy for you so I’m glad that talked about your journey. It makes you guys much more relate-able when you share your struggles. 🙂
Yours was one of the first blogs I ever read. When I was considering starting a blog of thoughts, I knew of only a family friend that had a blog and I thought it was so brave of her to pour her heart out for anyone and everyone to read. I’ve loved reading your blog and thank you for sharing your life with us!
www.notesfromtheslife.com
Ah! What a beautiful stories.. ABM is one of my favourite blog, and You (Elsie and Emma) both of you are inspiring me in so much things, thank youuu 😀
xo,Rist!
http://ristlicious.blogspot.com/
It’s not that I want to copy your web site, but I truly like the design. Could you inform me which style are you using? Or was it especially designed?
Congrats on all your success. I found you guys through Instagram recently (via my friend’s wife, Margot). It was great to read your whole story and see how you’ve gotten to where you are today!! Congrats again!
Jackie
www.lovejac.com
finally had time to read though this post. ELSIE. its amazing! i love seeing all your good life bits in a pretty row like this. I cant wait to see where you both take this project next! Rooting for ya, girls!
So fun to read this retrospective – it makes me realize how long I’ve been reading y’all! I wish I could remember how I originally stumbled upon this blog, but I can’t. Glad I did though, you guys are such inspirations. Happy for you! 🙂
I usually don’t comment on things because I don’t have a blog to link to, but I wanted to write & say that it’s been a wonderful opportunity for your readers to watch you grow & evolve over the years! I just realized, looking back through this, that I’ve been reading since 2009 – wow. It was nice to reflect not only on how you girls have changed, but also where I was in my own life back then too! Thank you for inviting us all into your lives, sharing the fun (aka blue hair) and the beautiful (those wedding photos! AH!). Best wishes for the next years & excitement to come xoxo
I’ve been reading your blog from the very beginning, I can’t believe it’s been six years! Congrats ladies.
Wow congrats on six years! I started blogging last year, but like you it wasn’t for popularity or ratings…still isn’t. I just love to write and share what I do!
Your blog is what inspired me to start blogging and I’ve been a follower ever since I first found you! I really enjoy your creative projects, home décor ideas, and just the fun posts you are always sharing.
Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
Exercise Encouragement GROUP Blog
Ladies, this post is just beautiful! What a wonderful journey. So excited for what is to come! Congrats on 6 years!
Congratulations on your sixth blog-birthday! It’s nice to see a little overview of your journey so far. I’m sure lots of good things are still about to happen.
Happy birthday. Congratulations from à belgian fan 🙂
What a beautiful story. I teared up a bit! xo
wow, six years! congrats, A Beautiful Mess is such a fun, inspiring place to visit.
I have to say I got a little teary reading this recap! I stumbled upon the blog in early 2010 and was instantly in love with it.
I remember almost all of the posts in the recap and it was a crazy reminder to myself how fast time has gone by!
I remember when I signed up for the e-course on creating your own blog and I found myself struggling with how to be unique and not “be inspired” by someone else’s blog…in a world where there are blogs left and right and it can feel impossible to do something unique and your own. Reading this and seeing the evolution that I got to watch really re-inspired me to get back to my just-for-fun blog project. Now to start planning the next steps!
As always, super inspiring and I just love you girls!!
I’m super excited for you guys. I love your work & am doing a lifestyle- & photo-blog that I’m hoping will grow. It’s only been about 2 weeks, but I’m doing decent I suppose. I will pre-order the book soon! Congratulations. I’m adding a link to your site on my blog roll!
Also, thanks for going through the journey — it was both fun and overwhelming to read at the same time. Sometimes I wonder if perhaps I’m wasting my time with the blogging thing, but the good thing is: I’ll continue to do it whether or not I ever become successful. Wish I’d known then (back when I started blogging) what I know now. The market wasn’t so saturated at that point.
Thanks again!
It was a pleasure to read this entry!
Thank you so much and aaaaaall the best for your project! Everything you´re doing is such an inspiration for me! Thank you so much for that! Lovely greetings from Germany <3
Elsie and Emma,
You two ladies are my all time FAVORITE bloggers…because you are Honest, Artsy, Open and so much fun!!!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us, I enjoy learning and laughing with you both!
xx
Buki of James1542
Wow, it was so cool to read how much you have grown! I’m glad you girls are still down to earth, and don’t take all that success for granted. 🙂
ABM is my favourite of blogs, no exaggeration there! You guys always makes me happy and cheerful and you inspire me to do new projects and to find magic in the small things in life.
Thanks both of you for being awesome!
Congratulations on 6 years ABM!
I’ve been reading your blog for 2 years now, and i love it!
Keep up the amazing work Elsie and Emma!
Incredible!
I love following your blogs, and i actuallly cried a little reading this post. Your journey has been amazing.
If i ever get to Springfield I will try make an coffee-appointment with you 😉
Love
Julie (From little Denmark)
…just returned from my holiday in Greece and I’m spending my first relaxing morning back home reading my favourite blogs. Elsie and Emma I love your blog! It’s really inspiring to me. Your style, your life, your projects (you name it) make me dream because they make me believe that dreams are possible to be lived. I wish you all the best for the next years to come!!!
Girl, I’m 19 years old and I’ve been reading your blog since i didn’t know how to speak my bad English hahah it must have happened three years ago… but you’re so inspiring in every way, even when I couldn’t read the articles.
Well, now I’m growing, studying History and this must be my second comment here after all this time. I don’t usually comment but I thought it was important to say that inspiration means so much in life. Thanks for giving me this.
I intend to, someday, somehow, work with crafts also. I hope to be as beautiful as you girls are, but in my own way.
xxxxxxxxxooooo
Such a fun recap. I think I’ve been reading ABM for about 4 or 5 years, amazing!
I’m already getting so excited to hear what you’re second book is about… (:
Congratulations Elsie and Emma. I’ve been reading for a few years now and think it’s great how much you have achieved. You’re a real inspiration to thousands – keep up the good work xx
Hi thanks for this post, it’s really inspiring for a new blogger like me to see how much you can achieve. But it really does go to show how much work you put in behind the scenes. I’ve got to say I totally fell into the trap you mentioned at the beginning but now I am working hard and just having fun with what I put out there. Thanks for giving us this insight.
You two have been my biggest inspiration from the start! The way you’ve turned your dreams into a reality is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for all you do and all you inspire! Can’t wait for another six, splendid years!
Smiles and all the best,
Savannah
untetheredasacloud.wordpress.com
Congratulations of six years! As someone who started a blog in 2013 I can honestly say I’m glad I have people like you to live up to. Seeing you both make it as independent business ladies makes me believe I can achieve as well.
Thanks for always being awesome
xx
I cant believe I’ve been reading your blog since I was a freshman in high school..I’m now going into my sophomore year of college! I’ve definitely grown up following your life/family, work, & blog. Can’t wait to see what comes in the future for the ABM family 🙂
So love you guys! Happy, happy anniversary!
Amazing! I have so much memories reading ABM… 🙂 Crazy! Happy birthday, Girls!
I loved reading this re-cap of the last 6 years, you guys are amazing and a huge inspiration. Congrats and cheers to the future!
I am so glad that I found your blog through my cousin, Megan. I love checking in every day to see what’s new and what’s up. Your simple beauty, creativity, and positivity is always uplifting.
Keep up the great work! Don’t grow weary- take breaks when you need to- we’ll understand!
Thank you for all that you do to inspire 🙂
Love to see how far you’ve come! I started reading your blog in college, when you were about to open the very first RVA shop. I love seeing how your business has evolved and you’ve been able to focus more on the things you’re truly passionate about! Y’all have been my favorite for years! xoxo, and congrats!
What a great recap. I can’t remember exactly when I started reading your blog, but it was sometime in. 2008 or 2009. I love seeing how you guys and this blog have grown. I’m looking forward to whatever comes next!
I hope to be at this point one day. Congratulations on the success.
I’m a new reader and LOVED the history lesson. Yall are precious and you make me miss my sisters!
This is the best post on the blog, thus far! I enjoyed every single little morsel. Thank you for sharing! You girls are a huge inspiration! I was just driving home from work, thinking, ‘How can I make my office less boring & drab & look more like a second home? I know, I’ll surf around the ABM blog to get some craft ideas!’ True story. You two rule.
You guys are truly an inspiration. Congrats on 6 great years! Love you guys!
Wow. So cool and impressive. I just found this blog recently… I know, where have I been? This is a great catch-up for me to hear the evolution of your personal lives and this blog. It’s obvious that you inspire so many people (me now as well), so thank you both for sharing your talents with us!
I remember ALL this stuff! What a ride.
For some reason, reading this made me cry! Congratulations on your enourmous success, and thanks for the inspiration that you are. <3
Such an inspiration! Thank you for doing what you do!
CONGRATS GIRLS YOU ARE AMAZING I LOVE YOU BLOG IT´S TOTALLY PERFECT. GO ON YOU´RE THE BEST!!
MILLIONS OF KISSES FROM CORDOBA ARGENTINA!!!
TEFY
Not sure if you guys are aware of this (pretty sure you guys are…) but there’s an app called “A Beautiful Mess Plus” by John Harlampa on iTunes.
“Add new life to your favourite photos with custom filters, fun fonts, and hand-drawn doodles by ALEX and DJOHN, creators of the award-winning lifestyle blog, A Beautiful Mess”.
Hmmmmmm. Sounds sketchy to me.
Anyway, Happy Birthday ABM! <3
Congrats on 6 whole years! This whole post lovely. MY favorite part? Emma’s blue hair at your wedding 😉
xo Ashley
thetiniestfirecracker.com
Totally meant the App Store! Hahah
This is awesome! Happy six years and counting!
Congrats!!!! I hope we can enjoy more years of a beautiful mess !!!
so exciting!
i wish you guys sold that coffee print still, i absolutely LOVE it!
That’s inspiring.
You guys, this seriously made me want to cry!!!! Such a beautiful post, congrats on the 6 years!!! That’s amazing. Everyday you ladies inspire me to be my best in so many different aspects of my life! If I ever need some inspiration for me blog I always turn to ABM!
All the best, E&E!!!
Love,
Chelsea
http://mixedmediumstheatre.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks for being there. Congrats, girls
Cheers to the blog! Cheers to projects! Cheers to life and cheers to your positive state of mind (which i do really appreciate :)!!
Congratulations!!! I can’t say I’ve been following you since the beginning, but I’ve enjoyed reading your blog for about three years now, it’s a daily stop for me 🙂 Keep up the great work!
I found you in 2007! It’s great to remember so many lovely moments. Looking forward to the next 6 years 😉 Congrats and keep up the amazing work! xxx
Congrats girls!
Your blog is a pleasure to read, i love it!
Thank you for sharing such beautiful things with us.
All the best from Paris,
Ester : )
I’ve been reading your blog since the start…you’ve been a huge inspiration for me all these years! Congrats on the anniversary, time sure does fly 🙂
what an awesome post – very inspiring! great to hear your story again and all the FAB links!
I’ve been following this blog since 2008 and I have loved seeing your dreams come true. It is so inspiring to see where you started and how all the hard work has paid off. You both are truly and inspiration.
Cheers to you all!
Congrats ladies! ABM is one of my favorite blogs and you two inspire me everyday. Much love to you both!
http://brittannytaylor.com/blog
Congrats on six years of blogging!! Cheers to all the bright things ahead for both of you.
I loved this! Congratulations to your whole team!!
I’ve been reading since 2008! You continue to inspire me. Keep going!
I don’t remember when I came across your blog but I know it was a while after you started. It was really fun reading about everything you guys have done and all the wonderful moments you’ve shared. Congrats on an amazing six years! Here’s to many more!
Nothing that has not been said yet! I dont know how you do it, to write every day so positive without making me feel it is faked!
Keep it up, its great, but maybe one day, tell us how you do this!
love
mone
I feel like I just went on a trip down memory lane. Happy 6th Anniversary ladies. Here’s to more to come!!!
This post was so sweet and inspiring. I have enjoyed reading ABM since about 2010 or 2011 and it always makes my day!!!
So excited for you girls! I have enjoyed reading over the years and I can’t wait to keep reading for the next 6! What a great recap!
Safe to say, your blog is one of my favorites! Your content is always new, inspiring and so creative. I actually want to do the DIY projects you show, and I’m always inspired by your fashions and home decor. Keep up the great blog and congrats to you and your amazing team! xo
M.
WOW! What a rad story! It’s so cool to see where you started and how much your dreams changed and grew over the years. I love your blog and can not wait to see Emma’s wedding photos! Lots of love! -denae
Happy birthday, ABM! I’ve been reading you every day since jan 2011, thank you for all that inspiration! Kisses from Mexico. 😀
Thanks so much for posting this! Makes us girls who are off on our on ‘clueless adventure’ feel less alone.
Whew…I am exhausted just reading about your great adventure! You two are very brave women going after your dreams with such determination. I hope that in my next season of life (soon to be an empty nester) that I will have half of your courage. But more importantly I hope my teenage daughter will be able to live her dreams with as much determination and zest for life. Thanks for being such an encouragement and good luck in the coming years!
I have only recently stumbled across you’re blog and I love it! Lovely to read how it all started 🙂
Jenifer x
I’ve been following you since 2008, and it’s been wonderful. You inspire me to keep going for my dreams, even if it wont make me much money. I’m excited to buy your book and for the Android App! Congratulations on 6 years!
Such a wonderful round up. Your blog has been such a great inspiration to me! (: Many happy new adventures! xx
http://www.kaisaphoto.com
Happy Birthday! Thank you for sharing your Beautiful life!
Keep doing all this great stuff,grow, make your dreams come true!!!Wish you all the best, and thank you for inspiring me and making me smiling/or sometimes crying/ while reading your blog.Good luck!
ABM’s birthday is my birthday. I knew there was a reason I loved it so very much. Congratulations on your fabulous success! 🙂
What an incredible six years! Congrats x
You guys are so so awesome.
So great to remember all the steps of ABM. I’ve followed since the start when i found Elsie’s posts about scrapbook.
Love ABM 🙂
this is amazing! congrats girls! I’m soo happy for you and I’m trying to look up to you! never stop!
I’ve been reading your blog since 2011, and this is because I was on bed rest due to my high risk pregnancy. I discovered your blog because of Pinterest, since that time I rather read blogs, and yours is one of those that I try to read everyday. Thank you for your blog and the beauty of it, including you guys! Can’t wait to get my copy of your book! God bless!
Congratulations 🙂
I just wondered why Katie and all the other people working for you guys werent mentioned?
I loved every second of reading this post!!! Seriously gave me goosebumps to read about this lovely journey the two of you are on. Many future blessings to y’all and your families! 🙂
Wow, you two accomplished so much in those six years! I loved reading about all of it and found out that I’m a regular here for a year now too! It’s a dream come true and you girls deserve it so much.
I love this flashback of your history – you sure have come a long way. Congrats on all of the success and happy anniversary 🙂 Cheers!
happy birthday!! girls, i absolutely love your blog.. you are so inspiring. it almost makes me sad because of how badly it makes me wish I had a sister to partner up with, you two just balance so well together and both bring such beautiful creativity to the table. i can’t wait to read your book and this post was such a lovely look back at some of my favourite moments. your store is so cute tooo!
thank you girls so much for your hard work the last 6 years, it has obviously paid off so much!
Happy b’day ….. I love your blog …. I look forward towards your post and the lovely lively pictures …. Lots of love and wishes from India ….. Cheers Pratima 🙂
Congratulations on all the accomplishments you’ve had over the last 6 years. I read ABM just about everyday and root for you ladies at every step. You’ve built something amazing here!
wow, congratulations! what an amazing journey!
I love this blog! happy 6th birthday!
can´t wait to see Emma´s wedding photos! please! please!
kisses from Buenos Aires, Argentina!
🙂
Congratulations! I look forward to seeing the amazing things you accomplish in the following years. You both are amazing and so inspiring!
And thank you for being an inspiration to try new things and work towards what makes me happy! I love your blog, congratulation!!
Jeremy’s from Lindsborg?! I live in McPherson which is ten minutes away. We go to Lindsborg all of the time for a huge dose of adorableness. Clicking through that old post gave me so many feels!! I feel like we’re nearly neighbors (even though we’re absolutely not).
Congrats on this beautiful success! I feel genuinely thrilled for you and all that this has become.
Jeremy’s hair! haha. Love it.
Seriously tho, congratulations to all of you for working so hard to create such a lovely site and life. I enjoyed getting to read a little bit about the journey.
Congratulations!!! Been following you for 4 years and you’ve been such an inspiration!!!
Cheers to many more years to come!
xoxo!
Amy
Wonderful post and story! Congrats on fabulous 6 years! Keep it up!
Wow!
Amazing to see the changes!
You girls have come a long way!
From single, free spirit gals to mariied career girls!
I also have been reading for years now but I never knew the history since recently and it’s great to see a pair of amazing sisters making their mark on the world 🙂
PS: Congrats on the book dolls!
Happy Birthday ! Hope it goes on for another 6 years… (at least!)
Check out my new outfit post :
http://hidinginheaven.blogspot.fr/2013/07/the-one-with-army-flowers.html
i had no idea about all this history… i loved every word! thank you so much for sharing!
xx
Oh, wow. You´ve come so far in the last six years and so much has happened. I really love to read your blog and wish you guys all the best for the next six years.
Yours is the only blog I’ve read from start to finish and still enjoy reading. We have visited your shop and will be making a road trip to say fair well when you close. Any updates on when that’s happening? My sister and I would like to meet you girls.
Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com
I can’t believe you have a shop in Springfield! I live here and I had no idea, I am so excited to visit your shop now!
i love your blog!!!!
http://fashionissue-byzanetbel.blogspot.cz/
Crazy to look back, and see how long it’s been! I didn’t even realize I’d been reading your blog since the very beginning, but I remember those posts. Congratulations on how far you’ve come!
I’m so happy that I’ve followed you through your journey! Maybe not from the very start, but I’ve seen you grow and evolve in so many ways! You are an inspiration to all of us! I wish you both all the best and many-many more successful years to come!
I got tears and goosebumps the whole way through this post. You guys are so inspiring, and I can’t wait to see what the future years hold!
Congratulations, reading this post you inspared me to be strong and fight for the things that i would like to have in my future. And am so happy for you and Emma!!!
Congrats!
congrats and happy birthday ABM! xo
http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/
its wild to see how much your space ( and you guys!) have grown and reformed!! so much love for what you do and how you do it 😀
Congratulations on your hard work! I discovered this blog early last year and have followed it ever since. I noticed that these last few months your personalities have really shined through in your blog posts and I love it! Your posts are inspirational and fun. Keep it up!
This makes me so happy! Congrats you guys! I love your blog, keep it up!
Hi! I’m not much of a commenter (except on giveaways, yikes), but this blog has HANDS DOWN been my favorite place to go daily on the web for the last few years and has been a wonderfully impacting springboard of creative inspiration in my own life! Elsie and Emma, you are so beautiful from the inside out, and I wish you both endless blessings entailing further steps into your dreams and destiny with your husbands, family, friends, and dogs too! Congratulations on 6 years!!! May there be countless more to celebrate for you all!!! 🙂
I’ve only been a reader for the last 2 years, so it was so wonderful seeing in detail how your blog and business developed! You’re so inspiring to me, my husband and I are stuck in jobs we don’t like. I’m a jewelry designer on the side, a graphic artist full time. My husband is a tattoo artist. We’ve been dreaming of setting up a tattoo/retail shop in our small town where we can display my jewelry, my artwork and have a gallery for other artists to show. We found a location a few weeks ago but have been making excuses as to why now’s not the right time…after reading your post I called the realtor and we have a showing at our possible future shop location tomorrow morning! Thank you both for being so inspiring.
BEST…BLOG POST….EVER!! 🙂 THANK YOU!! (I THINK I HAVE READ EVERY POST YOU HAVE IN THIS POST, BUT THEY NEVER, EVER GET OLD!! 🙂
Congrats to you girls….not sure how I found your blog, but am glad that I did. It’s my “must check every morning blog” =) Here’s to many more years!! Cheers!!
xo
happy 6th loves! and thank you for all the inspiration 🙂 may many more to come!!
Happy Blog Birthday! I’m so happy to have found you on the internet. A few years ago I found this blog and seriously thought it was the best thing ever. It still is. You girls are so positive and encouraging, while staying real at the same time. Keep it up!
xoxo
Congrats, friends! I too started reading in 2010- it’s crazy to think I’ve spent so much time following you all & how much I’ve grown myself. It’s really rad to have some friends blogging to follow along with. I’m so excited for you all & can’t wait to read the books & see what all is in your bright future!
You all are so cute & talented! I love that your DIY’s & recipes are approachable & doable, plus simple to understand. Here’s hoping for many more years of success so I can keep reaping the benefits of my favorite blog!
I look forward to reading ABM every day…you two are very inspiring! I like the fact that you are honest too and talk about the hard times as well 🙂 Thanks and keep up the great work!
Congratulations! You work so hard and you deserve every bit of your success <3
Happy 6th birthday ABM!! I am a new reader of your blog.. Its soo awesome!! Huge fan of yours!
Keep up the good work… 🙂 🙂
Congratulations! I’ve been a reader for almost three years. You have truly provided so much inspiration for me. Being in my early twenties, you are such great role models and great ladies to look up to!
All the best!
Jordan
Congratulations on all your success! You ladies are wonderful. I’m travelling out there from Ohio at the end of the month and am definitely coming to visit your store! I can’t wait.
Thank you ladies for being you!
What a great story! I had no idea of your beginnings but it’s great to know how your passion has lead you both into success! Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much for sharing your amazing journey with us! You’ve obviously done a lot of hard work to get where you are now which is really inspiring 🙂
http://atadbitcreative.com/
I’ve been reading the blog for about a year now, but I remember stopping by Red Velvet before then – and I’m sorry to see it go although I have to say it’s not unexpected, since you never seemed to be opened when I was there. 🙁 Oh well – all the best for the future and maybe I’ll see you around town (at the Aviary or Elle’s, since we seem to adore both places!).
Wow! Reading about the journey of a beautiful mess was such an inspiring story of not just an individual’s passion for creativity that evolved into an incredible career path, but one thing I noticed is how persistent you the ABM team is with trying new things and never giving up. I love how this is a family run website! Happy 6 years!
Congratulations on these past 6 years. They are quite the accomplishment! I’ve been reading and following along since 2010!
One small note, though: while this is undeniably a family business (and I’m a huge supporter of small and locally-owned business) there’s a bit of a disconnect seeing the word pop up so often here. I feel a little used sometimes. I know you guys provide amazing content for free and work so hard for it, I just… at times I feel like my spare time and my web traffic are being capitalized on for a “business.” The word business sound a bit cold (and crass), the opposite of what I’d like to associate with this blog and with creativity in general. It’s a bit of a conundrum, I realize, I just thought I’d share my feelings since not everyone likes to hear the word business (especially in a blog context) or have $$ associated with free time/crafts/creativity so explicitly and so often.
Keep up the good work!
elsie and emma-i have been reading and following you since 2006 and am so inspired by you! such amazing and talented women! here’s to many, many more happy years! every time i think i want to stop my blog i know i just need to get right back on and work at it!
You gals are two of the cutest, creative and inspiring people out there in the blog world. I love your blog, and I am so glad I discovered it a few years ago (I think in 2010) thanks to a friend. You deserve all the success you have and I cannot WAIT to get your book! Congratulations on 6 years! 🙂
This is an inspiring story and post about how you stayed true to your creative impulse, even in the face of financial uncertainty. And I love that the biz is really a family biz. Thank you for sharing, and for creating this blog!
I’m a long-time reader, and never really commented, but I have to say, following this blog (and all the great ideas and projects!) has been fantastic. You guys have done an amazing job- CONGRATS on six years! 🙂
Congratulations!
congrats, guys! you are awesome! and I’m so happy to know your blog, and get inspired! you are rockin’ in all the ways! X
I have loved reading your blog, and it makes me so happy to see two sister’s experiencing so much growth and fun together.
Hi Elsie & Emma! Cheers to the successful six years! I’m from the Philippines and found your blog late last year and I’ve been hooked ever since. I hope your book will be distributed here also. Here’s to many more years of fun and amazing stuffs!
happy 6th! this is my 1st. i can only dream to have a blog as kick butt as yours. thanks so much for the inspiration.
Bellissime! Hi from La Bella Roma.
Congratulations, girls! I have and will always be a big fan of ABM. And thanks for the honest and encouraging story of ABM – this helps and encourages me a lot, being at the very beginning of my own little shop / blog project.
All the best!
Hanna
www.artisserie.net
Aaw congratulations 🙂 To the next six years!
I started reading ABM in 2011 and I’ve been a faithful reader ever since. I come here every day, super excited for new blog posts 🙂 My secret ambition is to be featured in At home with in a couple of years (I’ll start house hunting in a few months 🙂
All the best for you two, I thoroughly enjoyed this retrospective 🙂
Best wishes from Germany
Andrea
How exciting! I’ve been following your blog the last 2 years and have loved every post!
Hoora for you, girls! You have done a great job and I am very happy of being able to read you 🙂
Congratulations, ladies! I really enjoyed this little look back. I’ve been reading for a few years now and am such a huge fan. Best wishes for all that’s to come! xoxo
Great pictures, congratulations for these 6 years!!!
http://inatrendytown.blogspot.com.es/
I discovered your blog by coincidence about two years ago and every since you guys are in the top ten of my favorite blogs around the world! I always loved scrapbook, creativity and DIY’s and I’m really surprised how you come up with so many amazing ideas every time! I started blogging about 1,5 year ago. Not to become a huge success, but to express my creativity and to start all over again after a long and tough (not so creative) time in my life. I’m so happy I did it and I wish I started this years ago. Not because of the overload of blogs or the possibly to become successful, just because it gives me so much satisfaction to share my looks and creations with my own online place and readers every day! I hope you will go on with this blog like forever, I love it! Congratulations with these 6 amazing years! xx Eva
www.creativityandchocolate.com
I have been reading your blog here in Australia for a few years I guess, gosh time has gone by quick,
You have given me so many fantastic ideas , I want to thank you for that
Your blog is The Best .
I’ve been reading since the beginning and bought scrapbook stuff from Red Velvet. 🙂 Have always been incredibly inspired by this blog. Keep it up!
this is so special 🙂
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
this was so beautiful! love your blogging story and love the blog! i always come back to it when i need some creative inspirsation. thank you!
I started reading your blog last year and i loved it so much that i went through the archives and read all of it since the beginning! To see the way you started, just a cute little blog, innocent and just-for-fun, it inspired me to start my own (after reading and re-reading your tips on how to start a blog, you know, the ones you did with Kinsey when she started S,K?). I was afraid of having zero readers and stopping after a few weeks. But I thought, even if I stopped, I would still have tried. I don’t have any high expectations like someone could have after reading your story (+ I’m still a teen so I can’t expect anything). But that is what is making it so great, my blog is strictly just-for-fun, and I know it’s not going to change (well I secretly hope it is going to, but not before several years!). I am proud of my little blog, even if I don’t post that often and I only have a few readers per day, I tell myself that 2 readers a day is just enough and it shows me that people (even not a lot) are interested. It keeps me going 😀
I just wanted to thank you for inspiring me, making me laugh with your stories and keeping me creative. You are role-models for me (and I don’t exaggerate, you really are) You showed me that a dream is meant to be lived and that if I want to make my life in a creative directions, I have to do it, and I should never ignore my dreams. THANK YOU <3
PS: and congrats!
p-PS: ooooh! I hadn’t realized how long my comment was. Hope you’ll read it entirely 🙂
Congrat from Europe! a recipe book someday? thank you for sharing and all the inspiration found on your blog! <3
Aw congrateroonies, you guys! Thanks for sharing the full journey – it’s so inspiring to see how you’ve grown and developed your business. You really are an inspiration!
Hello girls !
I’m almost crying reading all this, this is so interesting and crazy !
I write you from Paris, France and I read your blog everyday, it makes me dream and get jealous and it makes me think about my dream job.
I hope your business will grow more and more.
I’d have a request : knowing the begining of it = what was your studies and how you became a scrapbook products designer
Lots of kisses, you both rock
I rarely comment, but I wanted to say I loved this post.
I started reading this blog maybe 1, 2 years ago? (Seems like yesterday, but it was before the latest redesign and before Emma was co-author…)
It was fun and super interesting to see its history condensed like this and learn more about the beginings 🙂 I’m now going to check a lot of those old posts 😉
Good luck for the future! Keep up the wonderful job 🙂
congratulations!
what an impressive story… and i guess everyone can’t help it but feel happy for you! this blog is really one of the best because you do everything with so much love…
cheers! on more wonderful years to come!
You guys have truly been blessed! You look like you’ve certainly had a wonderful six years and I hope the future is just as bright for you all!
xx
Awww… Congrats!!!!
thebluewagon2013.blogspot.com
Happy Birthday ABM!! So proud and inspired by what you have achieved and how awesome and real you guys are, totally deserve all your sucesses! Loved reading your story so far, thanks for sharing 🙂
Happy birthday to the blog! You have one of the best blogs out there, full of original ideas and posts and you completely deserve all that success! I can’t see what the future holds for this blog 😉
It’s a long time I follow you, I love your style, project, you are gorgeous!
Congrats for all your achievement, you deserve them
What a wonderful story so far! Pretty sure the next six years will be amazing as well!
Congratulations ! I really like your blog !
Congrats and keep the posts coming! I love ABM!
I love love love this blog, it’s truly one of my favorites in this huge sea of blog all around the world. I am so happy for you girls and I wish you the best of luck! :))
Oh ladies, I am so happy for you. I just wish I found your blog earlier! Last night I went through Elsie’s engagement posts – SO romantic! 🙂
All the best for the future girlies, you deserve every success you hold.
Rosie x | Every Word Handwritten
Congratulations my dears! I love reading your blog every day and I so happy I came across it a couple of years back. Both you girls are an inspiration to me and many others.
Lulu xx
http://luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com
Wow you’ve both achieved so much, congratulations on such a milestone!
beautiful!
Wow, your story is so inspiring. I love your blog because every post shows how much you love what you do. Keep on having fun with your business!
I remember walking into your little shop (the first one) on Commercial and just being wowed by how adorable you, your windows and all your little things were. Love how you have grown, happy to call Springfield my hometown! One day, I will run into you somewhere and say hello! Congrats on six wonderful years.
This has got to be one of my favourite posts of yours, it’s so lovely looking back over all that you’ve done and achieved!
Wow, I can’t believe I am already reading your blog for 5 or 6 years! You inspired me to start my own blog. I loved the look and feel of your old shop. I know you guys aren’t heading into the retail business much more, but you have such a great taste for making spaces adorable!
Beautiful story!! Congratulations to you both!!!
OMG, you both were so cute! I really adore this blog, it’s ceative and beautiful, I’m so in love! Happy to be here!!
Awww. I love this post so much! I’ve been following your blog for a couple of months now. I actually found you after looking for peanut butter recipe ideas and I found that post on Emma’s peanut butter themed wedding shower. Since then I’ve been a regular reader. I love the way the two of you talk about your journey together. I have a younger sister too and I wish we could grow together as beautifully as you two did. Cheers to happy memories Elsie and Emma!
hugs, kisses and congratulations!
http://annescribblesanddoodles.blogspot.com/
Your story is incredible, thank you for sharing it with us! I’ve been reading ABM for around three years now, and it’s the only blog I visit almost daily. Whenever I’m feeling low on energy and disheartened because I feel I have so much further to go with my own career I get straight onto ABM for a boost of inspiration. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you! I do have one request- I really struggle to fit everything in to my working day/week/year (!) and never feel like I’m as productive as I should be. I’d be really interested to know about your daily routines, and maybe you could extend that to other designer/makers, a bit like your ‘at home with’, but instead ‘a day in the life of’. Any tips on time management would be great!
Thank you again and here’s to the future! x
Congrats, girls! I’ve loved your blog since the beginning, but reading this post really shows the work, the dedication, and the creativity that you’ve poured into this blog.
It’s been a pleasure getting to know you!
I’ve been a follower since the beginning, quietly observing and sharing in your journey, it’s been a blast watching you grow… Thanks for all the inspiration, it always gives me something new and original to look forward to.
Hi! Congrats to all of you! I love reading your blog with all the creativity, inspiration and goob vibrations. Best regards from Barcelona,
Marta
I feel like I know you two on a personal level! Congrats on reaching this incredible milestone. I really enjoyed going through your highs and lows & all about how ABM began. You truly inspire & motivate us all with your enthusiasm and energy.
Love everything you do
I follow you since 2009, ABM is my favourite blog for inspiring
Amazing story!
thanks
This is amazing, I remember when I first started blogging, I was really bad about keeping up with it, but then I found your blog when I was really sick and I went back through all the posts and I thought I love this, and it inspired me to blog more, then your sister style inspired my weekly Stylish Sundays. I love your blog and look forward to every post, and when I sit down to read the blogs I’m subscribed too I always save yours for last.
Mana
http://www.fashionandhappythings.com
You’re beautiful and I look forward to checking this blog every day. It’s inspiring, motivating, lovely and aesthetically pleasing in every way. Thank you for all that you share & cheers to 6 years and six more to come! XoXo
this is an amazing blog story! i’m so moved and inspired to continue developing my own blog. Cheers! I’m planning on buying your book. 🙂
thank you so much for sharing this it was so inspiring to me and extremely interesting too. your journey was a lovely one and I am so glad you started this blog bec. it is awesome! keep up the good work! xx. gigi. www.gigikkitchen.blogspot.com
wow time is really flying it seems like just yesterday when you posted the pics of you and Jeremy getting married has it really been two years already and I remember Emma’s blue hair
Every time I’ve read one of your posts about how you got started, your accomplishments along the way and all your success it brings tears to my eyes. Thank you for being such an inspiration.
This was a lovely post! Happy birthday and may there be many, many more!
Loved reading the evolution of your story. So awesome.
This was perfect. Thank you.
I am so inpsired by you two. And Katie and everyone else in the ABM team. You all are ridiculously talented.
I just started blogging and I look to you al for guidance. This struck a chord: “Because I know I would do the exact same thing if I started today, a part of me is definitely thankful my start was so adorably clueless and strictly for fun.”
I am trying to just blog for fun…but I know I may never get an audience to join me.
XO
Big Apple, Little Bites
i just started reading your blog about a year ago, so when i went back to read some of the previous posts you linked to, i was shocked to see silje. she did my first tattoo for me! i haven’t seen her in a couple of years, but it’s just another reminder that is really is a small world after all.
Congrats on the success (saavy and hardworking are great assets you have!)….but I’m curious, why doesn’t Katie ever get a mention? I thought she moved to Springfield to work for you guys?
I loved this post! And mostly, I sincerely love your blog. Reading it every day makes me happy and I leave feeling inspired. Thank you for taking chances and blogging full time 🙂
A fan and adoring reader,
Carly
this is incredible; to see how much you all have progressed doing the things that you love. you don’t even realize how much of an inspiration you all are to people (and by people i mean ME hehe)!
congrats! <3
Happy birthday, A Beautiful Mess!
I’m sure you hear this tons of time, but it holds true: You guys, your business, this website is SUCH AN INSPIRATION.
I know that, any and everyday, I can come to this site and find something new to try, whether it be food or a craft project or even a cool way to wear a dress.
I realize that I’ve been reading this blog about half of the time that it’s been up…and I can say it’s only gotten better. I think the best part about it all is that, we all get to experience the journey you’ve taken.
I know, and I’m sure I’m not alone, that I get excited to see your successes! From sold out clothing lines, to the arrival of the ABM app (I checked the app store for days after it was announced and bought it as soon as it appeared! I couldn’t wait to be a part of the ABM world with it), to the e-courses (I still reference the Blog Love course I purchased and, while I have a tiny space I really just use for myself and for my friends to keep in touch with me, it’s been helpful in keeping me inspired and when I look through old posts, I remember some really great times I might not have documented without that course), and of course to the book (already pre-ordered it!)that will be out so soon, I feel so happy for your team!
I love what you said about blogging…a lot of people now see the popular blogs and think, hmm, maybe I’ll make a quick buck. But that’s not the point. And I feel like so many of my favorite bloggers, especially you guys, started them because you wanted an outlet to share the things you love. It was ultimately the hard work and dedication that brought you all of the amazing opportunities and success you have had. It is the most admirable thing to me. I look at this site and you can see every bit of love and inspiration within the pages. Also, as someone who loves to write but often has writer’s block, I can only imagine how much time you’ve spent writing up posts, editing photos, perfecting recipes, working on DIYs and then recreating them for us to try.
I wish all of you, your happy family of hard workers, continued success and many more years of this wonderful blog! Thank you so much for bringing happiness and creativity into my life and the lives of so many others.
Loved reading your recap. I didn’t have to click on any of the links, because I remember reading each and every post you mentioned. I have a connection with you, because I loved your scapbook pages posted on Two Peas and followed you there while I was working for KI Memories. Later, after quitting work with them, I found out that they had hired you. I’ve been following your blog ever since. Anyway, thanks for all the peeks into your life. Love your personality and how you write. Congrats on all your success and future successes!
You guys are inspirational…y’all deserve all the success the blog has garnered! Looking forward to many more years of A Beautiful Mess 🙂
I’ve been reading ABM for almost as long as you’ve been writing it. You ladies do an incredible job at connecting with us readers. It’s something I really appreciate. Love hunkering down after a long day to see what’s new on ABM. One of my favourite parts of the day. 🙂 Keep killin’ it.
such a beautiful post. I have so much respect for all your hard work and creativity. Looking forward to more reading for a long time to come!
Hey Elsie!!! Great read! I still remember your first trip to Provo when you were starting your career in the scrapbook industry. You’ve always been so darling and inspiring! I have a question for you. Is there anyway I can get in touch with you via email? It’s about sponsorship. My email is lonileah@yahoo.com and I would love to talk to you as soon as you’ve got a minute! 🙂 Hope to hear from you soon!
Loni
It’s been so fun to watch your blog and community grow! I think I’ve been following along for about 2 years now, maybe more. And I have yet to do even one of your DIY projects! Just living vicariously. 😉
I’m in tears now. It took a little time to read the post and review all the links, but it was totally worth it!
I love both of you girls, your style, recipes and DIYs are perfect!
You have a huge 17 brazilian fan, and today I’m turning 18, and certainly, I’ll take ABM with me forever.
I love to see how you have changed, and I love SO MUCH when you share with us stories about your weddings, stores, books, etc. I feel so close to you, I can even feel a little bit of what you’re feeling. I hope you read this and know how special you are to my life.
Thank you for making my life more homemade and inspired and sorry for the giant text.
Happy B-day A Beautiful Mess *-*
xxo
i’m so glad you guys are around and i truly love coming to ABM every day and seeing what you guys are up to. my sister and i love looking at the site together and we love that you guys are best friends just like us. thanks for all that you guys do! happy six years! can’t wait to see what’s next for ABM 🙂
Congratulations! I’m so glad this blog became your full time jobs because I love reading it! I stumbled upon it back in 2008, but only became a regular reader in 2010. Really love how real you two are, keep up the good work! Xo
Hooray! Congrats to you! I am a faithful blog reader since 2008. I actually was able to visit your store this past December. Thank you so much for sharing your lives with me. I truly enjoy every post!
You are living so many people’s dream! 🙂 You are so right about bloggers starting recently being harder on themselves! At least I can say it is so true for myself. I have to constantly remind myself not to compare my little blog space to other beautiful ones like yours! I know I will get better with time…but I still am so critical of my own little blog! 🙂 Thank you for sharing your journey, it helps me to see that you started simple small, yet have become more than I could ever dream to be!
This was really encouraging…to see you evolve and make changes. It makes me know what I need to do. I am happy for all of your achievements and may they keep coming!
Happy Anniversary ABM! Ive been a blog reader since it was at blogpost! I still have a few of “Love Elsie” and took your class at my local scrapbook store.
Its really been amazing to witness how much ABM has grown over the years. wishing you much success.
congrats on 6 years, love ABM!!
This was absolutely lovely to read. Thank you so much for writing it! I’ve had my blog for quite some time, but it’s only recently that I’m focusing on posting regularly and keeping to a theme, etc. I’m geeking out about crazy things like statistics and search words, too! XD
Congrats on these fabulous 6 years! So inspiring! 🙂
I really love this post! This emphasized how important it is to keep pursuing your aspirations no matter what. Thank you for being so transparent about your struggles and also sharing how you overcame them. I am more inspired now than ever after reading this and I’m sure many others are as well. Keep up the great work and here’s to another amazing year!
xoxo,
Alex
this is so nice! congrats on 6 years girls! i just found ya’ll recently and it’s been a treat 🙂
Cheers, AMB! And thank YOU!
I really cryed with your story >.< <3
You girls live a charmed life and deserve all of your success.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Keep it coming, you guys are awesome.
I’ve been on this journey with you since the beginning…you still amaze and inspire me! Thank you!
xoxo
Amazing & wonderful! You both are thoroughly inspirational. I’m excited to see what is in store for you, and for us readers!! 🙂
~Sacha
Hey girls,
I have been following your blog for years and it was so lovely to see familiar milestones! I am so happy for the both of you and you have inspired me to try 🙂
I can’t wait to get your book and I look forward to many more years of reading ABM.
An inspired reader from Malaysia,
JW
Awe! Although I have just recently started following you all, you have inspired me and I just love y’all! Thank you!!!
I really loved reading through all this and seeing how far you both have come! As a new blogger, I think it’s soo true that after seeing so much success in the blogging world that there can be some extra pressure! You really inspired me to sit back, write about what I love and throw my worries away over trying something new that may be rejected. You two ladies are truly an inspiration to live your dreams and take chances where many people may not. Thank you! x
Wow! Very inspiring. I’ll have to get a copy of your photo book. It looks like good stuff 🙂
Congratulations, lovelies! I’ve read for the past few years and I love it. Thank you for all your hard work. 🙂
xx
Celina | The Celution
Hi girls, i live from Brazil and i loved to read about all story of A Beautiful Mess. I realy come visit it blog everyday and always get happy with what i see. I m a photographer of animals with ours people and i love vintage style i m always creating scenararios with a touch vintage in my sessions so you are a inspiration to me.
Ah, i have app ABM in my iphone it is very nice! 🙂
Congratulations, Elsie & Emma! It was such a pleasure discovering your blog this year and this “look back” post was a pleasure to read. Looking forward to many more years of reading your blog!
this is my FAVORITE blog and I pretty much worship you guys so THANK YOU!
This is all so amazing! So, what is happening with Red Velvet now?
I’ve been reading your blog for the past 4 years and have really enjoyed all your posts! the projects you do and just the random cute photos! you’ve been very inspiring to follow and helped me to develop more ideas! I always look forward to the next post! Congrats and happy anniversary!!!
Oh Gosh! You really inspire me in everything single post! O really love this blog! I hope you stationery writinng for a long, long, long time! KEEP DREAMING! KEEP INSPIRING PEOPLE LIKE ME!
I’ve just recently discovered your blog (thanks to your app – wish it was available for android!). Love the story…looking forward to what happens next! Congrats on six years!
I fell in love with your scrapbooking style back in the day and have followed your blog since its inception. I can’t say enough about the direction the blog/business has taken — so fun. You’re just one phenomenal, artistic soul! Here’s to many more successful blogging years! 😉
i love you guys, everything about it.. from the sisterly love (i have 5, btw) to the diy projects! you are taking over the world and i am glad because it makes my heart and soul happy! happy birthday abm!! xo.
I really enjoyed this post. So much thought put into it.
x
http://thewearwithal.typepad.com/
You two are a true inspiration! Thank you for sharing!
You are amazing and so inspirational. I loved your scrapbook line and then when you opened up your first shop my husband drove me down to Springfield to visit your shop and meet you. Thank you for being original and a positive role model.
**Megan**
You guys have come such a long way. With great success takes a lot of time, and I’m sure I can speak for everyone when I say – CONGRATULATIONS and thank you for sticking with ABM! Your blog is a great inspiration to us 🙂
I started reading in 2010! I remember all your early fashion shoots!
I wanted to cry happy tears as I read this post. It is fun to see your progression with this blog and your business(es)! You have been an inspiration to me as a blogger from the beginning. Especially your sister style posts! Your outfit photo tips have made my photos much better, and I’ve even roped a couple of my friends into my blog posts to help me and show off their fashion sense as well! It is much more fun taking outfit photos with friends!
Thank you for being such an inspiration, Elsie ad Emma.
love this post. you guys are great!
reading this gave me goosebumps. you two are so good at what you do and deserve every accomplishment and good feeling that has come your way. Congrats!
I only started reading ABM a few months ago, but I think your blog is easily one of my favorites. this post was so exciting to read and see how much you guys have grown. here’s to many more years of fun for ABM 🙂
I jokingly (but kind of seriously) tell people you two are my mentors. So awesome how many endeavors you all have done successfully! I’m definitely getting many friends/family hooked on ABM 🙂
Wow! Can’t believe it’s been 6 years! Congrats to the whole ABM family.
Awwww! As someone who started reading you back when you were on BlogSpot, this was a fun trip down memory lane 🙂 I’ve gone through similar life stuff in the last six years (marriage, home ownership, renovating) and have loved being on the journey with you!! xx
Just rediscovered your blog! Go you fab girls with making the blog world far more creative place!
6 years? I have been following you for almost that whole time! I remember so many of those links as the originals 🙂
…and still one of my favorite blogs! Congrats!
Sarah M
Amazing, amazing, amazing! And really incredible that you guys have been going on for 6 years and still going stronger than ever! Thanks for the recap, congrats!!!
awhimsicalchatterbox.blogspot.com
I am super duper happy for all your wonderful achievements .. Congratulations and thank you for a sharing all your wonderful ideas with us.. I started reading your blog since day one and its been a great journey.
Elsie and Emma,
I’ve been reading your blog since 2010, when I joined college, and you are the biggest inspiration of my life!
I didn’t really like Law, and all I did the whole day to make me happy was read your posts! People soon noticed that I was unhappy with school and obsessed with you girl and started trying to help me figure out what I love.
In 2012, my boyfriend helped me decide what to do with my life, and January 1st, 2013 I opened my online shop of creative gifts, www.graviola.art.br. It’s all in portuguese because I’m Brazilian, but it’s an “idea shop”: I talk to my clients and we invent a gift that’s perfect for the person they want to give it to. Then I figure out a way to make it real! I also have a blog, blog.graviola.art.br, about personalized and cute gifts – but that’s portuguese too!
You were not only what made me decide to pursue happiness and try other areas of work, but also an inspiration through all the process. Without your blog, e-courses and tips in general, I would have never tried to work in my our business, much less a creative one!
You are an incredible inspiration everyday! Thank you so much for all you’ve done for me, even if you didn’t know you were doing it! And keep out the incredible work <3
Infinite kisses and hugs!
congratz on your experiences 🙂 all the best and a lot of cake 🙂
you ladies are a true inspirations! loved reading this post all about your journey in the blogging world 🙂
congrats on 6 years! hopefully for more years to come!
– Janine
http://theeoptimist.blogspot.com
Congratulations girls, you deserve all those brilliant years, I wish more, and more lovely years to ABM.
Ps:Have a very long time that I watch Elsie’s magic world through flickr. =]
Hugs from Brasil
Rayani
thank you so much for sharing this type of thing! i love seeing the history of abm and knowing more about what got you all to where you are today. very inspiring. 🙂
Happy Six year anniversary!! I’ve been a reader for the three latest and like many others have written here, you girls are my biggest inspiration. Watching people grow the way we’ve all been able to watch ABM develop over the years is really something special…
CHEERS!!
Xo
Sarah
Atticlace.blogspot.com
Oh! I’m so happy for you ! Congratulations!!! I’m reading your blog in Poland and still want to make one of your home decorations but I’m study in different countries living in different places so I can’t wait when I finaly sit down in my home wherever it will be and create something from inspiration you gave me! I like your style ! WISH YOU NEXT SIX YEARS!! at least!!!!!!!!!!! xoxo
Your blog is so amazing Elsie and Emma! You both have been the hugest inspiration in my whole life! I started reading your blog when I was 10, but now I’m 15 (well, I’ll be fifteen next month)! You both have taught me SO much, but especially to work hard towards my dreams. I am so thankful to you both! You’re amazinggg! xx, Emily
Happy Birthday you crazy inspiring maniacs!
I LOVED reading this! Thanks for sharing ladies <3
So great!! I also work with my sister and I learn from you two every post! Keep on dreaming!!
Amazing. Inspiring. Wow. I want to dive into what I love and work my ass off like you ladies have. Ups, downs, and all arounds seem worth it when you see the beauty in the breakdown. As I’m sitting here playing receptionist in my office, reading your posts when I can…I often hope that one day I’ll get the courage to pursue my writing, creative projects, and photography. Keep up the amazing work. Cheers!
Very cute! I am so happy for you both! It sounds like such a wonderful experience- and you are right! It is hard to start blogging in 2013. Though still very fun.
I always have/will love reading your blog:)
Leah Faye
e plus l
Congratulations!! That’s so awesome!
This walk down memory lane was amazing to me! I loved reviewing your story! 🙂 Personally, it is very touching to me as I started reading your blog even before this one, back when you had a scrapbook on Blogspot! Even back then I loved reading what you wrote, Elsie, and moving to Typepad just felt continuous! I kept reading what you wrote for years and somehow it was like I could peak a bit at your life, read about your dreams and see them getting fullfiled! Then you added Emma to the team and you both became a part of my daily reads! I know it sounds a bit cheesy (and scary probably!) to say it this way but I often read your blog and think of you girls as friends from another part of the world even though I don’t even know you. I am so happy for the six years of ABM and for everything you have accomplished! Congratulations, girls! You truly deserve it, it’s proof that work and effort pays off! Here’s to another six more years!!
Beautiful story! You two are such a big inspiration to me! Thanks for sharing!
xoxo
Juliette Laura
http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com
www.etsy.com/shop/InfiniteStyleShop
I’m reading your blog for the last year and a half only, but I truly visit everyday and love you girls to pieces!
Many good wishes and kisses from Ukraine!
Your hair evolution made me laugh sooo hard 🙂
Happy birthday!
http://viperpapercompany.etsy.com
Congrats! This is one of my favorite blogs on the web. Y’all do such an amazing job with it!
neha
http://nehamade.blogspot.com/
Cheers to the next 60!! 😉
Love you guys, your work is amazing, and you are a source of inspiration for me, not because of your career or success but quite simply because you love what you do (or do what you love!) and you live by what makes you happy…that’s the best way to live in my opinion…
Congratulations and looking forward the next years to come on ABM
Love
Melodie
http://sevenlivesandmore.blogspot.fr/
Though I have only been following for about 2 years (I have backtracked the previous years!) I absofreakinglutely LOVE you like chocolate. Cheers to your success and to all the majestic beauty you bring into the world. Cant wait to get your book and your app on Android.
Lots of love
🙂
Ko-Shin
Singer Songwriter
Dream
Ah, 6 years eh? I’ve been reading for 4 years, can’t believe it! I look at ABM everyday almost. Ye are an inspiration.
Cathy xxx
Turquoise Flamingo
http://www.turquoiseflamingo.com/
I’ve been reading ever since you had pink hair! It was so fun to read the ABM history! Congratulations on all of the success, you deserve it!
Aw. It bums me out that you said you feel bad for women who recently started a blog. I started mine in May of this year. With the loss of my teaching job and the birth of my daughter, I do hope it helps financially at some point. But I know it will take some time. I am a sponsor on smile and Wave and one other blog, so here’s to starting somewhere!
You were the first blog I ever read. I found you through Pinterest and you’ve led me to lots of other great blogs, to this world of blogging and to starting my own. so thanks for that 🙂
Congratulations on all of your success.
I’ve been following y’all’s blog for 2+ years now, and it’s been such fun watching you guys grow! Loved being able to really see just how far you’ve come through this post. Can’t wait to see what year seven brings!
So funny that you mentioned it – the thing that stuck out to me most from your posts throughout the years was how much your hair has changed! Haha!
It’s weird to realize just how long I’ve been reading your blog too – I remember some of the things you mentioned from 2010!!
xo
http://kittysnooks.blogspot.ca/
I love you guys and your blog! I look forward to reading for years to come! Your both a real inspiration to hundreds of people 😀
http://secretsofahappygirl.blogspot.co.uk/
I’ve been reading your blog since 2008 and you’ll never know how much it helped me, even in the darkest moment ( I’ve been unemployed for six months last year). I’ve read every single post you’ve written and I saw you grow, evolve, fall in love, get engaged, get married, buy a house…and all this gives me hope and strenght to carry on and follow my dreams. Sometimes I wish we were old friends for real! Congratulation for everything you beautiful ladies!
Gosh. Reading this really scared me. I occasionally drop in on this blog and take a look around, I think it’s one of the prettiest blogs I’ve seen, especially for the styling. So I start reading this post, loved hearing how the biz evolved but my heart sank when I read these words: “We learned that blogging and online products (like e-courses) were a more profitable and fulfilling business for us than retail.” This is so plain to see, many people are switching over from tangible products to selling something educational. I’m a designer and I am in the hardship phase of building my biz. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it just like you guys did. I know I have a product people love, but getting it made, at the right price is another story. I’ve learned so much and come very far, I don’t want to give up now. But damn, it’s hard.
Happy anniversary! And congrats on all your success! I’ve been reading your blog for a couple years and love it now more than ever. You two inspired me to start my own blog (in 2013 complete with ridiculous expectations and all haha). Keep up the awesome work!
You’re living dreams you didn’t even know you had. It’s a wonderful and beautiful thing…
You two are such an amazing inspiration, and your past six years definitely show it! My best friend and I just started a blog at the beginning of this year, and our mutual love for A Beautiful Mess was definitely a pushing factor to get us off our butts and to create our own blog to enjoy.
Looking at how much has changed in the past six years, I’m looking forward to see what else is coming up for the two of you. I describe you two as “the queens of blogging” to people who haven’t heard of your blog before, and after all of your hard work and amazing success you deserve it 100%!
Keep up your amazing work and here’s to six more years of sharing your creativity with the world!
Congrats Girl!
All your projects, post, book ect. are s lot of dreams come true!
We hope we will see a lot more of your work!
You inspired us!
Love from Germany
B&B
http://lasagnolove.blogspot.de/
I know this sounds weird but i’ve really appreciated you guys taking us along on your journey through life! It’s helped me many times in different things- you guys are inspiring.
P.S love emma’s blue hair!!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/ciate-chalkboard-nails-hit-or-miss.html
A huge congrats and looks like the years have been kind and good to you both. Here is to another 6 years now!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this awesome story! You ladies have been such an inspiration and I love seeing how you’re businesses have evolved. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for you!
I love this look back over the years — this was one of the first blogs that inspired me to start my own, I even took your e-course! Thank you for sharing your journey!! I still learn from it every day! 🙂
I remember reading your blog in 2007. I didn’t like scrapbooking or crafts but I kept reading because I really liked you. Congrats on all your achievements and I can’t wait to see what the next 6 years will bring! I’m so proud of you and the team <3
You guys set really great examples for young women. I admire how amazing risk-takers you and how you’ve stuck to your voice and developed something truly great. You guys are a brand now and I’m obsessed with everything you do. Happy Birthday ABM!
I am surprised by how much of your blogging career I’ve been reading for. Half of it!
Wow six years, I was shocked. I have read your blog from day one, even reading your previous blog. Congratulations on all your successes, I really enjoy reading your blog.
Happy birthday ABM! I love your blog, but mostly I love the relationship you share with your sister, it adds such a humanizing and sweet aspect to your creative business. My BFF is my older sister but we are soooo different I think we would end up killing each other if we worked together. Good luck with everything!
thanks so much for sharing with us!!! it’s your story that keeps inspiring us and the reason we keep coming back to read… you’ve come so far and achieved so much– CONGRATULATIONS! 🙂
hello ladies! I have been following your blog for some time now and I have loved every single one of your posts! You girls are a huge inspiration to me and I can only dream to have a blog like yours someday. Congrats on six wonderful years of fantastic blogging.
xoxo, Kyla
6 years is crazy! Congratulations. It’s clear how much goes into the blog and your creativity and dedication is amazing. All the best for the future xx
Wow, happy birthday!! This made me realise that I’ve been reading your blog for about 2 years now, which is crazy because it still feels like I only just discovered it! You’re both super inspiring – I’ve been blogging on various things for a couple of years now but after falling in love with your blog and doing your blog e-courses, I’m now developing my very own blog and am so excited about it. And I have to disagree about your women blogging in 2013 comment – maybe some people are like that now but there are definitely those of us entering the blogging world who are fresh-faced and bushy-taled and have no conceptions of where blogging will take us. It’s exciting! Thanks for being awesome girls x
such an awesome story! you two deserve all the success!
Your pictures are so inspiring
Seaside Beauty
xxx
Awesome post! Happy birthday ABM XXX
Oh god! Has it really been 6 years?! I feel like all those photos were just like yesterday! And some a little bit before that (but I won’t get into that) Congrats on six years! Time really does fly!
Happy birthday! Endless thanks for the inspiration, fun and fashion. Can’t even begin to tell you of the positive impact you’ve had on my life and how I live it. Hope I get to buy you all coffee someday! Cheers xox!
That was amazing to read, you’ve really inspired me to get more on it with my posting, and that i’m doing this for me and not for daft blogging fame!
It’s made me love your blog ten times more!
xxx
Congratulations! I’ve been reading along for about 2 years now. Your blog always inspires me to keep being creative. I’m undergoing a big move soon and I was thinking about starting a small blog just to record my experiences but I have no idea what kinds of things to post. Do you have any advice for a prospective blog starter?
Congratulations on your sixth year of blogging! Your continuous hard work really pays off, and it’s wonderful to read your blog everyday. Reading your blog helps me stay creative, specifically because although my job allows me to be creative everyday, it’s a more linear creativity; it’s refreshing to engage in a more artsy creativity, so thank you! Congrats again
I love ABM! I think I started reading it in 2008 or 2009 and have loved it ever since. It’s my absolute favorite. I’m so proud of you guys and happy for you!!!!!
I loved reading this look back over the past six years and I love reading every day. You girls are such an inspiration :).
Congrats, girls. I’ve followed ABM for several years now and it just keeps getting better.
Stay real, and keep up the great work.
Wow happy 6th birthday! I’m a new reader to your blog but love it already! And your app? Well I’m addicted! Keep up the good work xx
It’s been so exciting watching your journey. I’ve been reading your blog pretty much from the beginning. I even participated in a RVA valentine’s card swap several years ago. So happy for your success!!!
Oh, girls, i like your blog so much!
Everything is so perfectly made and you’re absolutely cool, guys!
Cheers!
I’ve been reading your blog (obsessively) for a while now, and you guys never fail to inspire me to be more creative. Good luck with everything to come, I’m sure it’ll be amazing.
Aww Happy Birthday ABM! And cheers to many more! You ladies are awesome!
Rowena @ rolala loves
Yay! Congrats!!! Cheers to six more years 😉
I have been reading since 2009 and I have loved watching the blog grow and develop. And you gals are just so adorable!! Keep it up. Love this place. It’s so inspiring!
Wow. This is a beautiful story! I’ve really enjoyed reading it, and following your blog (and your lives). Keep up the good work, but don’t forget to take a breath and relax once in a while 🙂
Congratulations on all your success! I really appreciate you sharing your six-year-story. It is so obvious that the number one reason you guys are so successful is because you are so passionate about what you do. Bravo!
congrats!!! It feels like a lot longer than 6 years, for sure 🙂
So lovely. So happy. All of it… wonderful!
what a great story! Congratulations!!!
I’ve been reading along for years! It’s been fun to watch you grow!! Xx