one year ago at this exact time i was here in this same building frantically uploading item after item to our brand new website before it went live. jeremy was helping me put final touches on my storefront and trying to figure out how to use our cash register and rachel was at home pulling an all-nighter to make cute bows and journals. we were opening a store and a website on the same day… crazy? very. i can’t believe it’s already been one year.
it’s not that different from the first year of marriage… they say if you can make it through this, you can make it through anything. 🙂 i’m so thankful for this past year. i am very thankful for everyone who helped and contributed, shopped and spread the word. opening a new business in the middle of a recession is not exactly a ‘sure’ path to success. i hope that every one of you know that we couldn’t have done this without you! i love you and i am glad that i could share this dream with so many old and new friends this year. looking back it feels overwhelming and impossible, but here we are… we did it! things have never been brighter for our little dream shop and from the bottom of my heart, i wanted to say thank you.
cheers to a new year!!! XO. elsie
83 Comments
congrats, here’s to many more to celebrate 🙂
xo.
thank YOU!!! you have done a fantastic job. yay congrats!
hey i was there that day!!! :] hehe. it was wonderful :] loveeeee youuuuu! :] can’t wait to visit again soon :] one month!
xo
mj
so glad this reality became so fun…thanks els
You’re such a creative inspiration 😀 Happy 1st year!
i cant believe its been a year either!! so excited to see whats in store for rva!
congrats on the one year elsie!
<3
lauren
time really does fly!!!
xo.
Awee congrats, Miss Elsie! I don’t know where I’d be without you, or RVA. I stumbled upon your blog purely accidently when looking for fisheye photographs. It was during an insanly dark time in my life and I was just done. You brought me back to life by inspiring me to start doing the things I loved again;; crocheting, knitting, sewing, crafting in general. Thank you *SO* much Elsie. Your blog brightens my day [it’s my homepage =} ] I can’t wait to see where RVA is headed. =] <33
-Taylor
yay! I can’t believe it’s been a year already. How time flies. (i completely forgot that you were married, but let’s not go there!) LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU ELSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
yay for RVA! I’ll forever remember the month leading up to it and how much fun that party was.
And how much work you put into making it all happen!!!
Congrats on your dream come true! It’s really inspiring for me because I usually feel that I can’t do anything and I have a fear of pursuing my dreams. But since reading your blog, I’ve been really inspired to toughen up and try to recognize my strengths. I know I have some monster of creativity lurking in the depths of me. I hope to do something as fulfilling some day soon. Thanks a lot!
happy birthday rva!!! it has been such a wonderful year for you and your store :] and i hope this year is just as fantastic!!
congrats RVA team!!! Here’s to many many MANY more birthdays!
Congratulations, Elsie!
Congratulations on an awesome first year! =)
Congrats! I love RVA and it’s so inspiring that your dream is now a reality. 🙂
happy one year anni to RVA! one of these days i will hop in my car and drive the 200 miles just to shop there! i totally promise. 🙂
awwwwwww,,,,miss elsie!!,,,congratulations on a succesful year!!!,,,i can only imagine how good it feels!!!,,,you deserve all the success you have had..simply because you are you and thats what you put out there…love your creations..love you!!..you are very inspiring!!!..love ya!!!
congrats, :p
xx. A
You inspire me in more ways than one. 🙂 Congrats and wish you nothing but the best and so much more this coming year.
YAY! hehee how could we NOT love the stuff in rva, your cuteness is taking over the world. 😉 xo
HAPPY FIRST YEAR RVA!!!! I hope there will be more years to come and this project will grow bigger and bigger each day! You are sure an inspiration to all of us! I wish that some day I’ll be able to say the same thing about my “dream shop” that I’m planning for years now and I wish I’ll have even the half of your success! Thank you so much for sharing your dreams with us! 🙂
CONGRATS! and here’s to many more years to come, of success and having fun while your accomplishing it. 😀 you go girlie!
i remember when the windows were all papered up for-ev-er! it made me so happy when you did open. congrats. xo.
Katie
Congratulations and thank you! XxX
How awesome! I wish I lived close enough to come visit!
Congrats on the first year! Hope there will be many more to come.
Congrats RVA girls! WOW that year went by fast. So glad that you have been able to live your dream!
cheers, elsie and all the rva gals.
thanks for sharing with us your little bit of sunshine.
x
Yay, congrats on your one year anniversary! I’ve only recently discovered your blog – and your lovely shop. It’s so inspiring 🙂
Congrats on your nomination… http://2010.bloggies.com/
Congratulations! You make beautiful, cute things, and I hope you continue to be able to live and share your dream 🙂
Congrats!!!! Happy 1st Birthday, RVA!!! The first of many! You’re such an inspiration! xo
Congratulations on your first year & thanks for having us along for the ride… it’s been so incredibly inspirational xox
Congrats!!
Congrats to the RVA girls!! I can’t believe its been a year.
I wish you many more successes. 😀
Congrats Elsie & all the RVA girls!
xoxo~Meg
one year!! that’s so exciting!! yay ♥ ♥ ♥
Congraaaaats!!
Yay! Congrats on your first year and here is to many, many more years!
congrats on your first year! i hope for many more amazing years of creative bliss and loads of customers 🙂
Happy Anniversary! I did the same thing. I re-opened my b&m shop last March .. and my lil’ handmade business is going strong. There is something to be said for the wonderful people who support the handmade community! Congrats and I wish you many more years of great success!!! xo!
Congrats Elsie & RVA girls!! my first visit to your blog was one year and one month ago!! Kisses!!
congratulations from the bottom of my heart. you girls are an inspiration on so many levels! xo
CONGRATULATIONSSSSS and thanks for all the amazing inspiration from all of you RVA girls!
So exciting to watch your company grow. The chalkboard speech bubble I bought is still one of my favorite things *ever*.
Wow, look at how far you’ve come!
Congratulations to you!
I just found your website a few weeks ago and have been hooked. You’re truly an inspiration!
Congratulations on living your dream! And thank you for inspiring me and others to follow ours! You are an AMAZING woman!
xoxo
cheers!!! many more years to come 🙂 XO
awesome, congrats!
Congratulations!!!
I really hope to make a trip up there and visit your store :)!
Congrats! It has been such a blessing to see you and all your creative friends living your dreams. You are extraordinary and have inspired me to want to be a better (craftier)more passion focused person. Thank you!
whoa, so exciting! happy one year anniversary of happiness + success!
Congrats!!! And thank you for keeping us so inspired 🙂
I was super excited about it being the first of the month today!!! I look forward to seeing all your new sponsors each month. I love your blog but all the new cute stuff is always so fun!
Thanks for living out your dreams lady cause it motivates others to do the same! 🙂
Congrats on Year One!!!
Congrats RVA girls! You inspire all of us girls around the world, keep up the amazing work!!
XOX
Happy anniversary, and thank you so much for having an online store — it’s been very helpful this year for birthdays and Christmas!
congrats!
No, Thank YOU Elsie! I have been a fan of yours before you opened shop and you give so much of yourself to sharing, touching, and inspiring others. You and Rachel. I have had the both of linked onto my blog for quite some time now and visit everyday pretty much. Congratulations on your first year of success and may you be blessed with many more to come!
Candice
congrats on hitting the one year mark!
you are amazing and so inspiring.
gooood job!
It takes a special type of person to follow your dreams. Congrats.
Congrats on your anniversary! I actually got a package in my mailbox this morning from your fab shop! I love RVA!
Congrats, Elsie! You totally deserve it!
happy birthday rva! 🙂
Happy Birthday to the store/site!! It’s been one awesome year indeed!! I’m so honored and blessed to have been a part of it. RVA is so so special to me.
loveee you!
happy one year! (:
it’s such a dream come true and
I’m really happy for you. it’s
a dream of mine too but I’ll have
to work on that.. (:
congratulations and an happy bloganniversary… you deserve everything… 🙂
Congrats on 1 year! So happy for you.
Damn those glasses are some crack!
I just found your website a few weeks ago and have been hooked. You’re truly an inspiration!
Congrats …like u A lot…
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I cant wait to see the new place, you have such great decor ideas
thank YOU!!! you have done a fantastic job. yay congrats!
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