Here's one of my cute first customers! She stitched this 'corn on the cob' costume herself!
Emma's Sweet Shoppe counter is positively magical. Oh my goodness! my favorite treat is bubble tea, but caramel apples and salted caramel cupcakes are a close second…… sigh!
(this is the part where i start posting tons of photos of special people……)
(flowers from mom + dad! thank you!)
Our first weekend was super busy and incredibly fun! Thanks to all my friends and blog readers who stopped in! It was really fun to hear everyone's thoughts.
Here's Tessa searching for the perfect vintage dress…♥
and here's a fun display (inspired by the movie UP, of course) made with my childhood dollhouse!
Here's the 'waiting area' by our dressing rooms (although this pretty couch already sold over the weekend!). There are some super pretty vintage magazine that everyone loves to look though!
The shop smells like Autumn. It sounds like Beach House, Bjork and Radiohead. It's full of charming vintage and handmade things. It's my favorite place in the world now. I feel completely creatively fulfilled and so thankful for the chance to make this dream come true! There's a full shop tour (photos + video) coming this week. XO! elsie
(thank you, Amy, for the pretty bouquet!)
PS……
(drawing by Hope) also, some photos courtesy of Katie and Emma in this post. XO.
142 Comments
It’s magical! Such a beautiful store. I’m so happy for you and all of your sweet friends that were able to share this with you!
wooo hoooo!!!! so exciting to have a peek. congrats elsie..
this is magical.
Your shop is SO MAGICAL!!!
You are an inspiration that dreams really do come true!
congratulations elsie! i wish i could visit in person, but thanks for sharing so i can live vicariously through your photos instead 🙂 the shop looks really beautiful. you can tell how much love is put into it because of all the special little details. can’t wait to see more!
xoxo heather
So happy for you…. And so in love with this place, I can not wait to stop in!
everything about this post is so beautiful! you can see everyone’s hard work and creativity in each photo. you are so inspiring!
ps – hope’s drawing is the cutest thing ever.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!
this post gave me chills. it’s been so amazing to hear of and see the progression of this IDEA turn into a REAL LIFE shop! i am so so so very proud of you girls. i know how much work goes into something like this….and YOU DID IT!!!!
XOXO
so happy for you..your hard work paid off!
looks amazing! congratulations 🙂
congrats! everything looks so so so wonderful and i hope to one day come to visit!
It looks soooooo great and magical! I’m so happy for you guys! Wish I could be there right now! (: Lots of love.
Congratulations!! Looks absolutely beautiful! What a glorious way to spend many fine days 🙂
congratulations! It looks so beautiful. I only wish I didn’t live so far away. I’d so love to visit. 🙂
I’m so happy for you. Living out a dream come true really is magical.
The sweet drawing by Hope at the end was a perfect ending to a perfect post.
One of my besties, Kelsey, and I are already planning a road trip to Missouri from Chicago to come visit!!! EEEEEE!
It’s so lovely! Congratulations!
so lovely! thanks for sharing!
xo
so awesome! congratulations. i hope to be able to visit someday. 🙂
(also i have that black dress katie is wearing!)
AMAZING!! It certainly looks like a labor of love. Congrats. I hope to visit someday!
Wow, I am in awe! Your shop is absolutely perfect. I Have to make a special trip to Springfield to see it in person. Congratulations!
the shop looks beautiful. i wish i didn’t so far away, i’d love to visit and buy lots of stuff!
it is seriously a life goal to come visit your shop! so fun, congrats!
Everything looks great!! I so wish your shoppe was in my town! I would live there!
So happy for you! It really is a great place. There’s none other like it. I plan on visiting again soon! The cupcakes were delicious!!!
Ahh congratulations! So many great details like your wooden bargain rack sign, your CEILINGS, the LOOK magazine (I have one of my own!), and the dollhouse…all incredible! I hope to go to Missouri soon so I can see your fantastic shop! Congratulations again and again!
Wow! What a dream shoppe! You are livin’ the life Elsie!!! xo
Congratulations! You have the most adorable shop!
It looks amazing! And that drawing is completely wonderful, too! 🙂 Congratulations!
The shop looks fantastic! I wish I could visit in person and buy lots of things.
Stunning, congratulations. I love seeing dreams come true. Such an ispiration, thank you
M x
major congratulations on the grand opening!!! you shop looks so fun! i’m in love with the UP themed dollhouse display!
on a side note, i thought it was funny that i came across the same mid-century modern lamp (in a pair) @http://www.repopny.com/ today, when i was scouring the site for a project i’m working on. love them!
xoxo nicole
It all looks so fabulous, I can’t wait to make a long road trip and see it in person. You and your posse are going to ‘make it’ big time!! Congratulations!!!
the cuteness of the shop is SO good :))
excited to see more photos!
xo.
http://dropsofjupiterBLOG.com
Congrats!! Your shop looks awesome! I wish I could check it out for myself. Maybe when I’m going to the US for a long trip! (Saving up for that for ages, lol)
Keep up the good work!
Everything looks amazing, Im so happy for the whole RVA family…congrats and good luck!!
It looks absolutley wonderful, too bad I live so far away. Good luck with the holy cute shop 😉
Stunning! I want to come visit!! xx
Congrats, again!
AMAZING! I’m so proud that I’ve followed you through this journey! You and your family are creating MAGIC! I wish I could visit sometime!
Your shop is pretty much the most beautiful…I kinda wish it wasnt halfway across the world!! very very cute :)congrats elsie 🙂
OMGosh how fantastical is your shop!! I love it + congrats!! Wish I was able to visit to come + see + touch everything!!
Do you think you would ever open a franchise store in New Zealand in my town???……let the girl dream!
your shop is such an inspiration. so very lovely. thank you.
I get so happy looking at all these photos, it looks like a truly magical place to be, and I’m so sad that I’m far far away in sweden and that I can’t visit you. You are a big inspiration to me <3
OMG…..it’s amazing!!!!!
The shop and pictures looks awesome.
I wish a shop like this here in Amsterdam!!!
Congrats en good luck…
Hugs and kisses from Holland.
Congratulasion! Great shop, wish I could visit. Who knows, maybe some day I can ;0)
Congratulations!! I would love to visit your store one day! Wonderful pictures, looks like a fairytale! =)
Wowi! This is so beautiful
xx
looks so magical! I wish I could be there…
Congratulations to you and everyone involved! It looks really special!
Rachel XxX
eeek! so beautiful, love love love that up display!! Wish I didn’t live in Australia so I could visit :
Congratulations!! Happy store opening!! I would soooo love to come by but I live in Holland, so it may take a little while. Love your blog too, have been following it for a while now, you are always such inspiration. Shortly will start my own blog and then you can see all my crafty stuff. Wishing you all the best with the new store to you and Emma.
xxx Saskia
I think your shop has become my favorite new place in the world too… such an inspiration! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
I think this is the coolest shop ever. I’d love to visit, but since it’s to far, I’m really looking forward to this full tour! Congratulations!!
Congratulations! Your shop looks out of this world and I so wish I lived close by so that I could come and shop and eat those yummy cupcakes! I especially love the Up display (so cute) and the attention to detail, such as the vintage magazines in the waiting area. All your hard work has definitely paid off. Well done. x
it’s reaaaaaaal 🙂
The shop looks fantastic! It looks like the place to be, an alternative department store, my kind of place. Madeline xx
Congratulations!! The shop looks amazing. I’m so glad i came across this blog, i think you are just unbelievably talented 🙂 Too bad i live in Belgium, i wish i could come and visit the shop but it’s too far away 🙁 I wish you all the best, you truly inspire me!
Bisous, Elise
Just wonderful! I wish I could come visit! Congrats from the Yukon!
Congratulations! The shop looks so pretty, and it looks like there are a lot of goodies.
This is like a wonder emporium for grown ups!! Congratulations on your store opening – I so wish I lived where it is so I could visit – From the photos I can tell I would get happily lost in there for hours! Vintage, retro loveliness all under one roof – I heart!
It all looks so wonderful, congratulations on this exciting new venture and I hope it will take off and work wonderfully for all of you. My only regret is that you’re on the opposite side of the Atlantic and I can’t visit very easily (especially to taste one of those salted caramel cupcakes, they sound yummy!!).
I’ve been keeping up with your progress through your blog. This is SO AWESOME.
Congratulations!! If I didn’t live a ka-jillion miles away, it would be the first place I’d go today.
~Paige
Absolutely amazing. You must be so proud and crazy happy to be living your dream.
I will def stop by if I’m ever flying over that way (I may just have to purely for your store)
All the best for the future
Suz x
Hmmph! Why oh why do I have to live the wrong side of the pond? Your little dream looks so amazing. Congratulations!! I am very jealous, please keep posting such beautiful photos so I can pretend I am there.
Congratulations Elsie!! The store is amazing and from the photos it looks like such a happy place. This is such an inspiration!
Ohhh!! It looks like a dream store!!
That dollhouse up display is just magic! <3
Congratulations xxx
Congrats! The photos are beautiful, but I am sure it looks even more amazing in person! Next time I’m in Springfield I am shopping for sure! Love it!
xoxo~Meg
Oh my goodness! I’ve been waiting for these pictures!!! They look awesome. I cannot wait to stop by and see the store!! Oh yes! Congratulations again, I know I have said that several times. I feel like I know you through your blog and pictures! Great job.
P.S. Your entrance reminds me of the Urban Outfitters at the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City!!!
You are such an inspiration! If I ever travel your way I will def put your shop on the list of to do!
I want to come! Man! If I only lived there!
OMG!!!! The most amazing vintage shop I have ever seen!!! Oh I so wished I lived closer!!! <333
This is breathtaking!! I’m from Georgia and I seriously asked my husband two days ago if he was up for a road trip! Congratulations!!
Wow everything looks magical! Congrats. I can’t wait to come for a visit!
hey elsie! i didn’t get to meet you the other night, but it was super fun to stop by your store…and you’re right: it’s pretty magical! xo!
(the salted caramel cupcakes were gone by the time i got there, but i will definitely have to grab one SOON!)
Oh how I wish I could shop there. Will you be making some of your inventory available for purchase online? I see at least ten things I’d buy.
Erin
congrats elsie~!!! it looks great! i can’t wait to make the trip out there to find a vintage dress and have some bubble tea!! 😀
Awesome!
It really is just so incredibly beautiful. If I am ever in town, you can bet I will be there!
Congratulations! I wish the timing of my trip to Missouri would have coincided with the store opening because it would’ve been great to see all of your pretty things in person! Best of luck to you (but I’m sure the shop will be a great success).
<3!
What a magical place! Red Velvet is a place which is soon going to be listed as a must go place in your town.
I love the ceiling of the place and well, everything, but that called my attention.
Congrats!!! 🙂
Miki.
congratulations on making such a beautiful dream come true.
WOW!! The store is AMAZING!!! I really would like to see it some day. The pictures with your family and friends are adorable!!♥♥♥. Everybody is super happy and you can see it in their faces!
CONGRATS!!!
Looks fab – only wish I lived close enough to shop there!
congrats! I am so excited for you and jeremy! what a fun adventure you have and will continue! can’t wait to come shop red velvet!
My goodness – this totally made me tear up (in a good way!) I’m so very happy for you, Jeremy and Emma that you were able to turn your dreams into a beautiful reality!! Someday I hope to visit from Chicago – you’re an inspiration to so many of us! 🙂
It all looks so great. I’m kinda happy I don’t live closer cause I would be buying everything. So my husband thanks you. haha. You are an inspiration.
So awesome!! Congrats on the busy weekend! 🙂 I think I would go crazy in there…so much good stuff!
xo,
Cassie
http://moonfaceon.blogspot.com
you have done an AMAZING job!! The place looks fantastic! So creative & so unique.
Geez, can I move in?! It’s beautiful! Congratulations and (it looks like you don’t need it, but…) good luck! 🙂
Gorgeous! I want to hide a mattress behind the a rack and live there! hehe. Luke wanted to know if the balloons will be for sale when we come visit. 😀 It’s perfect Elsie, we wish you all many years of sucess!
this is crazy awesome- I so WISH I could be there and shop to my hearts content- everything looks amazing, and I can almost taste all of those beautiful sweet treats Emma made- a huge congrats to you, your family and dear friends!
Great pictures! It was fun to see your shop on opening day and of course meet you too 🙂
absolutely gorgeous. Love, love, LOVE.
Congrats again!
Fabulous! I love it! It looks great and I only wish it was in my town, I would shop there all the time 🙂
Congrats!!
~twiggy h.
Hi girls!!! I’ve been following your blog since two years ago, i read it every day! And i have to say that you are BRAVE!!! You have created a wonderful world!. I’m Happy for your succes!!! My best wishes in this new stage. Greetings from Colombia! 🙂
Congratulations! Wish I could visit the shop, it does indeed look magical. I saw Katie’s photo on her blog, LOVE LOVE LOVE the Betty and Peggy clothes racks!
i just had to comment, your shop looks awesome! so amazing to have a place that is just purely creative and a labor of love. i wish you much success!
the store looks amazing! wish i could visit…
How wonderful and thrilling, congratulations! The shop looks like a place I would love to spend hours in, beautiful.
Opening night looked amazing! Makes me wish I lived nearby! <3
Yay! It looks like your opening day was a super success! Your shop looks simply magical, Elsie, thanks for sharing all the photos.
oh. my. gosh. LOVE!!!!
Congratulations, Elsie! Watching you live out your dreams inspires me to go after mine!
Awwwwww!!! Darling!!!
The UP inspired display is great! Love it so much! All the photos are beautiful, each one shows the big happiness and joy of the weekend 🙂
One day, I will venture into this magical store, spend all of my money, and I will love every single second.
I will buy lovely vintage things and drink some bubble tea.
Ahhh, one day.
It looks absolutely beautiful. Congrats. 🙂
-Rachel
Wow. Congrats Elsie, it is absolutely perfect!
This is amazing – congratulations, Elsie! Wish I lived close enough to check it out in person!
Congratulations! WOW! How very exciting!!!! YAY!
Congratulations!! Your store looks awesome! If I’m ever in the area, I’m definitely stopping by! P.S. That picture of you and your fiance is incredibly cute – you guys look great together!
KF x
Your store is beautiful!!! I love the “Up’-inspired display, and Emma’s sweet shop is such an amazing idea for a store, I wouldn’t be able to resist getting a treat while shopping in there! Congratulations!
Eeek! I’m so happy for you! 🙂 the shop looks fabulous – I can’t wait to see the tour! I wish I could just pop in and visit…and shop, of course! So lovely. 🙂
It looks wonderful!! I have to figure out a way to visit.
Jeremy is a tough name for kids. I remember an elementary teacher addressing my class about pronouncing it properly. “His name is Je-Re-me, not Germy, which would indicate he is covered in germs!”
I feel so lucky that I got to be there in person to meet you and see the magic happen:) Plus, I really, really love my pretty new (to me) vintage dress. Thanks for sharing your dream with the rest of us!!
Erin
thank you so much for sharing this incredible journey with us! i hope i’ll be able to visit your shop one day, but for now i’ll just be vicariously proud of you and your family (^.^)v
O_o wow. im so jealouse.
what can I say, other than WOW, your shop looks AMAZING.
I know if I lived anywhere near you I’d be in all the time.
I love the beautiful detailed ceiling in your shop too.
I’m so happy for you! Your shop looks absolutely amazing!
OMG!!! The shop looks amazing! & I’m loving your hair colour right now xx
A big, big, big congratulations to you! I’ve been following along with all the hard work you’ve been putting into the store for the last few months, and it was totally worth it; The store looks absolutely amazing! Hope to make it in one day 🙂
Your store looks so cute. I’m definitely going to have to visit sometime! Maybe after graduation when I do a Route 66 Roadtrip from Chicago to the coast? Yes, indeed :] Congrats!
Allison Kaye
http://www.craftedlove.com
P.S. I L-O-V-E the Up! display!
Agh it all is so lovely, I am dieing to do somethin crafty inspired by “up” so i found the the dollhouse idea especially awesome!
congratulations, it looks like a dream come true! xxooxxoo <3
Hi Elsie! Mucho, mucho congrats to you for this enormous accomplishment! It looks simply divine!!! A real treasure, which is no surprise, coming from you!!! Cheers!
Super cute, and I can feel the warmth of the place just by looking at the pictures. Makes me so jealous that I live so far away and can’t stop by and shop. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely life, creations and new ideas with us. Truly inspiring!
Congrats to you, the store is beautiful…caught a glimpse of the ceiling..LOOVVEE. Congratsio, Janna Lynn
Elsie. Everything looks so beautiful. I’m so happy for you. I’m hoping to do something somewhat similar of my own later in life, and it’s so inspiring to see how all of your hard work and dedication has payed off, and that something like that is even possible for a young woman. So lovely!
-Andrea Marie
Elsie, I am so happy for you and your loved ones at this exciting time!! Congratulations! The store looks beauuuutiful, and I especially love the UP-inspired dollhouse display 🙂
I live almost 500 miles away but I am planning a road trip to Springfield, MO just to visit your shop, Elsie! I read your blog everyday (sometimes 2 or 3 times a day!) and I am so happy for the Grand Opening of the new Red Velvet Shop! The pics look amazing but I HAVE to see it in person one day soon! Congratulations and hopefully, I will meet you in your shop one day!
Thanks for all the lovely posts all the time!
~Jessica
Everything looks so wonderful—congratulations!
OH MY GOSH! Elsie. It’s so perfect. I’m so happy for you! I can’t wait to come visit. 🙂 I just can’t get over how awesome everything is.
Also… that teal tray in the window? With the little florals? I also bought its twin at a local antique mall. But the vendor didn’t put a tag on it. Silly vendor. Funny to see it in your window! 😀
Wow, Elsie, it looks amazing!
One question that keeps coming to mine.. what happens when you sell the vintage stuff.. like the couch? How do you replace it?
Congrats! 🙂 Looks fantastic. I live in New Jersey, but hope to visit one day when on a road trip!
congrats, elsie!!!!!
awww… it’s a lovely shop Elsie! Visiting your shop and the awesome people running it is one of my dreams to achieve in my lifetime. 🙂
I absolutely love your shop, and wish it were closer! I’m very happy for you..finding your dream job after taking matters into your win hands is the most rewarding feeling in the world! I was especially reminded of that when I saw your ‘Up’ house. Pixar was my dream job, and I was hired as an artist in the middle of Up production. Congrats again!
congrats on the shop. it truly is magical! i hope to one day be able to see it in person1
I have just discovered your blog, and I LOVE IT! Congratulations on your new store, its very inspiring to be crafty and unique! You are so creative and your store is just precious!
amazing store! everything looks beyond gorgeous, you guys have done such an incredible job. i wish you great success!
Just found your blog, its fantastic! Wish I lived nearby and not in Sherwood Forest country in the UK. Gemma x
wow. it is unbelievable. I love it so much . Thanks for your sharing. cool .great. I sure I’ll come back soon.
It was made with real passion.
This store is so cute, I wish it were close to me