Retro vs. Vintage ~ What Exactly is the Difference?

As a proud member of the Retro Handmade Team on Etsy, I have decided to write a post that clarifies (hopefully) the difference between vintage and retro items that are for sale there. To qualify as "vintage" (according to etsy), items must be at least twenty years old (made before 1989) and must be listed in the vintage category. The word vintage comes from wine terminology, and is a much more elegant-sounding term than "old". Vintage items can be new or used but because of their age are usually used! They become "antiques" when they are at least 100 years old.

Retro, short for retrospective, refers to contemporary, newly-made items that imitate the style of a previous era.

The Retro Handmade Team sellers create new items that resemble items from the past, are often described as "funky" and having a vintage "feel" or "vibe." Some team members actually use vintage materials such as beads or fabric in their designs.

For more information about the Retro Handmade Team, visit the Retro Handmade blog.

When it Rains it Pours ~ Two Blog Giveaways

I agreed to be the first member of the Retro Handmade Team at etsy to volunteer for our new giveaways (which will take place twice a month on the team blog). I had heard from many successful sellers that giveaways are a great way of getting people to know your shop and "product." Besides, since I was little, I was the one who stepped forward and "volunteered" when it looked like no one else would! The Retro Handmade blog giveaway is described in the previous post or visit the team blog for more deatails.

A few weeks ago, I was interviewed for an article about me and my work on the fabulous blog Such Cool Stuff. I volunteered to do a giveaway for this site also. It turns out that the two giveaways are overlapping slightly. (Retro Handmade: May 4-11 and Such Cool Stuff: May 8-15) In both, I have offered the winners their choice of items from my shop and now my greatest fear is that both winners will choose exactly the same item and one will have to settle for his/her second favorite necklace or pair of earrings! What are the odds of that happening? I have also always been the kind of person who prepares for the worst case scenario!

In the meantime, I am enjoying the comments people are leaving about the items in my shop and learning why they chose the particular one they did. One of the problems about being an online artisan is you don't get the opportunity to really interact with your customers.

Win Your Favorite Item from my Shop (through May 10th)

I am participating in my first blog giveaway...as part of the Retro Handmade Team on etsy. Visit the team's blog, check out the items in my shop, leave a comment (back on the blog) with your favorite item and email address and if you win, that favorite item will be yours!