week six - 2025

Man, organizing an event while running a wholesale business, online business and retail storefront is exhausting. But also rewarding. We had a great turnout Saturday and lots of fun hosting our friends, a very talented group of makers. I feel like this was a good test and we might host other maker events in the future. My most favorite part of the day was catching up with the vendors. We shared ideas, talked about our crafts, brainstormed collaborations, workshops and there may even be a new stationery inspired line to bring in the shop. It was inspiring to be around fellow creatives all day. My goal is for anyone who walks through our doors is to feel welcome and enjoy feelings of comfort and nostalgia. I want our guests to see beauty and quality everywhere in our shop and products. The For the Love of Local event did just that. Thanks to all who came out, I really appreciate you sharing your Saturday with us. I’m very thankful it was a successful event! If you missed it, you missed some amazing handcrafted goods. 

I took advantage and shopped from all the makers. Check out my purchases; earrings from Michelle Starbuck Designs (one for giving, one for keeping), spell jars and garland by The Floriography Fellows, teas from Him + Her Vintage, my favorite Mexican hot chocolate, cinnamon sugar marshmallows and chocolate covered sea salt caramels from Katherine Anne Confections.

On Tuesday, February 11th I’m hosting the Mayfair Public Library for a Booksperience. The group will be discussing the book Dear Fahrenheit 451. I listened to it on hoopla through the Chicago Public Library. It was a very fun book, filled with love letters and Dear John letters to books in the library. Very clever and a quick read (or listen), I recommend it if you’re looking for a laugh or some book suggestions. I have a desire, that I’ve never had before to read The Virgin Suicides now. After the book discussion I’ll be teaching the guests how to write a love letter. In the past I’ve instructed people how to write a love letter to themselves, this will be my first go at helping others to write a love letter to someone or something else. It’ll be fun. After all our mission since 2025 is to encourage long distance warm fuzzies through snail mail. 

We'll be showing at Chicago Stationery Fest Saturday, March 22nd and Sunday, March 23rd. We'll be creating some exclusive Chicago Stationery Fest products . I'll be sharing more process pics of the goods on Instagram and BlueSky. Follow along! Single day tickets for CSF go on sale February 26th. 

As a business owner, I have to say I’m growing more and more concerned about all the tariff talks and packages from China not being delivered. While we don't have any vendors from China, I couldn't help but notice my small business vendors have a lot of items manufactured in China. A whole lot. This week, we received two reorders from small businesses. Every single item, all twenty of them were manufactured in China. Stickers, journals, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, all made in China. Which for now is fine. However, if tariffs are enforced on goods from China, this means our suppliers will be charging us the difference and we'll have to raise our prices too. A sticker sheets that now cost $2.00 will cost $2.50. A $4.00 pencil sharpener will rise to $5.00. Which means, we'll be carrying fewer products as our buying budget certainly hasn't increased 25%. I'm thankful we manufacture our greeting cards and will keep consistently offering those but if things go the way they've been threatening, we'll definitely have to reevaluate our offerings. And honestly, a lot of paper companies get their pulp from Canada, so my raw goods may increase substantially too. I can't help but notice all the small business closures happening, almost daily. It's getting harder and harder to be a small business in a country that values big business and profit over people. I guess time will tell.

On a personal note, Freaks and Skeeks won our game last week! That was a fun kickoff to the skeeseason. We had a vendor toast at Bokeh after For the Love of Local. It was delicious as always and I loved sharing my favorite cocktail bar with friends. Another funny note last week, I didn't realize apple cider is seasonal in most stores. I had advertised us having hot apple cider for the event Saturday. Little did I know I would visit three grocery stores only to find a half gallon. I texted my friend Myriam (from Him + Her Vintage) and she said she'd check stores near her. Three more stores later, she was able to find a gallon and a half. So, if you're counting, that's six grocery stores, in two separate cities for two gallons of cider. It was one of the most time consuming details of the week! But it was worth it. The cider was a hit and we only had one cup left by 5pm Saturday. Thanks Myriam!