Going into 2025 like a whirlwind be like... December 27 2024
Hello friends
I have completely forgotten to update my Christmas hours this year. As I am working the Festive Season and it's been one hell of a ride in 2024, my brain must have thought everyone automatically knew my working hours! Gosh - so sorry!
Truth be told, 2024 has been my annus horribilis for a multitude of reasons (none of them business related), so I've been ready to welcome 2025 with a new organisational planner since September (thank you to the lovely Steph Pase Planners). I've had the highest highs and the lowest lows this year - the whole gamut of what life is and can sling your way. I've been looking forward to 2025 and the fresh start a new year brings for months...so I've kind of skipped a bit of the festive time in my mind. I am also not the most Christmassy person since my sons are now almost man-children - I detest the commercial side of Christmas that seems to be everywhere and I was so saddened to see Easter eggs and hot cross buns in my local Coles yesterday.
It's also been interesting to sit back and watch the vintage fabric sellers online community this year. Some soaring prices, some questionable fabric dating and then there's that pesky reselling ethic of buying online to sell online I loathe. I rarely buy fabric online and when I do it's for myself and some may go to the business to cover my costs, but there are people whose business models are to buy on ebay to flog on Instagram...or who buy on Facebook groups (in front of other buyers who aren't resellers) and then put the same fabrics up for sale a week or three later on another platform. Check the ebay Australia sold listings for vintage fabric and you'll see what I mean. Do these resellers think there are people who don't notice?
I stay in my own lane usually but the ethics of reselling has always been important to me and I'm not sure our Earth needs vintage fabric to board two flights to find it's forever home. I know these reselling businesses can put food on the table in hard times (mine included), but I am also always aware of the end price a person pays, especially people who are creative and who solely use old fabrics in their wares - they need food on the table, too, and rising vintage fabric prices make it harder and harder for them to sell their creativity to earn a living.
Anyway - just my thoughts, but it's something I want to talk more on in 2025.
Lots of plans for next year, as I always have. My problem is time-management and taking on too much, so my aim for 2025 is to plan well and to learn to say 'no'. Ugh - so hard!
If your year has been a little hard, I hope 2025 is much easier. If your year has been wonderful, I hope that continues. More than anything else - I hope we're all safe, happy and with loved ones (blood or otherwise) in the coming year. And I hope our world returns to peace, compassion, kindness and generosity - lord knows, it's needed!
Much vintage fabric love!
xNess