Feature Friday: Rachel Red Lips

Hello everyone. Let me introduce Rachel Red Lips. The first time I stumbled upon her blog I was so excited cause her blog is really pretty and filled with lovely things. I definitely think we could be fast friends. Check out her blog and be inspired.

Name: Rachel Red Lips

Location: Portland, OR

Links: blog: http://www.rachelredlips.blogspot.com shop: http://www.redlipsvintage.etsy.com 

Hobbies: sewing, photographing, thrifting, picking wild flowers 

Tell me a bit about yourself/ How did you get into crafting/blogging: I have always loved to thrift, but needed a way to fund my hobby so it seemed obvious to start selling my vintage finds! My blog was created in association with Red Lips Vintage, but has taken over my focus in the last couple months. I started taking sewing lessons in February 10' and have been hooked ever since. All of these pursuits have taught me to be more confident, creative, and hard working than college ever could. 

What inspires you? love and learning. success stories. sincerity and open mindedness.

How would you describe your style? I am a big fan of a pretty, lightweight dress with sandals and red lipstick. I'm a florida girl at heart, so I like to have bare legs and shoulders. Most of what I wear is thrifted, so that keeps my style ever changing...I usually wear one thing for awhile and then forget about it all together. I don't like planning outfits in advance or wearing many accessories...I like to keep it simple by dressing on the fly and gussying up with flowers in my hair. Sometimes I quickly count how many different items I'm wearing, and if it's more than 5 or 6 (not including undies!) I will take a few things off to simplify. 

What is your favorite thing to cook/bake? My boy and I are vegan fools in love. We have become really great at whipping up awesome vegan dishes, but lately I don't feel like playing chef. I love homemade hummus and avocado on toast, banana pancakes, and cherry tomatoes.

Best thrifted find? I have so many! You can see more of my favorite thrift finds 2009 here:http://rachelredlips.blogspot.com/2010/01/favorite-thrift-finds-2009.html

This little girl's dress made my heart melt on the spot. It was also my most profitable thrift find! 

I found this sweater at Goodwill by a total fluke...the pattern caught my eye right when I was exiting the store! 

Thrifted this dress in Seattle. It has the cutest tie up back, and I loved that it was handmade.

I wear this little rayon dress all the time. It's the perfect dress for a really, really hot afternoon...light & breezy.

This little leotard was thrifted in LA. I wore it on halloween but mostly it just sits lookin' pretty in my closet.

What’s your favorite thing to do in your spare time? I like to read and cuddle with my cat, who is the sweetest little ball of love, and of course, I like to spend time with my boyfriend, Alex, too! 

What are you working on at the moment? Right now I'm juggling a lot of different projects and odd jobs, trying to get my feet on the ground in my new locale. I have been having a blast modeling for friend's etsy shops, photographing artist's work, altering clothing in bulk for vintage sellers, taking sewing classes, and promoting my blog. I have two really exciting proposals in the works right now, but I don't wanna jinx it by saying to much!

Advice for first time sellers? Make your shop a work in progress. I think it's so important to constantly work at improving your business. Experiment with photo spots and lighting, get to know quality vintage garments and fabrics, and ask people you admire for advice. If you look at your favorite seller's first few pages of sales, you'll see that even they have come a long way to creating a unique and beautiful shop! Also, invest in a better camera. Consider it a business expense!

Do you have any favorite websites, blogs, books, etsy shops? Oh yes. Some of my favorite etsy shops are Clevernettle, Allen Company Inc, and Vintage Shoe Love. All are run by wonderful ladies with a keen sense of business. My favorite blogs are Pacing the Panic Room, Honest Fare, Colette Patterns, and Bleubird Vintage, but especially Pacing the Panic Room. Ryan Marshall's go-getter attitude has inspired me to put myself out there, ask for jobs, and trust that I really can have any career I want! 

 What are your goals for your blog/shop/art/craft? My end goal is undetermined, but right now I am trying to learn as much as I can about sewing. I know I will be self-educating for the rest of my life, and I love it!