Sunday 13 February 2011

one year and counting...

*Competition now closed - thanks so much for the birthday stories they are all charming:)*

Well a year ago today I did something very simple and very life changing, I listed a few prints on etsy. I remember thinking at the time, if I can just make 100 sales in a year that would be great. If I'm honest it seemed like an impossible dream. I've had a great year, made up of a great deal of good fortune, luck and support. This little mile stone marks a real turning point for me from hobby business, to full time job. I enter my second year of trading without a clue of where I'll be in another twelve months time but very excited to give all my time and energy to building whatever it's going to be.

Well everyone knows you can't have a birthday without cake! So I nipped into floriditas for a lemon cup cake and a hot chocolate. nom nom nom...
...and what sort of birthday would it be without gifts. So today you can win one of my 'Dishes I'd rather be doing' tea towels and a copy of Frankie Sweet Treats (I some how ended up with three copies!).
All you have to do to enter is tell me what your favourite birthday was. You can leave a story or just an age. Mine was my twentieth, when a group of friends and I when to bingo, it was such a giggle and we were all hopeless it's much harder that it looks. Please leave your comment below or on my facebook 'fan' page. I'll pick a winner midday on friday.

19 comments:

  1. Yay, congratulations Colleen! I still remember seeing your prints when they were first listed on Felt and knowing you'd be successful. May you have many more successful years to come!

    I've never really been one to have big birthday parties, but I do remember for my 8th birthday we went to this fairy land run by a local mum - it was painted and decorated to look like a fairy palace and we got to wear skirts, made wands and threw fairy dust around :)

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  2. My 30th, best party ever, even though I was sober due to being pregnant.

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  3. congrats on one year!! My business has also been around just over a year, here's to many more.

    hmmm. I think my favourite birthday was my 26th, I was living in Christchurch at the time. My boyfriend organized for 4 of my best friends in Auckland to come down and visit me and I had no idea! Best surprise ever.

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  4. Congratulations Colleen! You've come such a long way in a year! It'll be sad to see you leave our shores!!! Yay for the internet and Twitter, Facebook etc.

    Hmmm, my best birthday would have to be from when I was a kid, probably about 8... I don't remember much about it except that my Nana was down and she and my parents made an awesome treasure hunt around our property. It was great fun!

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  5. Woo woo! Happy Birthday! My favorite birthday was definitely this past year's. Seems they just keep getting better and better every year.

    I also can't believe it's been only a year! It's very inspiring - the number of great things that can happen in only 365 days. I can't wait to see what this next year brings you.

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  6. I already entered the competition on your FB page - but wanted to stop by and say: CONGRATULATIONS on a year in business! Damn cool feeling :-) Wishing you many many more exciting and crazy years to come.

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  7. congratulations on a year!

    My favourite birthday was 30 - i was pregnant and my mum was in ICU but we snuck in and had cake with her.

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  8. Happy Birthday! I think that my favourite birthday was my 21st. My parents charted the tugboat "Lyttelton" for me and then I went into Christchurch Casino with my University Friends. It was a great evening.

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  9. You've only been doing this a year?! WOW - I'm shocked; you've done amazing! congratulations.

    My fave birthday - my 5th...when a Mcdonalds party was the coolest thing around!! the burgers, the cake, pressies, playgrounds and the birthday cap they gave you! Ah memories
    xox

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  10. Congrats on all your success in the past year! I love your work - to celebrate, I think I might go buy that lemon print of yours I've had my eye on for quite a while!

    And my favorite birthday - my 30th. My boyfriend surprised me by renting a limo!

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  11. hurray!!! congrats colleen!! thats super awesome! youv done So well for ur self! ur work is amazing! :) well my fav birthday was probably my 16th. all my friends surprised me with a really fun party. :P

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  12. Congratulations! You've done so well for just one year.

    My favourite birthday was my 19th, my first away from home! I spent half the day alone shoe shopping, then came home to cups of tea and homemade cakes with my new flatmate.

    x

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  13. Congratulations on a year!!

    I don't remember the year it was, but my favourite birthday was my first bday dinner out with friends without grown ups when I was in my preteens. One friend laughed so much she peed her pants and we had to get her a change of clothes on the way home.

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  14. Hello! Happy Birthday!
    My best birthday was my 30th, a month ago. It is my favorite as it was my first birthday with both of my beatiful babies. My youngest was 5 weeks old, and having a growth spurt. I am feeding her in every photo, even while whacking a pinata wearing a sombrero! I also loved it as heaps of my friends and family were there, including my lovely wee brother and his girlfriend over from London. Perfect!

    I loved it as I am really happy with all the shenanigans of my first 30 years, and I am convinced that my 30's are going to be awesome!

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  15. Happy shop Birthday!
    My fave bday was my 10th, got to dress up in fancy dresses with my 3 best friends and go to a Cinderella pantomime, we thought we were so grown-up & awesome!

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  16. 10th, with Skateland and McDonalds, superfun. Congratulations on your milestone :)

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  17. 13th, Punk party - I've never again felt or looked so cool!

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  18. Congrats on turning one. I can't believe you're leaving my most favourite city in the world..... I'm a Wellingtonian living in Indonesia and I still get pangs when I hear the word "Floriditas" (not that it comes up in conversation very often, but my that lemon cupcake looks good).

    I just bought one of your tea towels for my mum and I just know she's going to love it!

    One of my best ever birthdays was over at Butterfly Creek... I think I was turning 7. The invites were written on large rangiora leaves and we all ran riot in the bush for the afternoon, high on life and sugary drinks.

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  19. Congratulations on your Etsy success. I only just stumbled upon your shop there, today.

    As favorite birthdays go, I seem to have a new one every 5 years for the milestones ... in Paris. Where better to celebrate another 5 years of life, every five?

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