As one year comes to an end and another begins, many of us put forth our New Year’s resolutions. Although I once chose a resolution that lasted a solid 5 years (volunteering more!), data reveals that resolutions are short-lived. So instead of making a resolution full of pressure and guilt, choose a word that will help you live with better intentions for the year.

Continue reading

In addition to my love of words, I’m also deeply passionate about giving. So it's no surprise that GivingTuesday is my favorite day of the year! What is GivingTuesday? It's a global generosity movement celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. On this special day, people come together to donate BILLIONS of dollars to charities. Read this blog post to learn more about the non-profit organizations that I support and why.

Continue reading

November and December can be extra hard months for anyone who has lost a loved one. For me, it’s hard not to see my sister at the dinner table during the holidays or hear her laughter filling our house. November 18^th is her birthday too, so I always feel extra nostalgic and melancholy this time of year.

For this blog post, I wanted to share the best sympathy card I’ve ever received and give you some ideas on how to comfort others with a handwritten note when they experience a loss.

Continue reading

October 21, 2017 was the day I clicked “publish” on Etsy to officially start my small business, Alison Rose Vintage. As I reflect back on these last 5 years, there are a few things that many say you should do to be successful, but here are 5 things I don’t think you have to do to succeed as a small business... Continue reading

In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Juliet pondered, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” In this scene, Shakespeare was introducing the idea that names (and words) have a much deeper meaning than what's on the surface. This is exactly why I started Alison Rose Vintage...

Continue reading

As I lay here, two weeks into my foot surgery recovery, I’m thinking about the many types of recovery—post-surgery, cancer, addiction, mental health—and how each of them can result in a similar feeling: isolation. If we can’t be in person with our loved ones or coworkers who are recovering, there are gifts and gestures that can make them feel less alone, like a handwritten note or a care package. Here are some thoughtful gift ideas to help prevent feelings of isolation.

Continue reading

This month is my parent’s 44^th wedding anniversary so it’s the perfect time to write a blog post about the most heartfelt wedding and anniversary gifts. Besides buying dishware or giving cash, here are 5 gift ideas that will make your favorite couple or spouse feel very loved and appreciated, including custom vows or poem print, a romantic book, themed gifts, custom painting, or a handwritten love letter. Continue reading

Have you heard of R. Clift, The Constellation Poet? She’s a well-known poet, artist, and photographer with over 80,000 Instagram followers and admirers from all over the world. After years of thinking about how she could offer prints of her poetry, I am so thrilled that R. Clift is now working exclusively with me to design and print her words on handmade paper and cards. Our hope is that the R. Clift Poetry Collection will bring light and hope to you and your loved ones for every gift-giving occasion. Continue reading

One of my favorite parts of owning a small business is stopping into shops that carry Alison Rose Vintage products. We stopped at Wellfleet Marine on Cape Cod, Locally Yours in Plymouth, MA, Three Buoys and a Mermaid in Duxbury, MA, Framed in Time in Framingham, MA, Kitchen Sink Candle Co in Bolton, MA, Willow in Windham, NH, and Sea Love in Kennebunkport, ME. I got to meet several shop owners, sit for hours with people I’ve collaborated with over the years, and stop and chat with several of my fellow maker friends at the pro.found market...

Continue reading

Have you watched MAID on Netflix? I recently finished watching and although there are many important themes to discuss—emotional abuse, the broken systems in America, PTSD and depression—there is one theme I want to write about here: appreciating the under-appreciated people in our lives... Continue reading