Well -- how cute is this? It was made and sent to me by Yulia, a blog reader in Indonesia, who designs really beautiful digital scrapbook pages. She got the line art from her brother, along with five other girl drawings, and thought I would like it. I LOVE it. Love it. It feels so specifically like an evolution out of the logo (see below) that I've been using since I started Posie six years ago that I'm going to try and slowly incorporate it into my branding, and hope like hell that I use up the 500 business cards, 200 woven tags, and 700 stickers that I have already, printed with the "old" logo. I don't know exactly what the copyright issues are surrounding this image; Yulia thinks her brother won't remember how he found this. If anyone recognizes it, let me know. Thank you, Yulia!
I've been wanting to write a little biography of Posie/Ella Posie/Posie Gets Cozy for a while, because pretty much every day I have a conversation in the shop/get a phone call/or receive an email from someone who is confused about the difference between these things. To that end, a little history, if you'll allow me.
I started Posie: Hand-Embroidered Designs in 2000, when I began doing silk-ribbon embroidery on commission for a few fashion designers here in Portland. When asked to have a trunk show by one of them (and a trunk show, in case you aren't sure, is basically a special event where you come into a location with your things and sell them to the shop's customers for that day), I said sure. I made up some things that could be sold directly off of a table, as opposed to taking orders for commissioned embroidered pieces. This was my first sampler, from which I took orders for custom work.
Those first trunk shows led me to develop a small line of embroidered sachets and covered photo albums, which I sold wholesale through a rep group out of the Seattle Gift Center, whose territory consisted of boutiques throughout the Northwest. I was able to do this for about a year before it wore me out, since I was making everything myself, by hand; though I had pretty good sales, the amount of money I was netting on these items meant, unfortunately, that making them wasn't worth the time and energy it took. I worry about my wrists.
In early 2003, I quit selling my products wholesale and designed a web site, where I could make things available on-line, direct to my customers. I added handbags and other accessories to the line, and officially changed the name of the company to Posie: Rosy Little Things. The url for posie.com wasn't available; we settled for the more obscure rosylittlethings.com, which has proved to be a source of great confusion, as people started (naturally, I guess) thinking that the name of the company was Rosy Little Things. But it's not. It's Posie. (People often tend to spell almost every word related to Posie, rosy, or cozy differently as well: there's "posey" and "posy," "rosie" and "rosey," and even "cosy" and "cozey," all attached to links back to my sites [for which I am very, very grateful!!!]. It's my own fault for picking such a random, unspellable name anyway, but what can I do now? Note to self: Pick more normal name for business next time!)
Anyway. I began to sell my things retail, direct to customers only. Products were priced at an amount that I could live with, and I was lucky enough to get some substantial national publicity for my photo albums. This brought customers who wouldn't have found me in a million years to my web site. That was a really fun, very busy time. We had several Posie parties here at our house and hand-made hundreds of invitations and decorated things in pretty ways, and met a lot of really great people who were so encouraging and helpful. I really enjoyed that time. I loved designing these parties and having people over in the backyard and inviting them into my studio. I don't do this anymore.
In late 2003, Carmen Bailey, one of the local buyers who bought my products when I sold them wholesale, contacted me and asked me if I wanted to become partners with her in her small bridal-y boutique, called Ella, out of which she also ran an event-planning business. I agreed to join her, and we opened "Ella Posie, " a boutique, in our first location on East Burnside in October 2003. It was very small, and physically inside a furniture store called Sofa Table Chair, but very, very sweet. I kind of miss that space, pictured above. It had the most beautiful light. We "split" the rent, the time we spent there, and the geographic space of the shop evenly -- products that Carmen procured were on one side, the Posie product line was on the other. (You wouldn't know, just walking in, how things were "separated"; our aesthetic has always been quite consistent with one another's, so the average customer sees a just a nice display. But our two businesses, Ella and Posie, have always been and are still quite separate. The boutique is one aspect of what we each do; we are each quite busy with the individual businesses of Ella, the event planning service, and Posie, the product line, when we're not at the shop itself.)
In March of 2005, Sofa Table Chair, our landlord, decided to move from the Burnside location to a new space on NE Broadway. We had grown to love our neighbors, and didn't want to stay in that (not very good) location alone, and quite frankly didn't know if we could afford to pay rent on a space of our own. Conveniently, there was an unfinished back room in the new building that Sofa Table Chair purchased; it had a dirt floor, no windows, one bare light bulb hanging from a very high ceiling. It was dreadfully raw, but as soon as we saw it we knew that we could work our magic. We did almost all the improvements ourselves, aside from the installation of the windows, the electricity, and the painting. Susan, the owner of Sofa, would give up a quarter of the front window that faced the street for an Ella Posie display, but customers would have to walk the long length of the furniture store to get to our shop, as we no longer had our own entrance (as we did on Burnside). We tried to counter this unusual situation with our logo painted as big as we could on the front window, a great big sign hanging off the side of the building, a sign on the front door, a sign on our interior door, a big sign over the top of our interior door, an A-board on the sidewalk, and a lot of suggestively pink things (birdcages, dresses, flowers, parasols) in our window display (this photo is from way back when we first opened; we have lots more stuff in the window now, but I don't have a photo of that), and yet. . . .
I truly didn't anticipate the problem that having a space inside a space would cause people. Every day as I sit in the shop, I hear it over and over: "I didn't even know you were back here! Does anyone even find you back here?" Or "You need to get a shop on 23rd Avenue!" (a swanky shopping neighborhood a few miles west, where rents can be upwards of $3,000 per month). Or, my favorite, "You guys need a sign!" I have been known to sob weakly, "But we have five!"
It is incredible to me how many times a day I hear this. Our location seems to disturb and confound many people to the point of distraction. After almost a year in this space, I have to admit, I am weary of and a bit depressed by the conversation. This is what we can afford. We do the absolute very best that we can with what we've got. Our profits are slim. So slim. In spite of our location, we think we are providing a lovely place full of unique items that enhances our city nevertheless. Unfortunately, we can't afford to advertise the way we'd like, or pay more rent, or change neighborhoods. Also, we like where we are, honestly, and we love our neighbors, which counts for a lot. We rely on word of mouth, return customers, and lots and lots and lots of elbow grease to make it work. But let me just tell you, it doesn't work all that well. Nevertheless, we maintain that our existence is valid and special and worth appreciating; we hope that people will recognize the importance of having unique little spaces like ours in their city, and support us. If they don't, we won't be able to stay. And their shopping alternatives will be more and bigger corporate behemoths who can afford to sway the masses in a way that we just can't, and never will be able to. End of sermon, though just talking about this makes me tremble with earnestness and desperation. I believe so sincerely in what we're doing, and worry so frequently about our future that it overwhelms me sometimes. And having the same conversation over and over again, about how flabbergasted people are by where we are located, is discouraging, and, at the end of the day, not even the point.
Excuse me while I go wash my face. I'm flushed.
I do realize that they didn't invent the phrase (admonition?) "Location, location, location!" for nothing. I really do.
I do.
But where was I. Oh yeah. So, when we had the opportunity to move Ella Posie to our new, bigger location in April 2005, we were able to bring in about 30 new product lines in addition to my own, designed mostly but not exclusively by indie designers, some local, some national, some international. We work hard to find unique, high-quality product lines, and we are really proud of our carefully edited collection. I must admit that many, many times, people walk into our shop and they are filled with wonder at the discovery, and they spend time looking at all the little things we put together, and they are charmed by what we've created and where we've created it. We love these people. So much. Thank you thank you thank you for "getting" what we're trying to do. Also, the local (and national) press has been so good to us, and me. I am grateful and indebted to them for their generosity in covering our endeavors. It makes a huge difference. And I certainly don't mean to imply that no one cares, or shops! They do, and it goes a long way. It really does. I just feel like things are . . . pretty shaky at the shop sometimes. I know our shop is not alone in this, either. I'm worried yet hopeful for all of us.
Nevertheless, in September of this past year, I was feeling pretty anxious and overextended and a bit exhausted. I started reading craft blogs for fun, and met Ms. Amy Karol of Angry Chicken, who so kindly encouraged me to start Posie Gets Cozy, this blog, about my Posie-ish life, which is almost my entire Alicia-ish life, really, since my businesses are comprised of all my favorite things and the vast majority of my time. I have to work hard to think of things that I like that aren't related to my work, but here are a few: dinner, tennis, dogs and horses, ice skating competitions, the beach, my nieces and nephews, laying on blankets in the sun, the penny whistle. I would say television, but you know that almost every single thing I make is made against the background of the WB, right? So television is a big part of Posie. But I have really enjoyed having the blog. It's so easy and fun and relaxing. I love it. I had no idea that I would.
Anyway, you're sweet to be reading this whole thing or even remotely caring. I feel kind of funny writing all this, as if it could be interesting to anyone but me, but I guess that's why they call it a blog. Thank you for indulging me, as always. You're the best.
I, for one, love history. Thanks for sharing. It's fascinating to hear your story. I'm very happy things are working out for you and wish you continued success.
No, Alicia, *you're* the best. And I've finally done it, set up my own blog, too. Hope I'll be able to express myself even a fraction as well as you do (see, now that sentence didn't seem too articulate, did it? I think I'm in trouble).
This story is so lovely, Alicia..! I so so LOVE all of those photos. And I know that you'll continue to be more successful!
thank you so much for sharing the history of your business. speaking as someone who has visited your shop in person -- i can honestly say that it is very evident that you care deeply about your shop and the goods you carry. i hope you have many more happy (and less stressful!!) years with ella posie!!
i've really enjoyed all your posts. more reliably than with most blogs i read, i really feel like i'm relating to the things you write about (it helps that you have a really neat "voice" as a writer).
keep in mind that you're doing a lot of things that many of us would like to do, and not only can we learn from some of your experiences, but those of us who will never start a business or do creative work full-time can still get some realistic vicarious enjoyment from reading about somebody's point of view who is actually doing those things.
This is totally fascinating. Thanks for posting it.
i have to agree completely with karen. you are doing what so many of us dream about doing. reading your blog is also a big reality check for those of us who want to open a store; that everything isnt as easy as you want it to be.
and to chime in with Michelle, i started a new blog this weekend too!
That's a wonderful history! Thanks for sharing it.
Everything looks so beautiful too. I wish I could visit
I've read your blog for some time now and I think it's absolutely darling! You are a beautiful writer and an extremely talented artist. I really enjoyed learning about the evolution of Posie. My only regret is not having found your shop when I lived in Oregon (I've since moved to Los Angeles... the bane of my existence). Keep up the beautiful work!
Alicia - I find your story very inspirational. As a fellow "creative", I too would someday like more of my life to be occupied with creating and being surrounded by beautiful things as your life seems to be. It's amazing to hear stories from people like yourself, and realize that it is possible (perhaps a struggle sometimes but still possible) to actually do this.
oh alicia. this is why i love your blog so much. your honesty. and the lovely way you make everything a joyous read. i see a little bit of me in your writing... meant, that i just don't speak my mind in a few words, rather i write journals and books. and i do have to say, we both do it poetically and colourfully.
but particularily reading this entry, really struck close to home. maybe something that all independent designers and crafters can relate to, but it was so much the experience i had when i had my gallery. people would come by, literally thank me for having the courage to open such, or having [along with the artists and designers] created such a beautiful space. people were captivated and it often surprised me the distance they travelled just to come look [and yes, that says a lot for germany]. i too often heard, oh you need to be in freiburg, or berlin or hamburg. but the thought that possibly location in city life just wasn't possible, was never placed in those well meant comments. and they would browse and i'd offer them a coffee and sometimes they would purchase or simply wish me a lovely day and thank me again. but they'd be back the next week or the week after that, bring someone and again... oh how lovely.
and when the time came that i made my decesion to close the doors, i held a little "summer afternoon" finissage. i was so astonished at the response and how many people came by. upset, disappointed and surprised that i was closing my doors. and then i heard the words, "oh, if we would have known how difficult this was for you, we would have purchased earlier..."
say huh?
and had every saturday been saturdays as such, that finissage would never have had to happen.
yes, i'd do it again. maybe i'd do somethings differently, maybe i'd do somethings just the same. but yes, given a chance [and possibly a partner], i'd do it again.
so here is me sincerely saying that you for being a part of omondieu!, thank you for posie and for ella posie and most sincerely...
thank you for being you!
and i'm off to treat myself to something good for the soul.
oxo
angela
Alicia, thankyou so much for your beautiful story and for all that you do. You're blog is wonderful and so fun to read. You're store sounds wonderful. I hope to visit some time soon (although I'm about 8 hrs away, so it may take some time). I love reading your blog because it's so encourageing and grounding at the same time. I get the feeling I'm not the only one here who would love to do what you're doing some day. You've encouraged me to keep dreaming and pursuing my goal while reminding me of the huge amount of work ahead as well. I also love that you show your messy bedside because it's almost identical to mine. Proving that those who love and make beautiful things can be very imperfect, and messy, and...not very beautiful at times. Thankyou thankyou thankyou...
...and thanks to all you crafting-blogging ladies, I've been inspired to start my own blog! Thanks.
No! See? You're the best! Why do you think we all keep coming back?
Have you counted up how many of us have been inspired by you to start blogging?! Alicia you have such a gift (I don't say that lightly) for creating a mood -doing it so successfully in your blog that I can only imagine what it must be like in the shop! And that transportation to another world is what we are all looking for when we shop. I think if I visited Portland I'd probably camp out in your shop!
Alicia, your story is wonderful and encouraging and hopeful - I wish you many, many customers! Your blog is very inspiring and your writing sincere. You are definitely valued in the blogging community by myself and many others!
i read what you wrote - every word and i wish i could come and visit your shop today and notice all of the signs and admire all of the beautiful details and offer you all of the encouragement i possibly can. and i'd promise never to tell you that you were hard to find or hidden! thank you for taking the time to write it all out.
So neat to hear about the history of your shop. It takes a lot of courage to get out there and make a go of it, but you've done it and are continuing to do it, and are an inspiration to so many of us! I'm about three hours away (in Seattle), but would love to stop by some time and see all the fabulousness in person.
P.S. I'm a long-time lurker and admirer, first time commenter.:)
Thanks for posting your story - now more than ever I want to get up there in person and explore your shop!
Wow! I am amazed. Amazed at the amount of energy you have. Amazed at how consistently beautiful your style has been. Amazed at your persistence. And amazed again with your generous spirit.
I can really appreciate how difficult it is to be so hidden in plain site. I work for a local history museum in a small community. Centre of town. Daily folks come in saying they had no idea we were here... We've been there since 1974. Most of their children have been through our doors during a school programme. 30+ years of advertising, events, etc. I don't say this to discourage you, rather to encourage you. I've come to the conclusion that most folks are really oblivious to their environment. So what's the good news? It's the wonderful thing that happens when people discover us, and have a really positive experience, and tell their family and friends...
If you are half as charming and generous in real life as you are here, it's just a matter of time. Keep doing what you love. You are great at it.
I read your entries to the last period of the last sentence. I learn so much, get more intrigued by your thoughts on small businesses and promotion, and enjoy all of your thoughts on the subject of "home". Thanks for clearly putting in so much thought and time to your blog.
don't feel silly! I hear you! I own and run the Nest Studio shop in a quiet suburb in Adelaide (with art classes for kids) and I am often sitting there wondering what on earth I am doing... but then someone wonders in and 'gets it' and then I am inspired to keep it up.... anyway I will email the rest of what I have to say about that... :D
Thank you, dear one, for another oasis of communion with you at the end of the day.....I know your history but still find it inspiring to read and think about. You already know I think you're amazing, a cherished treasure. And I can't tell you how wonderful it is to read your writing. You are a gifted writer above all else.
Alicia,
I have so loved reading your blog for the past couple of months, since I discovered it. I "get" what you are doing. I just wish I lived closer so I could come visit the shop! Keep doing what you are doing. It's what you are meant to be doing, at least at this point in your life.
Best of luck to you! Thanks for the inspiration.
Keep op the good, hard work. This weekend I will pack up my girls, and my mother-in-law and come see your shop in person. We are only about 35 minutes away, but your beautiful shop seems like a world away from Forest Grove. I can't wait to see it!
Alicia, thank you for the history lesson. I loved reading about the start of something so wonderful that has touched so many people. I want to visit Portland so bad, if only just to meet you and visit the shop.