That is in answer to a very popular question being asked of me lately. That being, “Where the hell are you?”

I promise I’ll be back soon. I’ve been working on something pretty special for a while now and I’m about ready to share.

(And on the negative side, which many of you know is a big part of my personality, I’m trying not to be seriously annoyed by the new etsy search options that have all but put a stop to my business. You all know you have to actually select “vintage” from a drop-down in order to find vintage items, right? Spread the word.)

I want to give a quick shout out to Meg (of Enderby fame) over at the ever-hip, Brooklyn-based style-guide known as Nest for featuring the HappyDashery as a shop of the week. It’s an honor to be included with so many other talented artists and shop owners. I only wish I found out about this feature way back in October!

Enderby Nest is a “Green Guide to Stylish Living and Eclectic Home Decor.” I recently discovered this site and it’s already rather dear to my heart because she’s living in Brooklyn (and we all know I miss brooklyn and heart anything that brings me back to my days there) and promoting and creating green design.

Meg’s designs and daily posts remind you that “style starts at home,” and will be stepping it up a bit this week with the start of her DIY show on Threadbanger. Tomorrow marks the debut episode. Good luck, Meg!

…Ismoyo! You’re the winner of the vintage milkglass plate and cup snack set giveaway from HappyDashery. Congratulations! Invite a friend over for some soup and a half a sandwich. Grilled cheese, I’m thinking. Enjoy it!

And thank you very much to all who entered the contest. I know I had fun and I decided to do it more often, so check back here again for more fun vintage goodies. I’m all about sharing the vintage love (especially on superbowl sunday when there’s not much else going on for me, though I hear others might be enjoy some kind of football contest).

Happy Sunday!

For all of you faithful readers (those of you who comment and those who are, I’m guessing, really really shy), Happy Almost February! I’ll bet you didn’t know that was a holiday, did you? Well, to celebrate that we’re almost through with winter (ha!), I’ve decided to do a giveaway.

One lucky reader will receive this super-cute vintage milk glass snack set.

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Go to my Etsy shop and find your favorite item.
2. Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite is and why. Inquiring minds want to know!
3. Not mandatory, but if you want TWO chances to win, put a post up on your blog telling people about this giveaway and link back to this post. Pretty easy to do, and it’ll double your chances of winning!

Your comment automatically enters you in the giveaway. Winner will be announced on Sunday, February 3, so make sure you get your comments in by Saturday night.
Please remember to include your name and email address so I can get in touch with you.

That’s it! That’s all you have to do! Except maybe to check out all the other Bloggy Giveaways that are happening right now. That ought to keep you out of trouble for the rest of the work day.

Good luck!

p.s. hop on over to neilsattin.com to win a free copy of Dan Zane’s Catch That Train!

If you haven’t seen this new way to shop Etsy, go check out the Shop Local option here. There’s page after page of artists and vintage sellers all in the Portland area (and Portland, Oregon which is hard to filter out) that I might never have discovered.

Check this out:

Lean On Me is making these beautiful wooden canes and walking sticks.
Note: this is made for a man but they’ll take special orders!

Swallowfield is an absurdly talented artist just over the bridge in SoPo right here in Portland.

Little Leg Warmers has all kinds of good things in her shop. Handmade cards, bags, and quilts like this gorgeous Little Retro Ladies Quilt that I just drooled on my laptop over:

Curiously enough, just one local vintage seller comes up. A little cottage industry going by the name of HappyDashery. I love her stuff!

So there’s a little taste of Portland, Maine talent. Show them your support! And then get over to Etsy and check out what’s happening in your town.