Consumer Challenge

After our Mardi Gras Luncheon at work I contemplated habits to give up for lent.  I decided to give up Pinterest, thinking it would somehow improve my productivity or lead me to do some more reading and less web surfing.  Welp, I already got back on Pinterest.  It is such a good place to find/store ideas, recipes, and unwind that I could not last without it.  So here I am, trying to think of a positive Lent idea.

How about minimizing personal consumerism? Basically, try and decrease the amount of goods you buy until Easter by buying only previously owned, refurbished or antique items.  Up until Easter I will be cutting down on trips to Target, Nordstrom Rack and Marshalls.  When I need something, why not buy it used on amazon or visit a local thrift shop? I think I often buy things on impulse, usually because I am bored or stressed and I just want that rush of happiness when I come home with "new stuff". 

I have always loved to thrift, and I think that sometimes the high you get from buying a rare treasure is much more satisfying than another clone off the assembly line.  So why not see if you are up to the challenge? Try making do with what you have or investing some time in up-cycling goods you have for some new purpose.  We have built our whole shop concept on turning others' trash into our treasures, and it could not be more satisfying. 

Spring Anticipation

According to Mr. Groundhog, winter's days are numbered.  This is music to my ears.  We have so many fabulously lively items available now, all spring inspired.  Visit our Etsy site to see for yourself! Don't forget that all local delivery is free!

www.etsy.com/shop/thepinkfinch

The Color Theory

When it choosing visually appealing colors, we can look at the Color Theory, which is simply a logical structure for colors.  You may remember the simple version of the theory from kindergarten.  Does the Color Wheel ring a bell? From the Color Wheel, we can then look at Color Harmony.  In visual experiences, harmony is something that is pleasing to the eye. It engages the viewer and it creates an inner sense of order, a balance in the visual experience. When something is not harmonious, it's either boring or chaotic.

There are a few theories used to help you achieve color harmony:

Analogous colors
Any three colors which are side by side on a 12 part color wheel, such as yellow-green, yellow, and yellow-orange. Usually one of the three colors predominates.

Complementary colors
Any two colors which are directly opposite each other, such as red and green and red-purple and yellow-green. These opposing colors create maximum contrast and maximum stability.

Nature
Provides a perfect departure point for color harmony. In the illustration above, red yellow and green create a harmonious design, regardless of whether this combination fits into a technical formula for color harmony.

These theories are not an end all be all, but a reference in your decorating decisions.  I find the only true offense is creating an over-stimulating color combination.  As someone who loves white, neutrals and the calming effect of subdued hues, I definitely follow the Analogous and Nature color theories frequently in my recent decor.  So what do you like? The balance of complements? Monochromatic shades? Let me know your most used color theory!

Feng Shui Finch

If you've scrolled through this blog, our Etsy page or even our Facebook, I'm sure you have noticed a common color scheme.  We tend to use a lot of light colors, blues, greens, pinks and greys.  Why? because those are the hues that us Finch girls tend to gravitate towards. 

I did a little digging on the Feng Shui meaning of our most used hues.  It seems that we are fans of the calming colors. Take a look at the color psychology behind our decor:

Green
The psychological effect of green is very calming, balancing, healing, relaxing, and tranquil. It represents growth, vitality, abundance, and nature.

Blue
In color psychology, blue is calming, healing, soothing, and relaxing. Blue also characterizes dependability, trustworthiness, and security. 

White
According to color psychology, white represents clarity, innocence, cleanliness, spirituality, purity, hope, expansiveness and openness. 

Grey
Grey is neutral, calm, quiet, and lacks energy. The psychological effects of grey can also be boring, conservative and draining to the physical body

Pink
Pink is sedating and calming. It also symbolizes love and romance.

Our ideal home is cozy, elegant and a place to relax.  Running a family is exhausting and chaotic, so surround yourself with decor that is inviting, tranquil and spirited.  So start of 2013 with a re-evaluation of the color psychology in your home, beginning with the room you spend the most time in. 

Happy New Year!

(Feng Shui color meanings were retrieved from http://www.feng-shui-and-beyond.com/feng-shui-colors.html)

Finch Design Cottage

When we started the Pink Finch, our mission was to create an experience for women that offers an escape.  However, it has been pretty difficult to create an escape with only an Etsy page as a platform.  At the end of the day we want to create beautiful items that can be enjoyed by our customers and the community.  We have a strong emphasis on the aesthetic aspect of the business, which may not be paying the bills right now, but with time and effort that can change.

At the moment, our challenge is deciding on a space to call home.  We need that "ah-ha" moment before committing to a space.  We need something that reflects our style while being geographically convenient for our target customers...which has proven to be a challenge. 

For now we have set up an adorable design cottage right in the backyard.  A small yellow shed has been converted to a space to display Finch furniture and decor (storage in style).  After the hustle and bustle of the new year, we will host a design house sale where you can stop by our home residence to see a display of items for sale.  So if you are looking for a decorative pick me up you must stop by! If you are just interested in seeing items you have found online, shoot us an e-mail and set up an appointment to come by. Siegelhouse@gmail.com

Learning as we go...

Karly working hard this past Saturday.

All we want as a new business is local recognition and some good publicity.  If people know who we are and the products we offer, the rest will fall into place.  The problem we have faced is reaching our target consumer, which is probably you if you are reading this post. 

It is so encouraging to see local organizations supporting one another.  Since enter the twitterverse, we have felt this support first hand.  Organizations like the new Localution Project create incentives to shop local and create a network of local businesses to support one another in Loudoun County.

After living in Loudoun County for 17 years, I would have to say the area has changed A LOT.  Before we know it there will be a metro and even more strip malls, box stores and national chains.  We hope that Loudoun doesnt lose it's local flare.

After a let down at a holiday market this past weekend , we are looking toward the future and learning how to better our business strategy (and be a little more patient).   It looks like it is a matter of finding the consumers who want to find us.  If your out there...we can't wait to do business with you!

Local Holiday

The "Buy Local" approach to shopping and life is more than a "she-she" trend that adds novelty to our weekends.  There are so many logical reasons to support your local economy. Here are a few I picked up from The Institute of Local Self-Reliance:

• Product Diversity: A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.
• Competition: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.
• Keeping Dollars in the local Economy 

With the holidays approaching, keep these bullets in mind while Christmas shopping.  Local products are often unique and high quality, not to mention you know their origin.  So get to shopping! Loudoun County has a great landscape of local businesses and shops to choose from.  Wine Clubs anyone?