625paper

so much love to gift

625paper — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:53:51 +0000

check out all the fun valentines product available at the store!

(with love pouches also available online here)

The Grand Opening

625paper — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:54:04 +0000

Monday night Mayor Hartwell joined all the merchants here at MoDiv to cut the ceremonial ribbon right in front of my store! We celebrated afterwards with a lively reception and many media interviews.

Many many thanks to Rockford Construction for all their hard work on this event and the space itself. We watch them work diligently around here to make the Shops at MoDiv better and better.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit all our unique local shops, please do — there’s so much to see.
40 Monroe Center, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Winter Weddings on Neenah Paper Blog

625paper — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:03:05 +0000

My 4th and final 2011 Sustainable Wedding Ideas post is up
on the Neenah Paper Blog, Against the Grain.

You may click on the link above to read the whole post,
I will just share the lovely images here…

I had a little help with getting these props together, which is one
of the many things I LOVE about being in MoDiv with all these talented people!

bokay by Easter Floral provided the red berries
Chai Boutique provided the rustic crate
the kitchen sinc provided the serving dish
bolero (& sustainable attire info!) was provided by the talented Vue Design

In 2012 I will continue to guest-blog for Neenah,
providing fun DIY tutorials for sustainable wedding projects.

Wrapping it up, 2011

625paper — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 19:07:33 +0000

How about we wrap up the year talking about some 2011 holiday wrap.
{insert rimshot here}

I usually match up my tree ornament colors with my wrapping paper,
with the porch garland, with the gift tags, etc…

My tree was (still is) red and orange colors – but the wrap was a bit random.
I fell in love with this spool of cloth ribbon from Anthro,
re-used some packing paper and added gift tags.

It ended up to be an eclectic and budget-friendly look.
Definitely not the fanciest year for us, but quick/easy was just what I needed this year.

I’m curious – am I the only one that tries to color-coordinate my decor with wrapping style each year or do you do the same? Share in the comments, purdy-pleez!

Sending all our warm wishes to you and your families. Thank you for all the love and support this season – we’re feeling quite blessed here at 6.25!

625paper — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:06:21 +0000

Get this Holiday Stuff SOLD!

625paper — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:02:01 +0000

We are now entering the “get this holiday stuff SOLD” period in the retail world. Therefore, I’ve started a sale on holiday items as follows:
(only available in the physical store downtown Grand Rapids)

Holiday gift wrap: 50% off
Holiday card sets: 30% off
Holiday card singles: Buy 2, get 1 free
Elfing Holiday card singles: Buy 1 get 1 free

Be sure to check out all our stocking stuffer ideas and last minute gifts too!

One more day to vote

625paper — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:31:43 +0000

Downtown Grand Rapids, with the kickoff of Holly Jolly GR, is still boasting with some very lovely holiday window displays! If you haven’t had a chance to visit and see them, please make a trip down – evenings are the best time to view the windows.

For our window, we had the help of Grand Rapids artist & painter, Elizabeth Mayville. She came up with the idea of making paper ornaments, found a pattern, and covered herself with glitter during the process. The final display consists of 50 of these paper ornaments, along with our naughty elf cards and it all really lights up at night!

She found the idea for these holiday ornaments on the blog, shelterness. We were able to use all scrap paper from custom orders to make the ornaments, then we added glitter for more vibrancy.If you would like to vote, you only have till tomorrow at 6pm (Dec. 13th), but there’s still time! You can vote here.

Holly Jolly GR

625paper — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:40:44 +0000

Once again, things just seem to happen at just the right time for my little retail biz. This year is the first year for Holly Jolly GR, a downtown holiday shopping event helping to promote local downtown businesses like myself!

The event kicks off at Rosa Parks tomorrow night at 5pm with a choir welcoming the guest of honor, Santa himself. The GRAM tree is lit soon after and everyone is encouraged to check out all the window displays. Forty-seven retailers and vacant storefronts downtown are competing in a window display competition where the public votes (much like artprize without the “top ten”). Click here for info on how to vote.

6.25 Paper will be celebrating this fun, new event with some super duper specials on holiday cards, ribbon, tags, bags and wrapping paper. Follow me on twitter or facebook to see what these specials will be tomorrow! We’ve also teamed up with local artist and painter, Elizabeth B. Mayville, to create our window display (made of paper scraps, packing peanuts and TONS of glitter). Photos coming!

Also very exciting, we have teamed up with the UICA to give shoppers a special gift when they spend $100 or more at the Holiday Artists Market. The market presents all local artists and it’s one of my favorite places to shop each year! If you spend at least $100, you’ll get a coupon for a free stationery set from me or a free porcelain ornament from Vue Design (one of my awesome neighbors)! The Market is Friday, Dec. 2nd, 5pm-9pm and Sat., Dec. 3rd, 10am-9pm.

Links:
Holly Jolly GR website
HJGR Facebook Event Page

Watercoolers, Meetings & Going Away Parties

625paper — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:37:05 +0000

Starting in Aug, 2008, I worked out of my home for 3 years and 3 weeks. When I opened this little retail shop in MoDiv (a new incubator space in downtown Grand Rapids, housing 12 businesses in one “mini mall”), I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure how it would work, being so close to other small businesses.

After only 9 weeks there’s one aspect of the space that I definitely didn’t anticpate. A strong sense of family is starting to form with my neighboring vendors. Being so close to each other, it’s easy to know what’s going on with my neighbors, and we’ve already created a sense of support. I haven’t felt such camaraderie since working at the publishing company and I honestly forgot how nice it was.

Since we’ve opened up shop, we’ve already shared many “water cooler” moments (often at the Kitchen Sinc brownie cooler), venting and getting to know each other’s silly nuances. We’re often helping each other watch stores and grab lunches. Just yesterday we had a little “going away” party for one of Vue Design’s interns. I have only known this (awesome) Calvin student for 7 weeks, and I was almost in tears having to say goodbye.

I’m quite amazed and thankful knowing that even as a (very) small business owner, I still have such awesome people around to greet me in the mornings. I’m sure it’s an experience unique to a place like MoDiv.

Saving the earth at 10 years old

625paper — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:00:02 +0000

This has been a reflective week for me as one of my very best friends from elementary school had her 30th birthday. I went through one of my old boxes of journals to find something fun to send her, hopefully bringing back a fun memory. I did so and while reading through the thoughts of my 10-year-old self, I found an interesting little entry that has stuck with me all week. It goes like this (un-edited):

“… For my shirt design I would put
“Save the Earth!”
I would put that because, I believe
in saving animals, people, and the world.
Its a terible thing to waist.”

-Feb. 25th 1993

I remember being one of those hippie kids, drawing peace signs and hearts everywhere, but I guess I’ve forgotten how much motivation and confidence I had at such young age to make meaningful changes. We tend lose a little of that “activist” personality as we age, gain responsibilities, lose time and get overcome with our consumerism culture.

I look forward to the energy and motivation of our daughter once she comes home. I think having a young spirit around will help me re-gain that sense of individual capability & activism.

For now, I’ll relish a little more in my deepest thoughts 18 years ago.