Friday Feature: Reader of the Month – Meet Alys!
I realized something recently.
Well–I have always known it, but sometimes the noise of the blogosphere gets so loud that it’s sometimes easy to forget:
A blog is nothing without the people that take time out of their days to support that blog.
I can count on fingers and toes the number of times I’ve lamented about how I don’t have “X” number of pageviews like “so-and-so” blog…and that I’m not as successful, creative, well-known as “so-and-so” blog. I could go on and on with examples of how I used to beat myself up in comparisons.
But in the past year since losing my day-job, I’ve become much more clear on the fact that none of that crap matters. It really doesn’t.
Because there’s something that makes Thrift Diving special–you readers!
Do Readers Still Care About Bloggers?
Ask any blogging guru and they’ll try to convince you that comments on blogs have gone down… that people aren’t as engaged anymore… that in this age of “sensory overload” people are overwhelmed with the amount of information available at their fingertips, so they just sort of “check out” when it comes to engaging…
I’ve also heard that people have attention spans shorter than a goldfish! HA! (Hmmmm….now that one may be true….).
But that’s not the case with this blog.
Readers here read my posts and leave the most thoughtful, encouraging “Go Serena!” compliments, and more, and I can’t thank you enough for that!
I may not be the biggest blog, or have the fanciest blog design. But dogggonit, that doesn’t matter to you, and I love that. You appreciate the quality of my writing, the creativity of my projects, and the thoughtfulness of my ideas!
And because you support me so much, as thanks, I want to feature one of you each month!
I couldn’t help but kick off this monthly feature with Alys.
The reason why I love Alys (not just because she has left 92 comments on this blog since subscribing!!) is because she leaves the most thoughtful responses! Reading blogs and commenting takes a tremendous amount of time, and Alys never fails to leave a kind word on every blog post I wrote. I appreciate her so much and wanted to send some love her way and showcase her own creative projects!
When I turned 38 last year (click here to read the post), she had some words of wisdom that she’s learned while on this earth, too.
So let’s get to know Alys!
Where do you live?
I live in San Jose, California, the heart of Silicon Valley. San Jose is about fifty miles sound of San Francisco. I’m originally from London, Ontario, Canada, but moved here with my family in 1966.
How long have you been thrift diving and loving junk?
I started in college, unable to afford anything but the bare essentials. Our mom kept herself and her daughters clothed by shopping at thrift stores after our father died. For several years, I avoided thrift stores because they evoked painful memories of our childhood poverty. I’ve moved beyond that and enjoy frequenting them when the mood strikes.
What’s the project you’re most proud of?
I am proud of my vintage stamp table for sentimental reasons. It was really scary building up to the day when I actually started to decoupage dad’s stamps, but I fell in love with the table and enjoy seeing it every day. It’s much nicer having his stamps in a place where I can see them and honor them and the wonderful man that he was.
What’s your most prized possession you’ve ever bought from the thrift store?
Hmmm…that’s a tough one. I challenge myself each year to make a costume from thrifted items. I made under the sea costumes using thrift store fabric, a funky pantsuit for a cape and a dress and jewelry findings for the costume and headpiece.
(Here’s the link and a little video of her dancing in that costume with a skeleton! Get it, Alys!!):
My most recent make is an improvised birdbath using a child’s discarded table and chairs. Here’s the link.
Why do you like reading Thrift Diving, and how long have you been a reader?
I found Thrift Diving via Leilani of Keeping Up with Mrs. Smith. I’m a fool for makeovers and DIY on a dime, so fell in love with your posts. I continue to follow because you have a warm and inviting writing style, great tips, and a sincere and approachable manner. I’ve learned a lot from your posts, and I always have a good time.
What other DIY, thrifting, or crafting blogs do you love to read?
I enjoy Keeping up with Mrs. Smith and Kelly’s Korner and try to never miss a post. I’m also a big fan of Hometalk.
Thanks, Alys!
As a way of saying THANKS, I’m also giving Alys a free Thrift Diving t-shirt!
I hope you all enjoyed getting to know a little bit about Alys! Be sure to check out the links to her blog, Gardening Nirvana.
Next time you see her in the comments section, be sure to tell her “hey!”
Next month we’ll be featuring another awesome Thrift Diving reader!
Thanks again, Alys!
Catch Up on Past Readers of the Month
- Reader of the Month: Meet Gail
- Reader of the Month: Meet Zovesta
- Reader of the Month: Meet Haley
- Reader of the Month: Meet Teckla
- Reader of the Month: Meet Letty
Download the 5 freebies!
Thrift Diving inspires women to decorate, improve, and maintain their home themselves...using paint, power tools, and thrift stores! Use these 5 printables, checklists, and ebooks to get started!
Serena,
I just love your blog and the great DIY project. Thank you for introducing us to Alys, looking forward to future blogger.
Nice to meet you, Msina.
Thanks, Msina!! 🙂
Alys, you sound like a warm, interesting friend! And I found your table and chair turned bird bath fascinating. People have such interesting ideas and I love it when they are willing to share, like Serena! Also, I loved what you said about being a late bloomer; not finding yourself until you were older and had lived a while. I’m still not certain who/what I am, but I’m letting myself develop as I will and it’s so interesting and fun not getting all stressed out because I’m not perfect or keeping up with the Jones, blah, blah.
Serena, thank you for sharing your friends/readers with us! I think one of the reasons your blog is so successful, besides being so informative and useful, is that you are who you are and so willing to share your real self with everyone. You take the time, a lot of time I’m sure, to talk to us personally and that means a lot. Hurray for DIY, thrifting and Serena!
Tecklad, thanks for your kind words. I had so much fun with that project, and was especially pleased when I was able to snap several photos of the robins having a drink.
I’m glad to read that my late-bloomer comment resonated with you. I think our society has fallen in love with youth and the idea of instant success. It’s a fallacy. If we’re open to life, we improve every day. With age comes wisdom, with experience we learn who we are. It’s been said before, by others far wiser than me: life is a journey.
When I read Serena’s posts, I feel like we’re chatting. She’s the girlfriend you want to hang out with, as well as someone to learn from. Her posts are always a joy.
Awww…Alys, that you for that!! That’s exactly what it is: a conversation amongst friends! 🙂 The day when my blog becomes cold and sterile, please alert me!! I’m serious!!
Awww…Teckla, you’re awesome! I think life is definitely about discovering yourself and trying your hand at new, interesting things. It’s what makes life interesting. And we learn things about ourselves as we go along! 🙂
Hey Serena, Now I feel bad. ? How could I have missed your 38th birthday!! I know it’ll be okay since I’ll get to share your 39, 40, 41, 42…… I love your blog, it makes me feel like I’m catching up with a dear friend, whom I consider an awesome teacher. You’ve taught me so much in a very short time. As long as you blog, I will read! You are an inspiration! Love ya’
Thank you, Patricia!! Don’t worry about the birthday! As I’ve gotten older, they’re much less celebrated! Although maybe we should organize a 40th Thrift Diving event where we all travel to some cool resort and do an international thrifting trip! We would just need a company to sponsor it…..OOHH!!! Wait, I think I may be on to something!!! My birthday is in December. How cool would it be to do something in Florida?? Like a DIY hands-on convention! I may need to think on this one….I’m serious!! We would have 1.5 years to plan (December 2018)!!
OMG!!
Serena that is a brilliant idea! I love thriftin’ out of State. Although when I’ve been in Florida, the friend I go with isn’t into thriftin’ ?
Love ya’
That was really cool Serena. Alys you sound like someone I’d like to know. I feel like I’ve been missing something by not being here sooner. But I keep up now. Actually this the first time leaving a comment has worked.
I’ll be leaving some sort stories of my own about my many marriages I’d like critique on. Serena will be in charge of those.
You’d make an interesting read, Cindy! LOL I’m definitely featuring you, too! And those beautiful earrings and jewelry you make! I have gotten many compliments on those!!!
Hello, Cindy. Thanks for your kind words. I’m looking forward to reading your own feature on Serena’s blog.
I’m glad you’ve sorted out how to comment. Sometimes it comes down to hitting the right button that may otherwise be easy to miss.
Creative lady, and ditto what she aaid about Serenas. I would love to see the stamp table!
I know, I thought about that as I was writing the post, “Hey! I need a picture of that stamp table!!” I think it’s great that she honors her dad with that table!! Thanks, Angela!
I third that suggestion!
Would love to see it too.
I sent the pic to Serena. I think she plans to share it in another post.
Hey, Michele! I just updated the blog post with Alys’s stamp table! 🙂 You can check it out in the post now! 🙂 It’s really cute.
Hey, Angela, I’ve updated the post with Alys’s stamp table if you want to check it out now! 🙂
Oh it is awesome! I love how she arranged the colors. Thank you for posting it and letting me know. ?
Loved the article on Alys getting a tea shirt. Also your article about people not reading your blogs and others. I love to make new things out of old things. Me and my sister (before she died) would get up ever morning and go to yard sales and auctions. We had a booth in an antique and flea market for years and nearly everything that we sold were things that we did over. I do estate sales now and love seeing the things that people own and what we can redo with them. So don’t think you are not being read. I look forward to getting your emails and seeing what you are doing next. That is the way I feel sometimes when I do the sales and we work so hard to make them neat and so the family can appreciate seeing their parents things clean and organized, but then a customer will come in and say something so sweet and wonderful so it is worth it all. You are appreciated and just wanted top say that Alys certainly deserves the tea shirt.
Hi, Betty! What fond memories you have of yard sales and auctions with your sister! When you say you do estate sales, so you organize the estate sales for people? That’s awesome! I bet you have some great advice for us on how to shop estate sales and get good deals! Do you care to share some tips with us? Pretty please? 🙂
Serena,
I would be happy to share some advice about shopping estate sales. First, I do set up, clean everything in the house down to the last fork or spoon. I tell my staff that I want them to treat it just like it is their parents home and things. When you go to an estate sale and the time is posted for the time, I would plan on being there early. I have a Sign-Up Sheet and everyone has to sign up and then they are called into the home by the number they are listed. I do not allow people to mark their own items sold, but have a clerk in each room to write you up and mark the items. We have found out that keeps down trouble and keeps people from getting mad about not getting the item. Usually the last day of sale items are marked anywhere from 40% to 50% off the item. We also take bids the first day on items that are $100.00 or more and they have to bid at least 40% over the full amount. The highest bidder is called that night at 6:00 and told if they won. This is one thing that I suggest to everyone, if you really want a item don’t take the chance of not getting it the first day of the sale. Never write a bad check because we keep a list of people that we get them from and they are turned over immediately to the Worthless Check Department. It cost you twice as much as the item did. Sometimes if people buy several different items and you are good customers and it is possible to cut the price on a item, we can sometimes. It does not hurt to ask. If you don’t feel that you can pay full price by all means take a chance and leave a bid. That is better than it don’t being there the second day. Always come prepared to load your own items, have something to put your items in. Hope this helps and hope that your readers can take away some useful information from it. Was happy to share it and will be happy to read your next blog that I highly appreciate you writing and sharing.
This is great advice, Betty!! This sounds like it could be a blog post! Do you mind if I take this info and create a blog post? I could share with people your business contacts and it might create more business for you, too! Email me if you’re interested: th**********@***il.com. This is awesome!
Betty, thanks for sharing your thoughts. What a great t-shirt, eh? I’m excited. I’m sorry you lost your sister. It sounds like you were very close. That’s a difficult loss. I love what you do! It sounds like great fun.
Great to meet Alys!! Sometimes you read about someone or something someone has written and just know you could be friends! And – just a tiny bit of trivia – I live in Alabama – there is a very wealthy family who lives in my area – owned a large local business and bought some prime real estate in Florida, not far from here where pretty uch everyone travels to for vacations – it’s called the Florida panhandle because of the shape of the state and the location of the vacation areas. Anyway – the Stephens family bought quite a bit of land there many, many years ago and just starting developing it maybe 10 years ago – the Mother – Matriarch and heart of the family died before the development began – and her first name was Alys – so now in the panhandle is a very beautifuly beach resort area called Alys Beach!! Anyway – great to meet Alys and look forward to meeting more of Serena’s fans!
Sharon, what a lovely story! Alys isn’t a spelling that you see often, is it? I love it! Now Alys will know that her name and spelling is “famous”! 🙂
I’ve heard of the Florida panhandle but didn’t realize it’s where everyone there went for vacationing.
Oh my gosh, Sharon, I did a double take. My sister is Sharon Milner! The names are so close. And then you went on to tell us about Alys Beach. Goosebumps.
I must find a way to visit Alys Beach in the future.
I’m named after my father’s sister, Alys, who was born in England before the first war. She lived to be 95. She worked as a bathing suit model in her twenties before getting married. We always thought of her as our glamorous aunt, so it was fun being named after her. The spelling of Alys is quite old, dating back to the 1600s. I rarely see anyone with that spelling.
Your comment made my day! Thank you.
Wow, thanks for sharing about your name, Alys! That’s pretty interesting! It’s special when kids are named after family members. It’s like passing down the tradition. My mom’s middle name is “May”…..my grandmother’s middle name was May (the one that recently passed)….HER mom’s middle name was May…and I believe it has just kept being passed down! 🙂
Names can be pretty special when they’re passed down.
This is so, so cool! I barely subscribed to this blog and I’m already hooked. Thank you, Serena! Congratulations, Alys! It’s a pleasure to meet you both. And who thought up that T-shirt? Ha! Ha! Very, very cute! Have a great weekend!
Awww…thank you, Julie!! That means so much! 🙂 I feel like we’re one little happy family here! As for the t-shirt, I thought of it! 🙂 I got someone online from Fiverr to design it for $20, and I did a promotion last spring with them! I own 4 of them! LOL Call it my “uniform” now since I wear them so much!
Julie, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Isn’t that t-shirt the bomb?
I was instantly hooked when I found Serena’s blog as well. She’s a great mom, wonderful writer, open, warm and inviting. She also gets to add Duluth model, guest speaker and all sorts of other accolades to her resume. Her success makes me happy. She’s worked hard to achieve it and I can’t think of anyone more deserving.
Awww…thank you, Alys! Glad you’re along for this ride!
Serena, I think Alys is correct. I too find you to be like the girl next door. Your love of what you do shines through in every blog post and video. I personally like how you are willing to present yourself and your life as imperfect. In this world of Photoshop, copy, follow the leader, etc., it is good to see someone embrace who they are and be comfortable with where they are. That is what makes you beautiful. Keep it up girl! You are walking in your passion!
Monica, you are awesome! 🙂 Thank you for that feedback! Doing this is really my passion. I LOOOOVVVE blogging, but I realized something–it’s not just the blogging that I love. It’s the inspiring and teaching I love. Anyone can be a blogger and write stuff that is so general and non-specific and gets 1,000,000 pageviews a month. But that’s not as satisfying as getting 200,000 and really making a difference in someone’s life and having a connection to them. 🙂 Thank you for allowing me to do this!
Beautifully said, Monica. I agree.
Good or Alys, She is so deserving. Nice to see she was a Canadian for a while.
I know, especially with 92 blog comments!! WHOA!! I think she may be the winner in most comments! LOL
[snicker]
Linda, you can take the girl out of Canada, but you’ll never take the Canadian out of the girl. 🙂