Hello lovely people.
I have a rather big announcement to make....I've decided to sell Maisy & Grace. My gorgeous little business that has been a curation of my loves and products for a simple, beautiful life, for almost three years. I've been struggling with making a firm decision for months now, and it's only been in the last few days that I finally have clarity, peace in my heart about it, and I'm finally ready to let go.
I have a story to tell you.
Maisy and Grace started off as my intrigue and passion for the ways of old started to infiltrate my life and my thinking. Maisy and Grace were my ideal multiple personalities, my alter ego's if you like. Maisy, on the one hand, is like your Nana - she preserves, irons, sews, and loves a simple life with a 'waste not, want not' attitude. Grace, on the other hand, is like your favourite Aunty - creative, a baker, the ultimate hostess who loves pretty things. A new business was borne out of these ideals, an online general store and a pretty awesome lifestyle blog and Facebook page to complement. Business was indeed beautiful. I absolutely loved every aspect, from wrapping packages in brown paper and string, to the customer feedback, to sourcing new products, photography, and my most favourite....doing clever stuff with our products including interior design, DIY and cooking. Then Instagram came along and captured a lot of magic. Pinterest had people hooked and wanting more. Never got into Twitter though....still haven't fully grasped that concept. Anyway, basically a perfect little business, thriving, and with exciting things in the pipeline.
I tend to base my year on the financial year calendar, so April is always my 'new year'. Well, five days into April 2013 I had my third child, my baby girl, Eve. What a blissful time that was. Babymoon central. During the first month I closed the store whilst on maternity leave. Then after that, for four months, the store was in what I would call 'hibernation mode'....still open, but not being actively marketed or promoted. Orders would quietly trickle in nicely, and with the help of a wonderful friend in the 'wrapping department', I was able to maintain this little business on the side, as well as enjoy my newborn and be Mum to my two boys.
In August, I decided that the Vintage Hire aspect of the business that hadn't actually been launched yet, was not ever going to be a possibility. Seriously, I couldn't do it all (glad I came to that realisation!). So I decided to sell that part of the business. On September 13th, signed and sealed, and sold to two beautiful ladies who are now the proud owners of this: www.borrowed.co.nz, I announced to the world (okay, my personal Facebook page), that I was ready for my next chapter, bring it on! I was preparing to relaunch Maisy & Grace that coming Monday, and introduce something new and exciting....
On Sunday the 15th of September, the day before the launch, two days after selling the vintage hire business, my beautiful brother was tragically killed. My best friend since the age of one. This wonderful, caring, gentle guy who I saw almost every day, and who my sons ADORED ADORED ADORED. Adored by all, actually, as the presence of over 1200 people at his tangi testified. I can't begin to explain what my family went through, and are still going through. There are no words. You only know it when you go through it. It's something I wouldn't wish on anybody, but also, tragically, something that can happen to anybody. For about seven months I couldn't feel my feet on the ground. I just felt like I was spinning, in darkness, and having to 'push through' the pain, trauma, heartache and intense stuff we had to deal with in relation to the coroner's enquiry (still not over). Pushing through simply to survive, to keep working, to be a Mum and wife, a daughter to my grieving parents, a sister to my younger siblings. I closed the store on and off, as I struggled to breathe. I tried to relaunch over and over again, only to be met with obstacles - website server down, kids coming down sick, coroner's correspondence having to be dealt with. I wanted so often to give it all up, as life was so hard to deal with, and cruel at that. I became angry at the whole world and people's happy lives. I could no longer do the things I used to do, things I used to thrive at, as everything from the former me either failed to exist, or served as a painful reminder of much happier times.
I won't go on and on (or have I already?!), but after a few months I found that I had a new perspective on reality. My view of the world and my secure life had been shattered, and I was suffering from post traumatic stress. But coincidently this pain and heartbreak became the catalyst for a new and heightened creativity. I started to paint my heart and soul on canvas, over and over again. Until eight months after my brother's death, when I had produced the most significant works of my career as an artist. At this time, and due to some other healing that had taken place, I felt an emotional shift, like a black cloud lifting, like the intense grip on my heart had loosened somewhat. I was ready to....not move on, but move forward. I launched ME. Christall Lowe - Creator::Curator. This here blog, THIS Facebook page . It was time to stop hiding behind my brand names like I had been doing in various forms for fifteen years! I still didn't know what to do about the business. I had been hesitant to make a decision for two reasons....I didn't want to make a rash decision whilst so emotionally charged and horrendously grieving. And I also didn't want to feel like a failure, a 'giver-upper', and was ashamed of selling a business in semi hibernation mode, rather than in its prime.
I still tried to relaunch one last time. I advertised for a VA and PR superstar, to get this business cranking full force again. And then something happened. Literally half an hour later, a unique opportunity presented itself to me. Just like a little 'Hello there, how about this? But you know you can't have both, it's impossible. You have to choose". I realised in my heart I wanted the other so much more. An opportunity to be able to paint, create and write (and hopefully finish the two books I've been writing for years!). Also an opportunity to let go of the things in life that were no longer working for ME. And a chance to grow and nurture this new creative energy. The pain and heartache is something that will never leave. The wounds and scarring from this trauma are something that I accept will be a part of me for the rest of my days. But moving forward is now a possibility.
I can't elaborate on what is happening, as it's all under wraps for now, but I'd love you to follow me on my journey via my new blog and Facebook page, which is where I will also be continuing to post the same good stuff I always have on the Maisy and Grace page - inspiration, recipes, DIY and just plain old awesome stuff. As well as my own work, of course.
So, you know, this might be YOUR unique opportunity, presenting itself to you. Maisy and Grace might be your little biz on the side, or it might be an empire in the making. Because I'm not selling it in it's absolute prime, it may actually be an affordable opportunity for you. I've given myself (and my accountant - sorry mate!) three weeks to get the 2014 accounts completed, and for me to prepare the sale package. In the meantime, please email me on info@maisyandgrace.co.nz to register your interest, if you think this is something that might be just for you.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support during this time, as well as the beautiful customers and friendships and relationships that have been formed over the past three years. So many especially reached out to me at the time of the tragedy and I am grateful beyond words. It's only now, eight months later, that I feel like I can reach back. Thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
With much love, and a grateful heart,
Christall xx
Labels: LIFE
