Well, here I am again - new year, more changes!! First I'd like to start off wishing you all the most happy of years ahead and I hope that you ended the year on a joyful note.

I'm sitting here on this New Years Day, fluffing around with my poor neglected website and blog which has been gathering dust for some time now. The past year has been a vintage adventure with my booth at Antiques Village being my primary focus and I've loved every bit of it. It's been such a learning experience and the adventures I've had and people I've met along the way, well it's all been more than wonderful.

But sadly that means that my time as a "professional photographer" has suffered and to be honest, it's been a long time coming. I hang up my hat there with no regrets and Big Gig Photography will still exist in my heart and as part of Riley Street Vintage. I'm getting older, less patient and less inclined to deal with the egos that come with the photography side of things so it's all for the best and I'm thankful for all I've learned through the past 6 or so years.

But don't expect me to put down that camera! Oh no - that will NEVER happen. I still have a wealth of ideas for portraits to wade through, concepts that need to come to life. Vintage clothing galore to adorn those whom are willing to be my subjects and of course a world of travel, vintage and antiques to capture when I can. I hope to spend more of this year with my camera in hand and more time exploring the wonderful world of antiques.

I could keep yipping on here but I'm going to sneak over to the Riley Street Vintage Facebook page and poach the update I made earlier which will hopefully bring a little more clarity to what I'm doing. So here it is below - millions of thanks to the poor souls who take the time to read all this and I wish you all the best of luck for 2015, may it bring many good things your way. xx

"Pinch and punch for the first day of the month! We made it folks, it's now 2015!! Hope you all had a festive evening and that the celebrations were joyful.

As the new year kicks off, I contemplate. I'm not one for making resolutions, I only wish to continue working on the goals and dreams I've had over the last year or so. And as I pondered those this morning, a lovely friend posted on my private FB wall about a fun dream she had last night which was very vintage inspired and in the ensuing discussion, I was struck with a epiphany based on three simple words.

"A Vintage Year"

No lightning bolts or light bulbs popping up over my head in a cartoonish fashion, just a seed of a thought that grew with a rapid speed. And then, only then did I think to myself that maybe it was time to get back to my blog which has sadly been neglected. On a website thats been gathering dust.

So with excitement and promise, I grabbed my camera and nabbed a few vintage items I have around the house and made the most of the morning light filtering in through the windows. One of those items was this vintage silver teapot which for some reason, I've been unable to part with. Maybe because it's lovely? Maybe because I have a funny memory attached to it now?

MOTH (Man of The House) walked into the Den of Craft (my chick cave) one day and saw this teapot and says to me "I have to ask, have you ever rubbed it in the hope a genie will pop out?" to which my reply was "Of course!".

We laughed and laughed and I'm not afraid to admit the hopes are there that something will pop out and grant my every wish. Although reality is, probably there will be a stinkbug lurking in there and just gift me with that offensive aroma that they emit.

So anyway, long story cut short - thank you Angela for inspiring me and giving me the motivation to get started on something that will only serve me well in the long run. My time in the next week or two will be to revamp my website, get my blog updated on a weekly basis, pick up my camera much more often and share my love of all things vintage with a journey through "A Vintage Year".

It's a good day, a good way to start 2015 and I wish you all a day of hope and promise.

Sam the Stinkbug Slayer."