Nearly 20 Years Later... It's Time for a New Chapter

Dear Friends,

Today is August 2nd, 2026 and I have some news to share.  I've been turning the words over in my mind for the last couple of weeks trying to find the right way to say it: after nearly twenty years, I am closing the doors of Traveling Vardo.

It's hard to believe it's been that long. The years have flown by.

What started as just a tiny glimmer of a dream has grown, thanks to all of you, into a thriving little business I've been honored to shepherd for almost two decades. I've loved every bit of it - the materials, the scents, the stories, and most of all, the people. Meeting and getting to know so many of you on a more personal level has been the real gift of this whole journey.

I've taken breaks before, as anyone who has been with me for any length of time knows. You may remember the shop going on vacation occasionally over the years, closing during the holidays to spend time with family, etc.

But this time is different - some big changes are unfolding in my life right now, and they're calling me toward a new phase of adventures and opportunities.

Our youngest daughter has fledged from the nest, so to speak, started her own business, and was recently married. My husband is also nearing retirement and we have plans we'd like to pursue.

This waterfall of changes over the last few months have shifted something inside of me. It has brought me to the understanding that it's time to embrace this new phase of life and step into some things I've been putting off for years - so this closure is permanent.

**Here's what to expect as we wind things down:**

I want to make sure that anyone who wants to do so has the chance to stock up on their favorite scents before we close for good, so I'll be keeping the shop open through August 31st, 2026. 

To do this well, I'll be working in cycles in order to keep everything organized as I manage the wind down, so this is the tentative plan:

1) I'll update inventory on the site and open orders for 72 hours at a time

2) After each 72 hour window closes, I'll tally the orders, take a look at what I can process with the materials I have on hand, then determine what raw materials I may need to procure in order to fulfill everything

3) Then I'll reopen for another 72 hour round

4) I'll repeat this process through the end of August, with the plan being to have all orders shipped no later than mid-September.

A quick note on timing, so there's no confusion: not every order will require me to source raw materials - many will ship right away from existing stock, and most raw materials I have on hand in varying amounts. I'm just preparing for what I expect to be a mass influx of orders and the best way to manage those numbers in order to make sure everyone can get what they'd like. 

For those items that DO require me to order any raw materials or packaging, please expect a shipping turnaround of about 14-21 days, possibly more depending on turnaround time from suppliers.

My goal is to process, pack, and ship orders as they come in, but also accounting for the potential need to order raw materials.... I just don't want there to be confusion where someone may think their orders they place today somehow won't ship until the end of September. I'll ship and process orders like always, it's simply my plan to have every last order out of the studio door by the end of September if I need to order materials for any orders placed near the end of the month.

If there's a scent you don't see currently listed, or something that shows as sold out, please don't hesitate to reach out - I'd love to see if I can make it happen for you before we close. Please be aware that there are some scents that I may still have a few in stock of but that I cannot make more due to problems procuring certain materials.

One note about GIFT CARDS - if you have any lingering gift cards that haven't been used, now is the time to use them up!

Thank you for being part of this journey, for your kindness over the years, and for helping turn my tiny glimmer of a dream into something real. It has meant more than you know.

With so much gratitude,
Tina