Poppy and Ivy

Your Attitude is Your Latitude

My daughter has been a member of organized sports for 12 years.

I have heard the "attitude is your latitude" phrase after games more times than you can imagine, but I never really HEARD it. ( I was busy packing snacks, uniforms, sweaty socks & water bottles into the back of my car that was ALREADY packed with estate sale finds).

The economy, the situation around me and my business choices had really weighed me down to a point I couldn't rise above it all.

I finally had a COMPLETE Oprah "lightbulb" moment. A moment that told me I was so much bigger than ANY of the stuff that I was letting get me down. 

Right around the first of the year, I had that moment. In the middle of it, I heard my daughter's coaches words. I really HEARD them. 

And quickly, I made all the plans I should have made month (years?) ago. My name on antique mall waiting lists all over Portland. Stores that had intimidated me quite honestly. 

And here I am....in stores that many LONG to be in.  

I left Splendid/Stars on Tuesday after filling my space with my fun weekend finds and when I looked over my shoulder to do a once over, I stopped and realized I was so happy. Ridiculously happy. 

I want to be a shop owner again, but it's just not the time for our family, or the economy. But I am still young.  (Kind of).

I want to see my customers face to face again. But I can't. That's okay. It is what it is. There are WORSE things to deal with. 

All I can do is be the best vendor I can be at Splendid/Stars and Camas Antiques. I can do what I love...share old goods with people who share the passion. 

Cheers to attitudes and latitudes! 

 

 

Good Things Happen When You Wake at 6:20am

I woke up with bells on this Sunday. I WAS nervous that I would sleep though the alarm.

First off....I forget that it's so dark then. But then....that sunrise. I KNEW it was going to be a good day.

We got to our flea market at 7:45. I got this sticker that let all the people around me know that I had waken early and I was DEDICATED. Okay. Everyone who paid before 9:00am received one, but mine felt extra special. It is not often (ever) that I see these on MY person.

GREAT finds at the flea market, then off to the Goodwill Bins. Not ANY luck there, but we saw this....THAT is dedication. (Look closely...there is a black lab in the front seat...FUNNY!)

As we drove to our next destination, hearts beating quickly looking froward to the next find, we saw this....my coffee survived the u-turn. (Yes...those forest creatures are on an old gurney).

The "adventure" that followed lasted 3 hours. It involved a call to Portland BEGGING my husband to meet us with the truck. And quickly. Before we die....

I saw things like I have never seen. It was like living in a Hoarders meets American Pickers episode . No matter WHAT I picked up, it was the owner's FAVORITE thing and had some crazy price. (Get a good picture of the owner in your mind. It's necessary. Cigarette hanging out of his mouth, nicotine & black fingers, hunch backed with rheumy eyes...a QUICK wit though!) He would then promptly drop his quote 60%, but little did he know he was dealing with Miss A.D.D. and I had moved on to the next item.

Bee & Mason scored left & right because she is very brave and tall. She was not keeping one eye on the door the entire time as was I. Note: I am zooming in because I was very far behind her...trembling.

That we didn't encounter rodents STILL blows my mind.

This is a PILE of chairs. As in, EASILY, 100 chairs all nested together like a Rat King. (I, of course, wanted the one in the MIDDLE, on TOP. Leave it to the person who is 5 foot 3 inhces.)

I sent a picture of the store to my husband so he knew where he was going. He wrote back..."Get out of there now. I will be there SOON"

That was FUN. Slightly terrifying & completely out of my comfort zone, but it resulted in some FANTASTIC finds for my booths.

I am loading up the truck and headed into the stores today. 

Cheers to adventures and Happy Valentine's Day! 

 

A Splendid Day Indeed

I might need a 12 step program for old stuff. I am so re-energized that I cannot stop thrifting.

It's so fun to fill a booth and come back to see things missing. I went to my space at Stars yesterday to bring a bit more and then went straight to an estate sale to get even MORE.

I am on the Splendid side of Stars...when I say that, I get a quizzical look. Stars has two stores across from each other. I am on the East side of Milwaukie Street. Confused? Okay....look at the buildings. Look UP. You will the word "Splendid" on one of the buildings.

I might need a 12 step program for old stuff.

I am so re-energized that I cannot stop thrifting. It's so fun to fill a booth and come back to see things missing.

I went to my space at Stars yesterday to bring a bit more and then went straight to an estate sale to get even MORE. I am on the Splendid side of Stars...when I say that, I get a quizzical look. Stars has two stores across from each other. I am on the East side of Milwaukie Street. Confused? Okay....look at the buildings. Look UP. You will the word "Splendid". 

Now....Come on in....shop awhile!

I am bringing Mr. Strong and our son Mr. Strong Part 2 to help me flip things around a bit. I do not leave here empty handed...

 

 

 

And tomorrow, as a true sign of my new found dedication, I have my alarm set for 6:20 to go a flea market. Yes. 6:20. For those of you who know me, that is 6:20 A.M.

Yep. Take that Junksters! (Will Brake for Coffee).

It Started Out So Innocently

I walked into my favorite Portland art store for some Un-Du. I am OBSESSED with Un-Do and have been for years. I last bought a case wholesale and it finally is all gone. It takes estate sale/thrift store tags off in a snap. I have tried other products for 12 years....I ALWAYS go back to Un-Do. It can be used on paper and PHOTOS (dries with NO marks), it can take off a sticker you DO like and once it dries, the sticker can still be used! And, should you ever have a guest who sits on some gum on your couch and it melts onto her backside over the 4 hours that she never moved while you served her all night, it will take it right off her "brand new jeans" that "cost her 99.00". FYI....

I walked into collage. I promised I'd ONLY get Un-Do. Yes. Right.

So now....the pressure is on. I might actually be crafty again! Could it be?

2011Taxes are done, my three spaces are NEARLY full and this weekend is finishing touches on Camas and Stars. Branches, lights, some flipping of the furniture, curtains and Mr. Hollands is going to come help me with the stuff that is "way up high". I am BEYOND vertically challenged. I married wisely.

Very sadly, my sweet little Uncovered Ruby has decided to close the doors. I need to remove my items by February 25th. My heart breaks for the owner. Been there, DONE that. It's never a easy decision, but the owner is young...she can do this again someday. She has an amazing eye, so muh talent and oddles of followers. I have no doubt we'll see her again once she recharges. It was a great place for me to slip away and recharge myself for a few months and I will be forever grateful for those hospitable Battle Ground ladies. I would have never tried A Vintage Gathering without the Uncovered Ruby folks. 

Off to drive, fill, move, fill, clean, hang and fill more empty spaces! Cheers to crafting tonight....darn you art stores! You get me every time!

 

 

 

What the Heck...I THINK I have a PLAN

I came home yesterday EXHAUSTED from Junk Salvation. Junk Salvation was as good as ever. Junque Soiree and I made magic in a VERY brief window of time! 

Between set up, take down and the actual SALE.....my head was spinning, feet were throbbing and I knew Stars set-up was LOOMING on Sunday! 

I woke up VERY early on Sunday, drank one cup of coffee, thought about my day and all I can guess was my adenaline rush peaked because suddenly I was sound asleep in our family room. 

Today I got to Stars to set up (after about 4 bad dreams) and I realized I might just have the best life ever. I trust Uncovered Ruby, Camas Antiques and Stars to be the best venues for my love of Things That Are Old. If I cannot be the one talking face to face to the customer, I trust these people. THAT'S a good thing! 

AS I walked away from Stars, I realized I have a PLAN. After 7 months, my A.D.D brain has a PLAN and I see that's all I really needed! 

For Camas, brighter colors....pinks, aquas...

I have a color plan for each store, so when I go to Estate Sales, I can NOW see a specific STORE for each item! 

I just discovered that I LOVE plans! 

This is Going Amazingly Well....

Tomorrow (today???) is Junk Salvation! 

The event takes place Friday from 6-9 and Saturday from 10-4. 

I am not really sure if it's the "buddy system" or one single space verses TWO by myself or having done the sale before....but I feel cool as a cucumber. Junque Soiree and I decided on a specific color palette which was partially GREAT and kind of scared me. We have four "colors" to work with. I have to say...I like it. 

Here are some sneak peeks...

I cannot believe how good I feel and I am very PROUD of my items. 

Maybe I need to be wrangled in more often with specific colors and looks! 

I did my last Thrift Run this afternoon. Just praying for some wood, rust, cream and "old looking" items. 

Instead, I found things that MIGHT make me lose some sleep.

Watch out Winnie! And little Blazer Bear...you don't stand a CHANCE. 

DANG clowns. 

I hope we see you tomorrow or Saturday. It can ONLY be good because the Funky Junk Sisters are amazing that way! 

A bit of sleep and I am off to make magic! 

Cheers to MAGIC! 

 

 

 

 

Everything is Coming Up Roses

No...really.

I got into all of the vintage spaces I could have dreamed of, my son got the lead in a play he tried out for, we have great family vacation coming up....it's all good! 

I had asked Dixie at Funky Junk Sisters way back in December if there was a space left at the February 3rd/4th sale in Hillsboro, but my husband and I had believed we were possibly going on a Super Bowl Trip to Vegas.

We JUST decided to pass on Vegas and somehow I convinced Denise at Junque Soiree to join my booth....so you can find us at the Oregon Funky Junk Sisters Sale in just over a week......GULP. 

I feel good about this....Here's the look we're after.

Think wood, reclaimed, creamy love and a dash of color. What's the color? 

Oh.....just wait. It will be good. 

And did I mention I move into Stars the NEXT day? 

Yes. Anyone can make it EASY. 

Oh dear........

 

 

Ker-plunk

I once played a slot game in Vegas (don't judge me) and these frogs jumped around and if they got on the right lily pad, there was a loud "Keeeeeeerrrr-plunk" and the sound made me very, very happy. (Those Vegas peeps are no dummies)....

That noise was in my head all day. Right here in Portland, Oregon. No money required. 

I have jumped and I just keep landing on lily pads! 

I walked into my other possible new location to just "check out" the space. It's the MIDDLE of the store. I love it. It's that weird aisle you go down repeatedly when you are completely lost in an antique mall & looking for your buddies and you realize "Wait...I have been in this aisle 40 times".

Too bad sucker. Make a purchase and we MIGHT let you out.....yes. It's THAT row. You've been there. Just admit it. It's like an antique filled corn maze! 

I walked into the space and it went like this:

Me: Oh...this is perfect

Owner: Let me get a starter packet for you

Me: Okay

Five seconds later, a few signatures and instructions and (WAIT....there was money involved)...my deposit for the space. 

Owner: Thank you for being a member of Stars. Here are extra tags. You move in February 6th.

Yessss......THAT is that way it should be. Bing, bang, boom. There were colored pages for any problem I could possibly encounter. Little "Just in case" things. All in my "starter packet". I LOVE well organized people!

Look....I am official! (That is dried glue on my art mat, not drool)

Ohhh...this is going OH so well! About 20 times today I said "Just pinch me!". 

Yes. 2012...so far, you're allowed to stick around a bit.

 

 

When it rains, it pours...

...But this time, it's ALL for the good! 

2010 was all about wrapping my head around closing my own little store and collaborating. Then figuring out that collaborating was not as helpful as one would think, but I put my blinders on and forged ahead. 

2011 was not my stellar year either....but looking back, I learned many, MANY lessons. I can just now see that through all the yuck. Lessons are good things. However, 2011 WAS also about meeting the lovely ladies of A Vintage Gathering.

They have no clue how important their cheerful outlooks were to me. Their genuine love of old stuff and COMPLETE lack of snarkiness pulled me through summer 2011. I would pull into the driveway and while I knew I had to put up a huge tent, set up tables, dodge raindrops (or escape HEAT depending on the month!), those gals throw off some happy vibes. Those were the best weekends of Summer 2011. 

December 2011 was about pulling myself up by the boot straps and BOY HOWDY has that been paying off. 

I put my name onto some waiting lists for local antique malls and BOOM....it all fell into my lap at once. I didn't choose small places...I reached for the stars. (What was I thinking??)

In the mere 9 days that 2012 has been around, each and every day has greeted me with either very good news, some of my  favorite visitors from afar, happy circumstances, good phone calls, belly laughs, walks on the beach, cheerful texts, blasts from the pasts...and I LOVE it! This 2012 thing is pretty awesome so far.

I move into Camas Antiques this week and another bustling vintage mall in the next 30 days, but I'd like to wait to make sure it all works out correctly before I do a shout out to that space. I visit with the owner and my possible new space tomorrow....fingers crossed!  

I am so happy that I made the step forward instead of looking back. "Back" was really drab. "Forward" is looking pretty fantastic already!

I refilled my space in Uncovered Ruby today.

After doing my "work" I had to wander....I always do. The quiet (they are closed on Mondays so most of the vendors restock that day), the lights and the artistic eyes of the various vendors always makes me feel like I am walking through my own personal magazine. My head spins and fills with so many ideas. 

3 Photos above of My Shabby Passion's space

Photo above from Sally's space (owner of Uncovered Ruby)

 Today I also sent off a pile of Etsy sales and it all made me feel even better about where I am headed. 

My Etsy has been on fire...it's just what I needed, JUST when I needed it. I needed to light my creative fire and get working again! I have never been one to sit around and I remember why.

And to top it ALL off....when I least expected it was possible, my husband surprised me with the news of our upcoming trip.

Welcome 2012! 

Hello treadmill, boot camp, veggies & chicken and you silly jump rope...........

I hope that you are experiencing a great start to a New Year as well. Cheers to looking ahead! 

 

This about sums it up.....

I found my new space! I was just too chicken to try, but after weeks of telling my high school daughter to put on her big girl panties and reach for the stars because she's worth it, I took a look in the mirror and realized I need to take my own advice for once.

I made the cut and I am in as of the first of January. Details and location to follow.

Excuse me while I go swoon....