On Being a Reseller in an Antiques Mall

I retired from my life time job a few years ago, (I had started my small business as a reseller in an antiques mall 12 years before my official retirement). 

In 1994 I began reselling as an extension of my collecting hobby (and it became a more than part time occupation). My late mother-in-law convinced DH and me to join her in renting a booth in an Antiques Mall and selling personal collectibles. Huge learning curve. HUGE.

I grew that very small beginning into my current business, reselling Vintage / Retro / MidCentury Modern Collectibles, at Village Antiques Mall). 

The now several booths are part of my business. DH is very involved in the collecting, appraising, cleaning, repairing, painting, hauling... the job list is long. The tasks of 'finding stock', preparing for resale, pricing, tagging, packing, hauling, adding to the booths are only part of the work involved.

Paperwork, inventory control, cleaning the booth - thousands of smalls to dust, shelves to clean, the flow of styles, colors, themes to adjust are all part of the job. 

In 2009 I started blogging about my deep interest in collectibles. My first post on December 3, 2009 was Remember the Beginnings of Collecting the Past. 

An early favorite: Revamping Is Such Hard Work brought back a sympathetic smile.

Since then I have written an eclectic array of 752 posts that range from how I view being a collector to upgrading my camera, my Village Antiques Mall Blog, thrifted finds, painted furniture and so much more.

Ok, that is TWO favorites this week, blogging and reselling collectibles.

Sharing with Claudia of Mockingbird Hill Cottage, Diana Rambles

Napkin Holder Repurposed to Mail Holder

Dream Mail Holder

As the napkin holder came from the thrift store:

2 coats CeCeCaldwell Simply White Chalk+Clay paint. 

1 coat CeCeCaldwell Satin Finish over the Sharpie Dream lettering.

Dream added with graphite transfer (back of printed text rubbed with lead pencil and then turned over and traced outline) then filled in with a Sharpie.

For Beverly, Congratulations on your 5th year of Hosting Birthday of Pink Saturday.

Sharing with:
Classy Clutter, Serenity Now, Cozy Little House, The Thrifty Grove, French Country Cottage, Common Ground, How Sweet the Sound Pink Saturday

Chippy Authentic Little Benches

Not quite curb finds, but close. Shed finds. 

The two small stool/benches go so well with the shabby books I found at a genuine 'we want them gone' garage sale last weekend.

Maybe just a bit of 'touch up' on the bare chipped paint/wood on one leg of this little stool/bench and a good clean, that should be it for this little somewhat slanted stool/bench. Handy, great size for small vignettes too.

I will carefully brush the loose paint edges and wax this little bench (very carefully so I can keep the very shabby look and as much paint as possible intact). Love finding authentic shabby benches.

Definitely two old favorite things (plus those lovely books too).

Sharing with Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Friday, Funky Junk Party Junk, Claudia at Mockinbird Hill House, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, Coastal Charm Knick of Time Tuesday, Coloradolady, Rooted in Thyme, Stonegable, The Thrifty Grove, The Home Girl

Knife Holder Updated

I got the idea to paint a knife block from Suzan of Simply Vintageous:Lets Go Chop Chop (drop over to check it out). My block is somewhat similar in that it is white and has lettering.

Before

Knife block form Thrift Store (40% off Monday)

Used CeCeCaldwell Simply White Chalk+Clay paint (2 coats) and CeCeCaldwell Satin Finish 

PicMonkey'd and noticed I reversed the order of painting so

   Second coat                     Painted                          First coat

Added text. Lettering is with a Sharpie Permanent Marker. Lettering was printed out and the back of text rubbed with lead pencil, turned over, placed on wood, then traced on to block with a ball point pen (this left a graphite outline on white paint) that I filled in with a Black Sharpie.

A couple of days later I messed around with a sanding block, some clear wax, dark wax and Minwax Polycrylic.

Good hard finish, looks 'older'. Not sure which I prefer, simply white or sanded, waxed and poly finish.

Sharing with: Brenda of Cozy Little House Tweak It Tuesday, Boogieboard Cottage, Silver Pennies, Sir Thrift A Lot, Creating My Way To Success, A Living Space, A Blossoming Life, C.R.A.F.T, Stylish Once Again, Mod Vintage Life, Remnant, Kathe With An E, The Rustic Pig,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Creative Cain Cabin, Coastal Charm, Elizabeth and Co, Not Just A Housewife, Fluster Buster, DIY By Design, Ivy and Elephants, No Minimalist Here

In the Eye of the Beholder

What makes me happy?

Family. Being a Grandma. Photography. Gardening. Decorating. Blogging.

Family Celebrations.

Family doesn't like me to show them so I write about DH, DS and DGS because I love them but I don't show their faces.

DH fixes things and helps paint, DGS helps in the yard, mowing, picking flowers, planting vegetables, helping fix and paint fences and being a love. 

What makes you happy?

Sharing with Donna of Funky Junk Interiors, Claudia of Mockingbird Hill Cottage: Favorite Things Friday, Embracing Change, 504 Main: Tickled Pink, My Romantic Home, Stonegable

Painted White Wooden Tote

Found the brown wooden tote at a thrift store, still on the 'put out soon' trolley. Asked if I could buy it now (it was 40% off Monday for Seniors, bonus).

Useful, easy to move around, good size for use beside a chair to hold magazines or books ...

The white chair is part of a project I have not yet started as are the shells in a jar. The painting is waiting for a frame colour change and the flower is from DGS to Dear Grandpa (birthday love).

The before:

First coat of CeCe Caldwell Simply White Chalk + Clay Paint, applied quickly without perfection.

Its fortunate that you didn't want to watch me paint the second coat or add the CeCe Caldwell Satin Finish  to the handle and outside ends - because I forgot to take pictures as I was working.

As always with Chalk+Clay paint, the cleanup was fast both for the paint and the Satin Finish. Water and some rubbing to remove from hands (and arms as it is not a simple task to paint the inside of so many narrow wooden slats) and rinse and rub to clean the brushes.

Tools of the job

Minwax Polycrylic Finish - I used this for hardness. It sometimes causes a bit of color change in white but in this case that was not an important consideration. Only areas I omitted here were the handle and outside ends (used CeCeCaldwell Satin Finish on those).

Cleanup was, again, fast, water and some rubbing to remove from hands and rinse and rub to clean the brush. I got a drop of Polycrylic on my navy shorts and used a wet towel to dab then rub and dab dry. It worked. Should have been wearing my painting apron.

Sharing with: Funky Junk Interiors: Party Junk

Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Friday, Common Ground, From My Front Porch To Yours, Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson, The Charm of Home, Rooted in Thyme, The Thrifty Grove, House of Hepworths, Embracing Change, Saving 4 Six, A Creative Princess, Ivy and Elephants, I Gotta Create, Cozy Little House: Tweak It Tuesday, A Living Space,  Little Red House: Mosaic Monday C.R.A.F.T: Monday Funday, A Blossoming Life: Frugal Crafty, Alderberry Hill: Make the Scene Monday, Homemaker On A Dime, Creating My Way To Success: A Round Tuit, Stylish Once Again, Dwellings: Amaze Me Monday, Sir Thrift A Lot, Remnants, Mod Vintage Life, Thrift Chick: May Before and After Party, Kathe With An E, Rustic Pig, Creative Cain Cabin, Coastal Charm, Elizabeth and Co

Celebrating Spring Flowers and a Special Birthday

Today the post includes a late April garden visit, lawn mowing, a birthday gift and tulips and daffodils from the heart.

The ornamental plum tree is blossoming.

Someone that makes my heart sing - DGS - is tall and strong enough to mow the lawn (we share the job) and we no longer 'both' hold the handle and push, he is working solo (yes I am very close by). Sigh. Growing up.

We celebrated at special birthday last week with lots of hugs and a couple of surprises for Grandpa.

Birthdays involve flower shopping and Grandpa almost got orchids (DGS loves orchids). 

The parrot tulips grew, the peas are a bit taller, the peony is doing very well as are the rhubarb, weeds and dandelions. 

Picked with care and love. They lasted in the house from Friday to Monday night.

I am a very lucky Grandma indeed.

Sharing with: Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson,  Claudia of Mockingbird Hill Cottage: A Favorite Thing Friday, Little Red House: Spring, Saving 4 Six, The Brambleberry Cottage, Rooted in Thyme, Tootsie Time, Diana Rambles, How Sweet The Sound Pink Saturday, Donna of Funky Junk Interiors: Party Junk, Nifty Thrifty Sunday, Sunny Simple Life, Silver Pennies, Boogieboard Cottage,