Elizabeth House Shop Talk

Oliver Twist Fruit

2012-02-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

Hi!

I know! Surprise! A new post so soon. If you read my other post, The Adventures of Elizabeth, you are aware of my first book that is about to come out...a book that I photographed and styled, that is.

Well, recently, like as in yesterday, I had email me asking me what kind of camera did I use and how did I get so published "so quickly" and how did I get started in this field? He hadn't been a reader for long and was just getting started in the blog world as well. Well, that actually forced me to slow down a bit and I wrote him back. It wasn't until I wrote him back, did I really realize just how long it has taken me to come this far. And that made me think of you readers who are in the same boat...trying to live out your passion. We may have those days when we are screaming....when, when...will this ever pay off? I mean, we love what we do, right? But at some point, when can we ever really make a living at it? Others make a living, why can't we?

I want to be clear that I am far from making a living at it, but I will say having this book done, has given me a boost (a much needed boost) but I also thought I would share with you my "timeline" so to speak of how I got here. Not to discourage you, but rather comfort you in that you are not "slow" or "doing something wrong," but rather things just have a timeframe that sometimes, we just don't see or understand.

I thought I would illustrate my timeframe with a trip I took a while ago with my friend Debbie, who was down in the dumps a little and I emailed her and told her to pack her bags, I was taking her away for the weekend. I won't go into detail about out weekend, (that is another story), but rather, I want to focus on just one small part of the weekend that hopefully illustrates my timeline and how it all came out to be - well sort of.

See if you can follow me as I try to tie my life to this little scenario below:

The very first time I ever really seriously picked up a camera was in 1993, when I took one class in darkroom for an art credit that I needed for college. I fell in love with it, and wondered if I had majored in the wrong field...but I was a senior, and never gave much thought to it. In 1994, while living in South Dakota, I had a photographer who saw my work (I took a little community class to brush up on my dark room skills. I only did film back then) and he wanted to pay me to develop his work for his studio. I immediately said "No...this is only a hobby."

However, I was excited about my new hobby, even though I really had no idea what I was doing. I was completely self-taught with my camera and definitely digital when that came out later.

My friend Debbie here, is trying to load her treasures into my car. She is very excited because she just discovered a huge find...a European metal kitchen cabinet! However, she has no clue how she is going to get it in or on my car. I just wanted to photograph the whole thing. By the way, it is about 150 degrees outside...

Back to my timeline of my career: during the time of the photographer wanting me to develop his work, I was an officer in the military. I had other things in my life going on, and taking photos was just something I loved to do, but never, even gave it a thought other than just taking out the camera when an event took place, or on travels. But over time, I did begin to slowly learn a few things.

Now as I stood here and watched Debbie and the store's hired help "wrap" this cabinet, I found myself fighting my urge to jump in and help, as they were doing a very crappy job. In fact, he had no clue what he was doing and that is when I realized how I have always lived my life. Not that I go around thinking people are clueless...I just tend to jump in and "just do it."

I stood back, determined to catch this feat on camera. But back to my timeline, it wasn't until 2002 did I really start to use my camera a little more...only because I had opened my store, and needed photos for ads, my website and other things that I needed and couldn't afford to hire a "real photographer." Now this is EIGHT years after I have had a professional photographer ask to PAY me to develop his own photography for his studio. I had zero confidence then, never considered myself a photographer, and besides, I was active duty military as well.

But think about it...eight years...

I am standing here and clicking away and thinking to myself, "What...is there a bubble wrap shortage, or what?? Get some damn bubble wrap on that METAL cabinet before it gets on top of my friggin car...." That is what I am thinking as I stand on the side and click away. Never mind I have loaded and unloaded about 1000 pieces of furniture since 1983....

And so, that brings me back to my life's timeline...1000's of things happen in our lives that we never really consider that just gets in the way of our goals and dreams and what just may be in store for us. And while my beautiful friend, Debbie and the clueless hired help struggle to wrap something that would I find so simple to wrap in a second, they are both struggling to figure it out. And that is how life is...we struggle daily to figure out the best we can, how to do the best we can with what we have...based on our experiences.

Now my timeline is 2003 and I am having my apartment above my store photographed for Mary Englebreit's Home Companion magazine, and after the shoot, an editor sees some of photography hanging in my store and she tells me that I really should take my photography more seriously. I remember just smiling and thinking that she is just being nice. And only a few moments later, her assistant comes over to me and tells me that I should listen to the editor because she doesn't hand out compliments very often at all when it comes to photography. And AGAIN, I just smile and think, "How can I run a store, do design work, and do photography...besides, I am not a photographer!"

That exchange with the editor was in 2003. I had convinced myself that I was meant to be a store owner, a designer, a faux-finisher, and that photography was "just a hobby." Never mind that I loved it to a passion. Never mind that I could spend hours and hours shooting if I even had the time (I didn't), but you see, I had no real experience, no training, and absolutely no technical knowledge. I was limiting myself by my experiences.

Also...I wasn't listening to the people that I now believe God had put into my path. However, I was listening to the wrong people. I was starting to listen to those who saw what I had already accomplished and who only wanted to see more of what I already had done, except bigger and better. And because that was my experience already, there was comfort in building upon something I already knew about. Others didn't know of my passion for writing or photography. They hadn't really seen it. But that photographer in South Dakota had. The editor for the magazine had. But those who spoke the loudest and most often, were those who only saw what I already produced and already created.

I was ready to create something different. I was ready to create more from my heart, then from my head. But unfortunately, I was listening to my head...not my heart.

I continue to watch my friend and the worker wrap up her precious found item. As you can see, they aren't making much progress, and in my head, I am thinking, "I would have that friggin thing on top of the car by now..." and I smiled as I watched my friend because she was so excited by her find, so passionate about it going into her kitchen, and yet so clueless what to do with it right now.

And that is exactly how I was about my photography. I was so excited and passionate about my photography but so clueless about what to do with it. I wanted to take it places, but had no idea how to "wrap up" my new passion and take off with it, just like Debbie so excited about her find, but no idea how to take off with it either...

It wasn't until 2005 that I began to write and produce features for Romantic Homes. They asked me to be a contributing editor in 2006. I began to finally feel like a "real photographer" at that time, but yet, I felt I had to work so hard, when in my head, I was so sure other photographers really knew what they were doing, and could do it so much better.

But still, it was two years after a professional magazine editor told me to take my photography more seriously did I ever even get a small payment for a tiny feature in a magazine. Two solid years AFTER a professional editor saw my work. And even still, it is now THIRTEEN years since I seriously picked up a camera did any of my work ever appear in a magazine and TWELVE years since the first time a professional had noticed my work did I ever get paid a very small fee for my work.

Many times, over the years, I felt like I was just standing by, on the sidelines, watching time go by and my passion was just always going to be only a hobby. And it is a great hobby, one that I will have the rest of my life. But like most artists...our passion never dies, it only ignites larger at the slightest glimmer of hope of our work being noticed or validated by those in our field. That is why artsy vendors love antique shows...not to just sell, but to SHOW. That is why there are gallery OPENINGS...so the artist doesn't just sell, but SHOW. That is why there are SHOW homes...not just so the designers can get new clients, but to SHOW how talented they are in putting a room together. The art/craft world is about showing what we are all about.

I truly believe there comes a point in every true artists' life where the heart overtakes the head. Where logic takes second place. Where business takes backseat. I am not saying this is good. I am not saying this is bad. I am not saying this cool. I am not saying this is foolish. I am just saying this is what it is. It is like saying at some point during a particular season, leaves fall off a tree. We don't stand around say that leaves falling off a tree is good. Or that leaves falling off a tree is bad. Or that leaves falling off is foolish...it is what it is.

And for some...waiting for that season of the leaves falling is very short and for some (like me) that season is very, very long. Everyone has their own timeline, their own season.

And as you can see, my timeline as far as watching this painful ordeal of wrapping a damn metal cabinet is a very short season...

The camera is now off my neck and in the car, safely put away. I am now wrapping like a mad woman, having no problems telling the helper how to really help, and asking for much more tape. What? Is there a shortage of tape too? Do you see that short piece he is using? Do you really think my gal pal's coveted piece will make it home with that scrappy piece??? No way will I let her passion fly off into the ditch...

Just like I wasn't about to let my life events toss me into the ditch over and over again either. Between many moves, unemployments stints, losing my twins, a divorce, closing the store, a car wreck, losing my mother, my brother, two good friends in two years...and more...things that we all experience in one form or another. None of us escape life's rough spots...we must take into account when we are in that self-hate mode and thinking we should be doing "better."

Really? Better?

How about we start thinking more like how my friend looks in this photo below...how we accomplished a lot...and are about to take our accomplishments home with us where it belongs...in our hearts.

And this is where the heart overtakes the head...and things start going full gear and to hell with what anyone thinks about our choices. If you are a good person, and I know you are, your choices will always be considerate of others, but your heart will beat loudly with your passion and then with purpose.

And soon, your heart (like mine) will be smiling just as big as my gal pal is as she takes a gander at her treasures all packed and ready to head home, where it all belongs...in her heart.

But it is easy to get down on yourself. I am the queen of that. It is easy to look back and question our choices, our timing, and ponder why didn't I do this? Or listen then? But then one day, you might get an email from someone who innocently asks you how did you do it? How did you get to where you are so quickly?

And that makes you slow down just long enough to think. To remind yourself of all of life's adventures that led you to this point. Of how much you had to hang on to and let go of. When I lifted this metal piece onto the top of the car, it fit just perfectly onto my car rack. See below? It fitted perfectly because it was meant to be. The timing was perfect. I really believe that.

I always, always have work gloves and a toolbox full of bungee cords with me at all times. Not just when I am on a flea-market adventure either...

...why?

Because with my experiences, I have learned that work gloves never go out of style and bungee cords makes total strangers in need instants friends in just about any parking lot. :-)

After all is said and done, it is amazing to sit back and really take a look at the lives we live, what we do, how we do it and how long things can really take. So to my emailer who wanted to know how long did it take for me to get my photos published in my new book?

Well, exactly it would be from 1993 until 2012 - 19 years.

That is the technical answer. The passionate answer would be - just a season.

It looks like I have it all together in this photo. All good to go...and for the moment I do and I am happy about that. But this was taken about a year and half ago and so much has happened since then. But I enjoyed the weekend with my buddy and we gabbed for hours and hours. And if my seasons take a little longer, then that's okay, as long as I have my gal pals to spend them with.

So what's with the fruit? What's this "Oliver Twist" fruit title? Well, for our trip, I packed us a basket of goodies for the road and along with candy, chips and junk food, I thought, I should at least attempt to pack something healthy. When I showed Debbie this plumb, I turned it over and showed her the "dent" as you saw in the opening photos. I told her that my barber husband calls this kind of fruit "Oliver Twist fruit" and refuses to eat it!

She laughed and laughed. I try to sneak it in his lunch now and again, and he will call out as he leaves sometimes, "You didn't give me any Oliver Twist fruit, did you?"

And the thing about "Oliver Twist fruit" is this: It may be dented, but it is still good. It just isn't as pretty. And if I hand it to my barber husband just soooo...and if he isn't paying attention, and bites into it and starts eating, he hasn't a clue as he watches TV.

My point?

Sometimes, when a situation isn't so great looking, we just gotta take a bite out of it in a different direction and it may surprise us how sweet it can be.

(That, or hand it over to someone else to deal with for a while!)

I hope this post helps someone out there who may be going through some changes and may be doubting themselves, their timing, or feel they just aren't feeling up to par. Don't get down on yourself...go get some Oliver Twist fruit...it's cheaper, and a sweet reminder that even if dented, we are all doing just fine.

from my house to your house

Elizabeth

One Path, Many Pebbles

2012-02-03T12:19:00.000-08:00

Hello my dear friends,

I hope all is well with you. I have been thinking of you business owners lately (and those of you who are about to open your first business) as two good friends of mine just closed their store only a month ago. Seeing the decor dissipate, left over stock go into storage, and wanderers walk by the window in shock the store is closing, made me want to write to you.

It is a reality when one opens their door to their store for the very first time, that some day, intentionally or not, there will be day that it closes for good.

It is funny how we never really think of that day on the first day of our store opening. I mean, why should we? We worked so friggin hard to get the door opened in the first place, right? I can tell you right now that I was just hoping to get through my first day, much less even thinking of day two, or my last day when I first opened my store.

But it happens. The final click of the lock.

This post isn't meant to depress you newbies or discourage those who are thinking about opening...not at all...just give me a chance and please keep reading.

I took this photo recently...actually, just to check my white balance and ISO....but when I downloaded it recently, I looked at it and thought, what an interesting photo. Not "eye candy," but really interesting. I hadn't really noticed it when I took it. I didn't really stop to look at the stones, only to find focus when I snapped it. These stones happen to be on a pathway but with this photo you can't tell...I was just checking my camera settings. But on my computer screen, late at night, it is really fun to study the stones.

I downloaded this photo around the same time my two friends closed their store, it got me thinking. We are all on a creative path, yet a personal journey. And yes, when one door closes, another opens...we all know this. But there is something more going on out there that needs verbiage, but I am not sure I am the one that can quite vocalize it, but will try.

I will try with stones....

Here, I'm gonna crop the photo and try to express what I am not doing a very good job with at the moment:

Back to my two friends who recently closed their store...they worked very hard, had a great store...did all the "right" stuff...but just not enough traffic in their location or enough customers to keep the store going. And so, they made the decision. Nothing we all haven't heard before. And that is something that business owners face all the time. Very hard. I have written several posts about that topic.

But like I said, on that first day when we open our store, we never think of our last day - when the store will close for good, right? Well, why should we...or should we? Look at the cropped photo above...and then look at the larger photo.

What do you see in the cropped photo?

Hang in there...I'm getting to my point...

Look at the cropped photo again and then back to the larger one. It's not a trick just take a look again at both photos...

See it?

Okay....I'm going to make you scroll down so you don't see the answer ahead of time....so scroll dooowwnnnn.....to find out what you should have seen in the photo.....

Keep going.....

Almost therrreeee.....

S T O N E S !

Yup!! Told you it wasn't a trick.

Sometimes, life just has a way of staring at us in the face...but sometimes, it is just a cropped version of the big picture. But guess what? Even cropped, it is still the same pathway too. Opened or closed, in business or not...we are all on our own creative pathway. And you know what else? Our cropped version of the pathway didn't change the direction of the pathway either. Close up versions of life doesn't mean you fall off the pathway, the pathway is always there.

The reason we don't really think about the last day on our first day is like the cropped photo...we deal with what we must deal with in the moment and we can handle only so much....there are only 24 hours in a day and we are human - not super human.

(Did you notice the crabgrass? That is called life getting in the way at times...)

So, if your year isn't starting out the way you planned and you are being hard on yourself, remember, you dealt with what you needed to, and were able to at the time. And wherever you are in this very moment, you are still on your pathway, you haven't fallen off...there are enough stones for everyone to go around!

And if your year is starting out great, and you are getting your brand new store underway...congrats and I wish you much success. Just remember you are on a path with many, many stones...not just one. Don't let slow sales days get you down....those are "cropped photo days." Stepped back and see the big picture and don't panic. :-)

If you ever need to vent, have a worry, or just maybe need a little cheerleading, just email me...

I'm only a stone's throw away... :-)

from my house to your house,

Elizabeth

The Business of Relationships

2012-01-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

It has been a while, but know I think a lot about you and miss you.

So why the flask photo? Well, I will tell you. I chose it for a couple of reasons.

There is something that has been really bugging, so much so, I feel like taking a drink. And I am not even a drinker! And this flask has on it the very topic I want to talk about...it has the owner's NAME engraved on it.

Now, this may or may not be a touchy subject for some, but it has been driving me crazy for months now and every time I think of writing about it, I am just too busy to stop to do it. So now I am taking a moment to ask a basic question that I haven't been able to figure out in my really simple mind:

Why do so many blog owners omit their names from their blogs?

I can't tell you how many times someone has commented on my blog or I read someone else's blog and I happen to read a comment on their blog, and I go to that person's blog to comment, and for the life of me, I can't find that person's name ANYWHERE to save my life!

Is it just me, or does this drive anyone else to want to go find a really cool flask take a swig?

Or, at the very least, want to go stick your head in the oven? I have tried relentlessly to read through the blogger's comments, just hoping that a reader mentioned the blog owner's name in her comment, so I can learn who in the heck owns the blog and maybe feel a connection with the owner.

I am not pointing fingers at any of you who may be reading this and you don't have your name on your blog because I don't even know who you are.....lol.

And I feel safe enough with you readers to speak openly about this because the readers who read this blog, for the most part, are business people, and they get that this Shop Talk blog is more about "lessons learned type of feel" blog.

I have found that when searching out the owner of blogs I have come across a pattern in which people describe themselves (in the "about me section) instead of just giving their name. Instead of stating their name, many people will simple describe themselves such as:

Busy mom hanging on....

City girl wishing I lived in the country...

Country girl living on a farm...

Crafter who loves....

Antiquer on the go...

Grandma who loves to travel....

Retired teacher in Midwest....

Single mom going insane...

Business gal going solo....

You get the point. I feel so bad sometimes that I will get such a great comment from someone and I go click on their blog and for the life of me, I feel like I SHOULD know who the heck they are, and I look and look and I can't find their first name anywhere on their blog. Whenever I leave a comment on someone's blog, I never assume they know who I am, I always sign leaving my name. First, I just assume they are name-challenged as I am, and secondly, I want them to know I was there and left a comment...

Am I missing something?

Is there a no-name trend I am not aware of?

Also, many bloggers do not put their location. Yes, I do understand for safety reasons, crazy ex-spouse reasons, and so on. But sometimes, I don't even know what part of the country they are in, or if they are even in my own country. Am I the only one who gets frustrated with this, or is just me and my quirky ways?

But from a business standpoint, I would think that having a first name, at the very least, would be important to have on a blog. Location, even if general, would also give a potential customer some kind of connection with you. Everyone knows that business is about relationships.

Business relationships are key to a successful business. If I knew that someone was blogging from the south, and I was wanting their business, then immediately I would be letting them know I was from Texas, or ask them how are they taking the heat this summer or if the drought is affecting them. There - instant connection. But, if I don't even know their name, it is hard to even start a possible connection with them. And if a blogger is looking for future possible business, a connection must be made - a genuine one.

Connecting with others is very important in business. Not just for the sale, but for referrals. Networking. Good karma, if you will. But, if I am going to refer you to someone, I would love to be able to call you by your name, and just not by your blog title, website, or business name. By my using your first name, then the connection is stronger, and more likely to be passed along and actually used.

And I like nothing more than to pass along and help out when the chance arises. And I am sure you do the same for others. In fact I know you do, because you have done it for me and I love you for it.

There is nothing wrong with name dropping...but for some reason, saying that "what's-her-name just called me and has hired me to produce features for her magazine..." just doesn't ring the bell as loudly as saying "Martha Stewart called me and wants me to produce articles for her magazine."

I wish.

Okay, gotta run now. I hope this helps shed some light and give you some thought. If not, then I guess I just shed some light on a quirky pet-peeve of mine. :-)

from my house to your house,

what's her name

(elizabeth)

:-)

Tag! You're Sold!

2011-11-04T00:51:00.000-07:00

Hello!

With the holidays upon us, I thought I would pass along some thoughts and experiences I had with my latest shopping trip (Round Top) that may be of some help to you shop owners and/or show vendors.

I would like to take a moment to remind those who may be new in joining us on Shop Talk that this blog is designed for those brand new in the business and for those who have no or very little experience with retail or being a vendor. I write to that audience, as I hope to help those who have no one to turn to who are trying to break into this fun, but challenging field. My intention is to help and not to insult anyone's retail savvy. Sometimes, I think I need to stop every few months or so, and remind new readers that my posts are written with beginners in mind, although I welcome anyone to join in!

With that in mind, I will continue with my thoughts and observations. I am almost sure this man's beard (in the photo) wasn't nearly as long or as white when he first entered this booth. If he is the vendor, then he earned his beard from the hard work in hot the sun. If he is a buyer, then he grew his beard while waiting for the vendor to notice him so he could ask about a price of an item because most likely, most things were not priced in the booth. And that is my contention!

While walking around from booth to booth, old feelings of once having been a vendor of antique markets returned. The hauling, loading, and setting up. But something that I noticed as I walked around was how so many booths had so many items not priced! That made my shopping not fun at all. And having been a vendor myself, I had little sympathy.

My personal opinion is that all items need to be priced at a market. I become immediately suspicious if a booth is entirely unmarked. At one booth, I overheard the vendor give a woman a price for an item and when the vendor finally got to me, he gave me a different price for the exact same item (higher). I didn't buy anything from that booth. I don't even think it was intentional, I think he just didn't know his prices.

Sometimes, maybe a vendor just runs out of time and can't get all the tags on the items. I can even understand that...if there are signs of her/him still sticking stickers on items or if I see a roll of stickers out with a marker and the vendor is interrupted. But I am not talking about that. I am talking about booths that intentionally do not price their items and then the vendor just walks up to you and tells you, "If you want to know anything about an item, just let me know." Or worse, you ARE interested, but can't find the vendor to find out a price, OR, the vendor is too busy with a customer to give you a moment to price an item for you.

I will walk away every time without buying a thing. I am too frustrated with that booth and feel I am wasting my time. And if I feel that way, then chances are, others feel that way too.

If you are getting ready to do any holiday fairs or craft shows, I would encourage you to really take the time to make sure ALL of your items are clearly marked or signage stating the prices are clearly shown. Having items marked for craft shows (or in the store if you are having holiday open houses or big sales) are so important. Customers are rushed these days, trying to cram too much into too little time, and if they have to wait to find out a price....guess what? They won't and they will move on to the next booth.

Something as simple as a little price tag that is firmly stuck on an item or tied tightly to a product can be the difference of a customer lingering in your booth to decide on a gift for the holidays, or setting down the product and moving on to the next interesting booth or store because she got frustrated of having to look up to find you just to ask for the price. I probably did just that over a dozen times in one afternoon at Round Top.

One particular booth frustrated me to the point of my having to say something to the owner (European). I really wanted to know the prices on many, many items...mainly out of curiosity. So, I waited and waited and waited while he was busy shuffling around with what seemed like two very wealthy younger women who wanted "one of those" and "three of these" and "I must have that" sort of thing. I know he must have been glad to have the sales , but there seemed to be other help all around who were completely ignoring me. After almost 30 minutes of wandering around the very large booth, waiting, I finally caught one of the guys and said, "Can you help me, or what?" His heavy accent mumbled something about "What do you need?" And I walked over to a section of his booth and said, "None of your items have prices." And he said, "What do you want to know?" I just stared at him and said, "Prices!" He said, "On what item?"

And I was so frustrated at this point, I said, "So, in other words, you will walk around with me as I point and tell me the prices of everything as I shop?" He didn't understand my sarcasm. Understand, this was at the end of a long, 104 degree hot day. He seemed not too happy with me, as I with him. I pointed at some items and went down the row to get some prices and he seemed impatient with me as if I was wasting his time, as it became obvious that all I wanted to know was prices...not necessarily wanting to buy. I then told him that if he had priced all his items, he wouldn't have to do this. He got very huffy with me and I then asked him that if I came back later, would the prices be the same, or would they be different depending on his mood? He said he didn't understand, but I knew darn well he knew exactly what I meant. And that is how customers feel. They feel they are being sized up (whether they really are or not) and judged on how much they can afford before they are quoted a price...or they are being sized up for their knowledge on how much something is worth and so on. And maybe they aren't, but maybe they are. But it starts the whole buying process on a negative level. And it is exhausting.

I just don't see why a vendor would want to go through the hassle. As a vendor, I had all my items priced before I loaded my items up in the first place. Or, I had good signage for items. I just didn't want to have to remember prices or get a price wrong, or keep people waiting. Many, many times, my booth would be so busy, I would literally have customers come up to me, interrupt my transaction with a customer, hand me cash, and hold up the item they are taking and say, "I am getting this, sorry to interrupt," and not even haggle. They wanted to move on to the next booth, but wanted to purchase my item, and because it was priced, they just pulled out cash and put it in my hand as I was helping another customer and kept on moving. Now that is selling!

But with so many booths not having any sale tags or so few items priced, I was getting a little disgruntled. And just when I was wondering if times have changed and maybe not pricing was the "new trend" and I was behind the times....I come across this little dandy in a salvage yard, Discoveries, in Gonzales, Texas, with over 40,000 sq feet of space...and yet...these people managed to have EVERY SINGLE thing priced....right down to the yard of fabric....

Now, does that make you want to just buy a yard or what....just so you can use the scissors and snip away? Who says we need bar codes or fancy tags? They are nice, but if they aren't attached to the product, they don't do a bit a good.

Happy selling....and get to pricing...your customers are wanting to buy all of your goodies....they are just busy rushing around and the quicker they can pull out their wallet and pay you...the better for the both of you!

From my house to your house,

Elizabeth

A Time for Everything

2011-09-08T15:06:00.000-07:00

Hello!

I ran into an old friend recently and I hadn't seen her in a long time. We could only talk briefly, but it was good to see her. It had been about year or so since we last had contact and longer since we actually had seen each other. Actually, we were friends of a mutual friend, so our circle didn't cross too often, as our mutual friend had moved out of town.

As we leaned against our cars catching up on each other's life's happenings, it amazed us both how our lives had taken so many twists and turns in such a short amount of time. Some twists were put upon us, unexpected. Some turns, we made by choice. Our lives could not be more different. She: a mother of one, works in the corporate world, a new grandmother, newly divorced, a budding nail technician! Me: married, no children, free-lance photographer, writer, designer, stylist, and whatever strikes my fancy at the moment.

But we both had one thing in common: We took our twists and turns in life and opened that door to see what was on the other side. Sometimes we swung that door wide open with anticipation and sometimes, we slowly, carefully (maybe even begrudgingly) creaked it open and only peeked out of fear.

But mainly, we were just amazed at all the changes we had made in a short time. And that made me think of you readers. I know over the years, I have grown and experienced a lot passions that I thought about for long time, and finally, I just stepped out and started to do them. For a long time, I did just a little "here and there" but I wasn't satisfied just doing a little "here and there" with my passions, I wanted to explore them more fully. So, I made the difficult decision to close my store and pursue these new adventures.

I realized what was keeping me locked up for so long was that I felt I "should" carry on with "what I started." But now I have learned that was silly. What I had started was an adventure! And that adventure led me down an exciting path that opened a lot of doors which showed me ways to express myself in different mediums. Design, photography, writing, styling, and so on. It was time, combined with taking a lot of risks by choosing to experience a lot of situations outside my comfort zone, that led me to discover many things about myself. I mainly discovered that I truly enjoy and have a passion to photograph, write, and style vignettes that inspire others to see something beautiful that may not be apparent, or photograph something in such a way that it evokes a positive or reflective thought in its viewer.

But my problem was for some time was that I didn't trust myself and I listened to too many well-intened "advisors" who kept telling me I should be doing "this" with my store. Or that I should think about trying "that" because I am so talented. Or I should never go "that" route.... Basically, I was living (or trying to live) their dream, their vision, their expectations of what they felt my abilities were. And it is easy to listen to people when you are so very tired, and when you are doubting yourself, and when you have poured so much of your soul into your work, and when you have bills staring at you in the face...and besides...you have no idea where these passions will take you, right?

What we tend to look for when get this way is security. We want to feel secure in our decisions. But then there is that "damned if you do, damned if you don't" deal. I felt damned if I stayed and worked and worked, and yes, it was great, by my heart was longing to explore what I felt was truly calling me to do. And had I not opened the store in the first place, I would not have discovered these passions. I reasoned that perhaps the store was only a stepping stone to discovery, not the end all be all. But I was damned if went forward, closed my store, and sought out new adventures and "started all over" and what if it didn't work out? Well, again, I reasoned, I had that exact same question and risk the moment I made the decision to open my store and that didn't stop me then, now did it?

I share my thoughts and experiences with you because I know of several friends "in the business" who are at a crossroads right now and I can't help but feel that maybe you are too. Maybe there are feelings of "what will people think" or "did I just waste all those years and energy" or "did I make a mistake..." And if I could sit and have coffee and sour cream pound cake with you, I would give you a big hug and say "NO!" You learned a lot, and now you are about to take all that you learned about yourself and move on to the next step in your wonderful life and see what is about to be on the other side of the door! How exciting! No regrets, just excitement.

So, if you are currently at a crossroads in your business and are wondering if you should pursue a newly discovered passion, talent, or skill that may seem off your current path...think again. You discovered this passion while you were on your current path. Perhaps your current path is just a stepping stone? Or maybe it is time for a new adventure? Only you know and you will only find out by opening the door of the opportunities and at least check it out a little bit.

Aren't you just dying to know what is behind this cute little door?

If you were standing in front of it, like I was when I snapped this photo, wouldn't you open it? Do you think I opened it? OF COURSE I DID! And I am not going to tell you what treasures I found behind it either...that was my adventure...now go discover you own! :-)

from my house to your house,

Blogger Breakdown

2011-09-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

It has been quite some time since I have posted on Shop Talk. I sure have missed you and hope you are having a great summer and are having fun.

First, let me say how much I appreciate all of your emails. I read them and do respond to each and every one of them. Sometimes it may take some time, as I am out of town a lot, but I so enjoy hearing about your adventures, your businesses, and I will always try to help you in anyway that I can. I never have professed to be a professional in anything, but I do offer help based on my experiences or from what I have learned from others and I am happy to share.

I have had several readers ask me whether or not I was going to do the store display contest like I held last year. I have a couple of answers for that. While I truly enjoyed (and I think you did too) the displays last year, I had been wanting for several months now to write about a topic that directly conflicts with my requesting you creating displays. Because of my schedule, I just simply have not found time to write to you what has been on my mind so much lately, but feel it is important. So, if you will indulge me for a moment, and let me say my peace, then I will propose to you what I am thinking about the display contest. How does that sound?

Basically, the topic I want to address is called:

Blogger Breakdown

And in order to break up the text, I will include a series of photos of scissors that I took some time ago - a simple little tool that we all use when we create...and that is what we do best...we create.

Creative people always find a way to stay in touch.

Over these past several months, I have noticed something that seems to be running rampant among our blessed blogger friends. While I am very upfront and admit that I do not spend a lot of time online and on blogs due to my schedule and work, I do miss not reading and keeping up as much I would love to. When I do find the time, I find myself spending hours at a time reading those wonderful blogs, catching up, and spending time regretting how I don't do this more often. I don't comment often, as I zip from one blog to another, all excited to see how much everyone has grown, or the projects they are doing, or my hugest regret? To discover that a blogger has endured a very hard time (a family member loss, or illness) and I was totally unaware for months.

However, these past several months, due to my projects, and writing assignments, I had the privilege of reading quite regularly because of research I am doing, or needing to get in touch with people due to my projects. It was a joy to be "in touch" for so many months. But it was during this time that I discovered something disturbing.

Sometimes, creating requires time with ourselves.

I started discovering quite of few blogs in which either the blogger felt the need to take a very much needed break from blogging to take care of themselves, their family, a personal issue, or in one case "to just get my life back." And then I discovered another set of bloggers who were apparently just returning from a much needed break who were excited to be "back" but also went on and on about how "good it felt to live in the real world" again - referring to their time away from the cyber world. I am not talking about just one or two bloggers here. I am referring to more than a dozen, and those are only the ones that I happen to frequent on a regular basis. But these two sets of bloggers - the ones taking leave, and the others who are returning, this isn't what is bothering me.

What bothers me is what the two have in common. Both groups felt the strong need to apologize for their absence, for "neglecting" their blog, and for their need to spend time away from their blog. Many felt the need to "explain" how their families were needing them or how they just needed some "down time" and so on. What sadden me was that these wonderful, talented, giving, loving women, who have given, given, and given, year, after year, after year, felt the need to "explain" or "justify" why they want to just simply live their life. They just want to live their life without reporting it to their readers.

Creating in the blogging world has sadly gone askew.

Somewhere along the way in this wonderful world of blogging, things have gone askew. Somehow, many now feel obligated to report their lives on a regular basis to their wonderful readers. The very readers that have made bloggers feel special all these years, can sometimes become the same readers who become angry or disappointed when bloggers can no longer live up to what the "cyber world" or "blogger world" has deemed as redeemable as proper blogging or blogging protocol. For some, creating is no longer creating when it comes to blogging, but rather it has become a form of entertainment. I am very happy (and honored really) when my creations happen to inspire others. But if I find myself creating in order to just keep or grow readers or followers, then I am no longer creating, I am entertaining. For some, that is perfectly acceptable and I am in no way judging. If blogging is the way they make a living, then of course, you better entertain. But I am not talking about that level of blogging. I am referring to those very talented and giving bloggers, who for years, have been giving, giving, giving, and sharing their thoughts, creations, tips, ideas, travels, and more, and after doing this for years, they find themselves actually feeling the need to apologize, explain, justify, their need to slow down, and actually LIVE in the real world without having to report it, discuss it, photograph it, download it, share it, or worry if they do, they will "lose readers" if they don't post often enough. How did it come to this?

Blogging is an up close and personal invitation into our lives....

Over the years, blogging has turned into a form of wonderful communication, a way to connect, a big business, a way to sell our products, a way to advertise our talents, and more. But as with anything, too much of a good thing can become not so good. As we share our lives and our creations, we are inviting total strangers to examine us, up close and personal. But that is the point...it is an invite. Sort of like having guests over for dinner and they demand more and more dessert and so we leave the dinner table and go whip up something even fancier in our kitchen and our guests lap it up and stay later and later for more...and when we get pooped, we find ourselves apologizing for not having more dessert to whip up and we explain that we have to get up really early to work, go see grandma in the hospital, and take the car in to get fixed. Then our guests, leave in a huff, and mumble about going to the neighbors's house because they have "better dessert" and their door is always open. And here we stand on our stoop calling out apologies and promising to make more dessert later when we don't have so much to do. Sounds crazy, doesn't it?

Somehow, blogging has sense of entitlement - readers line up, expecting you to post (give) often.

What starts out as a way for most creative bloggers to simply share what they are doing, turns into expectations and entitlements of many. If a blogger happens to have a way with words, photography, or captures the delight of others, then more is demanded of him or her. It is soon forgotten that what the blogger is posting is "free" and "given" to the readers.

And this is where a blogger is at a crossroads: he/she can either start "performing" and sacrifice her true nature of creating from the soul, or she stays true with her soul and reports her creative activities when time allows because, hey, she is busy creating, living, and it isn't personal that she hasn't posted, it just simply means that way, long before the Internet was ever invented, we would have never heard of her before, and would have never even received the few tidbits of her life that she invited us into in the first place. So, I am grateful that she took time out of her busy, creative life to invite me in whenever she can, and share with me her exciting creations and I don't begrudge her for not "reporting to me" on a regular basis. Who am I to demand or be disappointed that this total stranger does not share on a regular basis just so I am entertained or inspired by her talent?

Blogger Breakdown is something that is going around.

I find it sad that I discovered so many talented and creative women these past months who not only felt the need to take a break, but felt the need to apologize for it. But I understand, because I used to do the same myself. But I made a decision a long time ago that made me quit apologizing. Blogging is not my living, my life, nor my end all be all. I like to share, and I want to inspire and encourage, but I have a life off the computer (a very busy one) and I won't apologize for it. And it truly makes me sad to have discovered recently so many wonderfully talented women out there who feel the pressure "to keep up" or "be better than the other blog" or a very real pressure to "be different."

Wanting to be different is easy. You already are. You only need to show a bit of yourself at a time.

Blogging to me is a creative outlet. If my readers only want pretty pictures, they get it sometimes and sometimes they get stories. I don't aim to please anyone but me. If my creative outlet ends up inspiring others or encouraging others, then that is icing on the cake and I am doubly pleased!

That is how I ran my store and it went well. Why in the world would anyone own and run a business they don't like? That is what working for an employer is for - at least you get sick days and vacation. Owning your store should be your passion because in the beginning, no sick days, vacation or time off, so you better love it and do it to please yourself.

And I see blogging the same way. You do it because it pleases you. If it interrupts your life, if it takes away from what you need to do, or causes stress, and if it is not how you make a living, then why in the world would you ever apologize to anyone for not posting? You are standing on the stoop of cyber space calling out to total strangers, "I will have better desserts later, I promise! Please don't leave!" Now, when you see it that way, isn't it kind of silly?

So, if you feel the need to get a permission slip to stop blogging for however long you need or want to, then I am giving you one. :-) Sometimes, we just need to hear what we already know, from someone else, you know what I mean? You all work so hard at your businesses, the holidays are coming up...there are only so many hours in the day! CEASE THE BLOGGING and go live in the real world for a while and spend time enjoying all that is around you for while. Go read a book, or bake something good and DON'T photograph it, and post it...just get some milk and eat it with a loved one. If blogging has become a chore, a stress, another "thing to do" on your list, or just isn't fun anymore, then it is time to stop for a while. I am giving you permission. You give, give, give...stop and give to yourself now. :-)

Sometimes, hanging out together in person is a way to really connect with the world again....

Connecting with friends and family on a regular basis is more important to me than blogging. While my readers mean a lot to me and I am honored that I am going to meet a fellow reader/blogger/friend for the first time half way around the world next year, that is the point. I am going to MEET her in person! Nothing like a real hug to connect.

Display Dilemma:

So this brings me to my display dilemma. Because after feeling the way I do after what I have discovered recently about the Blogger Breakdown, how am I supposed to ask my readers to participate in a display contest that I will be posting? Will that be creating pressure for you to perform? Or will it inspire you to perform? Will this be just another "thing on my list" to do? Or will it be a form of creativity that you long for? I feel conflicted seeking out this request while I see so many bloggers so busy doing what they need to do already. Will I be adding to the stressful situation?

So, I will leave it up to you to decide if a display contest fits into your scheme this year or not. Should I have the display contest, here are some of my new guidelines:

It would be a holiday display contest that all displays will be built in the month of November.
I will post the photos the first week of December
A short paragraph must be included with your entry along with your link, or name of your location - I will provide guidelines of the paragraph - most likely something like : What inspires you to create?

I will watch for comments or emails regarding this. I will be out of town in two weeks and when I return, I will let you know at the end of Sept or beginning of October if there is to be a display contest for November. The last thing I want to do, is add to your already very full schedule, and yet, I don't want to deny anyone the chance for fabulous inspiration!

from my house to your house,

What Do You $ee in a Cu$tomer?

2010-11-23T23:47:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope all is well and you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving! And speaking of giving thanks, I wanted to share with you a way to show "thanks" to your customers that doesn't cost a cent. In fact, it will return not only goodwill, but most likely good dollars in your till at some point in the future.

I know I have talked about customer service before and I have no doubt that my readers give the best, but I wanted to share a story that happened recently with my barber husband that made me think of how I could relate it to Shop Talk. Actually, my barber husband is the one who related it for me, believe it or not.

I will try to make it short - cough - I will try.

Randy, aka, Barber husband, has had back issues for some time and wanted to get back to working out and has had a very hard time getting "back on the horse" so to speak in doing so. He finally worked up the motivation and called a trainer, got his clothes ready, motivated himself to get himself to the gym at 5:30 am and....no trainer showed up. He came home deflated, disappointed, and angry. The trainer, apparently left him a message the NIGHT before, about 9PM, that he needed to reschedule because another client needed that time slot. You see, Randy's session was a free session since it was a "get-to-know-you" session. Randy had his phone off and didn't check it until after his trainer never showed.

Basically, Randy felt like he was only a dollar $ sign. Not a person. He wasn't seen as someone with a back injury who really wanted to get back into shape. He was just expendable for someone who was a paying client. He wasn't important, he was a nobody.

That was story number one.

Needless to say, he never used that trainer. So, he finds another trainer, near his work. Randy explains his back issues, how he was in shape, and feeling good, but with his back, he isn't the same, and how defeated he feels. The trainer nods, writes notes and Randy tries it for a month. Randy shows up, but a different trainer is waiting for him. The first trainer's schedule doesn't work out, so Randy is assigned a new trainer who basically is not motivated, helpful and not giving Randy the attention and encouragement he needs to "get back on the wagon." After his month, he leaves.

That is story number two.

So barber husband and I are on the front porch talking about this and how disenchanted he is about all this. I agree the service is horrible. He then tells me that he just felt like a dollar sign to the people and not a person. Sometimes, as a barber, he feels the same. He is only a service, not a person, cutting hair. People don't see him as a husband, or a home owner, trying to meet bills, only as someone who is there to cut their hair.

The same for the trainers...he is someone who is there to write them a check. Not someone who hates to work out while in pain. Not as someone who feels lost and discouraged with it. They don't treat him in a way that makes him want to come back again and again.

Randy sits there on the porch in silence. Angry and disappointed and stretches his back, in pain. I am mad for him. I say, "You know, I don't understand those guys. When I had a store and a customer came in, I asked all sorts of questions to help them out. I didn't care if they were buying only a candle. Sooner or later, that candle-buying person may need a sofa...."

Then Randy tells me Story Number Three and this is where you all come in.

He tells me that a long time ago, before he met me, but after he bought his little home that we live in now, he would go to a guy friend's home (who was single also) and his friend's home was "homey and nice" as Randy called it. "It just felt nice and good," Randy tells me. "I would walk in, and it was all done up in a way that I liked, but I didn't know how he did it," he said. Then he tells me, he would walk into a store like Marshalls, or Home Goods, or TJ Maxx or even Penny's and walk up and down the rows of stuff and just stand around and look and just leave empty handed and go home to his little home that he just bought and not be happy with it.

What Randy was looking for at that time was for someone to see him as a new home owner, eager to make a home, his home, and help him discover why he liked his friend's home so much and how he could turn his own home in a "homey and nice" place too. But instead, he got sales people who would walk by, ask what he needed, and he would just say, "I am just looking," and they would just nod and keep on walking - and all the while losing major sales. They saw him only as a sale - or in those days - a waste of time.

Had Randy been a customer of mine, I would have asked him all sorts of questions such as:

What do you like about your home?

What do you not like?

What room would you like to start with?

What is it about that room that you feel needs attention? Furniture? Paint color?

Think of one thing about your friend's home that you like?

If you could describe in one sentence how you would like to feel the moment you enter your home, what would it be?

These are only a few of dozens more. Then I would walk around the store with him and point out things and ask him what he likes about this item or that item or what he doesn't like about it and why. I would assure him that he doesn't have to buy a single thing...I am only trying to get a feel of what kind of style he likes. If he seems really lost, then I would offer my services and consult. If you don't have those services, then just keep walking around your store and ask questions until your customer's light bulb goes off in his/her head and they "get it." I wouldn't be trying to sell Randy anything and chances are, he wouldn't have liked much in my store, but I would know where to send him, what websites to give him, and where to tell him not to waste his time. And then I would have given him phone number and told him my days off.... ;-)

As a store owner, I know there are times when some people really are just looking and want to be left alone. But sometimes, just asking a few questions or giving a little information about a product can be so very helpful. I am the queen of questions. Ask anyone who knows me well. I have a very good friend, Bob, my college buddy, who to this day, when telling me a story, will hold up his hand, and say, "You only get five." Meaning, he is limiting me to five questions before he finishes the story. Haha.

Here is a true story:

I had a customer who would come in and "browse" for about two years. We would chat and talk and I would ask her questions about her needs and she would always tell me that someday, she would be ready for me to help her. Well, customers always say something like that, so I just smile and be happy. She usually only bought a candle. Then one day, she asked about a fireplace mantel I had on display and for sale. Then she asked about the plates and clocks on the mantel, and the items all around the mantel and on the shelf of the mantel. She loved the display so much, she wanted it ALL and hired me to recreate it for her bedroom. I believe the entire thing, with my services was over $5K, if I remember correctly. She later told me that all the times she came in, I never "sold" her or pushed her, but I always was interested in her, asked her questions and helped her with her projects.

And it paid off because I saw her as a home owner, with a love for her home and decorating first, then as a paying customer (or possible one) second. To be really honest, that is how I saw all my customers. Sometimes, I would chat, visit and ask questions so much, I would forget to ring them up and I would find a check in the mail a few days later! Now, that I don't advocate - not good. But, I was lucky to have great customers. :-)

So, I am passing this along, because it just amazed me how in the recession, how two trainers lost out on some regular services just because they didn't see Randy as a person with goals, or weaknesses, or in pain, or who needs encouragement. They saw him as a sale and only as a sale...and don't they realize that clients/customers pick up on that in a second? No one wants to feel that way.

Just last week, a long time store customer/client called me out of the blue with a "drive-way" emergency. She had her driveway painted and it turned out the wrong shade - a bluish shade, not gray. (I had nothing to do with this project.) She was horrified and on a time limit. I dropped everything and went over there twice in three days and answered several calls while she was at her contractors. But she called me, not only because color is my strength, but because over the years, I gained her trust, and she knew I actually cared about HER, about helping her, and I really wanted this fixed. Even her husband was there...he is not one to be in on design decisions, but there he was, standing with me across the street, staring at his blue driveway with me, as I explained how colors work with roofs, shutters, grout, and stonework...and he listened intently as I reassured them that we now have a perfect color chosen and their home will be THE show home in the neighborhood.

So, this is the season of giving thanks. And it is so, so easy to stress out with bills, decorating, store sales, and competing with the big box stores. Take a moment and give "thanks" to your customers by showing them extra attention with their cares and concerns about their special gifts they are wanting to get. Showing you want to help them pick out the "just right" gift will go a long way. They will show "thanks" by coming back in the dead of winter to see that "cute shop" again that was so helpful with their holiday shopping.

Trust me, they won't be saying that about Walmart.

I'm always taking the photos...Randy took this. I don't know how it happened. Same camera, I just handed it to him, but the color is a little washed out...blurry....and I have no idea about the "ghosty blob" by my feet. I swear...I just handed him my camera...sure glad he is MUCH better with scissors in his hands! :-)

And as far as my barber husband? I am cleaning out my basement and wanting to surprise him with his OWN little gym some time in the near future. More on that on my Adventures of Elizabeth blog....

And I am giving thanks to you all for being there for me, and allowing me to share my thoughts and indulging me with my long-windeness. But when it comes to caring about customers, I am a big believer in it.

(And for you curious ones...these photos were taken on our 2nd wedding anniversary on Nov 8th in Springfield, IL. We stayed at a beautiful bed and breakfast and had lots of adventures that I will talk about on my other blog soon!....see, it pays to read all the way to the bottom some times...you get more info :-)))

Have a great and wonderful holiday season!!

from my house to your house,

So Many Choices! But One is Chosen!

2010-10-19T23:49:00.000-07:00

Over time, different seasons of life gives us chances to eggcel.

Hello Everyone!

So sorry to be absent from cyber land for so long. Work, out of town, and head aches have kept me away from what I enjoy more than anything else - spending time with you ! And especially - spending time looking at such creative displays over and over again. Before I get to the pretty photos and announce the winner, you know I have to have a little something-something to say.

Basically, all I want to say is how much I appreciate you all for taking time to send in your photos and for all of you who took time to comment and encourage those submitted their display. I hope you all enjoyed seeing each other's work and hopefully got a little inspiration as well. I know I did!

For those of you who may just be joining us...I decided on the spur of the moment to offer a friendly display competition at the end of August and I showed them al through September and most of October and we discussed them and showed encouragement. The purpose was to find creative ways to get rid of inventory in a creative way at the end of the summer, but it isn't quite fall yet. The theme was relaxation. As a store owner, I remember August and September being an awkward time. I wanted to get rid of some inventory before I decorated for fall and yet, it was a little too early - so what to do? I always felt stuck. So, now, I decided to offer a little challenge in hopes to "unsick" anyone of you and a way to offer creative ideas by sharing each others' displays. If you would like to see more detailed photos and comments, go back and review the last several postings to read all about it. For now, only one photo of each display is shown.

So to recap: below are the displays that were submitted in no particular order:

Tammy of Tattered and Timeless

Sandi of Gravy

Carol of Antiques and Uniques

Theresa of Gardenantqs

Karen of Whimsy Antiques

Ann of Make the Best of Things

Debbie of Talkin White Trash

Susie of Lambs and Ivy

Laurie of The French Hen

Donna, visual director of Hortons

Brandon at House Things

Glenda of Junkin In My Pink Cadillac

Cindy and Renee of Hunt N Gather

Julie Ann of Heirloom in Bloon

Well, as you can see, each creator had a very different vision and found ways to catch your attention. But in keeping with the theme of relaxation and trying to get rid of some inventory (the challenge of the display) the winner is......

Hortons!

Donna, the visual director, really knew relaxation by creating a hammock with chicken wire. Hortons is a hardware store and a section of the store is also a lifestyle store. If you look closely, she uses all sorts of hardware items to complete her display:

Drop cloths in the background, paint brushes and even lace pillows. A great mix to get you thinking!

Congrats Donna! Maybe your boss will give you a raise! :-) But for now, I am sending you a little bath kit to soak your tootsies and back for all that climbing and lifting you must do to create such imaginative displays. Now if I said, "Everyone is a winner!" That would be cliche and trite. But, would you believe me if I said, "Everyone is a real artist!" I do believe that because everyone had a vision, created it, and provided inspiration. Besides, how many of you know "winners" and how many of you know real artists?

So to all the real artists out there...next year, I will hold another display contest at the end of August. I will announce it earlier and have a few rules and a theme. I hope to have even a bigger turn out next year with even more inspiration!

And for an extra credit for those of you who hung in there and waited for the results and supported each other. Here are a few photos of a few generous creative people who submitted after the deadline but wanted to share anyway. One set of photos are from a home in Germany! I thought you would enjoy them and I wanted to share:

Object of May Affection, located in Pecatonica, IL, is owned by Janae Caims and she is all ready for fall and sent in a few photos of her store window. She definitely has the colors of fall that I wish would show up here in St. Louis. A little early for the trees still - but I see hints of it. Thank you Janae for sharing. Love the boots in the basket!

And from across the waters...to my beloved Germany, Carola Kegmann, generously shared photos of her home. She has a blog, Carolsgarden.blogspot.com where she shows you beautiful photos of her home, Germany, and the finds she discovers on her adventures. Carola is a lively spirit that shares her life so easily, she will make you feel like you have known her a lifetime. I have never met her in person, but we have exchanged comments now and again over time and every time I have to stop and think if I have met her somewhere...I think we are kindred spirits. I honestly don't know which is my favorite photo or which part of her home is like the best. :-) Thank you Carola!! Enjoy her home:

So, thank you again for joining me on this venture. And I am looking forward to many more with you.

From my house to your house,

Final Displays Postings!

2010-10-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Howdy Everyone! I hope you all are doing well this week. Well, this is the last posting of the displays! I want to tell everyone how much fun this was for me and hopefully for you. This posting is different as I am putting several displays in one post as many of them have only one photo and I wanted to address several issues that many of them have in common. But, before I do that, I want to tell you about my weekend and my fishing story - which in the end, does really tie in with store owning, or rather running a business....if you just hang on. And if you don't want to read my story, then just scroll down until you get to the pretty stuff! :-)

Well, my barber husband and I just got back from a long weekend of fishing....yes...for those who may not know, I love to go bass fishing. Randy taught me to fish when we met, and now I am hooked on the sport (pun intended). We entered our very first bass tournament this past weekend and it was a huge one. About 1300 boats, and probably about 3000 or more fisherman and at least one fisherwoman. It started on Sat from 7AM - 3PM and Sunday as well. Top prize was $50K. That is serious money!

I wasn't nervous, but excited, as I had been fishing really well all summer. I had been reading up on fishing magazines, we had been going to Bass Pro and getting the lures I wanted, and Randy redid all my lines for me. I know how to use the trolling motor and troll the waters, tie hooks (but I let him do all the tying for the tournament just to make sure they were strong enough when I hooked the heavy, winning fish....) and I even tried to "think like a fish" and wondered how freaked out they would all be with all the boats zipping across the water and all the lures plunking into the water all day long...what would they be doing? I even got advice from a pro how the fish would all be at the secondary points. If you don't know what that means, not important, I only want you to know that I got advice from a PRO fisherman - which is pertinent to the story.

This is how beautiful the sky looked at 6:50 AM, 10 minutes before we were allowed to fish....

So, there we are, 7AM, lines ready, rods ready, in our favorite cove, staking our claim, and making sure no other boats got "our spot" and exactly at 7AM, when we are allowed to fish, and I mean right on the dot, huge gusts of wind came in, a cold front hit, and the wind just got worse and worse all day long. The fish just ran and hid all day long - both days. Only moments before 7AM, fish were jumping all around us, it was killing me that I couldn't cast out, but I had to wait, and then BAM, right at 7AM, they were gone.

This is how our day looked at 7:05 AM. Five minutes AFTER the tournament started...go figure!

And for two days, we cast and cast....and we would bring in a few, but no winners. Then we have to boat around to find them. I reminded Randy what the pro said about where to find them, but he doesn't want to listen and do his own thing because it is too windy at the points and he can't stand the wind. I tell him that is what the pro said to do and I tell him we just need to deal with the wind, but he is stubborn. But when I ask him for advice on which lure to use because nothing is working, he says, "I don't know, I am not a pro." It got a little ugly from there....for those of you married for more than 5 minutes, I will leave it to your imagination. Not pretty.

Maybe we weren't looking so pretty on Sunday, but Sunday morning mist was pretty. But look at the choppy waves just from the wind....and the boats haven't even begun zipping around yet to make more waves!

Then the next day, on Sunday, about 2PM, one hour before the end of the tournament, Randy landed a big one! It was over 4 pounds. I ran up to the front of the boat where he was reeling it in, I looked over and saw its huge mouth and then....snap! The line broke and off swam our fish, along with about $500. There are 20 different ways to win money 3 times a day during the tournament. And that was about a $500 fish. Randy was about sick. I wasn't sick, I was frustrated (on the inside) but didn't show it. You see, I saw it coming. But I didn't say anything, because picture it: Two people, out in the cold, fighting strong, strong winds all day, not getting a bite, when only two weeks ago, we were pulling in fish after fish....so you can imagine our moods weren't great to say the least.

Here is my handsome barber husband needing a shave and in a better mood - prior to the start of the tournament. Actually, I got this look from him when I would ask, "When do you think we will get a nibble?" And he would smile and say, "I am pretty sure those guys fishing in that boat aren't saying, 'When will we get a nibble, Hank?'" And he'd laugh.

With wind, your lures get tangled and caught very easily on anything because the wind catches it and carries to the nearest branch, nail, dock, weed, whatever it can find to tangle it up. Over time, your line weakens with stress. I have had many "conversations" about redoing lines after this, to have a stronger line, but these "conversations" with Randy never go well, so here it is, late Sunday, we are very tired, and another "conversation" we have had many times is that when Randy lands a fish, he doesn't bother to tell me, he just reels it in, silently, and IF I happen to turn around in my boat chair and see him, then I get all excited and jump up and grab the net so I can "net the fish" as he reels. He, for some reason, feels that "netting a fish" isn't really necessary, and thinks it is kind of "wussy" even though he never really comes out and says it, his actions speak loud and clear. And we usually argue as I grab the net and lean over for his fish as he argues as he reels it in and as you can see, we are usually entertainment for anyone fishing near us and makes their fishing day less boring....

I, on the other hand, as soon as I catch a fish, I yell out all happily, "I got one!!" And then I yell out, "Get the net! Get the net!" And he STILL won't really get the net, even though it is MY fish, on MY line, and never mind that I asked him to, I then have to YELL, "GET THE NET...!!" And he will mosey on over and slowly get the net. You see, I don't pride myself to be a good enough fisherwoman to land the fish in the boat without it jumping off the hook, or the line breaking, because that has happened to me many times and I was tired of losing some really big fish. Randy refused to buy a net, so I went out and got my own. As a result, I have gotten some really big fish this summer.

So back to Sunday, after two days of wind and cold, one hour before the tournament ends, I turn around, and what do I see? My lovely husband, silently reeling in a HUGE fish, and just as I scramble towards the front of the boat for the net, SNAP, and just like that, it was gone. You should have seen the look on my barber husband's face. It took every ounce of strength I had not to pitch a major fit over many, many things such as him not retying his line, or maybe letting me know he even had a damn fish in the first place so I could get the net out, or a million other things that was SCREAMING through my head. Nope, I just clinched my teeth and sat back down and said, "Well, we have 45 minutes left to catch a winner." I went back to my seat, and cast a out my line, screaming in my head.

He was so bummed out. He just couldn't believe it. It was really funny because everything he said to me I would answer twice. One answer was out loud and the other in my head at the same time....sort of a Sybil phenomenon:

R: I can't believe that just happened!

Me outloud: I know honey, it happens....

Me inside: What did you expect to happen after your line rubbing against metal docks all afternoon, it isn't magic line....idiot....

R: Man! Did you see him? I can't believe that happened!

Me out loud: Yup...he was a biggin'...

Me inside: And if you had listened to me, we'd be racing to the weigh station instead of having this moronic conversation....

R: I am so bummed out about how the line broke....man!

Me out loud: I am sure you are...

Me inside: And I am bummed out that you didn't take 2 minutes to redo you line like I asked you about a zillion times....friggin %$#@

This type of conversation went on all evening as we sat by the fire, but the topper? He called his friend Charlie, who also fished the tournament and when Randy complained about the wind to his friend, Randy hung up the phone and told me that Charlie said, "Wind is your friend." Meaning wind will blow bait fish in the right direction and you should just fight out the wind and fish right into it. And then Randy, leaning back thoughtfully, smoking his cigar by the campfire, says calmly and thoughtfully, he says, "Yeah....he's right....we should have fished in the wind...." Can you believe it?? I had been telling him for two days this and he ignores me completely, while complaining and whining about the wind, and now, a 3 minutes phone call from a guy telling him the exact same thing, and now he agrees??

My loved one going to check on the boat...the water is even choppy by the dock.

I had never wished my bald barber had hair because I think he looks really handsome without it. But at that moment I would have given anything for him to have a good head of hair just so I could grab a handful of it and rip out a fistful....well, that might be a tad dramatic, but after two days, an aching back, and cold fingers and a sunburnt nose, and no fish to even weigh in, it was hard sitting there watching my calm husband relax by the fire with his cigar, thoughtfully weighing all this "new advice." But I did the math and felt not really better, but at least more logical about it all and not mad at my cute barber husband any longer. :-)

Of course, the day after the tournament, the water is calm and the sky is warmer....

Here's the math in case your interested: There were about 3000 fisherman and on a very conservative side, let's say you cast your line out only 200 times a day. That is 600,000 casts a day for all the fisherman put together. And for two days, that is 1,200,000 casts and out of all those casts, only 120 of them could earn any money and only one of them would bring in the $50K fish. So with each cast, there is a .0001 chance that you would bring in a fish that would win any kind of money and even less of a chance that it would be the $50K fish. So you can look at it two ways. One, with the chances being as they are, why risk any of it by not reducing every factor that is in your power? Or two, the chance that he had the winning fish on the end of his line was so little, it really shouldn't matter so much. Which way would you choose to look at it?

And when I take a moment and really think about it...I could look at this way as well: even though I didn't land the $50K fish, I did land me a great guy who took me out to a really big tournament and took a chance on me making him look like an idiot with my lack of knowledge and against great odds, I already caught myself the REAL keeper!

Sometimes, with good advice, help from others, and gut instinct, you can really come out on top.

And that brings me to you all. Now you may be saying, "But Elizabeth, I am sorry your weekend didn't go well, and you didn't win any money, but what does your fishing story have to do with us?"

Well, I will tell you. Running a business, as we all know, is a chance. We can research it, prepare for it, study it, and so on, but basically, it is still a chance because there are just factors beyond our control. I remember one Christmas season open house that I count on those sales to get me through January and February and they were alway very successful for me. But one year, the night before the big day, there was a huge ice storm that killed my sales to almost zero. I really felt the effects of that storm for months. What are the chances that on the ONE night that our town has this huge event, that only hours before, a huge ice storm rages through? Like this past weekend, I prepared, studied, had the right equipment, advice, but then I had my partner...who had different ideas. Many of you work with partners. How do you work with that? Just like this weekend, both of us went in very confident because we had been fishing so well, and then we got skunked so badly the first day, how do we stay positive the second day? Like you, how do you stay positive when you put your heart and soul into a display but you really don't get the feedback or the sales you thought you would from it?

That is when you start being logical and start taking the emotions out of it. Once I stopped imagining how I could set Randy's hair on fire (if he had any) and started to think of the math and chances of each cast from each fisherman and took the emotions out of the equation, it became more manageable for me to deal with the loss. Once I factored in the wind, the cold, and the behaviors of the fish with the weather, I became more rational and not so personal. And that is exactly what you can do when it comes to your sales, displays, choices. I know it is hard because your store, booth, or market is a part of you and who you are, but there are some logical factors that go into sales that have nothing to do with you at all - and that should bring you some comfort while it can also bring frustration.

So, what do you do about it?

I am a risk taker and I don't think there is a person out there who has the guts to be a vendor, a dealer, a booth owner, a store owner or whatever, that isn't a risk taker as well. But I also take calculated risks and I take gut risks. Like my fishing weekend, I take advice from those who know a lot more than me, I prepare as much as possible, and then I just go out and do it - and believe me, I have no doubt that I was probably the most inexperienced person out there. I never saw another woman on the water. All these really high performance boats whizzing by, expensive gear, giant motors...but there I was, out there with the big boys, holding my own, not letting another get my spot, and casting with the rest of them.

And that is like some of you...out there with the "big boys." And that is okay. Now, I could have started with a much smaller tournament to get experience, but of course, it is just like me to want to jump in and go big...but I chose to start out with a big one instead of small, just a choice. And the same for you. You can start out small - small markets, small booths, small antique malls and gain experience and move up and on, if that is your goal.

Below is a mix of people - seasoned and experienced. Some sent me just a photo or two of a table they had in their booth space - which is perfectly fine! You have to start somewhere! So below are photos from very hard working women who own stores, run booths, have blogs, online stores, and do antique shows....and each are in a different place with their career. I thought putting them all together unifies exactly what I wanted to demonstrate and hopefully share with you: we are all in this together.

So in no particular order....let the show begin:

This first photo is from Farmington, MO, a wonderful, whimsical store owned by Cindy Engelhart and Renee Gaska. I have actually been in this store and can say how much I love it. The store has tall ceilings and decorated with the most unusual items. The town itself is really cute and I wish I could get there more often. Below is a photo that Cindy sent:

They are currently working on a website, but are on face book on Hunt N Gather. For now, here is the regular address:

1 N Jefferson St

Farmington, MO 63640
Or call at: 573-701-0801

You never know what you can find there...does anyone recognize the mantle? I love what they did with keeping it simple and I love the wall color. And of course, I am all over the ironstone. This is my color palette, so I am bias...but either way, it is a great job! Thank you for sending it Cindy!

Next we travel to Connecticut! To a store that is bound to be filled with items that I would leave the shelves bare when I was done shopping. The store is called The French Hen owned by Laurie McGinley. Her store is located on

16 Main Street

Essex, CT 06426

860-767-7781

Laurie says that sometimes it is just the feeling of the display and what it projects. I agree - look at the tissue flowers in blue!! And she has a bicycle, which is summery, but it is lit up, which gives it a whole different look. I also love the flowers in the background. It is a very billowy feel to it. What do you think? I think The French Hen would be a shop that I would definitely want to stop in and check out. Make sure you click on the link - her blog is super cool! Thank you Laurie for sending this in!!

Okay, load up the car, put in some gas, we are headed all the way over to California! We are headed over to Julie Ann Coleman's shop Heirloom in Bloom. Here website is under construction, but here is her address:

546 East Garland Avenue

Fresno, CA

Julie went for the back to school display, vintage style! But take a close look!

Julie was able to take items and link them together to make a display out of vintage items, and combine them into a seasonal display and still get rid of inventory. I love the hangers with made out of silverware handles. Did anyone notice the Maryjane candy? Remember those? So the next time you are in Fresno, CA, stop in and visit with Julie and shop in her store, Heirloom in Bloom!

We now leave CA and drive all the way back to Tennessee! (What the heck, gas isn't too expensive right now.) And what will we find there? A brand new booth owner in a brand new shop that just opened September 1st. Now how is that for brand new? Carol Bennett, owns a brand new booth in a shop called The Galleries on William, but her business is called Antiques and Uniques which have three other locations as well! She has lots of photos of the painted furniture that she mainly restores on her blog, so please check out her blog, Antiques and Uniques. There you find out all that she up to, which a lot!

Below is a photo of her lavender table, which she sells teas, and accessories as well:

Thank you Carol for sending a photo of your booth. Lavender is a seller that never loses its touch or its popularity - can't go wrong with it. It also looks like a burlap table cloth - which is also a natural feel that works well with lavender too!

We are also headed to a mystery location. I was putting this post together and getting ready to add these next photos and realized I had no information on the person who sent them. But I did have a sweet email from her that I thought I would share. I did, email her and ask for more information and if I hear back, I will include it. But for now, here is the sweet email:

Elizabeth,

I found your wonderful site while blog surfing and I'm so glad I did! I just this last week opened my very first booth in a merchants mall and I am hungry for ideas and help. I looked thru my photos and not one pleases me tho I am sending you a couple anyway. I am going down tomorrow to tweak it and pick up stuff I've sold in my Etsy shop, so I will retake some pics and send them on to you.

I share the space with my daughter and it is only 4' x8' x 8' tall, so we've got alot of stuff crammed in there. We make almost everything we sell and what we don't make we've upcycled or refinished in some way.

I've been selling online thru Ebay and Etsy for years and have sold almost a thousand of my folk art dolls and now lots of original housewares and decor. My paintings are just barely starting to take off.

Enough blather. Here's my pics. I'm so embarassed...but hopeful.

Regards,
Ann

Here are her photos from her very FIRST booth ever! These are in a craft mall where she sells her items:

I smile when I read her email and when I was posting this because she was so excited that she didn't give me her last name, or location of her mall or even Etsy shop! This is one excited new booth owner so let's encourage her and when she writes me, I will include any more info she may have! Thank you Ann!

UPDATE: Just came in :-) (October 8th) Got an email from Ann and here is more info on one very busy lady. Ann, is actually Alexa Ann Clason. Don't you love that name? She says she goes by Ann, because no one can pronounce her name correctly. Hmmmm? It looks easy to me. It would be either Uh-lex-uh or maybe Al-lex-uh? Like Alex the name, then add an "uh" at the end? Either way, I like it. But I digress....

My booth, such as it is, is located at American Mercantile on Court Street in Medford, Oregon. This is blog, Make the Best of Things. I just went to it and it IS SO CUTE! In fact, I had to pull out two photos just to prove it to you. Look at these cute Halloween balls she made from Christmas ornaments! Her whole blog is really done really nicely!

Aren't these adorable? So to find more adorable things, go to Ann's blog, Make the Best of Things and see what else she has. Thanks Ann for emailing me again! :-)

And finally, the last entry - but definitely not the least: a photo from my home state, Texas, Teresa Cano, of Vintage Garden Antiques who is also known as the hostess of the blogger party at Canton (or Round Top, better known to some) Antique Market. Teresa is the queen of everything...she does it all...blogs...sells...displays....buys....and is in the know. Below is just ONE small example of her talents:

This display was done by Theresa but is in the window of a shop called Smitten, owned by Karen of McKinney, TX. Karen her crew are talented and have great taste in picking someone to do a window for them now and again. You can find Theresa on her blog, Gardenantqs and see what she is up to. You may also find her at The Antique Company Mall, 1st floor-Booth #036 ~ 213 E. Virginia, McKinney Texas 972/562-1322 ~

Theresa is busy, funny, and someone you will want to meet and will be lucky to call a friend. Thank you Theresa for all that you do and for sending in the pic!

Whew!!! The entries were great and meeting all you new folks, even greater! I had a couple of late entries that I will share on the next posting who wanted to share and I think you will really enjoy them. I will then post ALL the entries on one page and you can see them side by side and then I will announce the winner. So stay tuned and have fun with the fall season and be true to yourself, your ideas, and when the emotions are running high - use logic and reasoning! Don't go snatching off anyone's hair - let your hubby or significant other go bald the natural way! :-)

from my house to your house,

Display Post #8

2010-09-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

Who said being off-centered was a bad thing? Maybe it is just quirky...

Hello Everyone!

Is your gas tank filled up? Well, back across our great country we go...to Indiana. Now, you may be wondering why are we zipping across the county back and forth instead of just covering these places all in one state then moving on to the next state...well, if we did that, then we wouldn't have all the fun with stopping at all the antique malls along the way, or all the fun of playing "I spy," or all the fun of seeing how much more we can cram into our car/van/SUV/pick-up and still be able to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the armadillo in the middle of the road and not have anything fly from the back of our vehicle, to the front, and impale our head or our passengers' heads. I have seriously thought of handing out football helmets to my passengers on some of my jaunts because my SUV can get pretty full and if I have several hours to go on the highway, I am sure I will find some place to stop, shop, and load...cram...stuff...shove, and that is where the helmets come in handy. I have a saying: If I slam on the brakes and the stuff comes 'a flyin', the helmets look goofy, but you won't end up cryin'....

And so, strap on your kid's helmet, (or better yet, buy some bungee cords), fill the gas tank, and load up on some junk food as we drive over to Tipton, Indiana! Yipeee! That is the beat of the heart of the heartland, don't you know...well, I don't know, just made that up, but wanted to add some excitement because Donna Jenkins, visual creative director of Horton's made her store window so darn relaxing, I had to add a little excitement to get you going over there.

Hortons is a 6500 square foot, a family owned (by Tim and Karen Horton) hardware store, garden center and for the past 10 years, it is also a lifestyle boutique, called the Secret Garden. Do you love it or what? They have worked hard at this and now this part of the store is 1/3 of the entire store. Hortons also hosts wonderful festivals and markets and right now Donna is showing great pictures of the Autumn Fest on her blog. Donna also owns a fabulous website, Everyday Elegance with fabulous items for sale which you must check out - literally - cha-ching!

But for now, look at her entry she provided for me in August for her version of the theme of relaxation. She used everything from the Horton's hardware store and I just loved pouring over every detail. I won't spoil the surprise, here...just take a look. Talk amongst yourselves....

This is Donna's "Take a load off" display....

Look closely! How many hardware items can you find here?

Chicken wire for a hammock! Love this!

Drop cloths for drapes - a painter's delight ....

It is hard to see, but there is a chandelier above the hammock - a woman after my own heart!

I don't know about you, but I have never seen a cuter hardware store window than this. I just love how Donna used so many elements in so many creative ways. I seriously think that hammock could really be used if secured properly and just add a feather bed...it could be comfy. I am really loving this. She said she was busy adding all the drop cloth draping to all the stairwells inside the store for the holidays - would love to see that. I am sure Tim and Karen Horton are thrilled to have Donna on board with that creative mind of hers.

I know you are scrolling back up and looking at it all again - I know I did. Now this is a window that would definitely make someone stop and look and definitely go in and buy. It put a smile on my face and made me think of all new possibilities for drop cloths....which I will be using in the near future.

Thank you Donna for the inspiration. You 'painted" a lovely picture of inspiration for us all. Now if you all haven't done so, go CLICK on her site.....right here.....and here.....now....go...do...it....! :-) (thank you)

Thanks for supporting her and her efforts.

from my house to your house,

Display Post #7

2010-09-24T19:43:00.000-07:00

You don't have to be front and center to have others want to follow you...

Hello again!

I hope everyone is enjoying the days as we slowly roll into the fall season. I love this time of the year. The climate changes a little, just enough to give you hope for relief of the heat and the leave show just a hint of color. Long walks are suddenly replacing items on our "to do" list and relaxing seems more of a priority even with school activities and schedules in full swing. This time of year, while it can seem full and complicated, it can actually be simple, simply because of the familiar: school, weather changing, leaves falling, dinners cooking, and strolls in the neighborhood.

There is one neighborhood I would love to stroll over to, but it would be one mighty long stroll because it is located in Crestline, California. But it just may be worth the hike because waiting there is a fabulous little vintage, gift and baby store called Lambs & Ivy.

Owned by Susie Hibdon, she also keeps you up to date on all her activities and whereabouts with her blog, Vintage Susie and Wings. She lately had a great visit to Texas, my home state as most of you know, and you just must stop by her blog and read all about it. I will tell you that she does take some nice photos that capture the essence of the Lone Star State with big sky, big cattle, and big laughter with all the great antique dealers.

Below is a simple display outside her store and because it is so simple, it is relaxing. I love the suitcase next to the bike - it just makes me want to pick up and go ride along a field and pick those wild flowers she has out along side it. Sometimes, less is more. And walking past this, one would wonder if someone actually rode on her bike up to the store...no signage needed to get someone to take a second look. That is the beauty of displays.

This simple display makes one stop, look, and ponder...if only for a moment...

Did someone really ride the bike to the store?

Does the store own the bike?

I wonder if the bike and suitcase are for sale?

Inside her Lambs and Ivy you will find all sorts of charming displays.

Lambs and Ivy will surely have something for everyone.

I just had to show this bike again....I just love the lines and how the color matches the suitcase!

So, if you can't make it to California, you can stop by Susie's blog, and have a visit with her, her store, and do a little shopping at her Etsy shop. You won't be disappointed....and if you are feeling really energized...you could jump on your bike and pedal on over I suppose, but clicking is so much faster. (And you will have more of a chance to jump on the goodies while you can instead of spending your time pedaling.)

So until next time, enjoy the weather, the leaves changing a bit, and get out and enjoy it all!

from my house to your house,

Display Post #6

2010-09-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, a different view puts things in a new light....

Remember that game, I Spy? It was a fun game to play especially on a road trip as a kid. As we drove along, peering out the window, and the more the landscape became less and less interesting, the longer the "I's" became as in, "Iiiiiiiiii spyyyyy....somethinggggg....green!" And then your little brother would look out and take a really wild guess and yell out "Grass!" before your sister yelled it out. Then maybe as you drove along you would yell out, "Iiiiiiii spyyyyyy....somethinnngggg.....blue!" And without a pause, your smart siblings would yell out in unison, "Sky!" By these very fascinating descriptions, one would guess that this car ride isn't driving through any exciting territories.

The last time I left you, we were visiting Iowa and now we are driving to Indiana! But if you never been in that part of the country, you should know there is more than grass and sky on this drive. There are tons of great old barns, farms, and yes, antique malls along the way! And if you were driving, and I was riding along with you, I would say:

I spy a needle in your eye if you don't pull over and park so I can go into that fab store, Girly Girl Gifts!

Now, I am usually not the violent type that carries a package of needles around to poke people's eyes out...but if you have never driven from Austin, Texas to Lincoln, Nebraska, in a single day, in the squelching August heat, with no A/C in the car, with my siblings, all of us under the age of seven, then don't be so quick to judge. I think mom threatened needles in our eyes or something like that...or now that I think about it, I think she said she was going to stab needles in her eyes if she had to "spy" for one more thing if we don't all sit back, quit leaning over the front seat of the car (no one wore seat belts in those days, and there was a long bench seat, so the three of us could lean over on our elbows to "spy" something better - never mind that if dad braked for a cow in the road we three would become projectiles through the windshield), mom told us to quit kicking the back of her seat, and be quiet for five minutes then mumbled something about sticking needles in her eyes. She was a little dramatic. But I digress....

Back to Girly Girl Gifts (I bet they probably have really cool pin cushions). Girly Girl Gifts is located on 1314 Mishawak Ave, in South Bend, Indiana. Glenda Goins owner of junkininmypinkcadillac blog, and has a space where she sells her fab finds, knows exactly how to
be a girly girl and her blog will show you how.
Her blog is where she shows off her great finds, what she does with them, will teach you how to repurpose the great finds, and if you are lucky, she may sell them to you! You need to check out the great bakery counter she just repainted and took some really cool photos of it. It makes me want to open up a bakery just to own it! This is one of the coolest counters I've seen.
She was asked to dress up the window of the store where she has a booth, and the way she dressed up her window, she just may have a bakery hidden somewhere in the store because if you look closely at the cute, cute dress on the vintage mannequin, it is made out of cupcake liners and if that makes you want to grab a cup of coffee, she used coffee filters as well! Take a peek below, grab some coffee (and a piece of cake...why not...it is such a sweet a window to look at, you might as well have a sweet snack) and I will come back and give you my take on it.

Now is this cute, relaxing, and just makes you want and go raid the baking aisle at the grocery store? Glenda said she found the cabinet for only $20 at a yard sale and she painted it and added some old/new hardware and adorned it with some old architecture on top, and old fencing for the window. I really like the paint job she did because she didn't overdo it with the color - she stopped it just right. She also said she and her "girl" (that is what I call my vintage forms) spent the night together in the living room and she just started using items such as burlap, filters, liners, sheet music, fringe, you name it. Sort of like left overs in the fridge to make dinner...but instead...stuff left lying around in the house to make a dress...but then again, I made my wedding outfit out of an old tablecloth, so I think Glenda is genius, even if I say so myself! I love the paper train...wish I had thought of thought for my wedding. Maybe for an anniversary dress?

Glenda's blog, junkininmypinkcadillac is a stop you don't want to drive pass and you will definitely "spy" it and "eye" it along your travels. So even if you aren't driving anything pink, or a cadillac, or even if you're aren't junkin, you can just hop on your keyboard and let Glenda do it all for you!

I hope you enjoyed her window, because I know I did. She did a great job with using great items in a creative way and it will surely make people brake and stop to see it (just hope the kids are strapped in when the car comes to a halt in front of her window). Please let her know how much you like it - I think she is fairly new to this world of dealing and encouragement is always good.

Thanks for visiting - and I will be back with more stuff that I spied to share with you!

from my house to your house

Display Post #5

2010-09-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, having someone on your side, helps you to shake things up a bit.

Well, I am back from a wonderful weekend spent with a group of women in Arkansas on a lake. We ate, laughed, cried, prayed, swam, boated, and I took lots of photos. It is amazing the designs that God creates out in nature. When I get the chance to slow down and really see it, I realize how great He is. While spending the weekend in the country, I thought you all might like to do the same and that is where we are heading out to today. Get in your cars and head on out here to the Midwest to Iowa!

When Brandon Woline, of Iowa City, Iowa (in my mind, the entire state of Iowa is country, even the cities) heard of my display competition, he created his display especially for the competition. Brandon has been a "follower" of mine for many years now - both cyberally and literally. The first time I ever met Brandon was when he drove all the way down to my store after he had read about it and email me maybe once or twice and I saw this very quiet guy wandering and wandering around my store, really slowly, just taking it all in on a very busy day. He then introduced himself (and I am HORRIBLE at names) but it clicked after a moment or two and I was so flattered he drove all the way down to just see the store.

At that time, Brandon did not have a booth and was in the dreaming stage of someday having a store or a booth, but was only dreaming at the time. Over the years, he would email me two or three times a year with questions, and I would answer. He came and visited me once again, years later when I did the Miss Frenchie show, and brought me up to date on his progress.

Brandon surprising me at the Miss Frenchie show.

He now finally has a space located in Sisters Garden, and antique mall located 10 miles south of Iowa City on Hwy 1. His space is called House Things as well as his blog. Not only is it a blog, but he also sells from his blog as well and you should visit it often, as he sells and changes merchandise quite often!

I think most people can relate to Brandon...he has that passion, dream, and limited resources, but with time, persistence and tenacity, he made it work. His style is wonderful and you can see by his creativity why the mall is very lucky to have him! House Things has great ideas, great merchandise, but most importantly, a great owner who really cares about what he does - which shows. Look for yourself, then as the character on "Coffee Talk" from SNL used to say (in a NJ accent) "Talk Among Yourselves..." except, I will butt in and talk with you.... but for now, take a look:

Brandon took my theme, "Relaxation" literally and wanted his display to float on air. You can't be more relaxed than that. His display was so relaxing that it floated upward as if it were all light as a feather - now that is clever!

Get it..."light as a feather...." Lamp....floating....feather....all up there towards the ceiling...I love it!

I am always a sucker for cool, old photos. The man in the hammock looks pretty darn relaxed. It's funny how back in the old days, men "relaxed" while wearing vests, long shirts and nice pants. Now, it is t-shirts and sweat pants. However, the woman above, by her expression, looks like she will be interrupting her husband's relaxation any moment now with some news that may end his cozy day in the hammock....perhaps her second cousin Flora Goody (better known in town as Floozy Goodtime) is coming for a visit and is bringing her friend, "Uncle" Benjamin (better known as Uncle Ben with Gin) and she is just sure the Vicar will have a stern say about her distant relatives' behaviors. Oh! What a tangle web we weave....

But, with all the cares of the world, floating away with such a creative display done in great textures, colors and whimsy, Flora Goody and "Uncle" Benjamin won't put a damper on anything...they will just blend right into all the fun. House Things is a place where you will definitely find not only great things for your house, but great ideas to store in that noggin of yours to pull out later when you are feeling low on ideas and need to create something quick and easy - now you have a great idea to go to!

Before you float out of here to another post, remember to to drop Brandon a line if you have time and wish him the best. For those of you who are BRAND NEW to the dealer world, the retail world or just wishing you could find the courage to step out - now you have someone to go to who is really fresh at it and can he can tell you how he did it. So many of you write me and tell me how much you really want to open up a store or even space in a mall. Many of you written me and told me how scared you are to go to a mall and "play with the big boys" who have been doing it for a long time. Well, Brandon was one those people who wrote to me for years, just like you, and now he finally has done it! So, you can write him and ask him how does it feel, and find out for yourself how he did it.

And for those of you reading this that are very seasoned, and have been doing this for years, and could display a window with your eyes closed, just think back to the very first time you had go out and play with "big boys" and how scary it was to be judged. Now get over there and pat Brandon on the back, because the new people need to hear from us "oldies" that they have what it takes and we are proud of them - because we are! :-)

I am loving this little display competition - and I hope you are too! Until next time...keep creating and keep encouraging...

from my house to your house

Display Posting #4

2010-09-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Well don't worry about gassing your car up, last time we met, we were in NC, and this time, we are staying in NC, but instead of viewing a store window, we are going to step inside and see a wonderful booth in an antique mall....and it is WORTH waiting for at the end of this post!

Okay, and for those who never really read my posts (believe me, I know most don't and I totally get that) ...so here...go click right now to Tattered and Timeless and get it out of your system, then scroll down, past my jabbering for the photos....for the rest of you (all three of you) who want to read....please, read on. :-)

Now before you see the goodies, I want to say a little something. I started my whole antique dealing "career" in a mall. My first booth was only 5 x 8. Then it grew to a small room, then to a larger space, then to three spaces in three malls and eventually to one giant space in one mall. The point is, whether you own a store, or rent space in mall, displaying is still a challenge. Sometimes even more so. Malls have rules, limited walls, limited outlets (I am the queen of extension cords), and then there is the time factor. Meaning, I am a true, blue night owl. Some malls will give you a key and you can come and go as you want and some will allow you in only during business hours, which can be a real pain.

Then there is the hauling in the stuff. Can't knock anyones' stuff over, or block the aisles, or leave the dolly in the way. And what about when you want to redo your space? Well, you have to clear your space out, but what to do with all that stuff you just cleared out to clean your space but need to put back after you decorate? Where to put it? And then you have new stuff to bring in, rearrange it, put back the old stuff, and all the while, be friendly to shoppers, don't block the aisle, don't knock stuff over on your neighbor's side, and get it all done before they lock the doors on you. Not fun. Oh, not to mention all the other dealers who happen to stop by, want to visit, ask what you are doing, excited about your new stuff, and slow you WAY down and you never get anything done. But you have to do it all with a smile, quickly and expertly.

So, I am going to be REALLY, REALLY honest here and tell you what I REALLY did back in my booth days, so if you were a booth neighbor way back then...all I can say is "sorry."

First, I would never rent in a mall in which I didn't finagle a key out of the owner and the security code. Yup, that was pretty much it. Well, let me clarify that I didn't rent out of a mall ever again without getting the key and code after my first experience in a mall.

When you get a key, you get to go after hours and put stuff all over the hallway, put stuff in neighbors' booths while you work your booth; if you knock stuff over, no ever knows (unless you break it), you don't have to be careful or social. You can work with your radio on, bring in food and set it anywhere you wish, even on the antique table in the booth next to you, if that is the only place around you (on a platter of course) and hang stuff where you shouldn't hang it, pound in nails where they don't really want you to, and run extra cords under rugs and places the owner would freak out if he/she knew.

The KEY to success is this: make darn sure you don't ruin anyone's stuff, clean up your area, and make your space looks so spectacular that when the owner walks in the next morning, she is so blown away that she completely ignores the 50th chandelier plugged into that single outlet with tons of power strips on extension cords. And she doesn't even mention that you hammered in huge nails or bolts to hang that huge architectural piece by giant chains from the ceiling when the lease clearly says, "Nothing hangs from the ceiling without prior approval."

Now, if you are a mall owner and you are reading this, I don't mean to freak you out, I am just being honest about back in my mall days, I am so sure that none of your wonderful dealers would ever do any of these things.... I am sure no one is doing any of this in your mall....ahem....really....and be honest....if you have a super-duper spectacular booth that sells like crazy in your mall, there is a really good chance, you are turning a blind eye to a few infractions anyway....right? I am just being honest, maybe not correct, but just honest. Now how is that for an oxymoron? "Being honest, just not correct...." Ha-ha! But, I digress...

But until that time comes, where you dealers get a key and do what you want, here are some tips on how to handle a booth display during business hours:

Have all your inventory priced BEFORE you bring it in the mall.

Know what your plans on rearranging will be BEFORE you enter the mall.

Have all your "crafty" display items pre-made BEFORE you enter to save time.

Have a tool box with everything you need - do not rely on the mall's supplies. This will save you a ton of time.

Bring your own ladder and don't lend it out - be stingy with it and don't apologize - you have work to do man! This is the one rule I never break. I used my ladder a lot and when someone came to borrow it, I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled and said, "I can't." And then offered some help as to where they can find the mall's ladder. After a while, everyone knew never to ask for my ladder. I learned this the hard way when I was "nicer" and spent most of my day hunting down my tools and ladder when I turned around and discovered it had not been brought RIGHT back. Like I said, I use my ladder a LOT. And on this note, when I am done with it, I mean really done, I put my ladder back in my truck. I didn't even loan it out when I am done - I did not want to waste time hunting it down when it was time for me to leave. I would be way too pooped to do that. I know. I am a meanie, but I know some of you can relate.

After about 30 minutes of being in my booth, getting out supplies and having people stop by and saying "hi," and doing my social thing, I would put on earplugs and pretend to be listening to music. But, just have the wire tucked into your pocket. If you really wear an ipod or whatever, it will just get in your way. If someone calls out to you, you can ignore them like your music is too loud to hear them. Like I said, you have work to do man! If I stopped and chatted every single time someone called out to me, I would never, ever get anything done. Again, I learned this the hard way and had many unfinished booths my first year and had to go back the next day because my day was spent chatting. I talk enough on my own - I don't need help with getting a conversation going. The earplugs were more for me to keep my mouth shut, then the other way around! :-)

Here are some nice, but to the point lines you can have handy to keep you working without hurting anyone's feelings:

"You are so cool I could just stand here all day and talk to you! But unfortunately, I am too uncoordinated to do two things at once. I have to work in silence to concentrate. I will find you later..."

"Yeah, this stuff in my box is new...but it will be old if I don't get it out soon. You can come back when I am not here and nose around all you want, just like I do in your booth when you aren't around... (then smile)... right now I have to concentrate..."

"Thanks, I don't know where I get my gift for creating...but I wish I had the talent to talk and think at the same time...I'm not gifted in that area, so you will have to excuse me while I tend to my disability..."

So, I hope I don't give you the wrong idea about me. I am not mean, but any of you who have done ANY displaying at all, know exactly what I am talking about...don't pretend I am the only one who is screaming inside her head, while smiling on the outside. We have all done it. I really have to get "in the zone" to do my thing. I am not lying when I say that I just cannot chat and create a display at the same time - no kidding, not lying, no exaggeration. I drive everyone around me batty. I am a zombie walking around thinking, holding crap in my hands, guessing, playing, fiddling with it, hammering, drilling, gluing, sewing, and never saying a word the entire time. HOURS and hours I will do this. If you don't believe me, just ask anyone who shows at Miss Frenchie show in KS City and they will tell you that I don't really start until they leave at night and I stay up all night doing my display, ALONE. I know, weird. I really do just stand there and STARE at my booth, "seeing" it in my mind, and I do it in silence.

In fact I will tell you a short funny story. While setting up at Miss Frenchie show, I was next to Carol Spinski at Raised in Cotton, and she said she was watching me set up my booth and I was standing there, pondering, thinking and looking around, deep in thought. She told me that she was so curious as to what could be going on in my head since I had been so quiet for long, standing around, studying my booth and I had this really thoughtful look on my face. She said just as she was imagining all sorts of creative thoughts might have been coming out of my head, when suddenly I stopped, looked at her, and announced, "I think I need to go poop." She burst out laughing and told me that she knew right then we would be great friends. If I could change, I would, believe me. I have been this way all my life when it comes to creating (and pooping...don't get all prissy on me and pretend you have never announced that you need to go poop....come on now....go ahead and admit it....I dare you to admit it in the comment section.....go on....admit it! You know you want to....)

So, I hope this little insight of me doesn't tarnish your view of what you thought I was like, but hey, I don't have a store anymore, and none of you are my booth neighbors, so what the heck, I am not telling you anything you haven't done or thought already and I hope I am giving tips to those who are just starting out and maybe saving you some headaches.

And now on with the show......

Like I said earlier....we are still in NC... Lumbeton, NC to be exact. We get to see the Grand Opening of the Carolina Country Peddlers Mall and the booth we are viewing belongs to Tammy Hebert of Tattered and Timeless.

Carolina Country Peddlers Mall is located off of I-95 at exit 20 in Lumberton, NC. Tammy writes me that she has two spaces and made it into one (good move!) and she was suppose to have no heavy lifting due to surgery...so that slowed things down. But who comes to the rescue? Husbands of course! So hooray for hubbies. Maybe there should be a Hubby Holiday. Not a Father's Day, not Valentine's Day, but a Hubby Holiday. Maybe I will start one...but I digress...again.

On with the good stuff - pics! See for yourself why Tammy is woman after my own (paper) heart:

See? I TOLD you it was worth the wait!!

Do you love the paper or what?!

I spy about 100 items I am ready to buy....

Is that table the cutest thing or what? I can think of a 100 uses for it...I'd LOVE to have about 8 in a row...

NOW you know what to do with all those darn piano rolls you always see at garage sales that are so cool, but what the heck do you do with them?

I am sighing for my booth days....and I don't sigh often for those days...bravo Tammy! I KNOW you all have some comments - and don't forget to CLICK on her site - remember what it was? I know, I gabbed so much I am going to repeat it again for poor Tammy - It is called Tattered and Timeless.

Did you have fun on this visit? I hope so. I did. Please let Tammy know you found her through this visit. I think I could just move right in her booth and sit and chat with her all day long, don't you? Thank you all for all the wonderful support for my first attempt at public competition. I think this inspiration is so good for us all - a good way to end the summer, clean house, and start the holiday season off by getting rid of stuff and getting your blog/website out there with some free PR right when everyone is scrambling to get dollars in the door (or cyber door) from the holiday shoppers.

Okay, so until next time, let's hear it for Tammy. Yeahhhh!!!! (Crowd roaring in background.)

I will be out of town on a women's bible retreat out in the middle of no where on a beautiful lake with a bunch of really funny women for the next several days. I will post the next display when I return. I will be spending time in a beautifully "lodgy" home, gabbing for hours and hours in a van with women who make me laugh so hard, I cry, eating junk food, boating, swimming, and praying we don't get lost because we are all talking so loud we don't hear the GPS system telling us to turn at the next exit (like last year). I am even planning on taking my fishing pole and planning on throwing out a cast or two to practice. But mainly, I get to spend days with women who truly care about what really is important in life and they help me immensely in reflecting on the same and thanking the One who makes this all possible.

The real kicker? This Friday, September 10th, I believe Design Sherpa is announcing the top 10 winners out of the 100 winners to go on to phase two. I will be in the middle of no where and my cell phone gets very sketchy range, so IF I make it to the second phase, I won't even know it! So, wish me luck!

Thank you all for making my life so much fun. Can't ask for more than that. Fun.

from my house to your house,

Display Post #3

2010-09-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is doing good today. Well last post we all were peeking into a California window, seeing how the California chicks kick back. Well today, we are off to Brevard, NC to a cute retail store called...are you ready....?

It is called Gravy! Is that Groovy or what?

Gravy is an Artisan and Retail Market in downtown Brevard, NC that was designed and built as a fundraiser for the local Boys and Girls Club. They have approximately 70 vendors featuring art, pottery, antiques, home decor, vintage and hand designed jewelry, cotton pajamas, fly fishing supplies...the list goes on and on. Gravy supports their local club, their local artists and their local economy.

I think it is so great that what could be just an "ordinary" fundraiser thrift store or second hand store like so many others, Gravy actually supports not only the Boys and Girls Club, but it also has a place where local artists not only can show their work, but where art lovers can go and buy it while supporting a good cause at the same time. Our country is very much into supporting the arts these days and are finally recognizing the value of the creative eye and talented hand. Gravy has it going on and hopefully will be belle of ball for years to come in artist community of Brevard, NC and I am certain the surrounding areas as well.

Gravy is managed by Sandi Hosey and she obviously has her hands full. She sent me a pic of her latest store window display and there is a sign in the window that reads:

She Dreams...

She dreams of waking up in wonderfully soft Cotn pajamas, slipping into her OKA sandals and relaxing at her little bistro table.

She dreams of speaking French and sipping latte from a bowl.

She dreams of a wonderful garden that she will "put up" and savor the tastes of summer year round.

She dreams of browsing through fun and eclectic shops and purchasing gifts for friends and family.

She dreams of dusk, candles burning, and soaking in a hot bath with luxurious lavender soaps.

She dreams of Gravy...Where Dreams Come True

I don't know about you...but I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Sandi yet, but I think she has been poking around in my head looking at some of my dreams. So take a look below and then we'll discuss....

Now there is a lot of things going on here that I like, but what I really like is the unexpected lime green. Usually we see cream or browns or slate blues when talking about French bistros and such, but the lime green is just perfect, especially with the "laundry." And the enamel dish pan on the floor is the perfect touch. I won't go on and on, you can examine it all yourself, but this little scene reminds me of the little balconies that were all around me while I lived in Europe.

This is what window displays are all about - making you stop, reflect, dream, wish, go back in time, or better, yet, go inside and see what it is all about. And agin, what is really great about this window is that it doesn't scream "fundraiser," "charity," or the likes...it screams FUN, CREATIVE, and COME INSIDE and SEE WHAT WE GOT!! Nice job Sandi. And what a great organization on many different levels.

For those who are just joining us for the first time, we are having a friendly competition with displays. We welcome encouraging comments because inspiration is the lifeline for creativity. If you feel inspired, please let the creator of this display (Sandi) know by either commenting here, or visiting her site, Gravy and tell her that Elizabeth sent you - and that I think her window is groovy. (Her blog is really groovy too - so make sure you C...L...I...C...K on it!)

from my house to your house,