And Another Thing . . .
And Another Thing . . .
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Please visit my online store of unique handmade greeting cards and gifts.
Also available at:
Winter hours: Wed - Sat, 10:00-5:00
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Thursday, February 19, 2004 (What I suspect are) the two top vendors at Village Gifts make a lot of what they sell (painted glassware for one and painted decor items for the other) but they still both resell wholesale items. I asked Maria, my mentor, once if it was possible to make a living doing this and before I'd completed my question she said no. And she has items in two stores and does some craft shows besides. In the beginning I couldn't see myself reselling items because A) I didn't know how or what I'd sell, and B) I really wanted Pine Tree Designs to be, well, all about me. But it didn't take me long to realize it's going to take a whole lot of $4 cards to get me anywhere financially. So I started looking at framing some pieces and they sold online okay (thanks, John!) but only one sold at the store. I still love those darn things and may put them back on the website once I rework the page a little bit. I did include one in my portfolio that I left at The Shabby Shak yesterday. I want to see if Lauren wants to jazz up that frame or frame it some other way, if she likes it at all. I guess I started thinking more about wholesale stuff when Maria gave me the idea to sell gift bags and tissue - maybe with one of my small tags attached. I started looking into that and got comfortable with that idea. Then the offer to use the spinning card rack and my wall was made so that intensified my need to find more things to sell. I feel like I spend about 90% of my free time on PTD but another 10% was still not going to be enough to keep both areas well stocked. There just aren't enough hours in the day. I went to the WNY Gift Show last Sunday more as a learning experience but came away pretty excited about what else I could sell. I don't know - I guess I'm scared of the next step in an excited way. I figure I've got nothing to lose but a bit of money and a bit of pride. (And I'll end up with a shitload of cards to use myself!) I'm incredibly motivated and having more fun than I can explain. It's almost like the money is secondary, in a way. Almost. Still, I sometimes have to remind myself to charge people. Heck, I love making stuff for my friends and family! Steve bought two Valentine's Day cards from me - for Lizz and his mom. As I've mentioned Mom and Gretchen buy my stuff in the store. I'd give it away to my family for sure but they won't let me. I've gotten over that guilt because I truly understand how they feel - they want to support me. Did that answer any questions you had about why I'm taking this next step? I don't have it all figured out yet - like am I going to put that new stuff on my website? am I allowed to, by the vendors I'll buy from? Lots more stuff to learn. Meanwhile, another opportunity has popped up. The wife of a guy at work makes jewelry and beaded window garlands and also does arrangements and wreaths with dried flowers. We've been emailing and negotiating the last couple of days. She's offered me space on her table at several craft shows she's doing this summer and I'm going to display her stuff in my space at Village Gifts. (She doesn't have to work at Village Gifts and I don't have to work her craft shows. I think it's a great way for me to test those craft show waters I've been curious about.) I did some preliminary research on the internet today and found a 3-tier acrylic display rack that I think would work well for the craft shows. I need to research that a bit further. Meanwhile, orders continue to trickle in. Not a lot, but some nice challenges are presented in custom orders. That's kind of stressful for me, but in a good way because it forces me to think and try new things. And they've always worked out well so far. I always tell people I'm not quite ready to quit the day job yet but I'm sure having fun. I don't think anything about PTD has been anything but positive.
I will post the beef stew recipe tomorrow, Stephanie. Plus I think I'll post a recipe for light banana bread. I have a loaf in the oven now to take to work for breakfast tomorrow. It's my turn to bring breakfast so I'm picking up a breakfast pizza on the way in too.
That is all. I'm off to make some B2004s because I need some coming up. Then I'll work on your buttons, Marcia. Oh lookie - Marcia mentions yesterday's entry about renewing my driver's license. She posted her ID photo and challenges other journalists to do the same. I'm game.
Hubba-hubba.
Dinner: Chinese food from Wegmans and a Smart Ones Chocolate Fudge Cone for dessert. I love those things! Steve doesn't like them nearly as much as I do so I most frequently eat one when he's not here for dinner. Reading: Rubber Stamper Magazine Listening to in the car: ...And Never Let Her Go, by Ann Rule. (It's in the middle of the trial - just 3 more tapes to go!)
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