Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Road Trip Again!




I'm off on a
 road trip
 for a week

scouting the Midwest to see what
treasures I can find
for 
you!

Over the last 35 years in this business,
I have heard a million times,

"Ohhhh . . . you have the perrrrfect job!
That's what I want to doooo . . . ."

And
you know what?

They're right!

I DO 
have the perfect job!





I love my job.

I love traveling,
 searching,
 prowling through barns and attics . . . 
buying,

and

meeting wonderful folks
all over the country!


I love the thrill of the hunt
and
the surprise of what I might stumble
onto . . . 

Such a surge of adrenaline when I come upon some
 especially lovely item
 I never expected to find!

Pitter-Pat . . . Pitter-Pat



I love the excitement of packing my bags and loading the gear necessary for a road trip!

Trailer
totes
blankets
packing supplies
magnifying glass
M&M's
magnets
silver polish
bungees
and
a Thule
 on the top!

Hat
sunglasses
Wellies
rain gear
sunscreen
you name it - I may need it on any given journey!





I've been chased by tornadoes
swept off the road in high winds
rained out
mudded in
sunburned
barked at
chased
startled by snakes
tickled by mice
and
followed by strange men.
Or was that "tickled by strange men" ?

(Heck - I've bought antiques from some pretty strange men!)


Hi Mike - not you . . . 



There's a wonderful sense of anticipation as I set out on the road to hunt for treasure.
I have developed a network of friends and suppliers
 across the country
and
come to know a lot of wonderful folks who
share my obsession.

(Guys with 6 huge sheds full of who knows what.)
AND
I recently bought from a gentleman who'd been on the American Pickers T.V. show.


Before I leave town
I make a few calls
to determine who's got some fresh finds
and
plot my journey
accordingly.

It's pretty common for one picker to send me on to another,
so the trail can meander somewhat . . . 
but it's all good.
I may find things at auction or in someone's barn or attic.
There may be some farm sales
or
flea markets
or
junk shops.
You name it, I've shopped it.





There is a kinship among the group
and
I find I can be invited home to supper
or to share a glass of iced tea on the porch
as likely as not.
We may sit late and swap lies
or
keep on prowling by the light of a lantern.
It's always fun.


This trip is extra special
because my daughter 
Kellie
(who is my new partner)
is joining me on the trip.

We'll enjoy the camaraderie
and
kinship
as well as
the
journey!


I'll be back next week with a big truckload 
of sweet antiques for you to see
so
stay tuned!

I never know what I'll find.
I may head out with a desire for French Country
 or primitives
but find instead that I come upon a wealth of industrial chic
or
Italian Florentine and crystal chandeliers!



As the saying goes . . . 
"The worst day antiquing is better than the best day working!"

Friday, August 3, 2012

DWELL ANTIQUES & HOME


I've been keeping busy 
preparing for the new shop

DWELL
Antiques and Home

and
maintaining the quality and quantity of inventory
at
PATINA
Antiques and Home

and

neglected to sit down and share the journey
with you my
friends!


The delightful daily process of
 hunting, examining and choosing
 beautiful and soul nourishing treasures

 could 
consume all my waking hours!


THE JOURNEY
toward creating a shop
is more than
 licensing, legal documents,
 leases, list making,
 signage, 
contracts, 
operating agreements, corporate docs and construction.

It's more than
stress,
financial statements
and
restless nights.

It's even more than choosing 
the flavor of inventory
style
and
personality of your shop.




It's about 
making life decisions
and long term commitments
and
choosing
to
lock into a lifestyle
that,
once chosen,
is
there to be lived with

day in and day out.

Like marriage or child bearing,
these decisions
change your life,
for a 
long, long, long time.

There are no vacations from retail.
No
 "unsigning"
 of long term leases,
no
divorce from obligations
no way to 
opt out.

WHEW!!!!!






I've lived for 35 years in a retail lifestyle.

Owning a small business is an everyday challenge.
The shopkeeper's holidays are geared around 
what customers desire
and
the hours they prefer to shop.


Price competition from the big guys is unbelievably fierce.
Consumers cannot always afford to make a choice to own
 a one of a kind, 
handmade or antique item,
 when a mass-produced lookalike is readily available at a fraction of the price.
(Who could blame them?)


That said,
I would not dream of any other approach to life.

I have chosen who I am comfortable being.

I have chosen to be content with a small portion of the retail pie.


To present a tiny portion of the population 
with a
  small and select range of wares 
which I hope will
 enhance their live and nourish their spirit.

Limiting?
Challenging?
Thought provoking?
Time consuming?
(Questionable logic?)
Yep!


Worth it?

As the saying goes,
"PRICELESS"!




If you know me, 
you know that my life revolves around my belief system.
Being a blessing to
God
family
all others

then,
working hard to do my best 
to be self sustaining
and
to have something left over to give away.

I'm sharing with you because many ask.

. . . . YES . . . .
The new shop is coming along,
slowly

but no doubt in perfect 
time.



Prayers !



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