A Surprise and Some Reprises

  Yesterday was my day to get my stitches removed; I thought that was a pretty good thing in itself but when I came home this sweet surprise was waiting for me in our mailbox!

Deb, aka Garage Sale Gal made this get well card for me!  She knows I love her cards.  I also love her blog and of course I love her!  She is such a thoughtful gal and I appreciate her!  Thank you, Deb, for all your sweet thoughts and prayers.

Are you on Pinterest?  It's become one of my web obsessions and it was Pinterest that lead me toward the cutest paper angel, posted on http://chocolatecraftsandbearsohmy.blogspot.com/2010/11/paper-angel-ornament-tutorial.html.

I decided I had to try my own versions.  I don't have paper punches but I do have plenty of lace and fabric that I can use to "dress" them up!

 Remember the estate sales we bought out?  Although most of what we purchased was clean and immediately useable other items were geared Spring and holidays like Valentine and Easter.  Those, of course, had to be separated out and packed for more appropriate times to use in the shop.  Still other items need some help or repurposing.  For example, this sweet basket below was among our goodies; however, baskets by themselves are not normally good sellers.

 

Craftsperson that I am, of course I have lots of pine sprigs and "picks" that I've saved from other sales or auctions.  I cleaned up the basket and planted some of those sprigs, mixing in some beads, pinecones, etc.  I love the way it turned out, if I do say so myself.  I'm tempted to keep it but will take it to the shop.

China is something else that doesn't necessarily sell really well.  If it has silver or gold in the pattern people might buy one piece and use it as a decorative wall hanging but not for use on their dinner tables.  It's a sign of the times - if you can't "nuke" it in the microwave, customers are slow to purchase it.  The plates below are beautiful but are only a one place setting - dinner plate, salad and dessert plates.   We could put them in the shop with a cheap price and hope that someone will come in and want a one place setting of the pattern or it could be coupled with a couple of the thousands (okay, a slight exaggeration) of candlesticks we have.

It's now a cute three-tier serving dish with a reasonable price.  This is the time of year people want pieces like this for finger foods and I'm thinking this re-do will sell much quicker.

This little seamstress is one of those items that just has to stay with me.  Okay, it will probably eventually end up in the shop but for now, it's mine to enjoy.

Until next time...Enjoy your lives!