Notes from A Cottage Industry

It's New Years Eve at Camas Antiques.

Sorry this blog post is coming on so late in the day. I needed to take a picture or two of my booth space (I forgot my camera repeatedly when I was there working on and off all day yesterday) and I had to sit home and wait for the cable guy here this morning. (Oh, the joys of technology once again...I got a hi-def cable box and of course, had troubles with it.)

Anyway.

I have been painting and pricing and foofifying things for my booth at Camas Antiques and I wanted to share a lil' peek at my progress. For now, it's all about shades of muted creams, ecru, camels, and tobacco browns, but soon, it will be leaning towards a slightly more colorful look, with warm peaches and pinks, just in time for Valentine's Day.

Mmm hmm., it's all part of my newly created booth plan. I have made a calendar with themes for my booth for the upcoming year and I'll be changing things up often. (Well, okay, that's the plan, anyway.) It's just one of my New Year's resolutions, and I am pretty stoked about it.

Countdown to the new year.

Doesn't it seem like we were just all talking about Y2K a year or so ago? Where did the time go? Now, here we are, a few days away from the beginning of twenty-ten. Unbelievable.

Do you make new years resolutions? I do, most years. I like goal setting and list making. (Although I know I shared long ago in a post that I always manage to lose the lists I make. No matter. Lists and goals inspire me.) I see the new year as Oprah does; another chance to get it right. As cheesy as it sounds, I like the Anne of Green Gables attitude on life of seeing every day as a fresh clean slate, with no mistakes in it yet, and I feel even more hope-filled at New Year's for some reason. It's like the first day of school each year when I was a kid. 

About a third of my resolutions are life's trivial kinds of things, like finally learning how to work the comcast television remote control, ( Dear God, that thing confuses and intimidates me. Not only does it take me nearly a full minute to get the danged TV to turn on now, but I realize now that I have been paying for the "DVR" feature for nearly two months, and haven't been able to record a single show as yet.) baking that black forest cake recipe from the latest issue of Victoria magazine that I have been dying to try, and taking Moose to every single dog park in the Portland and Vancouver area this coming year.

Many of them are much grander resolutions that I pretty much keep close to my heart; resolutions and goals about my Cottage Industry business and for my personal life. (Seriously, you might think I'd lost my mind if I shared some of these with you.) On the eve of a new year, everything seems possible. Everything is possible.

We just have to believe.

Onward and upward.

I have been keeping busy the last few days trying to get my booth space at Camas Antiques revamped and restocked well as getting thing packed and organized around my current home, as I am moving to my new home officially this Friday.

I added a wooden shelf up high in the booth space to draw your eyes to the back wall and add a more intimate feeling to the booth by making it feel more like a completely enclosed room.(It is hard to tell in the photo, but I'd say the shelf is up at about eight or nine feet high) I also finally added my "A Cottage Industry" banner, which swags across the space overhead.

Hopefully by Saturday the booth will be updated, I will be sleeping in my bed at my new home, and I will then, at long last, be ready to begin decorating for Christmas.

Holiday event at Monti's....

Oh. My.

 I made it to the Monticello Holiday event opening day just a few minutes after 8:00 a.m when the event opened. The booth spaces were fabulous, with so many wonderful ideas to inspire! Today's post is mostly pictures, because there was so much to see, and the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words really rings true here.
I wandered through the huge mall for nearly two hours before finally making my way to the checkout; my head spinning with inspired ideas for my own booth display at Camas Antiques....
Hands down, there were two items that literally every booth had tweaked to their own style...
First, Christmas stockings....in burlap, cotton, vintage fabrics- and each one more charming than the last.
The second hot ticket were all of the many bottle brush trees....
green, pale pinks, or bleached...
glittered, mounted on vintage candlesticks, and sugar bowls, displayed in a variety of clever ways, atop silver candlesticks or sugar bowls, and in every size imaginable.
The event goes through the holiday season, and the vendors will be replenishing often, so I am sure I will be heading back over to take another peek before Christmas arrives.

Out and about Sunday thrifting in Washington.

 
I am thrilled to share with you that I found my way to my first-ever-as-a-Washingtonian Estate Sale yesterday and I scored some wonderful items for my booth space at Camas Antiques, as well as a couple of things for my own home. That wasn't really the exciting part for me though. No, not by a long shot. The exciting part for me was finding the location all by myself.

I am sure I have shared this before, but I literally have no sense of direction. Nada. I've been this way since birth, and my entire family, as well as every one of my friends are painfully aware of it. Trust me, it was challenging enough living in little old Reno, Nevada, with only two freeways going through town, but now that I am up here in the pacific northwest, well, it's nothing short of a miracle that I found the place, and an even bigger miracle that I found my way back home.

I have a Garmin on loan from my daughter, but I haven't quite mastered that little tool yet. (Don't ask. Please.) Anyway, the important part of my story is that I found the location, I shopped, and I drove home, without incident. (Well, that is not entirely true. When I went back to the location in my son in law's truck to pick up a large chair that wouldn't fit in my car, I had a slight mishap. A huge rock bounced up off the freeway and clobbered the windshield, leaving a chip out of the glass the size of a nickel, and me in a cold sweat.)

The point I am trying to make with this post is that I am, all be it ever so slowly, learning my way around the area, little by little, and that makes this place feel like home.

*****Just a little reminder here for those of you that are participating in this year's Holiday Home Tour tomorrow....send me your pictures TODAY if you haven't already!!!!*****

A lil' Camas Antiques booth update....

I am thrilled so far with the response to my booth space at Camas Antiques. (I only wish I could manage to get the edge on keeping it stocked!Well, maybe once I get moved to more permanent digs...) I took a few pictures the other evening while I was restocking. 
...lot's of silver pieces that make great "propper-uppers" for trays on buffet set ups...
...kissing balls and glitter snowflakes....
Good thing I took pictures when I did, because a lot of this is already sold, and I now have a black iron French Daybed in there (pictures of that coming soon, I promise!)

Make it Special Furniture Painting DVD kit!

Thanks to a lot of work by my dear friend Anne, (Who directed and filmed me) and my daughter, (Who edited and produced the dvd) it's finally ready! The first run of my latest DVD kit, "Make it Special, Furniture Painting" is available in a limited quantity. The DVD and handy booklet cover everything you need to know, start to finish, for painting small items like chalkboard frames (...which is what I have my students do in an actual hands on workshop...so easy and it takes all of the fear out of learning the techniques of painting!)
...to large pieces of furniture
....to painting cupboards and cabinetry in your home.

If you requested a pre-order, you should have already received your PayPal invoice. Current supply is limited with more on the way very shortly. Simply click the Buy Now button to order your copy. Get 'em while they're hot, and just in time for Christmas!

Price is $30.00 and includes shipping within the USA. (For shipping outside the  US I will email you any additional cost for shipping)

A little catching up...

I have been busy with my booth at Camas Antiques and I am still up to my eyebrows in boxes, which will continue until I make my move in mid December, so it's been hard to do any sort of decorating at all. (but, just you wait until I am settled into my new place!)

Anyway.

I thought today was as good a time as any to do a little catching up, a reminder...and announce news of my newest DVD kit, which will be available very, very soon! First of all, I have gotten several emails about my Cookies and Cupcakes DVD, as well as my Gift Wrap DVD kit, and yes, they are still available on my website, by simply clicking here.
Both of these DVD kits are perfect for holiday time. (and they make great gifts too!)

As for the reminder, I am thrilled with the response so far for the December first holiday home tour. If you want to participate and have not emailed me, please do. After all, the more the merrier!(And feel free to snag this logo for your own blog...)

Last, and most certainly not least, my newest DVD kit, which includes all of the how-to's for painting furniture, will be available within the next couple of weeks!It's been filmed, and edited, and now is in the final stage of being burned and labeled. Cost of this DVD kit will be the same as the last two, which is $30 and includes shipping and handling. If you'd like to reserve your copy, simply send me an email to be added to the list for the first shipment.

Inspirational field trip.

The girls and I went on a little field trip this morning over to Monticello Antiques. So much to see! My favorite little shopping buddy came along with us.... The Christmas season has very clearly arrived at Monticello and I was immediately inspired... just take a look, and you'll be inspired too! 

 

 

*sigh* The holidays will be here before we know it!

Camas Antiques Holiday Open House and more.

There are so many things to do up here in the Portland area. This weekend alone, there are several Vintage themed events, and Camas Antiques is hosting one of them. There is also an event out at Cindy's place in the land of Tate (with the Barn House boys, no less) and Molly Mo's Holiday Treasures is going on too!

Carter's Mama and I were down at Camas Antiques Holiday Open House yesterday, refreshing my booth a bit, shopping, and looking at all of the new holiday items. So much to see, and very nearly every booth had all of their merchandise on sale!

They were giving out gifts for the first 50 shoppers (and they'll be doing it again today!) along with cider and snacks, and carolers in the afternoon time.
The thing about Camas Antiques is that there are just so many nice booths. I'd be hard pressed to pick an absolute favorite. I am thrilled to have a booth space there, and hopefully within the next couple of weeks I will have it completely re-stocked and done up all over again with a winter theme going on.

We managed to find a few things for my daughter's new home, and even got the seal of approval on her purchases from our very own little shopping critique.
If you're anywhere in the area, be sure to stop in today and take a peek at all of the fabulous things, just in time for the holidays.

Give thanks.

Well, November has arrived, at last, and since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I wanted to share my latest online banner kit for adding a little zippity-do-dah to your holiday. The online kit includes a mini GIVE THANKS banner, perfect for using as a sweet lil' gift, when enclosed in a letter or Thanksgiving card. It is small enough to be tucked right inside a card and can be hung in some tiny nook or crannie, or even used to add a bit of holiday pizazz to a computer monitor.
The larger GIVE THANKS banner is perfect for swagging over a fireplace mantel, a door frame, or across a window.

Last, but certainly not least, are the little flag templates, (30 flags to a sheet!) which are darling when tucked in a napkin, or used on cupcakes (my personal favorite way to use them!) Get all 3 templates, delivered directly to your inbox (no waiting for the postman!) for $11.00 by simply clicking on the button below.

An afternoon at Expo in Portland.

Wow. Thank you all so very, very much for the wonderful comments on yesterday's post! I loved reading all of them, and Bob got a big kick out of it too. I'd say he's figured out that I have a pretty vocal and supportive large band of friends out here in blogland!
I actually wasn't quite sure when I was going to share my boyfriend news with everyone, but this past Sunday afternoon Bob and I went to the Expo Center in Portland for the Antiques and Collectibles show, (which I knew was not going to be his kind of thing, but he was such a good sport about it anyway.) where we visited with Isabel and Joy. Once they had met Bob, I figured the cat was out of the bag, so to speak, and the time had finally arrived to share my happy news.
Next door to Isabel was a new friend named Maryann (sorry, she doesn't have a blog!) and her things were fabulous as well, all vintage flatware and mirror topped dressers and such! I couldn't wait to get a look at the amazing things Joy and Isabel had done with their booths. They did not disappoint. (More pictures from Expo on their blogs) So much inspiration! I am really excited now to get my booth at Camas Antiques all ready for the holidays this week.  Thank you all once again for the warm comments from yesterday, and for checking in to read my blog, even though I've been a bit...um..preoccupied and sporadic... with posts lately!

Halloween kits revisited.

I still can't believe it's already late October, can you? Halloween will be here before we know it, and then it's the countdown to the holidays. I have had many requests for emailed banners kits lately, and the the Thanksgiving and Christmas ones will be ready for online sale within a few days. Today I thought I'd remind you that the Halloween kit is available! The best part about these kits are that you can make as many as you like, for friends or for yourself, and you can get as creative as you wish, or simply copy my take on the projects.

Camas Antiques booth update.

It's getting there. Slowly but surely.

I have a couple more (three actually) large pieces to get finished up by Friday to add to the booth and then I will have spots to set more small, but it's coming along. Can you even believe it's past mid October?!

...halfway done with the backdrop.

I shared the completely bare "before" picture of my booth space on this morning's post. When I first arrived this morning to work on my booth, here is what stage I was at. At a glance it may not look like much, but it provides such a nice vintage feel background for my pieces in the booth, and the book pages have become kind of my signature look. (You might remember the bathroom at 41 Taylor...) More updates to follow.....

Before.

Can you guess what this is?

Mmm hmm, it's my booth space at Camas Antiques. I took this picture last Monday as I was just beginning to do up my booth space. Then, I kept forgetting to take my camera with me on the next few trips, but today I will begin sharing the complete evolution from start to finish, so check back.
Check back later today for pictures of the evolving booth space!

bittersweet.

bit-ter-sweet noun                                                                                                                      1. pleasure mingled with pain or regret: the bittersweet of parting.

   Ya, that's exactly how it felt all day long yesterday, before, during, and after my trip to the Tattered House Street Faire. It was a long, fun day, but it was bittersweet in so many ways.
    Out the door by a quarter to four in the morning, driving the hour and fifty minutes (we refuse to say it's a two hour drive) chatting with our cell phones on speaker as much of the way as we had cell service, and setting up in Roseville by 6:00 am.
    The other Tracey and I had the booth set up in record time, (we even got our tent up with out too much drama, thanks to Hector and Ralph in the booth next to us.) It was a fabulous day in every way.     
     The booth looked good, with plenty of fresh product, and we got to chat with so many of our fellow vendors that have become our good friends.(Jacque, Liz, Mona, Katie, Sandy and Erica, and Clinton and Becky...the list goes on and on)  Then, so many of you came by to say hello, and that's always by far my favorite part of any faire I participate in. Really. I am continually surprised, and flattered when someone comes over to meet me because they read my blog. It's very humbling and I want you all to know that I don't take it for granted for a single minute that I am truly blessed to have some of the most wonderful people on the planet reading what I write. (For everyone that asked, all day long- Yes, I will keep blogging as I move!) Writing is such a part of me, and I cannot imagine ever not writing. There may be a day or two during the move that I am not close enough to internet access, or have no time to post, but rest assured, I'll be here, sharing all of my thoughts and ideas.
   I was completely surprised and touched at how many of my fellow vendors at the show were sad that I was moving. I feel like a giant nitwit, but I really had no idea I had this many friends.
    All day long I just kept thinking how lucky I was, and then, feeling that sad little twinge in my stomach and heart that this would be the last show with the other Tracey. Of course we'll both still do faires, but we'll be going solo, with me in the pacific northwest and the other Tracey doing the Reno, Sacramento, Alameda area shows. I have no doubt we'll plot and plan booth ideas by phone and email, but, I will miss terribly the giggling and belly laughs, the eyerolls, the inside jokes, and most of all, the bantering and teasing back and forth regarding everything that has to do with our business together.

Yes, I'd say bittersweet just about describes yesterday perfectly.

Heading to the Tattered House.

I've been busy prepping things for tomorrows big vintage faire in Roseville, at the Tattered House.
This will be my last show in the area, and I am looking forward to it, although I am not nearly ready!
I still have drawer pulls to put on, sanding to do, and pricing....

If you're going to be anywhere near by, come on over and see us!

Fifty years.

    I took nearly 70 pictures of the party set up for the other Tracey's parents 50th Anniversary party on Saturday and I am anxious to share some of them with you! 41 Taylor was absolutely stunning. The caramel walls and vintage mirrors were a perfect backdrop for the color scheme. The tables were set, the place cards in place, the cake was delivered and the candles were lit. (I haven't heard from the other Tracey, but I am quite sure her parents were delighted at the entire party set up! Hopefully I'll hear some details today!) 
    I helped out with all of the paper crafts and such...place cards, banners and other little details.I was pretty happy with the way the banner turned out....(Custom banners available by emailing me)
and I added a bit of humor to the set up, with a banner for our Miss Foofy in the corner....
     The other Tracey's sister brought a slide show of old pictures of the folks and they had it set up in the back bedroom (Really, it was perfect the way the layout of things worked out!) and the cake was done to match the original wedding cake. (How charming is that?!)

Now, here are a couple more pictures...   

 

 

     I'll be adding even more pictures to the 41 Taylor website Milestone an Celebration gallery shortly, (these are already there) so be sure and check back! (Wasn't it all stunning?)

Did someone say BUNKO party?

As promised, here are the pictures from Friday night's Bunko party at 41 Taylor. (The set up looked so cheery and charming I just had to share!) My latest favorite color combo for parties, turquoise and red, made things fun and festive. I made a darling banner, and flags for decorating the parlor at 41 Taylor.
    We hung our signature tissue pom poms over the dessert buffet...
...and of course I made cupcakes, which we displayed in my vintage pie carrier,(how cute is that?!) along with other treats...
...and the cupcakes had little Bunko flags as well...
I also had matching little Bunko score cards for the Bunko girls...
Mmm hmmm, it was pretty danged cute, even if I do say so myself. So cute, that I decided to sell my Bunko decorations in an online kit, so all of you Bunko girls out there can use this sweet little color combo too! (Check it out here.)

Baking and crafting and packing, oh my!

Between organizing some things for packing yesterday and this morning, I have been getting ready for the second of three events booked this week down at 41 Taylor...tonight is a Bunko Party, and the decorations look darling! Tomorrow night will be the other Tracey's parent's 50 anniversary party, which will be very "vintage elegant".
I promise to share the pictures of the Bunko decorations, along with a new online "Bunko Party" kit I just finished creating!
Right now I am off and running...to work at the bank!

Fifty years.

   

     The other Tracey's parents are getting ready to celebrate a big milestone. Fifty years of marriage! They're celebrating with friends and family with a dinner party at 41 Taylor and we are busily working on the details for this wonderful event.

    Yesterday I made the banner to go with the other Tracey's vintage theme, which will include lots of photographs of the happy couple throughout the years. All the details are being attended to, right down to a cake made to look just like their original wedding cake!

Saturday morning.

Moose is sleeping in today, but you'll find me down at 41 Taylor by 7:00 a.m., helping the girls at Pickled Tink out with a HUGE yard! Yup, The French Twist, 41 Taylor (A Cottage Industry!) and Pickled Tink have been busy cleaning house. We're on East Taylor Street, between S. Virginia and Center Street.
If you're in town and out and about, stop by to shop and say Hi!

Pretty in pink..and green, and turquois, and yellow, and...

 
Oh! Isn't this a delicious little party set up? This was the set up in the dining room at 41 Taylor during the Tumbleweed Cotillion. (You know, to give people a visual of a party set up!) I just loved adding all of the details to this sweet little table scape.

The darling slipcovers, sewn by the Sewing Queen or northern Nevada herself (Yes, she designed her own pattern!) were kept neutral, so they'll always go with any party color.

And the party hats were custom made by the other Tracey and me..Complete with a tall tower of party presents as a center piece, who wouldn't love this adorable party display? (Don'tcha love the different colored ribbon ties on the balloons?)The Cotillion was a success and I did take some pictures, but the sun was so bright when I took them, (And we had record breaking heat last Saturday!) that only two of my outdoor shots came out...which is why I am sharing the inside of 41 Taylor shots with you today.

It was wonderful to meet so many bloggers and great people from the biggest little city and those that came all the way in from out of town!

B L I S S .

     Mmmm hmm, that's what the new banners I created for the Tumbleweed Cotillion say. I liked the first one that I made so much, that I created it in a bit larger size, and finally, a sweet little square banner. How do you like them?

    All of the banners are done in sage green letters and florals in browns, corals, pinks and creams, although the picture of the small banner came out a bit more brown. I will try and re-take another shot of it later for a more true (truer?) likeness. The large size is perfect for making a grand statement, swagging a window, or a mantle, measuring about five feet wide when hung, printing one letter per 8.5 by 11 piece of cardstock. (My fireplace mantel is six feet wide)

The medium swag is about four feet wide upon completion, printing two flags per piece of card stock...(so cute!!!) ....and the itty bitty banner is a bit over a foot wide in it's entirety (and perfect for folding inside a greeting card or letter sent to a dear friend, which is why I love it!!)The itty bitty one's can also be used on the fronts of votive candle holders, like I did last fall with my Halloween kit...how cute would that be?!Of course I will be selling these delightful banners at this Saturday's Tumbleweed Cotillion right here in Reno, but once I had the banners completed, I decided to also make them into online email kits, available for purchasing, if you're so inclined. This way, you can make as many as you please; for yourself, your family and your friends!

You can get the scoop right here. I hope you like them!

Life is a party.

...and at 41 Taylor we're making the most of it! I've been working on the marketing "brochures" ( I use the term loosely, because I am not quite sure that describes them accurately...) and I think I finally have them to where I am happy with them! I am a sucker for a good marketing piece, so I wanted this one to be perfect. I swear you could sell me pretty much anything if it is packaged cute or has a fabulous brochure...are you that way?

Anyway.

What began as a simple two sided brochure has now morphed (after several hours last night) into a four page, double sided flip book of sorts. Pretty cute, even if I do say so myself.

I just couldn't help myself. I love a new project.

Inspired to create.

 
   Being at Monticello is so inspiring to me, for so many reasons. Just take a look at the booth in the photo above. I love all of the shades of cream, the vintage touches, the various textures of the wood, fabics and paper...so yummy! It makes me want to rush home and create things. It makes me want to revamp the booth at Junkee for a new look...it motivates me. Does that happen to you? Maybe when you read a spread in amagazine, or someone's creation on a blog or website, or at a shop? I even get this way sometimes after visiting a creative friend's home.
   This week, or what's left of it, along with next week, will be filled with prepping for the upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion next Saturday, the 22nd. (Mark your calendars and plan to attend if you're anywhere nearby!!)

      I'm very nearly bursting with new ideas I brought home from my trip and I cannot wait to put them into motion. Yes, I'll be pulling a few late nights, and I am quite sure it will be worth it!

Good things come in small packages.

I'm working on a few new things for the upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion and for my website. Mmm hmm, banners and flags and little details that make events in life special!

....stay tuned!

A boycott and chair numbers two AND three of ten...er..eleven.

Well.

   Thanks for all of your great feedback on thrift store price gouging, as alarming as it is. I had no idea that I would spark such a lively vent-fest about Thrift Store prices with yesterday's post!(And you had me laughing out loud with phrases like "the ladies in the back on crack" and "BadWill"!) I am truly shocked (and more than a little saddened) to realize it's a nationwide epidemic, and I think I can feel the rumblings of a major revolution here.
     As for me, I plan to boycott of the high priced Thrift Shops for as long as I possibly can,(starting yesterday!) and that should be quite a good little while since it's summertime. They need a reality check, not so much for folks like me that are re-purposing items to earn a living, but, more importantly, for people that need essentials at a price they can pay so they can get by in these tough times. I must admit I will miss chatting with Warren, our favorite Sally employee, but, so it must be. I can hit garage sales each and every weekend until the end of September. Maybe I can stockpile enough goodies to carry me through winter!
     Speaking of stockpiling, remember my collection of chairs? Well, two more completed, thank-you-very-much. (Please excuse the garage door backdrop- I couldn't get the chair through the tight doorway from my laundryroom to the kitchen. Oh! Special thanks to the Sewing Queen of northern Nevada for making the most incredible cushions!) That should have left me with seven to go, but...I discovered yet another chair ( a really, really cute Frenchie looking folding chair!) in the basement at 41 Taylor yesterday that I had forgotten all about.

Oh my. I really may need to find some kind of 12 step program for this. It's nearly as out of control as my "thing" for shoes.

How 'bout we put the THRIFT back in Thrift shop?

And the Good back in GoodWill.

Pul-eeease.

I want to know...What is up with my local GoodWill Industries and Salvation Army's increased pricing?! People, read the sign. It says GoodWill, not Nordstoms. (Actually, my daughter and son-in-law up in PTown now refer to it as "Greedy Will" and I fear they're right.)

Umm...have they heard not the news? We're in a recession here, people. Yes, indeedy. And yet, there appears to be no rhyme or reason for the pricing system at the biggest little city's thrift shops. (Ehem... and not in Portland Oregon's thrift stores either, according to my sources.)

I swear, it's like they let a seven year old loose with the price gun (which was set on $14.95) to tag each and every item (a minimum of 12 times with stickers that don't want to come off, ever.) in the small "home accessories" department. 

See a small kind-of-cute pitcher? 

$14.95. 

A large silver tray missing a handle? 

$14.95.

A pillowcase?

Um..you got it. $14.95.

My personal favorite was finding two nearly identical similar trays, one with a huge dent in it (not even usable) and one in perfect condition. Both of them marked...$14.95. When I asked why this was,  the cashier said with a shrug, "That's just because they are both trays."

Okie dokie. Gotcha.

Our local Salvation Army now runs "half off days" for those of us with "Sally Cards"and even then items are too high, and "Purple tags are not included" which covers about a third of the furniture. Sheesh.    

Oh, and the furniture! Don't get me started on those prices. I wish I had taken my camera with me last week, because they have a settee in there now for...$899. Now, I am not saying that in a boutique or special order furniture store the settee would not be $899 (or $1899 for that matter), but as I said before, we are talking GoodWill Industries here, folks. (Reminder-the purpose of thrift shops: For donated items to be sold with the proceeds to benefit charity.)

Or...how about the beauty pictured above? (First off- it looks so much better in the photo than in real life. The little legs are about 15 inches apart)...Why yes, that would be a photograph of what happens when you mate a dainty child's table with a 48" oak outlet kitchen table top.(I am guessing quite a lot of beer was involved in the creative thought process to blend these two items) Mmm hmmm. And, I don't even want to know what happened to the pedestal base for the oak table.

The price for this one-of-a-kind (we can only hope) table? Just guess. (And, don't let the $14.95  designer floral arrangement  placed on top of it fool you.)

No, really. Guess.

Oh, you won't believe it.

Sixty nine American dollars. (I told you you wouldn't believe it)

Any takers? I didn't think so.

And the clothes. All of the clothes in thrift stores should be one dollar each. Anyway, that's my thought. My gosh, they have enough denim and polyester in those shops to clothe the entire state of Rhode Island, with more on the way each and every day. I say, price it right and move it out. Let's help the charity that the thrift store was set up to support. (and give the shoppers a deal at the same time- what a concept!)

Anyway.

I don't know about you, but I feel much better after getting all of this off my chest. You know, for the most part I try to keep this blog on an up note, but, sometimes, I just need to vent about the little stuff that just gets to me.

So....I am curious to know if I am alone in my thinking or if any of you have had similar experiences in price increases in thrift stores in your area in the past year? Do tell!

One down, nine to go.

Mmm hmm. One. (Actually two others are nearly done as well..) The chair in the front of the group from yesterday's post is complete and ready to go down to Junkee.
Whatcha think, mon ami?