Failures vs. Setbacks

The weekend of my first physical sale has come and gone...how did the sale go?? It didn't. After spending all summer readying the garage, house and inventory the store will not open. I didn't say will never open, however things didn't quite come together as planned.1934 Vintage Uncle Sam Toy Cash Register, by Durable Toy and Novelty by calloohcallay

First to come about was my husband's new job offer, that includes housing. Okay fine, we'll move, find a renter and continue to use the garage as a store. Sounds all well and good until I start thinking, would I really like living 10 ft from someone a store, what happens when someone stops in "on the fly" to shop? What happens when I'm at the store and have to go to the bathroom or use the sink?

Vintage FOR RENT sign tin metal rusty red by MySeriousSide


As bummed as I am, I know that everything happens for a reason. I put some of the inventory at Red Roof Antiques in North Platte, added some inventory to my booth at Accent's Etc here in McCook, and will continue online. When the opportunity arises to do a physical store again, yes I will jump at it, because it really is what I long to do.


As Steven Tyler has said time and time again "Life is a journey, not a destination" What fun would it be if life was all smooth sailing?


Through the Viewfinder Photograph 5x5 by jillruthandco


Did my store fail? NO!

I fully believe that the timing was wrong, when the good Lord see's the timing as right, things will fall smoothly in place. Setbacks are His way of showing us He is really the one in control and if we fully give our lives to Him amazing things will happen!

Faith Color Block Wooden Cross by MagnoliaMarket

"Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith
bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience."
James 1: 3

19 days okay, maybe 33 days

The sale is going to be pushed back to the 15th of October!

Tying tags, sweeping the floor, making fliers, finishing up furniture pieces, panicking. School has started, fall yard work needs done. Baby is walking now too. Oh yeah did I mention we are moving into a new home?

This is going to be a busy busy 33 days! I am so excited for the sale, nervous that no one will show up, but look at all they will be missing!

This amazing green cupboard will be hard to part with, so will this white and red set (perfect for a creation room!)

White shelf I'd love to keep for my daughters shabby chic room (there is a fabric covered foam board insert, with interchangeable fabric, bulletin board style!)

beachy chairs

dining room table

and so much more!

We've been spending every free moment planning and stocking. There are things we wish would be ready, but won't (that just means surprises for the Christmas sale!)

Somerset Holidays and Celebrations is HERE!

I was out of town at an auction on Wednesday and my daughter calls and says "were you expecting a package?"

I pause and try to think "which of my Etsy orders came? my tags? my price gun? did I order something else and forgot?"

so sounding like a child on Christmas I say "open it, open it!"

"a bunch of the same magazine, its you know those magazines you love, but a bunch of the same one"

"well what's it say?"
"Somerset Holid-"

"Oh the holiday magazine is here! ooh ooh ooh thank you for calling! Don't ruin them before I get home!"

See I've been so busy with the store, I haven't been all in my head. I completely forgot I ordered magazines to carry! The best part is, they are not in stores until September 1st!

So if you are looking for a beautiful, keep forever until its pages fall out, so much inspiration that you won't be able to pick your first project type of magazine, head HERE and pick up your copy!

If it says Sold Out, check my store home HERE!

I love Easy!

I have been stalling on the fact I needed to add 'pages' to my blog.

Oh my it was SO easy!

Check out my link underneath the banner, the information in them isn't perfect but the fact that I didn't have to purchase a website and hosting to have both of my store information in one location. Woohoo!

American Pickers...Cherry Style

Serious business!

We have cherries to last us for years!

He didn't want his picture taken.

What to do, what to do....painting

I love the way a piece looks after it finally been painted, but choosing the color is a totally different story! I have rarely regretted a color chosen for my own home (with the exception of a bedroom vanity, but it was easily repainted!) but now with the Grand Opening of my store looming in the near future, choosing a color that someone else will want to take home is stressing me out!

I have these pieces haunting me:


My first instinct on this was to just sand and stain, but now I'm thinking a black and leaving the "leather" inserts as it..... opinions?


As you can see, I started to paint this white. As I was painting it said "paint me cobalt blue" then it whispered "orange, orange" now I think possible a lettuce green color, arg it is really a pain when a piece has a split personality!



Ah, and finally this drop leave table. Do I go farmhouse red? steel blue? or standard black? or even a shabby chic white? buttercup yellow? sage green? sigh, what to do what to do!

2 months, 3 days and SO much to do!

Floors and walls are painted, lighting is waiting to be installed. Some large pieces have been completed, others are waiting to be moved but all is well! Pulling everything together is going to be fun! Here is the start.........


Meanwhile I've been doing some listing on Ebay and Etsy, shop and support this vintage adventure!

DaisyToad's Brick and Mortar Progress

Two whole months without a blog post, sorry but I've been BUSY! It still doesn't LOOK like I've made much progress, but starting on Monday I should be able to move the large pieces into the store, oh what I have planned! As we speak the interior of the garage is being painted,
the new walk through door was installed this weekend, the toads who lived in my garage have been relocated to a flower patch in my back yard and I sanded and stained the work bench. Over the next few days the floor will be painted (any color suggestions?) and I'll be working on some larger sale pieces.

The Hunt for the Giant Toad

I have found my giant toad, my little immigrant is on her way from Mexico as we speak. I so wanted to buy a locally made one, but I'll have to settle for handmade. My dad actually stumbled upon a woman who transports these immigrants to Nebraska and sells them for her family in Mexico.

Notice her size compared to the man she sits next to!

Ode to Yo' Momma

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Pr22:6)

Just a few things that remind me of my mom.

Lady Vanity Hot Roller Set from Sunset Side Vintage

Brocade Vanity Set from Long Tall Sally's

Vintage Curling Iron from Vintage Susan Fletcher

Long Leg Panty Girdle from Stelma Designs


Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day

My husband said "Go buy what you want for Mother's Day". Okay, not words of appreciation, but I'll take it and I won't be upset that he didn't painstakingly shop for something, anything that could represent his undying appreciation for me birthing his 3 children and washing his stinky socks-he has been working 14 hr days for the last 2 weeks.

But then my trouble begins. I do the bills, so I know what is in the account to spend. I know I want a corner tv stand and a new computer desk, but I'd also like a pink tool set-ala Tom Boy tools- I figure if they are pink my husband won't steal them!

But since I am mom and will do what is extremely too practical-but will save me a lot of worry and headache-I am getting......a new baby gate. Happy Mother's Day!

Don't Judge Me

I am super stoked. I finally got the go ahead to open a DaisyToad's Vintage store in my garage. As a work at home mom, I definitely wanted to do this on my own turf. Why? Well first reason of course is no rent, second my kids can still play in their own yard, third I can still choose my hours-well maybe not choosing my own hours-but kind of.

Confused? Of course I will have hours of operation, but I will also be able to be open by appointment and the occasional drive by-or travelers who just spent too much time thrifting and all the vintage and antique stores in town are closed...but they need just one last rush. Am I the only one who's been there?

If you've ever seen my house, you know it will need some sprucing up. This is were the don't judge me comes into play. I am prepared to show you the before pictures so you can appreciate the after pictures even more!

Our house is set backwards on its lot, so this is our backdoor, but first thing you see when you pull up. I want to paint our house yellow, but my husband says it fades too fast, so I'm thinking about blue.....
Also in this picture, my vintage glider awaiting a new coat of paint, my dead asparagus, and a bunch of other stuff that has collected on the deck over the winter-oh yeah and my crooked pine tree!

Oh wait, no this is the first thing you see when you pull up, my husbands retired race car (I'm guessing since I get my store I won't have much say if he wants to race again) I'm not sure what the tractor attachment is for, my new lamps for the garage and mulch for the landscaping-doesn't look like much of an inviting store does it?
This is the shed I get to convert to our tool shed, it needs walls. I'm not sure how to do that, but I'll figure it out somehow! (or hire someone to do it for me then take the credit!)
This is the front of our garage, where my store will be, I don't think I will get the house and garage painted in time for the opening, but I promise it will look better...any suggestions?? The basketball hoops must stay no matter what-as you see I have a future NBA star...And this is the inside of the garage. No that is not how I store my inventory! This is all garage sale stuff, that will be gone in 2 weeks! As you can see we had painted the walls white when we moved in, it will be staying pretty rustic and being updated as money shows up (anyone care to donate?) : )
The door to the garage is on the side, in between the house and the garage, I will be putting cement here and have a nice sitting area.

I have so much to do and so little time to do it, it will be a busy busy summer! I hope to be open November 1st with a Grand Opening the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Any ideas, suggestions or comments?? Don't forget to leave them here!

Winners....FINALLY!

Ugh I can't believe it has been a whole month since my last post! The winners of the vintage ads are..well is SabrinaHollyVintage!!! Peggy and Vintage, I need contact information for you. Contact me in the next 2 weeks and I'll get you your ads as well! SabrinaHollyVintage -DM me on twitter, or convo my Etsy shop with your mailing address...Congrats!

Don't forget to visit SabrinaHollyVintage.etsy.com and BelezaPhotography.etsy.com and follow her on Twitter! @sabrinaholly

Win a Vintage Magazine Ad!

As Listen To Me! ramps up for the collage giveaway, I am hosting one myself.

Levi's Ad from Jape

I have a LARGE collection of old magazines, from 1920 and up with amazing ads for just about every product under the sun.

I LOVE old ads, hence the collection of magazines!
but I would love to hear from you what type of ads you would display in your life

In my home it would be baby ads and Case / International Harvester.

I will be giving away ads to 3 different people.

Phase III Ad from AbundantlyCuriousPix

To enter this giveaway - 1 entry each

*****Comment here as to which ad or ad type you are most interested in

*****Follow my blog and comment here that you did


*****Follow me on Twitter and comment here that you did

*****visit DaisyToad's Vintage and find your favorite thing and leave a comment here with a link to your favorite item

*****tweet or blog about this giveaway, and come back to this entry and post another comment with the direct link to the blog entry and/or tweet

*****buy something from DaisyToad's Vintage and come back here to brag about it (with a link!)

FormFit Ad from ImSoVintage

The winner will be drawn on March 31st just before midnight and will be announced here and be contacted by email. Be sure to also include a valid e-mail address when you comment so i can contact you when you win!

Priorities Take 2

It funny how your priorities can change in a matter of days, weeks or over a period of time.
After a personal battle of what I was being called to do, I have decided I WILL spend more time working.

RollingHillsVintage

When I can contribute even a little financially to the family I feel more of a sense of pride. My husband tells me that he just needs me to care for our family, but my personal struggle will always be wanting it all. I want to be an entrepreneur and I want to be a mother and I CAN do it all, it will just take a bit of planning!

DaKineJunks

We had a family meeting and I expressed what I was feeling and told the family what I was needing from them to help out the process. My husband is busy calving right now, as well as working a new job in which he hopes to be a supervisor in the next few months-meaning he is working crazy hours.I put my toddler in daycare an extra day a week and have committed myself to only working in my shop on those days, not working on housework. Well working as much as my mobile 9 month old will allow! I told my tween that I will now pay her to babysit when I am working on the other days, and gave her a chore list for which she will get an allowance based on the percentage complete.

FunRetro

I am also restructuring my housework schedule to include this extra work day and to include Saturday, prime sourcing day!

Monday-Work
Tuesday-Kitchen, Living Room, Bedrooms
Wednesday-Laundry, Bathrooms
Thursday-Work
Friday-Bathrooms, Office
Saturday-Project day

Sunday-Project day I added project day because I was getting behind on my major to do list, with things such as yard work, cleaning out junk drawer, garage etc.

VeraVague

I am planning on working on the branding of my store, what are the rules on using a published pin up in my branding? Anyone know?-I'm checking into this, I'll let you know!

I improved my shop banner, need to improve my avi's on all my site and switch my blogger banner to the new one.
I am also working on more consistent listing, tracking my hours worked and re figuring my prices to make sure it is all still worth my time : )

Oh yeah and lowering my shipping to First Class and envelope shipping if at all possible, I'm tired of refunding shipping-I'd prefer my customers just to save in the beginning!

My First Giveaway!! Coming Soon....

In the next few weeks I will be hostessing my first giveaway!!!

Etsy artist Amg Arts is creating a special collage just for Listen to Me followers!

She is a Collage/Mixed Media Artist, studying textile design at NCAD, Dublin, Ireland. Ann says she is inspired by artists such as Lynne Perrella, Holly Harrison, Gwen Diehn, Karen Michel, Barbara Matthiessen, Claudine Hellmuth.

Wait by Ann M. Gorman

'A Multi-Media artist who loves doing journal work, altered books and collages. She enjoys exploring and working with a wide range of different mediums. Has been told her work 'brings alive a dreamlike quality' using vivid colours, intense detail and 'attractive' chaos'.

Please check her out at:

Website

Blog

Facebook

Tumbler

My Eclipse by Ann M. Gorman

Collages shown are not the ones in the giveaway. Giveaway details will be announced when the collage is complete.

What It Takes

Game of Up and Down by DaisyToad's Vintage

As with any job, selling vintage has its ups and downs. I love what I do, and I do what I love, BUT being self employed is tough. It takes discipline, self control, family support, tons of decision making and LOTS of time.

After I go to big estate sale or score from another great source I am completely energized and motivated. I get pictures taken.......then edit........then wait for a time to list.......and by then (especially in this dumpy dreary weather) I feel lethargic towards my business.

This year I've told myself I am going to up my business to the next level AND be true to my family. It is true in all accounts if you don't take care of yourself you can not take care of anyone or anything else. Why else do you think when in an airplane you are supposed to put your own airmask on first?? Yes, I am comparing being self employed to an emergency air landing.

So far this year to meet my goals I have put my 2 yr old in daycare twice a week. Not without guilt (after all I am a stay at home mom, no wait I AM A WORK AT HOME MOM), but the poor guy it just going stir crazy and driving me mad in the meantime! He is a very active child-climbing on me or any piece of furniture box, anything that he may be able to jump of off, flip over or slam dunk on.

Rainbow Mom Mug by DoNotDestroy

I have a hard time seeing myself as a work at home mom, I'm not sure why. I left work to stay at home, but then I found my passion and a place to pursue it, so I work, and I work hard.

As stating in an earlier post I finally redesigned and printed my new business cards.

I purchased a booth rental in an antique shop.

I tried to set a schedule for everything I need to get done during the week-does it get done? No, but the schedule has been written!

So I guess my biggest struggle is balance, as always, but also acknowledging myself and giving myself the credit I deserve. In 2 years I have had 2 children and grown an online store that made a decent part time income last year. I have been featured in an international magazine. I have been hired by a famous international company to source vintage for them. I have had a website that gets over 1 MILLION hits a month ask to feature me (my store) on their website (more on that later). I am a mom. I am a wife. I am and entrepreneur. I am me. I am DaisyToad's Vintage. (Insert Stuart Smalley)

I am Me with no Apologies by chloeandsophiasmom or Artist Lisa Ferrante

So I will rephrase what it takes to be an online vintage seller (or artist-not without its own set of struggles)

It takes discipline, self control, family support, tons of decision making, LOTS of time, self confidence and an incredibly HUGE set of cajones (balls)

*side note to sister*those things hanging off the rats bottom.

Vintage Croquet Balls by FrenchByDesign

Coming Soon on DaisyToad's Vintage!

If you follow me on Twitter you may remember me tweeting about priority access to an Estate Sale because of my Grandma's connections.

Turns out it was an amazing sale, with tons of vintage jewelry, paper dolls, a few 20's dresses, just beautiful items....even a late 1800's dress in EXCELLENT condition and a beaded 2 piece flapper dress that was flawless-too bad those went to the historical society.

The proceeds from the estate sale all went to a woman in their family who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy the day of the sale.

I only feel right having the proceeds of the sale of the items I bought at the sale going to those battling breast cancer and breast cancer awareness and research.

Here is a sneak peek of my new section at DaisyToad's Vintage

Think Pink:

*****Note added***** after doing some research I have found that this adorable heart brooch is from the early 2000's! Needless to say,I will enjoying it in my personal collection and not sharing it as a gem in my vintage store! Sorry!


So join me in the battle against breast cancer and SHOP VINTAGE!