Sunday, November 27, 2011

A New Adventure

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"Promise me you'll always remember:
You're Braver than you believe, and Stronger
than you seem, and Smarter than you think."
- Christopher Robin to Pooh


Last month, in THIS post, I introduced you to my plan to refinish and resell furniture ... as a way to clear some of my 'treasures' around here and to channel my creative, junk-hunting energies into something besides collecting.  Initially, I was thinking that I could sell stuff piece by piece, or hold sales here.  I quickly realized that there was a better way ... and I went in search of a booth at an antique mall. 

Before we went on vacation last week, I spent a couple of days scoping out various locations here in Fredericksburg.  Our downtown is an antique shopping bonanza, so there should have been no shortage of great spaces to choose from.  Most of the shops had space available, but I wasn't jazzed with the atmosphere, or the other items available in the spaces.  Nothing seemed to be a good fit.



While visiting my parents in Culpeper, I stopped into the Minuteman Mini Mall ... which has always been one of my favorite places to waste time and shop.  I've shopped there ever since my parents moved to Culpeper in 1996, and I have never been in there alone ... there are always other shoppers in the building.  I talked to the manager, liked everything he had to say, and he showed me the three large spaces that were available ... one of which was the absolute perfect space for me!



So, Friends, I guess I am now an official antiques dealer ... with my own 10 x 11 foot space to do with as I please ... which, you have probably figured out, is the space shown in all of the photos in this post.  All of the items you see are consignment items, and they will be cleared out by the time I take possession of the space on December 1.



The space needs some freshening up, and I will accomplish this with a coat of paint on the walls and shelves.  I'm leaning toward a warm medium gray, with white shelves.  This should provide a good background for my pale painted pieces.  Beyond this, I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do ... I almost feel as if I'm making this up as I go along.

The quote that I used to start this post is one of my favorites, and it accurately portrays what I am telling myself these days ... as I make this leap into the retail antiques market.  I admit that I felt a not-so-small twinge as I signed the six-month lease for this new space of mine.  I'm pretty sure that I'm in the right place at the right time ... I keep telling myself this.

Any advice and/or reassurance you have to offer will be really appreciated.

16 comments:

  1. Good Luck in your new endeavour. I have so much pottery to sell and I've been considering going back on Ebay where I bought all the dang stuff anyway. LOL!

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  2. I am so excited for you and I just know you will do great. Good space and now you will make it yours and shine there! hugs, Linda

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  3. Have a monthly "theme based" special discount. Like February - all red items 10% off - or something like that. GOOD LUCK!

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  4. Congratulations, Connie! How wonderful that you are going to give this a whirl. I am excited to see your booth all dressed~ xo Diana

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  5. Now this sounds like a lot of fun! I love rummaging through these shope. Great stuff! Good Luck!

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  6. I can't think of a better place for you to be right now! Best of luck!

    Kat :)

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  7. I love this Pooh quote! This is something I've been wanting to do too, and I've been looking in the area. I was thinking of Fredericksburg, but wasn't sure if it was right for my style of furniture, etc. Good luck and keep us posted!

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  8. How exciting, and good luck. I can't wait to see the space with your treasures in there.

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  9. Good luck on your new venture! I think you'll have a blast, and hopefully make some great money, too. You have a great eye and I think people will be drawn to your space and your offerings. Best wishes!

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  10. Connie, that's so exciting! Antiques have so much more character than new furniture; you find yourself wondering what were the people like who made and used it. Plus, older furniture often uses contrasting woods or interesting wood like tiger maple.


    Are you going to keep posting pictures of your treasures in your blog?

    CCG

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  11. Good luck and good fortune.

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  12. You are quite the busy girl, aren't you, Connie! lol! I have no doubts that you'll be successful in this journey, too, girlie! I'd love to be there to help you set it all up! Sounds like so much fun!

    xoxo laurie

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  13. My brother and sister-in-law who live in Fredericksburg have space in the antique malls there. They used to have 3 booths but I think they have narrowed them down. They mostly deal in books.

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  14. Congrats, Connie! Wishing you much success with your new venture.
    xo,
    Sherry

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  15. Congratulations on your new endeavor! I'm excited for you. I wish I could give you some tips but I have any other than I love to shop for antiques and I think what draws me to certain booths is how it is decorated. Inviting one to come and see all the wonderful treasures but not like you're shopping in someone's attic. ;)
    Can't wait to see what you do with your space.

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  16. Thanks for reminding me of that quote. I love it, and we should all be guided by it more. All the best to you in your new venture. Now that you've taken the first bold step, you just have to keep it stocked when it sells out. Easy!

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