Well my busy photography season is finally coming to a close and I can breathe a little easier now! I did over 30 mini sessions since the week before Thanksgiving plus regular sessions on top of that! Needless to say I'm exhausted but my new camera will be paid for in January and 1/2 of my new website design is already paid off, thank you Christmas card photos! We even managed to get in a few good shots of my own family this year!
In online selling news things have been pretty dead with the exception of a few International sales on Etsy and odds & ends on ebay things are non existent. But I have to admit, I kind of like it. I had one instance of something being broken where I had to file a claim and it stressed me out so I'm actually a little glad things are slow on this front these days. I haven't even been buying for eBay anymore since I'm trying to cut back on things I put in my storage area although I did find some cool Star Wars Polly Pocket dolls yesterday that I may have to auction off this week!
Its also given me a good chance to really concentrate on the antique booth selling as well. November was the best month of the year for the store I sell at and the best month of the year for me as well! I had over $500 in sales! It felt really nice to do very well my first month in the big spot and I hope it continues! I need to sell more furniture, that's where the real money is! My issue these days is finding time to source. I have pretty much one chance a week to shop and I feel like the thrift store prices have skyrocketed on vintage in the last year to where there's no money left to make a profit. If I have to spend $75 on a dresser before I buy paint and put hours of labor into it there's no money left to make a profit with when I am finished. This means I'm really going to have to step up my game in the summer yard sale season and make sure I buy lots to stock up for winter months as well.
On the semi-good news side, we got a new car! This one is a Pilot and I literally fit an antique dresser in the back with my kids in their car seats as well, score for more hauling space! The downside to this? I was in a nasty car accident on the 21st of November that totaled my car. Luckily no one was injured other than myself; my kids were both in the car with me when I was hit and the only problem we've had is getting my back back to health from the whiplash. It wasn't my fault and their insurance company gave us a decent payout for my old car. I guess all things happen for a reason but man, it was not great timing let me tell you! Here's a pic of the new beast - I love it!
I'm excited for our annual Christmas trip to Lake Chelan this coming weekend! Its a great chance for us to just stop the hustle and bustle and spend quality time together as a family. Mostly because there's really not much to do there in the winter other than sit in the hot tub, make gingerbread houses and watch endless hours of Christmas movies in front of the fireplace! Oh, and theres 3 really sweet thrift stores that I'll definitely be hitting up, I need inventory!
I do apologize for not having much time to blog lately, I'm hoping in the new year that will get better. I want to show off my refinishing projects and my booth space more as well! I hope you'll keep coming by and checking in! For now, I'll wish you all a very merry Christmas and happy beginnings in 2015!