New Blog Site

http://www.jbsvintage.com/

Older but hopefully getting wiser . . . .

Hubby had a birthday today and that has been the happiest part of the last week or so. Haven't had the best of news in our family lately and it got me thinking. I also have a birthday coming up and I always complain and moan about getting old and not wanting to have another birthday, etc., etc.

I can't promise that I won't ever complain about looking in the mirror and seeing gravity at work, but I'm not going to complain about another birthday. If I catch myself thinking that way, I'm going to remind myself how many people would love to see another birthday - and how many people are going through hell to get to another birthday. So really - is another wrinkle all that bad?

We did have the chance to see my cousin, Mike, from AL who I haven't seen in so so long (and his beautiful wife, Rhonda). We talked about how his Dad saved him, his sister and me from drowning in Perdido creek when I was little. Can you belive there was a story that my husband hadn't heard? He was just sure he'd heard all my stories, but a girls got to have a little mystery now and then, right?

So, on the subject of getting wiser: Did you know owls are a very popular item at the moment? This is my owl picture from the 1970's. The author is Richard Hinger - This is a great print, right?  You'll be really intriqued if you google Richard Hinger.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/72682057/vintage-owl-print-by-richard-hinger

I hope I really am getting a little wiser about what's important and what's not.  Went to Easter service with Mom & Joe.  I've been going with Mom and actually like it - who knew?

The fun part is shopping

Well, two months into running my new business,  I've had a wee bit of success and learned a lot! Here are some of the things that I've learned.

1. Shopping is by far the best part. It is good therapy for my back and takes my mind off everything else.

2. Selling vintage and antique items takes a lot of time. I spend far more time researching the history of an item (who made it, when, etc.), than I did shopping for it. Who knew it would take forever to find information about an item that just has 7091 with a g under it?? I've never tried before, but it's hard!

3. Photography is key to selling on-line and it takes me a long time to get a great picture. When hubby bought all of our photo equipment, back in the day, I thought it was a lot of $$. Now, I am so GLAD he did and I'm ever so grateful for his photography expertise and that not only is he always willing to help me, but he really wants to help me and will drop everything and run out to Home Depot when necessary. Reminds me how really lucky I am to have him.

4.  I've learned that getting that first sale is really tough.  There are some amazing things at JBs Cottage Chic (Jenn's design vision for vintage modern items), but we've yet to get a sale.  Take a look at it on the bottom of the page.

Mama is in LA (the state) and gets to hold all of her great grandbabies - I'm so jealous. Wish I was there - I miss my big brothers! But, I know that I have to share Mom, sharing is caring (Those of you that know Ang know she would say "I do not care to share"). I miss my girls too, but we better not go there - that would just lead to empty nest, crying, etc.

Until next time, remember Vintage is better. I love "Americana".

Etsy JBsCottageChic

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JBsCountryCottage

Etsy :: Mini

Etsy :: Mini: "Etsy
JBsCountryCottage"

Things I didn't know.....

I didn't know I would love this sooooo much. I can spend hours wandering around thrift stores, garage sales and estate sales. The fun part is finding things. I haven't been able to narrow my focus - I just love what I love, even if I don't know why, and that's that.

I also didn't know that it would take so long to research and write a good description of that special treasure that I just found (or found 3 weeks ago). One of my favorite finds so far is the Teddy Bear Cookie Jar in Blue Spatterware. I happened upon a book about Country Kitchens in a thrift store and as I was browzing through it with my morning coffee, I noticed they had whole kitchens built around collections of Blue Spatterware and/or Blue Spongeware. It was news to me, but what isn't......I'm certainly no expert on antiques, I just know I love them.

A few days later I found a new thrift store run by the Soroptimist's Club (hope I spelled that right). They are a group of ladies who support charities for Women and Children. This particular club opened a thrift store instead of holding bake sales, car washes, etc. Anyway, they get loads of cool stuff from Estate Sales. I saw Teddy Blue and it was love at first sight. I would love to fill him up with homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies or Raison Oatmeal Cookies, but then I'd just eat them all and that wouldn't be good.

I also didn't know just how much joy this new adventure would bring by way of my oldest, newly married, beautiful daughter, Jenn. She and I love old things, but she lives in Alabama :( . She is so good at designing and staging for parties and photos and she has definate ideas about vintage interior design. This has been so much fun talking with her and getting her ideas. And best of all, I don't have to tell her or my favorite pastry chef in Rhinebeck, NY that "I can't talk right now - I'm really busy and I have to get this done before blah blah blah."

I realize just how lucky I am to be able to give this new lifestyle a try (even though I don't have any choices left because of multiple back surgeries). The stress level is definately low low low, and it gives me a sense of purpose - after all, I've worked since I was 15 years old and it would be too too hard to be a work-a-holic without some kind of job.....

Until next time - thanks for reading. Send me an email, share your thoughts, do you like Teddy Blue, or is he "just ok"?

Things always happen for a reason. . .

Welcome to my very first ever post in my first ever blog!  I sincerely appreciate that you would take time from your ultra hectic, busy life (and whose isn't?) to read my prose.  One year ago, I was so overwhelmed by my life, I would never have had the time to write or the ability to sit in front of a computer for one more nanosecond.  But as someone I love (who happens to be my Mother-In-Law -  I know,  right?  How lucky am I??) always says, "Things always happen for a reason."

I made a major decision to change jobs so that I could work remotely from my home or anywhere else with internet.  My goal was to be able to visit my Mom, my Dad (who had Altzheimer's), and the other 99.9% of my family who live far far away from my little Country Cottage in the woods, and still bring home a paycheck.  I was soooo busy looking for that dream job (at least a six month task), and then interviewing and getting the job, that I didn't ask enough questions about what the "dream" job would actually require of me.   Long story short, I worked an average of 65-70 hours a week, making less money, with no benefits for some very very nasty folks.

Anyway, I got laid off  (nine long months later) because "dream" company hadn't had a sale in 18 months.  That's when I heard the phrase that I've heard a thousand times - "Everything always happens for a reason."  Now for the fun part, Hubby and I figured out that we will not starve or have to sell our Country Cottage in the woods and I am busy persuing the true American dream of working for myself doing something that I love.  I'll bet you've heard the one about being successful when you do something you truly love, right?

It didn't take me long to figure out that I love wandering around garage sales, thrift shops and other places where amazing, shabby chic treasures can be found.  Having always dreamed of working for myself, "JBs Country Cottage" has been established and I couldn't be happier.