Snow Days

In our part of the country snow is paralizying and yesterday it happened.   We received 1-4 inches depending on which TV station you were watching.   I found myself scurring around BJ's yesterday as the first flakes started following.   By the time I came out of the store my car and the surrounding area was covered in snow.   My little Miata and I chugged along home at not more than 20 mph but we made it safe and sound.   I was a nervous wreck and needed a hot toddy to calm my nerves.  So our area has virtually shut down for the second day.   However, Mr Ups, Mr. FedEx and Mr Mailman have all made it to my house to deliver boxes with Christmas gifts we have ordered.  Yeah!!!!  I love shopping from the comfort of my home even when the weather is great.

So I took the opporunity of being stuck at home to clean my area of the office.   I knew it needed it when my husband's half was neater than mine, enough said.   My supply of costume jewelry is getting low;  I think I'm down to 20 pounds.   I need a yard sale!!!

Be back soon.

Christmas Pins

Ok so technically a peacock is not considered a Christmas pin but this guy is so cute and he has all the colors you associate with Christmas.   He is over 3 inches long and I got him at a yard sell for less than a dollar.  I think he is going to be part of my personal collection he is too pretty to sell.   As a side note I did sell $20 worth of pins yesterday as a lot to a man off of Craigslist.   He said he was buying them for his wife that she really liked pins.   So sucker that I am for a man who gives gifts I threw in a few extras since they were going to someone who would appreciate them.

Best Days

They, whoever they are, say that the best days for owning a business are the day you open it and the day you close it.   Today is one of those days.   The closing day.   I never thought it would feel so good.  I guess I did go through the mourning process this summer as I realized it wouldn't survive but now I am just plain happy!   The next door has opened and I'm going through it.

Last week I was asked to list some vintage clothing on eBay for a friend.  While it was taunting, having known and admired his dead wife whose clothing we were selling, it was exciting, too.   She had exquisite taste and lovely dresses.  These were mainly St. John knits but a few other beauties as well.  

Look for me on eBay as member, 757Sweetrepeats.

The End is Near

Just one more week and Sweet Repeats will be closed.  Once I made the decision everything fell into place and I was assured it was the right decision.   Over the past two years I have worked very hard sometimes 7 days a week but in this economy it just was not enough.   So now I'll be home with my computer, digital camera, costume jewelry, dog, cats and husband.   Not sure how that last one's gonna work out.   But he does have 2 boats to work on so I think it will be ok.

Last week  I brought home all the necklaces I had amassed over the past two years.   My bag was so heavy I had to weight it out of curiousity.  It weighed 25 pounds.   Even though I bought all this jewelry it has been fun going through it and rediscovering it.   I've been posting lots on eBay.

Probably won't be writing much for the next 2 weeks.   Just put this lot of beads on ebay!

New find

So I'm closing the store and that has kept too busy to write lately.   I just have to share a find from a quick trip to a yard sale yesterday.   A beautiful pin and clip earrings signed GARNE.  It is in perfect condition and I've already posted it on eBay.  Apparently it is rare to find GARNE items according the little research I did yesterday so I feel very lucky!!!

Saying Goodbye

I've neglected my blog lately as life has gotten kind of crazy.   I have decided to close Sweet Repeats so most of my energy has been consumed by making that happen.   It was very sad at first but then it seemed like a burden has been lifted.    For the past two years every waking and it seems like sleeping moment has been about Sweet Repeats.   But when one door closes as they say, another opens.   I have found new success in eBay selling.   I feel challenged every day to find the items that will intrigue and lure buyers.   And more importantly, I can do it from home in my pajamas which is becoming more and more attractive to me these days.  Roy is having minor surgery tomorrow and is facing major knee replacement surgery after the first of the year.   I need to be home to help him and support him through this.  So after 12/1 I'll have more time to search for interesting and unique costume jewelry.   Look for more postings then.

I Love Frogs

So I also have a thing for frogs.  Not the slimmy ones in my yard but frog pins.   My friends know this about me and on special occassions frogs show up in gift bags.   My last birthday this picture was in my gift bag,   This is Sylvester a wonderful tuxedo kitty with a fabulous personality.  His owner wrote the note.  

Now this is a frog pin I can really appreciate.   I'm still looking for just the right lapel to wear it on.

People Do the Strangest Things

In my shop I display pins on pillow like the attached picture.   Yesterday this regular customer, who is admittedly bipolar and a few other things,  comes in to visit.   He admits he has been in the psych ward for the past 3 weeks.   This guy has had a fascination with the pillows of pins for a long time.   He has told me for months he was going to buy a pillow with all the pins and give them away.   So yesterday he says I'm ready to buy the pillow.   OK.   This particular pillow had a little over $300 in pins on it.   He paid cash for the pillow then refused to take it with him.   He insisted that I keep the pillow and give a pin to each customer who makes a purchase.   What to do???   I know this guy well enough to know that by the end of the month he'll be broke and want his money back.  

Why I don't have more jewelry

Yup, that's why.  my husband and all is money goes on the boats.  Notice I said boats because he has 2.   This one just got new sails so that a boat that is slow by nature, never meant to go fast and never will go faster, can go slow faster.   He's out there today racing against the big boys in this 22 footer.

To Bad Pink Is Not My Color

Aren't these lovely?  Pale pink beads made in Hong Kong.  I love them.  There isn't anything in my closet that would go with them.  Of course, who can resist an opportunity to shop for a coordinating outfit.   Well, me maybe.  Back when it was popular to have your "colors done", I was told I was an Autumn and that I should never wear pink.   So I don't.   If only these were peach and then I could wear them with almost everything.    While I do like opportunities to break rules, I have learned to stick with what works for me in the color department.   Soooo...it's off to eBay for the beads.  Too bad.

Throw Back to Another Time

Remember when button covers where all the rage?   I have a set of 4 of these animal themed.  There's a zebra, elephant, horse and tiger.   How cute would they look on the front a cardigan.   When I was in high school all the teachers wore them. 

Madeleine Albright

Ever think about the hidden meaning of a pin you have selected.   I recently read Madeleine Albright's book, Read My Pin; Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box.   It's an easy read.   Now each time I select a pin I wonder what message is it sending?  I guess it's like anything, you think positive thoughts and hope it sends good vibes.   Like what else could this pin be saying?   I say Happy, Happy!!

I love Flowers

My Mother used to always say "give me my flowers while I'm alive".   I guess being my Mother's daughter I feel the same way.   I love flowers of all kinds except sunflowers.   I especially like to wear them on my lapel.   Back in my corporate days I would stop at the market each morning and buy a carnation to wear on my lapel.   My ex-husband would be suspious every night about the flower.  He never believed I would buy it myself.   Anyway I digress.   Now I wear flower pins and recently came upon this beauty I want to share.

Sold EBAY

Yesterday I sold my first piece on EBAY.   What a rush!! It's like the first day of diet.   You know you think you can do anything.   I am definitely hooked!  As of today, I made more  on my EBAY sales than in the shop last week.  That's not good.   This is really forcing me to take a hard look at my business.

So yesterday this guy comes into the shop and buys about $60 in jewelry.  He seem to be selecting unique silvertone pieces that were chunky and had multiple links or pieces to them.    While it can be risky to ask a man about the jewelry he is buying, my curiosity got the best of me and I finally had to ask what did he plan to do with the jewelry.  He indicated he would be taking it apart to show art students how it was constructed and how to develop a prototype for making jewelry.   Go figure?

Continuing the Animal Theme

Isn't he the cutest little thing?   I monkey stick pin with green stone eyes and fake diamonds on his chest.   He's not signed but I love him just the same.   Think someone will buy him on Ebay?   Hope so!!

How's this for a neat Pin??  Granted the trunk is down but it is handpainted and unique.

Apparently S is a Problem

Just thought I would mention I seem to be having a problem with S on my keyboard.  I'll work on that.

From there to here

Did you ever start out convinced of one thing and end up somewhere totally different?   That' me.   In 2008, I  was convinced I wanted a consignment store with furniture and accessories.   So I rented a store, built an inventory and opened.   From the beginning customers and other sellers told me to carry jewelry but noooo I didn't want to sell jewelry.   Finally I bought an estate that included vintage jewelry, and then I was hooked.   I couldn't stop going to yard sales, church bazaars and estate sales.   Now one corner of my store is filled with jewelry and it is spilling out into other areas.  So what to do, what to do???    Let's see,  furniture is heavy and takes a long time to sell,  it takes up a lot of space, has to be dusted and never sells for what it' worth.

Did I mention I really, really like costume jewelry?  I love the way it coordinates with clothing, is not a big investment, and other people notice it.   I have found wonderful vintage pieces that  get tons of comments from people.   I have regular customers that come in to buy 8-10 pieces a month.   Heck I buy that many for myself.

So as my second year draws near the end I wonder do I abandon the furniture, oh and household accessories, and just sell jewelry, maybe even on EBay, or do I keep moving and hauling and polishing and dusting?