m c c   s t a l k s   t h e  m l s 

I haven't done one of these in a long time! 

 

The listing is here.

I love this house! 

{and I had fun finding it, so maybe I will post more mls posts soon!}

b l o g g i t y b l o g

 

 

I should blog more, I am trying to blog more.

 

Time and resources are the reason it is hard for me to blog.

For the longest time I had my computer at the store thinking I could do things like upload pictures, edit pictures, write posts all while working at the store.

 

Um, well that didn't happen. Even on a slowish day at the store I have a million things to do.

 

So I brought my computer back home thinking I would blog more but when I am here I am mom.

Not a blogger.

 

Right now it is a bit quiet at home. Saint will be home a bit late tonight-he is working on a last minute edit for Evening Magazine and the kids are almost out of school so there isn't much homework going on here these days {um, thank goodness!}

 

So I thought I would bloggityblog!

 

The store is pretty stocked, I actually have back stock painted to bring in {this NEVER happens, yay me!-has never happened in 3 years :)}. So I kind of puttered around at home the last two days. I painted, hung things, rearranged rooms, got my hair done today {oh honey, it was bad}.

 

If you follow me on Instagram you saw this picture of me last week trying to deal with my bad hair.

 

So I decorated my house. It will for sure change next month but that is why I have the job I do!

 

 

I got a new rest post box!

 

I added touches of red.

 

And I hung a salvaged window as a divider today {I know it still needs cleaning-I will get to that, um sometime today?}.

 

I am in a dream state of mind right now. I want to grow {except for my butt, that needs to shrink I think}, be happy {I am happy but be more in the moment?}, and dig deep right now.

 

The summer can be magical. I am excited for it.

Let's dream.

Maybe I will bloggityblog about it.
 

 

 



c r e a t i v e    t y p e

 

 

source

 

I might totally be writing this for my own benefit, so bare with me.

I have two kids that fall into the creative type category.

Not surprising because both my husband and myself would fall into that category.

 

It can make for a really fun household and a crazy one.

 

I have been exploring this personality type lately. Really only in relation to my own family but it is helping me learn more about myself.

 

I also think as I am approaching the big 4-0, well in a few years, I care less of what people think of me other than the people I love. So it is interesting for me to figure out what makes me tick and what makes them tick.  

 

I have always been creative.

I started out a bit nutty.

My mom said when I was two I would change my clothes 20 times a day.

Now I change my house 20 times a year. But it is sort of my job so it is ok :)?!

 

I tend to keep my circle small. I like my quiet. I like to be with people I can totally trust.

Once trust with me is broken, it is hard for me to recover the relationship.

 

I am both introvert and extrovert.

 

I can sit and talk to you for hours but I equally love being by myself.

 

I only create in quiet. I like to paint by myself.

 

I also love to just be silly and goofy- and totally myself without care.

I am super independent, I don't like to be told what to do.

 

I equally don't care to be around both needy/manipulative people or people with a big egos. I think I can pick up either personality type almost instantaneously. I stay far away.

 

Because I like do anything I am going to do to my very best, I don't take on too much at once. I actually get very stressed if I have too much on my plate. I have become very good at saying no.

 

I am a big feeler. If you confide in me a problem I am probably going to think about it all day. I am learning my boundaries with this.

 

People can think I am hot and cold. Sometimes I am cold because I have too much going on and it is my coping mechanism. It has nothing to do with you. 

 

I am learning all my imperfections. Loving them, learning about them.

I will always try to be a better me. But I will always be me.

 

As I navigate my kids and their personalities I think it is good lesson for us to embrace our creative personalities.

Some people might not get us but that is ok.  

 

 

 



consignor or consigner  (kənˈsaɪnə, ˌkɒnsaɪˈnɔː, kənˈsaɪnə)
— n
	a person, enterprise, etc, that consigns goods
I thought I would write a post on being a consigner in a shop. This post is purely my perspective and it could be totally different from other shop owners. Also, I have to add this is coming from an owners perspective, not a consigners. Let me start with saying my consigners are definitely part of the team, absolutely and I love them. They add so much to the store and I am so happy to have them there and watch their success and be even a small part of it. It makes working in the store so much more fulfilling. I am also super duper picky about who I have in the store. I hope they never leave because I so appreciate and are inspired by them.  I have a small amount of retail space to work with to maximize my profit. It is a business, we are not just decorating a store. You would be surprised to know that some people when approaching the store to consign in don't look at it that way. I don't work 6 days a week for nothing {well sometimes if feels that way :)}.  I look for consigners that's work can fairly seamlessly blend in with mine. I love that the artists I work with tend to paint in the same color stories and choose high quality furniture from similar eras as I do {or as the other consigners do, it all flows well}. I know all of us tend to spend a fair amount for our pieces so that we have the best quality possible to put in the store. I could go on and on about them but I will just stick to- I have great people that not only do fantastic work but they are amazing people. I don't ever have to worry about them not bringing in enough pieces and they always have the quality I want for the store. Ok, geeze this might be a long post. LOL. I am just thinking about all the information I have to share with you. Hmm. Let's start off with-you think you want to start in this business and that consignment is the easy way to start. I would advise against that. If you are approaching a store it is almost like sending your resume. Well, it is exactly like sending a resume. It is best to have an established business with a good portfolio. Even better for the store, have an established customer base. Do your homework on the store. Is it purely a consignment store? Is it a store where the owner that paints but would like helping filling a store and thinks that a consigner would help fill the store and add another voice? Does the store actually not do consignment but rent out spaces to other artists. Find out before you approach them. Realize that a store {like a business getting multiple resumes a day} might get approached often. To be honest, there are weeks I get 2-3 emails about being a consigner. Some approach me through MCC, some Poppy. If you are new to the business you need to find out about the painting business-know your market. Would you be the only person doing it {that would be ideal} or are there dozens of people selling painted furniture in your area {a quick search on CL and you will find out}.  The more people selling in your area the more you have to stand out with quality and branding {build your resume}. You are going to have to put some money in to start the business if you want to stand out and have a long career {and realize you won't make decent money for a good while, even with being a consigner}. Also, if you are an established business approaching another business to consign in, do so with care. Understand that it is another person's store that they have worked hard for and inserting your ego into it might not work. Example- your store is ok but it would be even better with me in it and I have been doing it for years and years {yes this happens and I know right off the bat that that person is not going to mesh well with the team}. This is totally speaking for myself but I only work with people who I know only bring positivity into the business and respect that the store. Don't feel bad if a store turns you down because they are full. After you submitted your work, if you hear the feedback is that the store loves your work but they are full, don't be discouraged. Ask to be on a waiting list or if it is ok if you contact them again in six months. Honestly, you would want to be a store like this. It means they really care about who they have in the store and don't have say 6+ consigners contributing. Also, ask to be referred. You would be surprised how many of us store owners are actually really good friends in somewhat constant contact. Basically to sum it up, being a consigner in a fantastic store with a supportive owner is great! It is good for some and not others. It will be for you to find out. It might be best for forge your own path, call you own shots and own your own store! Lastly don't forget to dream big!

t h e   b e s t

 

 

I had a long conversation with a good friend about this yesterday and I thought I would share. This goes along with "take the ego out of painting" and "put your head down and paint". 

 

Competition is a killer. It kills creativity. It sneaks into your brain and makes you question everything you do.

 

I make a concerted effort every single day to avoid thinking about what other people are doing in business.

 

This is the worst thing an artist can do.

source

 

 

 I try very hard not to look at what anyone else is doing. Unless you are a painter friend of mine and in that case I want to celebrate what you do. I will try to go out of my way to help you in any way I can. It doesn't add or take away from anything I do.

 

People that refer to themselves as the best this or that confuse me. Why say this? Especially with art because it is so subjective. If someone says they are better than me at something it says more about them than it does me. I am just doing my best, I am not THE best.

 

I just want to be the best for myself. I really don't have an opinion about what someone else is doing, I am sure they have a very good reason for decisions they have made. Just as I have reasons for the decisions I have made.

 

One reason I wanted to write this is, I get asked often, weekly about how to get started in this business. The thing is, I only know how to do it for myself. I only know how to set goals for myself, get off the couch and pick up the brush myself. No one is doing it for me.

 

I want to do my best work. I might not ever be the best at anything. I want to be a great mentor, friend, mom, wife, shop owner. But I probably won't ever be the best. In fact, I know I won't be.

 

And you know what?! I am happy with that. I just took the pressure off myself and opened up room for happiness.