tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18641910759026429042024-02-07T05:38:42.134-08:00The Modern Cottage Companythe modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comBlogger343125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-8645628372087960202020-11-02T08:56:00.017-08:002020-12-29T09:11:01.704-08:00<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> e s t a t e s a l e </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">In the spring on 2019 my family moved from our large farmhouse to a sweet spanish style house a few blocks away.</p><p style="text-align: center;">With the layout being completely different, most of my antique pieces from my personal collection didn't fit.</p><p style="text-align: center;">I am finally pulling them out of storage and having my own mini estate sale.</p><p style="text-align: center;">Tacoma, WA local pick up only.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Inquiries mcchomedecor@yahoo.com</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUPr2cuOwk8diHxArpd4uDEax3T6d_vP01-K9OWDTD16eYp298dm9n4GNk92Vm3mJrWw-TLl25ddiHuWgy9BA0FR6faSx84MvHMn0axFNLh7jqugwRvG5R-KOavQu2T9hHR8YlwBC5x6t/s960/126314077_3474873042595503_8708382146271784071_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUPr2cuOwk8diHxArpd4uDEax3T6d_vP01-K9OWDTD16eYp298dm9n4GNk92Vm3mJrWw-TLl25ddiHuWgy9BA0FR6faSx84MvHMn0axFNLh7jqugwRvG5R-KOavQu2T9hHR8YlwBC5x6t/w480-h640/126314077_3474873042595503_8708382146271784071_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8UytvLiBbYg0QWo5WeE4Wsb2w6IM_8dHKA-L3qbG2Rv6DXjsi_lY2pGsbFMeK7zwNw1XxYyIV6S14b-9KcgxETUg7S782SFWCNowkRdiy2mDydS2YytLhPZaV1o4X2AGghZN4WaLYwdg/s960/126949651_3474872892595518_2080990442296392931_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8UytvLiBbYg0QWo5WeE4Wsb2w6IM_8dHKA-L3qbG2Rv6DXjsi_lY2pGsbFMeK7zwNw1XxYyIV6S14b-9KcgxETUg7S782SFWCNowkRdiy2mDydS2YytLhPZaV1o4X2AGghZN4WaLYwdg/w640-h640/126949651_3474872892595518_2080990442296392931_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pending Pickup - large buffet (in the palest of grey) $540 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">66L 21W 32H</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdRNX9eH0X9dnQ6v4XgGh0DTVcjwInJiW4wnB0unL8aG0AYe95SPr5dT3WWD6WYJRQgEhx-5Kn2oZMWFgzGkhAuwAwrklmJgENqz3Jd0sR0JvG64qW-terEaOuruxBjnq2QLu4nqeS_vL/s960/124376989_3439870402762434_8655963499311193886_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdRNX9eH0X9dnQ6v4XgGh0DTVcjwInJiW4wnB0unL8aG0AYe95SPr5dT3WWD6WYJRQgEhx-5Kn2oZMWFgzGkhAuwAwrklmJgENqz3Jd0sR0JvG64qW-terEaOuruxBjnq2QLu4nqeS_vL/w640-h640/124376989_3439870402762434_8655963499311193886_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></p></b><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"> </b><b>PRICE DROP to $325</b><b style="font-weight: bold;"> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">mercury glass cabinet. $395 42L 15W 60H</b></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFGUurKk14xx2UfLQyEm6405N0DbmI5CiIY3ejriGWyQH82rg9gH9kY9Ac_blxP4zJjO7AJm3W48NdUE4KbdjpTA6fmCVhbxqiNN2a_u_6FPpANy8MqnGuNKp8TKv2oeOdkBBa3bT835g/s960/124626157_3439871016095706_3511180694116746749_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFGUurKk14xx2UfLQyEm6405N0DbmI5CiIY3ejriGWyQH82rg9gH9kY9Ac_blxP4zJjO7AJm3W48NdUE4KbdjpTA6fmCVhbxqiNN2a_u_6FPpANy8MqnGuNKp8TKv2oeOdkBBa3bT835g/w480-h640/124626157_3439871016095706_3511180694116746749_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>SOLD- PRICE DROP to $170</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>gun metal dresser $240</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>18 1/2L 35W 36H</b></div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGKDb-l61c-GwOjH-YXkoYONsLtNPDP53NQdvTtoDyOa0CXXdM6RxnHZNytcFDm-ao9GNVgzHm__-Hq5L6293flChzw1lAsiBWthIz2jNtK6uZxWKiSI2kYNd9UFJO8h8tSgjTZb-AGaq/s960/125425923_3455753627840778_489432432634688863_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGKDb-l61c-GwOjH-YXkoYONsLtNPDP53NQdvTtoDyOa0CXXdM6RxnHZNytcFDm-ao9GNVgzHm__-Hq5L6293flChzw1lAsiBWthIz2jNtK6uZxWKiSI2kYNd9UFJO8h8tSgjTZb-AGaq/w640-h640/125425923_3455753627840778_489432432634688863_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SOLD- classic white buffet, $520. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhc4ompgmHzjfRvfGjUECBPMVocH-0gDMZvGQAU_73g8AsFv05hEpyr2yaHewQuZ-0AU9iZLt3haR8LDwDbEV4XNMOk30hTdJuoMFIy7ZMBi5jwFxlsU-cXXPP8AFElDHDaklbEi3qCcpn/s960/125485672_3456362154446592_4240116129932676204_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhc4ompgmHzjfRvfGjUECBPMVocH-0gDMZvGQAU_73g8AsFv05hEpyr2yaHewQuZ-0AU9iZLt3haR8LDwDbEV4XNMOk30hTdJuoMFIy7ZMBi5jwFxlsU-cXXPP8AFElDHDaklbEi3qCcpn/w512-h640/125485672_3456362154446592_4240116129932676204_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SOLD -grey dresser (blue undertone) $395</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">38W 21 1/2L 53H</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOVNTypGLgRYLI35naiTdhN-nmld6LFQHMhB_5j-CVmL-mlxV7-bQsW6N9EaX09EC4CWH1_Arx1ia2VIUG6kDMaEQ2YjVZX6CVLqnTjH5oePQwAAD-hI_n-WMX1T91VDwpdKGEa_YFVEm/s960/125516485_3458475837568557_1596505435678296310_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOVNTypGLgRYLI35naiTdhN-nmld6LFQHMhB_5j-CVmL-mlxV7-bQsW6N9EaX09EC4CWH1_Arx1ia2VIUG6kDMaEQ2YjVZX6CVLqnTjH5oePQwAAD-hI_n-WMX1T91VDwpdKGEa_YFVEm/w480-h640/125516485_3458475837568557_1596505435678296310_n.jpg" width="480" /></a>'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PRICE DROP to $370</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">dark grey empire $420. 42W 20L 45H</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVSi1jXd426ZWZe_ixy6TBtmBwYa-kEaqZqSyUMOUtU1Cm6AW1-_jSZzr8dFrDwg_39o7L487lZ1DbYmeXvaJbr7gqcm56TZMmynbI6fbpc-kfbX0KUY5y9NjihAxrYiUOkLeYf3bCRR4/s960/125566378_3458475807568560_1487144633752215741_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVSi1jXd426ZWZe_ixy6TBtmBwYa-kEaqZqSyUMOUtU1Cm6AW1-_jSZzr8dFrDwg_39o7L487lZ1DbYmeXvaJbr7gqcm56TZMmynbI6fbpc-kfbX0KUY5y9NjihAxrYiUOkLeYf3bCRR4/w480-h640/125566378_3458475807568560_1487144633752215741_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(see details above)</b></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKb2Ff4tpdd278lWErlfcrCAQNQ2iW-eqp8-k-vlVlKtkWxMpR1eRCgOnPkdYO-e-eEDDose4kUunX-lAvxzDUn_RhXd0b6_p_F_hgdR0kid6iZgtQRoBokhG0gOqQL2cbEi6TWd5kato/s960/120903655_3358427380906737_3320540430705458044_n+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKb2Ff4tpdd278lWErlfcrCAQNQ2iW-eqp8-k-vlVlKtkWxMpR1eRCgOnPkdYO-e-eEDDose4kUunX-lAvxzDUn_RhXd0b6_p_F_hgdR0kid6iZgtQRoBokhG0gOqQL2cbEi6TWd5kato/w480-h640/120903655_3358427380906737_3320540430705458044_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></b></div><b><div style="text-align: center;">Pending Pickup- PRICE DROP to $140</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>petite desk $210. 37L 19 1/2W 31H</b></div></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ycYEA1VFyfSEZjrCFFuuaw60arE7NrzkDxVdrK6aws_Q4P7_Ywiya42hz1fjwo9mjdfxWLheh-mn4cyu2eQG_VvaLudnAdZNvwt2oO1VmBxJAZtoMFj95rmOiqBqoHdLaOWSAGQR9xn3/s960/123391734_3418342608248547_6703018034566621017_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ycYEA1VFyfSEZjrCFFuuaw60arE7NrzkDxVdrK6aws_Q4P7_Ywiya42hz1fjwo9mjdfxWLheh-mn4cyu2eQG_VvaLudnAdZNvwt2oO1VmBxJAZtoMFj95rmOiqBqoHdLaOWSAGQR9xn3/w640-h480/123391734_3418342608248547_6703018034566621017_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>SOLD -White Buffet, larger than it looks in picture. Really special piece, $420 </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>28W 56L 33 1/2H</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_YyWLU9V3sjftBGanDeJ5ql31whXK8HOAeIgPCfYTDqN1exkHG89xHLghPKI3YlKyOhbKz93F6_mfxa1IOlB4u1MCE1UkOSjpxlnd9UeYnO9FUv5U4WfKPOrmuN0TWmD6kAL1kOEy_lH/s960/122573715_3401697196579755_3434654446427965902_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_YyWLU9V3sjftBGanDeJ5ql31whXK8HOAeIgPCfYTDqN1exkHG89xHLghPKI3YlKyOhbKz93F6_mfxa1IOlB4u1MCE1UkOSjpxlnd9UeYnO9FUv5U4WfKPOrmuN0TWmD6kAL1kOEy_lH/w640-h640/122573715_3401697196579755_3434654446427965902_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SOLD -chippy beauty. Very heavy, great antique piece. $320 </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>38W 21L 32H</b></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WqOFUAL7f5Mhvmy8MnQnbXnIFlXcobrrnZGS5l6QEmN49nEYYt56hTLYT6pD1XLEc9FOeMCXBtSDa7xZEsqZi_T1_XO63e-6K8dOKJ6sYKlDXpXZjIPD8d5DFMQsrhCGI2qDlEsEAE3W/s960/121113547_3358427337573408_2731514160782944646_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WqOFUAL7f5Mhvmy8MnQnbXnIFlXcobrrnZGS5l6QEmN49nEYYt56hTLYT6pD1XLEc9FOeMCXBtSDa7xZEsqZi_T1_XO63e-6K8dOKJ6sYKlDXpXZjIPD8d5DFMQsrhCGI2qDlEsEAE3W/w480-h640/121113547_3358427337573408_2731514160782944646_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>SOLD- PRICE DROP to $180</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>petite dresser, $250 </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>31W 19L 34H</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyRYA5gwMw96gYMQdMqJqKxfgOzb0QjPtD0aeEmruDnlF9cQrKjEFfjUDGCnu9BjkUAEax7G7aFPGy9qCFQBfBR6QxvvgnRK-wdC935IQ8797jtaH2CC9dpkwnGFFWVRgyJb_tOP2e2J3/s960/119763764_3293331690749640_1296168372558912277_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyRYA5gwMw96gYMQdMqJqKxfgOzb0QjPtD0aeEmruDnlF9cQrKjEFfjUDGCnu9BjkUAEax7G7aFPGy9qCFQBfBR6QxvvgnRK-wdC935IQ8797jtaH2CC9dpkwnGFFWVRgyJb_tOP2e2J3/w480-h640/119763764_3293331690749640_1296168372558912277_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>SOLD -Deep grey, bow front dresser. Dimensions to come, sale $310</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWh0G_YImyRcCw76prxbnEaH-tCmI9OEKG_hhex7weSI1DQQ9PT7Z2l4LPU5nSZj-figQyDh3f6AtPTsEYgVjdIKdzSTZO9ZsMzOroYr_ZXI8DmJwfOa6iYiphc610ShdnJ_PrusMB37Y/s960/120955252_3364698843612924_6994291047660220181_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWh0G_YImyRcCw76prxbnEaH-tCmI9OEKG_hhex7weSI1DQQ9PT7Z2l4LPU5nSZj-figQyDh3f6AtPTsEYgVjdIKdzSTZO9ZsMzOroYr_ZXI8DmJwfOa6iYiphc610ShdnJ_PrusMB37Y/w480-h640/120955252_3364698843612924_6994291047660220181_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>PRICE DROP to $210</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>light grey antique dresser. $240 40L 17W 44H</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>----------------------------------------------</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglxMyGsik2CfUgj3bL96NUp3T7HCRymhT53BYVPZeNq4_6YUo2r17VjJRTZcCz5xPTXDZWK7LbkdW-NkVmgvo7JEL0Cm30OBw_BGemDqtCDt1QiRpps5etDtsfm9XLru4-UfauSHLaOVC/s960/49667117_2011776558905166_1923520276247609344_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="956" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhglxMyGsik2CfUgj3bL96NUp3T7HCRymhT53BYVPZeNq4_6YUo2r17VjJRTZcCz5xPTXDZWK7LbkdW-NkVmgvo7JEL0Cm30OBw_BGemDqtCDt1QiRpps5etDtsfm9XLru4-UfauSHLaOVC/w638-h640/49667117_2011776558905166_1923520276247609344_n.jpg" width="638" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">SOLD- Green Cabinet </div><br /><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-4682493664038275222020-05-25T19:43:00.000-07:002020-05-25T19:43:35.263-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0H0Ht_dwh1yZB1JI3dz3G5yfCdLEBcNKw7su56Jze1ba3Jm-5nW1LOdkR4jmAv4m6YUbl5njfjr1NqcMOtxW62NJyP5a5JYOLzhfaYeuwzUiJTgu9XG0oN7RqfUvpUam0pXuyDpH1uso/s1600/100624990_10221888364907772_2949396970361323520_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0H0Ht_dwh1yZB1JI3dz3G5yfCdLEBcNKw7su56Jze1ba3Jm-5nW1LOdkR4jmAv4m6YUbl5njfjr1NqcMOtxW62NJyP5a5JYOLzhfaYeuwzUiJTgu9XG0oN7RqfUvpUam0pXuyDpH1uso/s320/100624990_10221888364907772_2949396970361323520_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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m y w e e k e n d</div>
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I needed this weekend and I could use one more day.</div>
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I didn't get as much walking in as I wanted but I did spend a day painting another coat on the basement ceiling and I fixed up my new little space and my friend Linda's shop.</div>
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And watched Out of Africa tonight and thought it was a very sad and beautiful movie.</div>
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This week will be busy but next weekend will be here before I know it .</div>
the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-25407608715525443942020-05-18T19:34:00.002-07:002020-05-18T19:34:36.795-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPB7SGyqB-MLtWXluDivHAq-Hl0mmn8anP2n5wqU9r5yC5MfsE0ed5bWRzoXOA2w_ob9p7HOjzqwb7B46OL0-Wn5ovkIMKYFbmo3OKfDMO4nQv_f05SlF9zBipPcOvrfi-e6F3Ss-VVTj/s1600/instead-of-looking-at-your-phone-you-should-make-some-46800064.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPB7SGyqB-MLtWXluDivHAq-Hl0mmn8anP2n5wqU9r5yC5MfsE0ed5bWRzoXOA2w_ob9p7HOjzqwb7B46OL0-Wn5ovkIMKYFbmo3OKfDMO4nQv_f05SlF9zBipPcOvrfi-e6F3Ss-VVTj/s320/instead-of-looking-at-your-phone-you-should-make-some-46800064.png" width="259" /></a></div>
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w e e k 9 q u a r e n t i n e</div>
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If you asked me 3 months ago about the thought of working from home full time, I would have said YES! </div>
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We have been living in this house for a year and I have so many projects that I would have loved to put my 8 hours in of work and fit in a project or two each day. </div>
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It hasn't happened that way. </div>
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In a weird way I am really enjoying being at home and not fully relaxed about it either. And by the weekend I am exhausted. Full on, I don't want to do a thing exhausted. I sat on my couch all day last Saturday watching Little Fires Everywhere. For 10 hours.</div>
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I am not getting the projects done that I hoped, my kids are doing just fine, I am tired. </div>
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Anyway, I have done very little of the above quote and I have been doing a lot of looking at my phone. </div>
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I have a lot on my work to do list, maybe I need to make a "me" to do list as well. </div>
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Maybe coffee and kissing tomorrow.</div>
<br />the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-73536502435043630622019-12-28T16:57:00.000-08:002019-12-28T16:57:31.395-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
w o r d o f t h e y e a r</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRBfGyeCcPyCCEDp4ebLyNEcvBeQ5tQPVv67IXtyqAKt6y-oBzczQtqcKW__70h33I_b2qlogcJUAL17FKp3_cs5LoYskGBfn7f_7bPTPo8Ze_gukIxRkxipsA3P5IfxRs-YRe7Re8UhF/s1600/70041510_10219517428075833_2983195519712493568_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRBfGyeCcPyCCEDp4ebLyNEcvBeQ5tQPVv67IXtyqAKt6y-oBzczQtqcKW__70h33I_b2qlogcJUAL17FKp3_cs5LoYskGBfn7f_7bPTPo8Ze_gukIxRkxipsA3P5IfxRs-YRe7Re8UhF/s320/70041510_10219517428075833_2983195519712493568_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I haven't done a word of the year in a few years. If I am remembering correctly, that word was <b>balance</b>. For that year, that really fit. It was the last year of my old MCC shop, when I also shared Clementine Home and when I had a pre-teen and teen going through all kinds of teenage emotions. I was getting a lot of calls from school and I was getting constant calls from customers. I took charge of my balance that year and took all kinds of things off my plate. I stopped volunteering, I stopped being available to everyone other than my family and I closed my MCC shop. I listened to my gut and fixed my balance.</div>
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I got pretty good at balance over the last few years. It means saying no a lot and being ok with people not liking you for it.</div>
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This year my word is <b>happiness</b>. I am not so good at this one. I think because it means so much to much to me and I am not sure how to not just be content but happy. And happy not in perfection. I know that making this word my word of the year that I am opening myself up for a lot of testing it. I know that this is how things work.</div>
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I am a feeler and I don't just feel my own emotions, but I walk into a room and feel everyone else's emotions as well. It can be exhausting and it can leave me not feeling very happy. I have also encountered people who like to project their unhappiness on me, I stay away from those people.</div>
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I learned pretty young to build up boundaries around myself. I think pretty healthy ones, but people tend to gravitate toward me with negativity and my walls go up. I have been told that it takes a long time for me to let people in. So if I open up to you, we are friends - then I love and trust you.</div>
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Ok back to happiness. The last few years have been heavy, and I am totally sure why...I think it was bringing me to this year. Letting myself be happy even when things are out of my control. </div>
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Oh and there are people that don't like happy people. I am going to definitely stay away from those people this year ( I already sort of do this ). </div>
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And people that think that happiness is a weakness. As if people can't be kind, happy and successful. This has always baffled me.</div>
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I am sure that happiness will take practice but I am totally up for that challenge.</div>
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Here's to a happy 2020.</div>
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-Alison</div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-56275404785373808182019-12-22T17:20:00.001-08:002019-12-22T17:25:49.776-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
c a m d e n a t 1 7</div>
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I remember a post I did about Camden at age 11. </div>
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She would come to the store with me every weekend and just sit behind the counter. In some ways always my shadow. When she was a baby she wasn't happy unless in my arms. Her spirit always bigger than mine but the same. I am her mom for a reason.</div>
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As I think of this Christmas specifically, I can't help but think about Camden and me. </div>
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The last few weeks I have been very busy at work but this weekend Camden and I made her little apartment in our house a little more magical. It was our whole weekend.</div>
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And we talked about college again today and it seems like she will be going to New York in 2021... she will have the world in her hands. If I have showed her anything, I hope she is always true to herself, follows her our instincts not fear, works harder than she could ever imagine and does all things in LOVE.</div>
the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-1216115044111416392019-08-31T20:05:00.003-07:002019-08-31T20:05:42.327-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
the spanish house</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaJhwRhCqZ5VzZRU929iC2loQahR9hnNyodIp6x53-GsoKsGKrNb6wctZE2R2zQjV7b4bCsgSFQyKBfFd3ks51GoHai7HJV8oPexEfnEQc7hbqFYJm5DPn_J_LiHm0wZEMMxdWaQ91G7X/s1600/DTRJ7778.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdaJhwRhCqZ5VzZRU929iC2loQahR9hnNyodIp6x53-GsoKsGKrNb6wctZE2R2zQjV7b4bCsgSFQyKBfFd3ks51GoHai7HJV8oPexEfnEQc7hbqFYJm5DPn_J_LiHm0wZEMMxdWaQ91G7X/s320/DTRJ7778.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Last summer we decided to be open to the idea of finding a new home.</div>
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We had lived in our Victorian Farmhouse for about 12 years, it was really the only home that my kids ever remember living in but it wasn't working for us anymore.</div>
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They yard was large (corner lot) and way more than we could handle, and I didn't want to pay someone to take of it for us. So it felt like a chore and never really looked as nice as it could. </div>
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It was a gorgeous home, 12 foot ceilings and pretty moldings but you did not get the warm feeling of being home when you walked in the front door. It felt like a home that was beautiful but cold and dark. All of the bedrooms were next to each other and with teenagers there was little peace in the house. </div>
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A sort of funny story about how we moved into that home originally- We had a suburban home in a town nearby when the kids were born. We all hated it, we regretted it almost immediately after we bought it. I was always drawn to old homes and beautiful architecture and that 2001 home didn't do it for us. So, after 4 years of living there we decided to sell, then the housing recession started and it took us almost 2 years to sell that home (not at a loss thank goodness) . </div>
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We knew we wanted to move to the Northend of Tacoma, but we didn't want to buy then. We needed to wait out the market so we rented a really small bungalow on N 28th street. </div>
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I went back to work right around this time, commuting to Seattle everyday, and it was nice.</div>
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One day at work, six months after we moved into our rental, I found the Victorian Farmhouse for rent that was two houses down from us. It was one of my favorite Tacoma houses.</div>
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I found a new tenant for our rental (who would end up being one of my best friends) and we moved into the Farmhouse on the corner. We ended up buying it two years later once the market had stabilized.</div>
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My friends knew I had a love / hate relationship with this house. It served my business well as a background to stage pieces but we had put a lot money into it and it really needed about 100k more to be a show stopper. And we didn't want to do that, it wasn't the forever home.</div>
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So that brings me back to the new house we bought.</div>
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I wanted either no yard, or a little yard. I wanted some sort of deck to sit on and to be near the water. </div>
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My daughter will be going to college in two years and my 14 year old son might end up living with us for a few years after graduation. He is on the autism spectrum so we wanted to find a house that either had an apartment/garage or a basement apartment. Neither are easy to find in our neighborhood.</div>
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I started looking last summer with my friend and agent Tiffany. </div>
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We toured several and I would save homes I liked.</div>
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On a run last March I ran by the cutest Spanish bungalow. When I got home I pulled the listing, called Tiffany and we looked at it within a day or two.</div>
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I think everyone in my family thought I was crazy. But I have vision and if there is one thing that I know I am good it, it is taking something worn out and making it beautiful again. It is my thing, always has been.</div>
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The house needed major cosmetic work, but the price was great, we had room to make the improvements needed. The bones are great.</div>
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So we put in an offer, it got accepted and I had two weeks to get my house ready to sell. It was bananas but we did it.</div>
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Our Spanish house is actually a duplex. There is a basement walkout apartment with a living space, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. It is also accessible inside from what I call our upstairs apartment. It has 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, dining room, living room, kitchen and a rooftop garden that I love. The upstairs apartment sits high above the street so it feels like a treehouse and there is a water</div>
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view. It is perfect for us.</div>
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The downstairs apartment is great for my daughter right now when she wants quiet. I hang out with her all the time down there, we bake cookies and watch movies, it is really nice. She also spends most of her time upstairs with us. When she graduates my son will either move down there or stay upstairs and we will Air B&B the lower level apartment. If we do that it will more than cover the cost of our entire mortgage. The home gives us a lot of flexibility as an investment so it is great.</div>
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I would love to go all out with the remodel of this house but we will do it in phases, it is nice to not spend everything we made off the last home. Right now I am replacing all of the old finishes and painting pretty much every room when I have time.</div>
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Phase 2, which I have no idea when that will be, would include painting the outside white, replacing the garage door with carriage doors, wood shutters on the windows, window boxes with boxwood and a door to my little rooftop porch. Mostly exterior fixes.</div>
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Right now we are definitely living in a fixer and I have very little time to work on it but it is by far my favorite house that I have ever lived in.</div>
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It definitely has the feel of home.</div>
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-Alison </div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-90663090956039438862019-07-07T15:08:00.001-07:002019-07-07T15:08:52.377-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
u n p a c k i n g</div>
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We have lived in the new house for a little over two months. I am beginning to realize that unpacking everything and being settled here is going to take a good six months to a year.</div>
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My husband inherited hundreds of books about 9 years ago that once belonged his author father. In our last house we had several bookcases build in, and a huge walk up attic for them to live in.</div>
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Right now they are in our a storage room filled so much we can't walk in or really unpack. </div>
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I ordered several bookcases last week and I am sure I will order more if what arrives, I actually like.</div>
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Once we unpack the books and place them onto shelves I can start to un- bury my furniture projects that are also being stored and start to work on those as well. I am thinking that will be sometime next winter.</div>
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The last time we moved I was a stay at home mom (12 years ago). I had the time to get us settled in very quickly. </div>
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It is in my nature that I get things done quickly. I am going to have to be patient with myself since this time we are having professionals do the flooring and I am doing all of the minor cosmetic work myself and painting most of the interior rooms. </div>
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Which is what I am supposed to be doing today but instead I thought I should unpack my stress instead. </div>
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I wanted to walk down to the new waterfront park that opened in Tacoma. An hour later and halfway there I turned back home. It was much further than I thought. But it was a beautiful walk and I unpacked some of the stress I wanted to get rid of.</div>
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I had a boyfriend in college that said my theme song was by Alabama "I'm in a Hurry". The line after that is "Rushing, rushing until life's no fun". He was't the nicest to me a lot of time and must have only saw the hurry part, because I really do try to make my life fun.</div>
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I am "fun" and "cute" remember (joke)? See last post for reference.</div>
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I am realizing that this year is about slowly unpacking my house and myself. Giving myself permission to take my time. </div>
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My house and myself do not have to be perfect.</div>
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-Alison</div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-47318420892946311932019-06-23T09:52:00.000-07:002019-06-23T09:52:43.125-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
s t a r t s a n d s t o p s </div>
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I have been thinking about blogging again for a long time.</div>
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Something always stopped me. Either I can't find the time for it, or I wasn't open to sharing. </div>
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Probably a little of both.</div>
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The last 3 years I have had a lot of starts and stops. Most of it not perpetuated by me, but other life circumstances. I have been learning to navigate, embrace the change, and find the lessons.</div>
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I grew up in a small town, middle class, church every Sunday family. I was a spunky little brown haired girl. Big green eyes and chubby cheeks. I was told I was always smiling, would change my clothes 10x's a day, and loved to sing and perform for anyone that would listen. </div>
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I was a gymnast, cheerleader, runner, A- student, and on the executive committee of my sorority for 3 out of the 4 years in college. It didn't always come easy to me but I worked hard.</div>
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I have always been a "go-getter" .</div>
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I was cute, for some reason that stuck with me. My mom told me once my sister was the pretty one and I was cute. I am 43 now and someone actually called me cute last week. Kind of funny to be called cute at my age but I guess I will take it.</div>
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Part of what I have been going through the last few years is bringing me back to the smiling kid, who loves clothes and enjoys being happy.</div>
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I had lost my "go-getter" a few years ago. </div>
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It started to really bug me this year that I was letting myself not be grounded, in one place so I could take root. At first I was really mad about it. Maybe even angry and sad about it. I know those close to me knew it. I have never been one to rock the boat, I hate drama and you won't find me being the person to call other people out. I usually just walk away from negative people. But I started to voice my opinion and what I wanted, really for the first time in my life.</div>
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So I am in this spot now where I am navigating what I want the second half of my life to be. Without the shift and stress of the last 3 years, I don't think I would be in the place where I can do that now.</div>
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I feel like I am starting over in my career right now. It is a bit frustrating, yet exciting. I have this nagging feeling that I shouldn't have left the corporate world to run my business for 8 years. Even though looking back on it I am very proud of myself. I did everything- hiring, firing, training, accounting, marketing, sales, merchandising, lease and vendor negotiations.... and a million other things.</div>
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I was a boss-lady. But the corporate world doesn't know where to put you once you step back in it. </div>
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Human Resources only wants to hire you based on a singular path. </div>
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So, I am trying to figure out what I want to do for the next few decades of my career. Now that I have the "go-getter" back what do I want to be? I am thinking about taking some graduate classes in marketing and program management staring in the fall. I can get additional certifications that will accompany my BA and count toward my MBA if I ever want to finish it. But...I am not sure I want to get school loans, so I am praying about it.</div>
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My gut is telling me to hold off a bit. Enjoy the summer, start working out again, and work on my new house.</div>
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If I blog again, it will mostly be about my new house, but this is also a nice place to process my path and maybe you can relate to that more than pretty pictures.</div>
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-Alison </div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-63241185099405300242018-07-17T22:01:00.001-07:002019-01-10T11:13:04.454-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
l e t t i n g g o </div>
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I have been quiet here. I had the type of day today that brought me back to the blog.</div>
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As I opened this blog template to write, I noticed that I have posted 398 posts over the last 8 years.</div>
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Well, I had no idea (or remembered) that I have done that many posts over the years!</div>
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I spent the evening with my friend Kathy on the water having dinner. Kathy was my neighbor and friend for all 8 years of The Modern Cottage Company and she was also in the antique business. We are bonded that way.</div>
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She brought some perspective to my week about what really matters. </div>
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I will tell you, I don't open my business Instagram or Facebook much anymore and when I did today I got the pang of inadequacy. The inactivity of my account(s) means that followers are falling off quickly. And that is ok. I was talking to my husband about it tonight and I said, I have to let that go. I need to be okay that what I built isn't there anymore and evolve myself. It was all surface and not substance anyway.</div>
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I am not building that anymore. I am busy building more important things.</div>
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I am not in a really creative business chapter of my life, and I think that is why I stopped posting. But it is good, I am at peace with that. I wanted for this chapter for years and it is unfolding the way it should.</div>
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I am challenged now in a different way with work each day and I love it. My (new-ish, been there almost a year) work family is quirky and fun. Each day is completely different and I get to put my professional and event strategy business hat on. I love the travel component of my job.</div>
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It's all still wonky and wonderful but I am working on it.</div>
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- Alison </div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-37082023851595536822018-02-14T19:22:00.000-08:002018-02-14T19:27:41.641-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDt_f1RW-XjoNyes5hCwIlqIhLAzhgeFED1WJpxL6MYEGj4xGUgNgiHH7wpGJugRmLD9zFdse657NqMKytF2aeSeqrf5CpJpeGU1n3H8ftJoG2QRFQlSKoJTL6PE7wd-S9roBX3-KsIzJ5/s1600/images.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDt_f1RW-XjoNyes5hCwIlqIhLAzhgeFED1WJpxL6MYEGj4xGUgNgiHH7wpGJugRmLD9zFdse657NqMKytF2aeSeqrf5CpJpeGU1n3H8ftJoG2QRFQlSKoJTL6PE7wd-S9roBX3-KsIzJ5/s1600/images.png" /></a></div>
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I feel like I need to give you an update on what I am doing.</div>
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I am not going anywhere. If anything I will have more time to dive into my interests, make things more personal, share more tips.</div>
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There wasn't one reason I decided not be a store owner any longer. It wasn't my new job, I had it decided before. It definitely made it a huge juggle but it wasn't the only reason. </div>
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For me it was mostly the season had changed for me. Really I never felt the same after I closed my shop a few years ago. That was me. I became less inspired, I never got time off, felt creatively tied down a bit. And the wheels in the retail world have been slowly coming off, any small business will tell you this. </div>
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Mostly, I need a break. You don't get a break when you own a store. There are no excuses in the service industry. It wasn't for me any longer. I need a weekend to turn off my phone.</div>
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I am very, very different than when I went into this business. At the same time a bit more cynical, I have seen some things, I have done some things. I would say for the most part I came out softer and more self aware. Way less judgemental of what others are doing in their world and only focused on my lane. I wasn't always this way but I definitely came out this way in the end.<br />
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The thing is, I want to do my thing. Be fully creative, a free spirit, and make mistakes.</div>
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I could do none of those things running a store. And I had 6 years to work through that.</div>
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I will say that professionally I am taking a pause. But I am not done. </div>
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I am open to what comes my way. I have already had a few......</div>
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We should always believe the best is yet to come...</div>
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I am excited to share the ride with you.</div>
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So, lots of love to you on this day of love!</div>
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-Alison </div>
the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-75565836576085899192017-11-11T18:00:00.001-08:002017-11-11T18:00:40.617-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
holding pattern</div>
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I spent the last year and a half in a holding pattern. If you have known me before this time, you knew my sparkle was gone. There was a point last year when I was so scared of the future, even the next day. When everything seemed to be going wrong. Hard, sad. Like the door shut on me and I couldn't open it. I needed to be shut in though, I needed that year to be home with Cooper. </div>
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I lost myself in that space though. I battled the fear but I started leaning on faith. I would have days that I would drop off Cooper at school and cry all the way home. I was also holding on tight to my business, even though I knew it wasn't ever going to financially support us the way it needed to. We were starting to sink. I knew I needed to let it go but I didn't have another plan. I had spent 7 years building it, it was like a child to me.</div>
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And then I started to resent it. It started to become a stress on me and not a joyful creative outlet. This sounds negative but I think it was actually a good turning point for me. A way of letting go. I started to have this desire to just close every MCC social media outlet and just be Alison. </div>
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I started slowly this summer with a part time job, and now with a full time marketing job. I started to find myself and let go of weights on me. Pressures and expectations of the business. I am still in a holding pattern, but the weight is slowly coming off. </div>
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I am learning it is not only ok to let go, it is necessary. I need to pivot, let go and be ready for the next thing. Even if that next thing is finding myself again. </div>
the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-87171448404728518272017-05-22T16:00:00.000-07:002017-05-22T16:02:20.461-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The last open studio ever!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>
Held at The Modern Cottage Company Studio - Tacoma</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Studio is behind the home, it has it's own entrance. Address will be provided prior to date. </div>
<div>
Limit is 6 people per date, 3 hours.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Must bring your own project. A good example is a set of matching side tables or a small desk/dresser. Be mindful of the space but it is best to bring a project you want to work on to make best use of your time. </div>
<div>
This is not a formal class, but I am there to help. You have access to all of my supplies. Primer, basic paint colors, wax, brushes, glaze. Basic paint colors I will have available are white, off white, navy, red, light grey, dark grey, black, green. You can use these colors to mix your own custom color. </div>
<div>
Most open studio participates take up the full 3 hours. It is a fun way to get that project done that you have had in your garage! $89 non refundable </div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-61410427530845222792017-04-06T20:44:00.000-07:002017-04-06T20:44:26.201-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
t h i s w e e k 4/2/17</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0GIXeJRQT4UXtMiXDCL9ClDEt6ti9sQWv1O73gB5WIRD3VwbVxOKBzMm8lLLVpOW_jpmHoQQjjm9-OP_g80Z9UkzjxCsE_mXsW4VrxZ3qt7KiLrFu-AVOf1esTzcAyre8evsSCa17MxY/s1600/IMG_0744%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0GIXeJRQT4UXtMiXDCL9ClDEt6ti9sQWv1O73gB5WIRD3VwbVxOKBzMm8lLLVpOW_jpmHoQQjjm9-OP_g80Z9UkzjxCsE_mXsW4VrxZ3qt7KiLrFu-AVOf1esTzcAyre8evsSCa17MxY/s640/IMG_0744%255B1%255D.JPG" width="473" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I type this Saint and Cooper are about to be home from a 5 day road trip to San Francisco. We went round and round last month trying to decide if any of us were going to go or the whole family. We decided that it would be the most fun if just the two of them went. 14 hours in the car with an 11 and 14 year old with various sensory processing disorders and vastly different ideas of what would be exciting, didn't sound that fun to me or Saint.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Plus this is absolutely my busiest time of year at work. April-June is buying season for my furniture business. A huge amount of my business comes from people moving, buying a first home or remodeling. Most of this happens in the Spring. Amanda and I have been blessed with a blossoming design business along with our retail store. The design side of our businesses is at the heart of what we are loving to do creatively right now. We don't often show that side of our businesses, but we should because I think it would surprise people. Currently our clients are going for a mix of very modern, a touch of classic, and a hint of vintage. It is fun.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh, and staging, We are staging homes right now too. This is in fact home buying season. There is a lot going on behind the scenes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had a great week of antique buying last week and this week I spent painting and restoring a lot of it. With Coop and Saint gone, I spent long days in my studio. I almost never do this when we are all home. The door to my studio usually shuts at 150pm for the day, when I pick up the kids from school. Camden didn't mind me painting all week, she spent long days sketching and using her drawing pad. There was a lot of creative energy going on this week with just the two of us home. I have to say my house stayed pretty clean with just the girls home this week. We are excited to have them back though. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I took a lot of pictures of trees this week. I don't know why, they were pretty... </div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Next week is more painting painting painting! And maybe some weeding. With the sun, the weeds have come up. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I kind of like this weekly post. I think I will keep it up. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hope your week has been smashing.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
-A.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-7816087386432944372017-03-31T19:26:00.003-07:002017-03-31T19:48:52.428-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
t h i s w e e k o n I G MCC</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYQVx9vfNosV6SEcUv2Bu2QsdQ_lV5bVMpo-PfTYU2cRbWCh-rN4jfJhcurg31gNrgeX-o8hETE1xSdVW-HrZ4KmSM8oD0-Uk2G3WV39acFZyi95Kv_FGLjwmTox2VNnZ3DZ3c8HXqiIZ/s1600/IG1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYQVx9vfNosV6SEcUv2Bu2QsdQ_lV5bVMpo-PfTYU2cRbWCh-rN4jfJhcurg31gNrgeX-o8hETE1xSdVW-HrZ4KmSM8oD0-Uk2G3WV39acFZyi95Kv_FGLjwmTox2VNnZ3DZ3c8HXqiIZ/s400/IG1.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
I thought I would start a new weekly post. Really it is a rundown of what I did that week and my Instagram pictures are the guide. My kids are off school next week so I kind of buckled down and worked in overdrive this week. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Two weeks ago I had an open studio and my studio was pretty much cleared out of projects. For some reason the furniture angels (my pickers and friends) found me a months worth of projects (about 20) to work on. Some are slam dunk painters and some I will spend time rebuilding before I can prep for paint. They are all gorgeous and inspiring. And when I have pretty pieces in my studio - I get to work. I don't sit on projects. I never have. Ever. It is not how I work. I buy it, I paint it. Year 7 and it is the way I groove artistically. So I painted a lot this week. And I sent some pictures to long time clients looking for specific pieces that might work for a custom paint job. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I don't normally custom paint. I like to pick the projects. For some reason I have been doing a lot of it lately and it has been fun~!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I spent Sunday with Camden going to
Vashon to pick up pieces. It was grey, cold and rainy but we still had a
good time. On the way home we drove though the 5 mile drive at Point
Defiance. I haven't done this 30 years. It was breathtaking. The moss on
the trees looked magical. I need to get there and shoot a picture for
you. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started off the week just looking at what I had in studio and jumping in. I have been painting more than I have room for in the shop or in my studio so I haven't totally figured out the solution to this yet but it will come. It always does. I had an idea just today that I will put away and see what becomes of it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Monday came and I was full of energy. I painted, cleaned the house and hung pictures that I had been meaning to hang for a year. Coop has been doing great again at his new school and things have been running more smoothly.<br />
<br />
Tuesday rolled in and I started getting anxiety. I hate it, I have never had anxiety before in my life until the last few years. I just plug through it. It usually teaches me something. I still hate it though.<br />
<br />
Wednesday I shared a picture of my first shop 5 years ago this week. It seems like forever ago. I also know I am a really different person than that lady that walked into that first shop- that was handed to her. It is sad, inspiring, sometimes embarrassing to think back to that time and fast forward now. I think if I had to do it over again I wouldn't have been open and inclusive. I would have been stronger on my own and a bit more selfish (I know this sounds weird but it makes sense to me). I was a lot more naive, I was probably a lot more competitive. I am neither naive or competitive now, at all. I could get carried away in the drama of things around me. Which really isn't in my nature. Time humbles you a bit and I think it strengthens you. But in someways it makes me think 1000 times more about every decision I now make and ask myself is this going to be what I want - not only in the end, but in the middle.<br />
<br />
Last night the family went to Cirque de Soleil and we had a really great time. We took the train up to meet Saint (Coop loved this and I didn't have to drive in rush hour traffic up to Seattle). I saw Camden light up during the performances and it is cool to see a 14 year old excited about something.<br />
<br />
Today I dropped of a piece at Clementine and then I went thrifting. Saint was home to get the kids from school, so I could take my time. I haven't had a day of thrifting in a very very long time. I can't even tell you the last time I did. And I had a blast, by myself- in the junk. And I found a truck load of treasures to add to my stuffed studio.<br />
<br />
So even with a week of hard work, looking forward, a step back of anxiety, a couple moments of self doubt, a few more of keep plugging through, I ended with a full studio of projects to paint and paint.<br />
<br />
And I think that is a sign to keep chugging along. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-80110497185333193062016-12-09T13:40:00.001-08:002016-12-09T13:40:42.784-08:00<div align="center">
new year</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I can easily say that this year has been by far the biggest roller coaster for our little family. We still have so many things up in the air, not everything has landed softly yet for us, but I am trying not to be impatient. </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
I am painting like crazy this week and next, I want to get through all my back stock. I am moving out of my storage unit and only now buying week to week. I made my 2017 business plan and the number one thing is to buy less for the business! Only buy what I know I can get finished and in a shop within a week or two. Back stock is nice to have, to feel secure that I know I have pieces to paint, but I also think of it as wasted money when it is sitting in storage and not in a shop for sale. This is how I used to operate years ago and I want to revisit it. It was healthier financially for my business to run that way.</div>
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</div>
<div align="center">
In January I am starting a part time job working at a shop that my friends are opening (details soon!). I went to see their space on Saturday and they surprised me with my own MCC area in the front of the shop, right when you walk in! I am excited to approach the space differently than one I have curated before. I will have my usual painted pieces but I want to make it different too from what I am selling at my own shop, Clementine Home. Only furniture, no home décor. I might have some more found pieces, and I might dabble in selling some mid century pieces. It is a high end consignment shop, and they have some amazing dealers and furniture lines coming in. Tacoma has needed a high end consignment shop for years. It will be so fun for me to have my space, come to work and not be the owner! The owners are my dear friends. They have such a positive approach to life and business, I just love being around them. I am looking forward to putting my dealer and employee hat on, it will be a good change for me. I will fill you in with more in the next few weeks. </div>
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</div>
<div align="center">
Clementine Home is doing great! Amanda and I have some amazing plans for the shop for next year , including expanding our hours a bit. The shop is growing we are enjoying the process. I am looking for another picker so if you know what one is, and if you are one, contact me! I am very picky with age, quality, and price but if you think it is something you are interested in, let me know. I can email you more specifications on the service.</div>
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</div>
<div align="center">
I have some back stock already done for Clementine and the new shop I will be working at, so I am going to take two weeks at the end of the month to work on own house. Saint is off a lot then too, so I am going to have him help me paint walls, and declutter the basement. I need to ask for help, I look at the tasks and I know they are too big for me to do myself but I am not good at not doing things on my own. Maybe that is something to look forward to in 2017, delegating more!</div>
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We are still up in the air with Cooper's school situation. We are now on the waiting list for a brand new school in the district that just opened. It is only six blocks from my new part time job, funny how life works out like that. So, I hope he gets in. It would be nice to have him so close to me. Camden just applied to a charter school for high school next year. AH! I can't believe she will be in high school.</div>
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So things are changing, not changing fast enough for me, but I need to enjoy the process more. Enjoy the holiday season. Be with my family, get my home in order, and look forward to the new year. </div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-24450239969839861722016-11-15T19:14:00.001-08:002016-11-19T13:45:53.419-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
whiskey or tea, a new job for me</div>
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My son's autism is getting worse. l should clarify it might not be worse but as a family we are moving in circles around it constantly. It is in the air with an exclamation point. When you live with a family member or two with autism, it is a roller coaster. You never know moment by moment, if it is going to be an ok day or a really hard day. Are we are going uphill or down. It is hard to prepare yourself for what the day is going to be like. There are so many factors in play from hormones, to the stress of a over crowded middle school, to diet, to it might just be a bad month for him.</div>
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Yesterday was Monday. Every time we even talked about school to my son this weekend, he was inconsolable in tears. Curled up into a ball. It is heartbreaking. On Monday I put my most positive pants on, I climbed into bed with him and told him he needed to get up in 5 minutes. If you have a spectrum child you are always counting down daily transitions so there are no surprises. Surprises cause meltdowns. This morning I drew him a bath thinking this would relax him. It didn't - it was one of those bad days. When it was time to get dressed he melted into noodle legs and tears. I had to carry my son to the car while he was inconsolable. I waiting in the car with him at school for 10 minutes before he could walk in.</div>
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Tuesday morning I had a tough shop experience. It was a lesson in what is most important to me and my family. My heart was at the school with my 11 year old, not in my business that morning. Really my heart is so much more at home right now than painting furniture. A negative experience puts my opinion of the importance of my business into perspective vs. my son.</div>
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We have gone round and round about what to do about Cooper's schooling. Currently, we on the waiting list for a charter school to start in January. We have been such squeaky wheels, I would be surprised if he doesn't get it. We exhausted every option. We really wanted to send him to a private school but every school in the area has a $9000 a year tuition and we are barely making it now, so that was just not an option. This breaks my heart. It makes me feel bad for him and guilty as a mom I can't provide that for him. I just have to keep the faith we are on the right path and it will work out.</div>
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I am starting a wonderful part time job in January, for really good friends starting their own shop, along with my own shop and my design business. This is necessary for our family right now but it is also going to be a big transition. I am excited and taking it day by day.</div>
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If this year has taught me anything it is to look at what is important in life and shut out the noise. It is a lesson in faith and to try to find joyfulness in the day to day. Even when that day to day is a roller coaster. </div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-80463848988675698092016-10-03T11:05:00.001-07:002016-10-03T11:05:12.570-07:00<div align="center">
b a l a n c e </div>
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I remember in May, my word of the month was simplicity. I think that was a good word for me at that time to really dig down and figure out what the really key things in my life were. What was best for myself and my family to figure out the balance. I won't repeat how my life was out of balance but you can read about it in my previous posts. It has taken me a few months of stepping back to really dial down and figure out where I was out of balance. </div>
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The first thing I needed to do was get all my ties to the MCC store buttoned up and checked off. This took a while. Moving out, moving merchandise to various locations and financially going down the list to cancel accounts associated with the store. There was actually a lot to this.</div>
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The next thing I needed to do was to spend more time with my kids this summer. I tried to push everything else that was out of balance in my life and focus on my kids. I didn't paint much this summer. I didn't really even need to, I had so much inventory left from my store closing.</div>
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Once the kids went back to school I wanted to spend a good month going through my furniture back stock, assess where I was in my business, paint through some things, get my studio organized and fixed up, get my bookkeeping sorted out with my bookkeeper. I am almost there.</div>
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I got several big road blocks out of the way towards balance but I still was unsettled and uneasy and I now that some big things are buttoned up I can start to dig deep and try to figure out this balance thing.</div>
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Honestly the first thing I started to do last month was pray hard and diligently really for peace in my heart. I am not exactly sure how to manage this balance thing so I need to pray for major guidance on it. The interesting thing about being quiet and diligent in prayer is I started to see small puzzle pieces come together that I know weren't coming from me. I would literally tear up when I noticed these small things.I also started to notice negativity coming from other people. Some people don't like it when you start figuring things out and getting your happy back. It is weird how this happens. Let me give you an example. Last Tuesday I woke up to really hateful DM on my MCC account, from a fake Instagram account. I won't go into it much further than the last sentence was "You are pathetic". That was actually not the worse thing in the email. The thing is I know who wrote it. That might even be worse that some random internet troll. At first it hurt and then I thought about how this person was trying to throw me off balance. The email was a mirror of how they saw themselves, it didn't really have anything to do with me. And this person doesn't even know me, never met me. And it didn't work. I spent the entire day in my studio painting a beautiful buffet, I knocked it out of the park. And then later that afternoon I got a call from someone in the business I admire so much and never met. Out of the blue. It was an interesting day and a spotlight on focusing in prayer for guidance. </div>
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The next thing I did, starting yesterday was to sit down and write a list about the things that bring me joy. The things that balance out the things that happen to me in life that I can't control and distract me from my happy. This is my list and it is really incomplete but it is a starting point. Some things might be superficial and I try to be deeper than this, but sometimes a clean house makes you happy.</div>
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*my list for my balance*</div>
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-Happy kids. When I really go back and figure out when I started to feel out of balance it is around the time we found out my son has autism 3 years ago. Ask anyone that has gone through this. There is a period of mourning for both parents and child. And a lot questions. Life the way you knew it changes. I could write a book about this. All I wanted to do was work so hard I could help provide financially for my children but be around as much as I can. I actually started to worked so hard that this backfired on me (hence closing my store).</div>
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Time with Saint- We very rarely get much time alone. In the beginning of the summer we would take nightly walks alone in the neighborhood and I love this! But starting mid summer we didn't feel like we could leave the kids alone for 45 minutes because they bicker so much. Yes, this is normal. Yes, it is different when you have a child on the autism spectrum with sensory issues. So we spend a lot of time with our kids and not alone. We are hoping for a trip to New York later this fall and we should probably find a better babysitter so we can do things like going to the movies together more.</div>
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Clean house- Ugh. My house is a mess. Ever wonder why I don't show my upstairs? I do not currently have my home organized the way that would help me feel good about it. My basement is a dumping ground of stuff and has been for years, same as our attic. I worked 7 days a week for years. Even when I was not at a store. I was buying, picking stuff up, going to the hardware store, painting and bringing things into a shop. There was no way working 7 days a week gave me balance for an organized house! I would love to spend more time cleaning out clutter and finishing painting half painted walls all over my home.</div>
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Finances- When you start a business and you want to grow it, you reinvest your profit right back into your business (after you pay expenses). If you really want to grow, you don't really pay yourself for a long time. Well, I pay myself here and there but not nearly enough for how much time I was spending away from my family and not nearly enough for my effort. And not enough to really help my family financially as needed. Again, another reason I closed my store. I am not in "building" mode anymore, just maintenance and I can slow down and pay myself more. But still, retail is up and down during different seasons and I need to have a job. This is where I struggled a lot with last year. Figuring out how to keep my business (not necessarily selling at a store but my business) and doing other things to make money. I really diversified my business services this year and this helped a lot (custom, staging, design). I also knew I should get a job to go along with my business. This is something I have prayed and prayed about. And I have decided to get my real estate license this fall. I am SO excited about it. It marries well with my business, I was a loan consultant in my early 20s and I love real estate. And I think I will be good at it. I know going into it I will be working 7 days a week again but there will still be flexibility.</div>
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Exercise- Oh, I lost myself the last two years. Mostly I was working so much, and trying to balance it all, that exercise completely fell off my schedule. I was an athlete and dancer my whole life so taking this off the schedule has led to weight gain, mild depression, and not feeling good about myself. I have to get this back. I would love a running buddy in the morning. I need someone to get me up at 6am and run stairs. Or I need to go right after I drop the kids off at school. If I wait until later in the day I start working and it doesn't happen.</div>
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Spirituality- I grew up going to church every week. It was a huge part of my life. After I had my kids we stopped going to church. When my daughter was little she was a biter, wouldn't sit still, and Cooper (now knowing is autism, it makes sense) could not behave in church. I got very frustrated every week and we just stopped going. Then I worked on the weekends and we couldn't go. I miss it. I need grounding in it. It helps me. I am working on it.</div>
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Looking at my list no wonder I felt so off balance the last few years. I put my business first without realizing it and even with good intentions. I did it so I could help provide for my family but really I think it ultimately hurt us. So I printed out my list and I need to look at it everyday. It feels good to have things on the right path to balance. For the first time in a long time I am excited about things to come. </div>
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XO - Alison</div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-87878753705637895992016-08-25T21:33:00.003-07:002016-10-02T13:05:54.875-07:00<div align="center">
t h e s t u d i o</div>
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I am actually sitting in my studio blogging! I got my desk all set up in here yesterday. The wifi isn't great since my studio is pretty far from my home, so I might actually have my provider put in a second line out here just for me since it is strictly for business. I have to slow myself down with the studio revamp and look back to see how much I accomplished this month with it. I also have to ask myself what do I want from it? </div>
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We moved into this house 8 years ago. It took us 18 months to sell our suburban home. I knew I wanted to move to North Tacoma. I loved the old homes and charm of the northend. It was, and still is somewhat, a secret to a lot of north westerners. When our house sold and we moved here, we rented. The market then was in a spiral so we decided to rent until the market stabilized. We rented a house two doors down from us now. I was at work, sitting at my desk one day, browsing CL ads for rentals. Because I am crazy and we just moved, who does that? But I love old homes and real estate. I found that the house on the corner with all the windows was for rent. I just about died. It was my favorite home in the area but it wasn't taken care of. I asked Saint what he thought if we moved again and he said yes, let's go for it. If we are moving again let's move two doors down. </div>
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I was so excited to move into my house. I got up before everyone else that day, in the dark and took loads of stuff on a big platform mover I borrowed. Click clack down the street at dawn with my furniture, by myself. We moved in all in one day and haven't left since! About two years after we lived here, we were ready to buy again. We started looking and our landlords asked us if we wanted to buy this house. Absolutely! I didn't think they were going to sell it. We knew everything wrong and right with it. I also wanted to fix it up. We lived here 2 1/2 years before we bought it in a private sale.<br />
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The house has a very detached 1910 garage. It looks more like a carriage house though. It is long and narrow, sort of shotgun style. But oh, so cute. Once side opens to my yard. It has a charming 12 paned window and small antique door. The front opens up to a private driveway completely separate from my house. I have moved 1000s of pieces into and out of this space in the last 8 years. I painted for myself and friends here years before I created MCC. I have struggled to keep it clean. It was so uninspiring for most of those 8 years. I never really cared because I always had to focus more on churning out the furniture and bringing it to my shop(s). </div>
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About a year ago I finally got a storage unit. I have no idea why I didn't do this years earlier. It has kept my sanity this year. I go to my storage once a week and pull out what I am going to work on. You see, I am the type of person, if I have 30 pieces in front of me, I think in my mind I must get them all done immediately. I know it is neurotic but I am a bit type A that way. So now I just take home what I know I can get finished in a week. </div>
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When I decided two months ago to close my shop, I knew immediately I needed to revamp my studio. I am not sure why, but I just knew. It has actually given me something to focus on other than closing that shop. I also did not want to spend any money. Especially after closing my shop. I had a fairly good steady amount coming in a month for years and now that was gone(ish). Well, slowed down to 1/3 of what it was. I have to rebuild the income with custom, design, co-running Clementine Home, and staging. I am completely restructuring my business.<br />
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Thank goodness my friend Michelle can build. I am surprised she offered but she did and she built my carriage doors in one day here while I puttered around. We had 80s music on and I eventually went and got beer and wine for us. Because that is what you do when you build stuff in my studio. You drink beer and listen to 80s :) and you get dirty and move big stuff around. This is my life. All the while wearing flip flops and paint clothes (some days it is PJs).</div>
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Slowly I started demoing crazy walls in the space that were installed over the pretty siding and took 2 loads of junk to the landfill that were stored on my rafters. This is while watching my kids so I would sneak out here when they were occupied. I might mention here that the guys at the landfill know me. In the big city of Tacoma, they know me. They don't even give me the rundown of questions anymore. It is weird since I keep so much furniture out of the landfill that I would be going there. But I get so many boxes a month and I deconstruct a lot of pieces and rebuild them way more that you know. I am pretty handy with rebuilding antiques now. So I go to the landfill at least 3 times a month. Weird, I know. I kind of like it though, I am an antihoarder. I like getting rid of stuff. This job is SO not glamorous. </div>
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I bought a sprayer for $150 that turned out to be crap, but I had a really funny day with my mom covered in white paint and we got the space painted while Saint was home to watch the kids. The crappy sprayer is worthless and guess what?! It is in the landfill pile :) But my studio is all white! </div>
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So what is this studio to me? I don't know yet. I really feel like I am back where I was 6 years ago with MCC. I have days I am SO excited and days I let the fear sneak in big time. I am starting over and it is up to me. What if I mess it up? This week I have been all over the place. I am so excited for how cute my studio is, then I have a lot of moments when I tear up, what am I doing? I have to help support my family. Why don't I go back to work full time, and why I am fixing up my studio? I am completely giving it up to God. I feel so excited by where I am at but not in control. So I am going to take it day by day. I am craving stability and it is up to me to create it. I can do it. And it the process I get to recreate neglected pieces and bring them back to life. I am hoping to do the same within myself. Something about last year broke me, and I need to get me back.</div>
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So that is what my studio is to me. It is hope. It is mine. It is rustic, old and rebuilt by me. </div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-47569276484271973062016-07-29T17:41:00.001-07:002016-07-29T17:44:36.244-07:00<div align="center">
k i n d r e d</div>
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I don't have this blog post planned out. I am winging it, but come along for the ride! </div>
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I was thinking about this just a few minutes ago after I got off a text business meeting with Amanda. We literally planned out a mini collection and what we were going to paint for Clementine Home next week within 5 texts and we both were on the same page before we even texted back. Last night we had an on sight meeting for our next stage, we will do next week, and the same thing. We went back to the store and mapped out the stage together in 20 minutes tops.</div>
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This is kindred business.</div>
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<span data-dobid="hdw">kin·dred</span></div>
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<span class="lr_dct_ph">ˈkindrəd/</span></div>
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<i>noun</i></div>
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adjective: <b>kindred</b></div>
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<strong>1</strong>. </div>
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similar in kind; related.</div>
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"books on kindred subjects"</div>
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<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="padding-right: 3px;">synonyms:</td><td><a data-ved="0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIJTAA" href="https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=643&q=define+related&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIJTAA"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">related</span></a>, <a data-ved="0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIJjAA" href="https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=643&q=define+allied&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIJjAA"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">allied</span></a>, connected, <a data-ved="0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIJzAA" href="https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=643&q=define+comparable&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIJzAA"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">comparable</span></a>, <a data-ved="0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIKDAA" href="https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=643&q=define+similar&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIKDAA"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">similar</span></a>, <a data-ved="0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIKTAA" href="https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=643&q=define+like&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIKTAA"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">like</span></a>, <a data-ved="0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIKjAA" href="https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=643&q=define+parallel&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIKjAA"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">parallel</span></a>, <a data-ved="0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIKzAA" href="https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=643&q=define+associated&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoIKzAA"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">associated</span></a>, <a data-ved="0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoILDAA" href="https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=643&q=define+analogous&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwivl7TA9ZnOAhVMw2MKHWzsDucQ_SoILDAA"><span style="color: #1a0dab;">analogous</span></a> <br />
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"industrial relations and kindred subjects"</div>
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Let me say, this is rare, doesn't happen often. Kind of like meeting your perfect mate but in this case we are shop mates, painter friends, staging buddies, mom therapists. </div>
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I wanted to write this because I often get emails asking about how I do things, who I choose to work with, how my business is structured. And I have done it all different ways trying to figure out what is best for me. I have been on my own and I have worked with 3 other co-owners of a shop.</div>
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I will say ( and this is a big FOR ME, not for everyone). I will only work by myself or with a kindred. </div>
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And to know if someone is a kindred you need to work with them for a long time. It is like dating. Amanda and I worked for 2 1/2 years together on projects and in stores before opening Clementine Home together. And we have both worked and owned shops before so it wasn't new to either of us. When it isn't new- a lot of the fear, posturing, and shop politics go out the window. Each person can hold their own and this kind of kindredness is wonderful.</div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-33973720372795755612016-07-13T15:52:00.000-07:002016-07-13T15:52:04.732-07:00<div align="center">
t h e s u m m e r n e w s </div>
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I thought I would write a quick blog to answer some questions and let you know what I am up to! </div>
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This week I am focusing on organizing the shop for the last weekend of sales. I have mixed feelings about it but I moved up my closing date to July 17th for several reasons. </div>
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Frist I really need two weekends to move out before the new tenant moves in. I have my kids full time during the week so it will have to be done on the weekends when my husband is home to watch them. Summer is always a juggle balancing working at home/shop and the kids. Even with this being my 5th summer doing it, I always wing it. I don't have childcare so I am often "making" one or both of my kids come with me to pick up and drop of furniture. They don't love it, maybe the first year or two they did but not so much anymore. I am still buying and I usually spend a day or two a week just picking pieces up. At least I am not having to paint several pieces a week then bring them to the shop this summer. I am storing stuff and taking my time with pieces. I am enjoying taking my time.</div>
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This week I was at the shop every night after my husband got home, to sort and clean out the shop. This is a big job! </div>
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The second reason I am closing mid July is probably selfish but I don't love being at the shop when it doesn't look like my shop anymore. I haven't bought smalls for the last 6 weeks and I haven't kept up the painting pace I normally do, so 1/3 of the shop is sold and it is hard for me to be there. And some people have been really supportive about me leaving and some have taken me closing personally. Even though I have tried to announce I am closing pretty close to every other day in store or on various social media outlets. I have had several mad voicemails this month about me not being open during the week. This is hard for me, so I moved things up. I think I am ready to move on.</div>
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I am excited to pull back on being a shop owner. Co-owning Clementine Home with Amanda is perfect for me. I get to still paint and buy for a shop but the duties of a shop owner are split between us. And we have had a wonderful working relationship the last 3 years. </div>
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During this process I have talked to so many of my shop owner friends. I came to the conclusion a few months ago that being THE only owner of a shop doesn't fit my personality. I can do the work. I know how to hustle to buy, paint, merchandise and run the store. I might have a hard time pulling back on this part. But I am not meant to sit in a store day after day. I am not good at being "the boss", I always want to be "the friend". I have a hard time separating the two and this gets me into trouble when I have to make business decisions. And truth be told I couldn't afford to hire someone to fully run the shop for me. I am way to sensitive of a person and by the end of the week I was wiped out emotionally. People in the service industry would understand that feeling. It is even harder when you are the owner and make 80% of your inventory. It would sting when daily criticism would come at me. I am much more inclined to be behind the scenes, head down and doing my thing. </div>
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I have met SOO many wonderful customers though the last 5 years, and SOO many of you have emailed me or come into the shop the last few weeks to show support for my decision. I am excited to work more one on one with these customers doing custom and design work. My August is almost already booked up with design and staging jobs. I love it! </div>
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I wanted to give you guys a few other details about this last weekend at the shop. All sales are final, no returns or exchanges. If you have a gift certificate at MCC, you can use it at Clementine Home on my merchandise. There are only a few of you out there. I have only sold one in the last 4 months. I slowly stopped selling them after the holidays because I only had a few on hand. If you come this weekend, it might be busy so I might not get to say hi to everyone. But I want to say thank you for the last 5 years. And here's to many more at Clementine Home! </div>
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I can't wait to have more balance. I can't wait to blog more! </div>
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And next month my big thing is to get my studio space ready for appointments and special events. I will definitely post before and after pictures.</div>
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Love you guys- Alison </div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-17851870184378341332016-06-15T17:22:00.000-07:002017-05-01T10:00:52.343-07:00<div align="center">
n e w r o a d s </div>
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Sometimes new roads lead you back to old roads. I have had this in the back of mind and in my heart for the past 9 months. Something about my path wasn't right. I knew it in my gut, I pushed it down and tried every different angle to figure out what wasn't sitting right with me. I have figured it out. It wasn't the answer I wanted but I have so much relief about the new road, even joy.</div>
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About two months ago I sat on the couch with Saint (husband) and had a long cry. When I do this it kind of freaks him out and I don't do it often, so I knew it was a release of things I had bottled up. I told him I thought I needed to close The Modern Cottage Company Shop. I was mad and sad about it but I also couldn't keep up the pace of the demanding store and my family life. </div>
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Here is where I should back up and talk about why I started The Modern Cottage Company in the first place. It is so simple. I wanted to paint furniture, and I wanted to make money at it so I could drop my kids off at school and pick them up. I left a comfortable advertising agency job in Seattle to do this. I had a water view out my window of my office and an assistant. But I missed the first day of my daughter's kindergarten and that killed me. I have always painted antiques, almost my whole life. I thought I could give it a shot and life circumstances took a hard left and it allowed me to pursue my dream. I painted and blogged and it lead me to a storefront after a few years. That turned into working with other artists and eventually my own store again The Modern Cottage Company store in Old Town, Tacoma. I have been able to paint, pick up my kids and I was very optimistic about it when I moved it. Then something wonderful happened. The store did really well. Beyond my expectations well. So well I am not able to balance my family-work life at all. I tried not working at the store but letting it run itself. But let's be honest. If you own a store, even if you are not there, you work 7 days a week. </div>
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I have worked weekends off and on (mostly on) for the past 5 years for my business. Saint has been wonderful with our kids but I have missed out on lazy afternoons with them while I was running a store. Those of you who know me well, know my son has high functioning autism. My kids need extra love and attention. I want to be there on a Saturday with Cooper and my husband when they go watch trains every weekend. Or take Camden out for a girl's day. A business that started with my priority being my kids has actually in the last year taken up way more time than my good paying desk job. </div>
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I started praying about it. I cried a lot. I even went through some pretty bad anxiety about it because I knew my answer deep down. I was really meant for a different road. When you are really meant for a different road then life will smack you in the head with it over and over until you actually acknowledge it. I even started getting defensive about it. My hours are always a big complaint, really every single day I get several emails about it. I wake up, check my emails and write back why I am not open that day. More often than not while I am in the store it is the first thing people say to me. Some nice about it, often not. I understand where they are coming from but the store couldn't function any other way. I even thought of completely changing what the store is about to please everyone else. But the store is my painted furniture. It has my name on the door and I didn't want to change it. </div>
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Let's go way back now. When I was a kid, my family took road trips almost every weekend. I would sit in the back of the car, with a pillow tower between my sister and me, and draw. What I would draw is random. I would draw housing developments. I would design houses and then I would design the furniture in them. It was a weird thing for a 10 year old to do. Now let's fast forward to today. I have been given the opportunity to help design remodels, stage them, and even help clients love their own spaces again. I am getting a lot work right now with design. This is where I need to be with my business. It is already happening and fast. And I love it.</div>
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It is my new road for The Modern Cottage Company.</div>
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I get to work from home and have the weekends off for the first time in years. I get to paint still and run another shop with one of my dearest friends at Clementine Home. CH by the way is going to be really amazing this next year, we have wonderful plans for this shop. I get to be creative but I get balance, I can be picker about what I am painting. I get to be bolder with what I paint. I get to be choosier about what products I want to carry.</div>
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So today I notified my landlord of my intent to close The Modern Cottage Company shop. Sometime late summer, things are still being worked out. I won't have a sale. I have a staging business and another storefront to fill. I am not selling my business just reinventing it a bit. Taking it back to it's roots and where it is really supposed to be. I know the customers I have told have been really sad. You can still shop at Clementine Home (those of you with gift certificates, they can be used there!). My family and friends have been supportive and really over the moon for me with this decision. I have been lighter in my step. I learned so much from running a shop the last 5 years. I am proud of myself. I have made some mistakes but I grew a lot. I go into this next chapter very prepared and very happy.</div>
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And I get to still take my kids to school and pick them up.</div>
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Thank you all for your support!</div>
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-Alison</div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-61611681871301919252015-11-25T11:50:00.000-08:002015-11-25T11:54:47.634-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
t h a n k f u l</div>
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I have taken the last week to relax. It was a forced relaxing because of a back injury due to over working myself. It was my idea to have the studio event two days before a major house renovation but it knocked me on my back.</div>
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So I have been slowly putting my house back together, getting some things done at home that have been much over due. </div>
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And I turned 40. Which doesn't really freak me out. I am looking it as a new start. I have been on such a fast ride with the new shop this last year that I have really put myself on the back burner. I understand that with the new shop, it is like starting over even after years in the business. But it has tested me on what I can handle. I haven't figured out the balance yet. It took the toll on me physically and mentally. And not because the shop isn't doing well, it has succeeded my expectations by 100 percent. I tried not working at the shop but only doing the behind the scenes stuff which I think is when my energy changed and my stress doubled. Which was kind of the opposite of what I wanted. It is probably because I am home all the time. And my house wasn't organized the way I wanted or even clean, because I was focused on MCC during the day and my family at night. And like every season a parent has, this has been by far the most challenging year with my family. The Summer was really hard. I have to remember that the biggest reason I have the shop is to work but be available for my kids. I haven't figured out the balance yet. </div>
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I had a ton of sleepless nights last month. I saw how successful the shop was, yet I wasn't writing myself checks {how is that for honesty, and I have been doing this for 5 years}. How could this be?And I was working 7 days a week. I was feeling wonderful about my work but not great about myself. My family needs me to make money so I need to figure it out, and I am.</div>
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So I am looking at 40 with a grateful heart. I have a plan of action to take back momentum so I can sustain the store for years to come. I am going to be there a lot more. Which I love. Retail for my personality can be hard. Especially when I am in charge of producing the pieces for the shop and all the buying. It is not always easy for me to hear the fairly constant criticism about my hours or pricing or when someone is having a bad day and takes it out on the person behind the counter. But I have also missed the feedback from the people who love the shop, which is the majority. I am not there so I don't hear it. I think it would help me to hear it.</div>
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Last Saturday the girls at the shop threw me a surprise 40th with the help of my husband. I don't know if they know how much that meant to me. I haven't had a party or celebration for my birthday since I was 13. On the drive home I was telling my husband how much it means to me to have this group of friends. There is no posturing, or wondering what someone thinks of you, or what they want from you. We all are 100 percent ourselves around each other and support each other's dreams unconditionally. It is amazing. I am so thankful for it.</div>
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And I am thankful for this year's challenges. It means I can take opportunity to learn from the challenges. It means I will be working even harder. You will be seeing me a lot more running the shop. And I have another huge endeavor almost signed off on that I am so giddy about. Just wait, it is going to be good. I want to tell you about it~ but I can't just yet!</div>
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I hope to get a little of my happy back. I hope to write myself some checks. I hope to live in less chaos and more joyfulness. But it is really up to me. And that is a challenge I can take.</div>
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Thank you to you who have followed me on this ride! </div>
the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-53166898401137305432015-07-13T16:59:00.001-07:002015-07-13T17:06:16.062-07:00<div align="center">
m y s t o r e a t e m y b l o g</div>
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For some reason lately I have had to give the rundown of how I got to where I am. </div>
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And I always say it started with the blog. </div>
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Which it did. </div>
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And then the blog kind of died for me.</div>
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I remember 4 years ago being worried I didn't post on my blog every week. Now I post every three months or so. </div>
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It isn't that I don't want to. It is that I am pulled in so many directions that the blog gets put on the back burner. </div>
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And Instagram took over both my Facebook and blog. And who knows what will take it over next.</div>
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But the blog taught me a ton. I know that everyone only looks at the pictures {hence Instagram taking over}. I would get comments at the end of posts and I knew no one was actually reading my posts.</div>
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Or the blog turns into teaching everyone else what took me years of trial and error to figure out. And something in me clicked that I don't really want to do tutorials. Really good work happens when others figure it out for themselves. And the fun happens when you figure it out yourself instead of "googling" it. And the longevity of an artist happens when they do it on their own. </div>
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Social media is hard balance for a small business. It is a necessary thing to build your brand, network. And it is usually free! It just takes time and figuring out what your brand is. And it is FUN.</div>
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But it has it's downfalls.</div>
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I can work 10 hours on a piece. I am so proud of it. I found it, rebuilt it, painted it, staged it, marketed it, then hauled it by myself to the shop. Then I remerch the entire shop to make the new piece work in the store. I work 12 hours total on it and I will probably not make any money on it after all my expenses. So I will have to paint 15 of those pieces a month to make a profit.</div>
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I have learned to have a thick skin. I can post it for sale and I can get a mean comment about it.</div>
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I get it, it isn't their cup of tea. Every person has different taste. </div>
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And everyone might not like me. And that is ok. And to be honest. I am not really the person I put out on social media. I have a somewhat messy house, I always have a bun in my hair, paint on my clothes and car full of furniture junk and mess.</div>
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I think I am funnier in "real life" and goofier, and I fret about dumb stuff. Then I forget about it.<br />
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But all my painter friends live this way. </div>
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I would never post on someone else's wall something rude about their post. It always baffles me that people do this. Why follow a store if you don't like their taste? But it doesn't bug me anymore.</div>
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The internet makes people entitled to think they can get a hold of me 24 hours a day. I kind of fight this a bit. If someone posts a comment on a picture at 9pm but I don't respond until the next day, I don't think that warrants 5 emails asking why I hadn't responded back to a comment. I was asleep.</div>
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And I have had to get over people who copy. I try not to even think about it. Truth is, if someone has to copy, then they will have trouble when the business changes. And it will. Probably next week.</div>
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I have learned to build all kinds of structure around me. I have my hours at the shop that work for my family. This is what I get complaints about the most. I have to say that I can't work at the store more myself. I am knee deep in paint and dust everyday. This is what keeps the store open. This is how I make my money. And I can't afford to add more staff to be open for the sake of being open. The truth is when I went from being open six days a week to four my sales tripled and stayed that way. But it is the first thing someone says to me when they come to the store. I tried to visit but you weren't open. I just smile. The second thing they ask right after that is if I paint the pieces in the store myself. Yes, why I am only open 4 days a week. </div>
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After going on 4 years of painting and selling, I have it down a bit, but it is a hustle of a job. Not for the meek. </div>
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I am a completely different business person than I was even a year ago. </div>
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I have a team at the store that understand working together makes everything work.</div>
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And hard work. </div>
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If you want to do this line of work- work REALLY hard seriously. Be careful who you work with. Always evolve. Try things yourself. Make mistakes. Understand that not everyone is going to like you. Understand you can't please every customer. You will have months you blow it out of the water and months you are treading water. </div>
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It is hard work.</div>
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But it is amazing.</div>
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And I love you guys, and I wouldn't be here without your. Seriously!!!!</div>
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And darn I should really blog more........</div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-45674330622275646732015-05-08T18:39:00.002-07:002015-05-08T18:43:26.923-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
m y w e e k </div>
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I thought I might try this. My week in this business and a little of home life documented. </div>
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It is a FUN, crazy business, sometimes dirty-messy-dusty. I log a ton of hours in my car every week. I think that might be surprising to people. I probably spend 2-3 hours everyday in my car. I have built up a really fun network of places I visit to pick up pieces, I consider them friends. I go to the hardware store, craft stores, recycling center, my pillow supplier, visiting my friends shops and of course my shop. </div>
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I wrote in my last post how I was going to be working less shifts at the shop. The reason is I want to be out in the field way more. Creating and finding amazing pieces for the store. </div>
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I am there everyday no matter what though. I bring in new pieces almost everyday the store is open. I am super hands on with knowing what sold and to whom. I LOVE merchandising and making sure it looks fresh. </div>
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I like to sit and chat with whoever is working. I love having a super tight team. I have no idea what they think of me, lol! They probably think I am super goofy. Who knows, I try to keep things professional but what I really want is for everyone to feel appreciated. I also want everyone to know how we should appreciate how lucky we are to do what we do. Super big life lessons I have learned this year. I am going to be 40 in November, I guess this is the time to recognize! </div>
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So this week I had some amazing pieces already in my studio ready for me to work on. Normally I don't have a ton of backstock. I buy it, I paint it {hence why I am in the car picking everyday}. I think it is wasted money sitting in my studio waiting for paint. I buy a piece and immediately plan a design for it in my head and start on it immediately. </div>
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This week I knew I wanted to do some colors I hadn't done in a while. </div>
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This petite armoire is so flipping cute I wish I had a place for it. It will be such an amazing statement piece for someone. </div>
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I painted it in Grassy Fields by Benjamin Moore. It is a color I have used a lot. </div>
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{picture in my house, front entry}</div>
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My absolute go to paints are General Finishes and Benjamin Moore. If you want a clean look, minimal or no distressing, both paints are amazing. </div>
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I got this paint mixed in an eggshell finish in the Aura {primer already in paint} formula. </div>
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It took three coats and I did minimal distressing with a sanding block. </div>
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I didn't wax or put a top coat on the piece. </div>
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I looked at it and figured it looked lovely in eggshell and if I waxed and buffed it, it would be too shiny with the green.</div>
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I also painted a petite buffet in General Finishes Lamp Black, distressed, added Java Gel Stain with a rag and wiped it way back. It just made the black a bit richer with more dimension. I then sealed with General Finishes Liquid Wax. One of the best products I have ever ever ever used. It is like magic.</div>
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{picture in my paint studio}</div>
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I also painted a sweet empire with mirror.</div>
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I then had a blast the next day styling it with Karla in the shop. I can't tell you how much it means to me to leave the shop in Karla's hands when I am not there. She is a rock star. Plus we keep in touch all day long through phone calls and texts. I always know what is going on at the shop.</div>
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Molly and I are the same way on Sundays {Molly works now on Sundays}. Molly is my dear friend and when we are good, we walk several times a week in our neighborhood. I try not to talk too much shop with her, because we are friends for years but it does creep in. I appreciate her so much. </div>
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I spent yesterday evening with my dear friend Amanda of Ferpie and Fray as she dropped off this gorgeous piece.</div>
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{seen below}</div>
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I swear when I tell Saint {my dear husband} that I am meeting Amanda, he knows not to expect me home for a few. We sit and talk about everything. I adore her. We are totally in sync with how we feel about the business and how we do business. Plus we are just crazy and funny together. We even have funny painter names for each other Rita and Maxine.</div>
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Friday I brought in more furniture, went over the new barcode system that Karla and I are working on, merched in a ton more pillows, redid the front of the store, and then I headed out to go junking with Michelle of Blue Roof Cabin. </div>
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She brought in this gorg headboard!</div>
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I was on the hunt for cool carriage doors for the front entry. We struck out, but had a really fun lunch together. I am mad about hanging with Michelle of Blue Roof Cabin. She has a really great sense of humor and a way about her that makes you feel like you can just be yourself. I feel lucky to have her as a friend.</div>
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I am now home getting ready to make 200 paper flowers for the shop after I make dinner for my family. </div>
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Tomorrow I work, and in the evening we will hold our first paint class. Amanda is running the show and I am there to help. It will be a 12 hour day.</div>
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Sunday I deliver a buffet 30 miles away, then hop on a ferry to my parents for Mother's Day with my family.</div>
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I think this will be a fun thing to do every Friday, I might just do it again next week! </div>
the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1864191075902642904.post-69866956220960490542015-05-03T18:19:00.002-07:002015-05-03T18:39:21.510-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
t i m i n g</div>
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I spent the last 3 1/2 years working the front house of a shop and the back house. The first two and a half were the warm up to this year. </div>
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Last year at this time, I would have never thought I would be here. </div>
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I wasn't sure of my place in this business and I seriously considered leaving it. I hadn't found my place in it yet. I had spent the 8 months prior to this new shop, praying about what to do. Seriously, praying about it, everyday. I have a degree, I have professional experience. I would have been ok leaving this job. I would have missed painting furniture, but I could do it for myself- like I have been doing since I was 13.<br />
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It wasn't until the day I saw the current shop. I called Saint and then my mom, then my friend Kathy within minutes of leaving. I knew I needed to take the leap. The people that knew me the best, knew that I wasn't happy and hadn't been for a long time. They knew the in's and out's of my situation. Last year at this time, I didn't like myself that much. But in retrospect- thinking about it, it was more situational than anything. I can say that now, a year out- because I think that now more than ever, I am happy. I am much more myself, than I have ever been maybe in my whole life.<br />
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Not to say that this leap wasn't super duper, duper scary!<br />
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I can safely say that the last two years I have learned so much about myself. Before this year, who I didn't want to be. And this year, a total clean slate.<br />
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Every single day I get an email, I am not kidding -It always goes something like this-</div>
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"I love the group you have at your shop, I follow all of you, I love that you all seem so happy! How do you do this?"</div>
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I never really know how to answer this question but in my head I have thought about it a lot.</div>
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It came to me just about a month ago, why this group works so well. </div>
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We don't really need each other. </div>
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How do I explain this...everyone is strong on their own. We don't need each other. We are all ok on our own but we like working together.</div>
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People there is so much freedom in this! As artists, standing next to each other, appreciating one another but not depending on one another! <br />
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I love the group at the store. I am thoughtful about it.<br />
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This brings me to "timing".<br />
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This isn't a typical shop. We don't don't order everything. 80% of what is in the store is found and recreated by artists. And because the store is The Modern Cottage Company, most of it needs to be done by me. </div>
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But, I can't be at the store-find-buy supplies-pick up-fix-paint-market-merchandise this scale of a shop. It is not possible. Especially how busy it has been. Like blow my mind busy.</div>
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So I am stepping back a bit and taking another leap. </div>
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I won't really work at the shop anymore.</div>
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{at least I am going to try this approach for a while}<br />
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AH!<br />
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Well, I am there several hours everyday anyway. I will still be in charge of buying, merchandising, marketing and the overall look of the store. But there is no way I can work the "front of the house, and the back of the house" anymore. At least in busy season.</div>
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Did I ever mention I have two young kids? </div>
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Enough said.</div>
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So I am going to focus way more on buying trips, the website, my blog, painting, the windows of the shop, maybe doing some staging, and classes with Amanda. This is more than a full time job in itself.</div>
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The timing is right. </div>
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I could not ask for a better group at this shop. I am so thankful that we all get to do what we love and have fun doing it.</div>
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{photo source whitelightsandlatenights via Pinterest}</div>
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the modern cottagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18323811524433367689noreply@blogger.com