Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Decorating With Etsy

I have been amassing a collection of art from Etsy, knowing I would be settling into a house for quite a while. My husband promises this was the last move until the retirement home.
Anyway, I shall be showcasing my Etsy treasures as they are spread throughout the house. Here is the first batch from my living room, which I hope to paint a calming shade of blue.



Blue bird print on second shelf was bought from Silverymoonart: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=7763063

The faces on her birds are so sweet...

The city print was bought here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12150012

Standing On The Edge...

wondering what to do next...

I've had several wholesale inquiries lately. Once people find out my wholesale terms, they never come back. I'm thinkin' my retail prices are too low to offer wholesale at this time.

Should I raise my retail prices?

Not bother to offer wholesale?

Find ways to decrease costs on my products?

I feel that I could, maybe, possibly, have a viable business if I get this thing figured out. I hope to do so within a year. I currently have an hour commute to work. I would like to be able to work part-time closer to home and work more on Carolina Cottage.

That's the plan. I can see success down in the valley.

Friday, June 6, 2008

New At The Cottage



Ok. Not really new, just a new combination of 2 of my best-selling products. The tray is the same length as my other small trays, but it's deeper. Will make a great gift, eh?

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

We're In...

Had closing last Wednesday, moved everything on Thursday. Been unpacking ever since. I'm tired and sore. I am getting too old for this stuff...
Love the neighborhood and the house. All the houses have front porches and the area is meant to look like a traditional town. Just ridiculously pretty. Hope to have pics soon.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Packing...



The moving truck doesn't come until Saturday, but I thought I'd get some things packed. Don't worry...there are air holes...

Friday, May 16, 2008

We Close In One Week!

We close May 23rd. Yes!

I will be so happy to get into my new home. Not being able to paint a wall really irks me. I've been in a state of irk for 10 months now.

I'm already thinking about how to decorate. The living room will have the tv and I want the family room to be a studio - no tv, a comfy couch, lots of art on the walls and a place for the kids to be creative.

Here's the empty room:



Here's what I want:



Not EXACTLY. But you get the picture. Plenty of room to create, with a comfy spot to enjoy the view of the back yard, where my 3 dogs will be frolicking.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

The Nonsensical Ravings Of My Lunatic Mind

Sigh. Things here in the Sunshine State haven't been too cheery lately. My mother-in-law moved into my 1600 sq ft. townhouse last week. We now have 5 people and three dogs co-existing in one living space. Most of the sq. footage is upstairs. Which is where I go to hide when things get too crazy for me. Which is often. Fortunately, my bedroom is large enough to hold my "studio", computer, 2 bookshelves, 1 bed, 2 nightstands and a wicker chair covered in clothes I'm too lazy to put away.
We have a contract in on a house in Longleaf, a neo-traditional neighborhood in New Port Richey, FL. The house looks a little like a farmhouse, therefore, I am dubbing it my neo-traditional farmhouse.
If this sale falls through, I can be found living under US 19, probably around Countryside, as it is the nicer part of the county. We will have no place to live as of June 1. The landlord rented out the TH, which she has every right to do, even though the announcement of her intentions sent me into a panic attack. She really should have been more considerate of my feelings. I think everyone should put my feelings first.

Here's a photo of the house. Pretend you didn't see it because the last 2 times I posted a pic of a house I wanted, the sale didn't go through.

Yes, I know I'm superstitious.



If/when this does happen, I will be posting about my decorating adventures.. I have bought at least a dozen items from Etsy that I have been saving over the last year for a new house. I'll be documenting (I hope) all of that, along with paint colors, furnishings, blah, blah, blah...