The Year in Review

For my own record, so that I know next year what the business end of things were this year, here is how it went.  Early months were very slow for sales, very busy for new finds--always the way...Things picked up in the summer and a lot of antiques went to new homes.  Halloween goods were not big sellers, but also admit I did not put much effort in this year--I just did not have a fall inspiration.  Christmas goods sold very well, especially early on in November, but December had a pretty steady stream of sales, so that was good.  As usual, I didn't have time to do half of what I wanted to create, got obsessed with paper dolls and let many things go unmade!  My Clarinda sales, I should not have bothered, sales were very low and just hardly a soul came--it was even worse than the year before, so I think it is the end of an era for that.

I have lots of new ideas for what to do next, and am just dithering about which project I will pick first--early cabin or pastel spring goods?  I can't decide.  In the meantime, heart season is on the way, so I gave my tin hearts a new photo session.

And at Last, I Get to Decorate My House

My upstairs remains a complete disaster area of construction--dirty dark and dreary would be an understatement.  Downstairs, though, it is pretty!  We went even more decadent this year and got 3 trees and I love it.  I put little ones in the dining room and kitchen too.  One can never have too much Christmas.

Ornaments I Have to List

I will be listing large amounts of ornaments over the next few days, here they are on display from my show last week.  They are quite inexpensive, most in the $2 to $3 range. 

show leftovers

red comb feedsack in antique frame, $48

pine stuffed little pillows, $8 each

new fabric print in early antique frame, $38

large antique salt sack in new barnwood frame, $58

small antique salt sack in new barnwood frame, $38

The wood pelt stretcher stenciled Homestead is $20, but shipping could be high because of its odd size, very long--I don't have a new photo yet, the old one is still in the old post.