a glue gun and screwdriver are your friends...

It's been a long while since I've felt the urge to blog.  Today is one of those "extra" productive days (trust me, those don't come that often!), so I decided to share my latest project and news.  For months I couldn't figure out what I was going to do for summer employment.  I thought I might dust off my waitressing skills and get a "real" job, but after I decided to do that, something wasn't quite right.  Yep, it always comes back to my daughter and wanting to be there for her, since I'm the only parent she has around.  Her dad lives in Miami, so that would be juuuusssst a bit difficult for him to help out with her! lol  She could stay alone some of the time and/or go to Mom's, but that wasn't setting right with me either.  Finally an idea I've had for awhile came to fruition...

I'm getting a large booth at an antique mall!  The odds were stacked against me when I checked into different places:  long waiting lists (one place had over 50 people waiting!) and a monthly payment whether I make money or not...which of course was a big deterrent at my first thought of doing this.  I left my name at some places, and really didn't think I'd get in anywhere anytime soon.  I thought I had waited too long to make a decision about it and "What am I going to do now??!?" crept into my mind.  Fortunately, I got a call about a week and a half later from Heart of the Lakes in North Webster!  A woman had just given her 30 day notice, and she had two booths.  I even got to choose which one I wanted, and let me tell you, the one I got is ideal!!  It is near the front of the store on a wall that already has a large shelf that is the length of the booth--i.e. using this shelf would be like putting things on top of kitchen cabinets.  I'm a visual person, so describing it this way seems better to me.  Anyway, I don't know where the waiting list went!! Maybe the people before me couldn't do it or maybe the lady just decided she liked me.  God opened doors because they sure were all shut!  This, along with the other eBay & Etsy stuff I do will provide my income for the summer and hopefully continue to give extra income later when school starts.  I'm not nervous about the monthly payment anymore.  I have a calm feeling about it.  This past weekend, especially, I was able to get some really good deals.  In fact, I got so much for so very little, that I told Emma it was as if God had opened his hands wide and gave all of these things to us.  His generosity to us was so overwhelming on Saturday, that I broke down and cried. (and I don't cry much anymore!)  Those were tears of relief...of feeling so undeserved...of the release of being the sole provider...of God's graciousness and care.  God knows when the sparrow falls, right?

......The mall allows other things besides antiques.  Of course collectables, but also some newer or upscaled things that "fit in" as she told me.  One of the things I picked up two weekends ago was this step stool/chair (NO, I don't know the real name for it! lol).  It's a newer old-style chair and I thought it was cool.  Plus it was only $2, so the price was right!  It just needed a little TLC and it would go right into my booth come the beginning of June when it becomes available to me.

Today I gave it a new look with a crisp, NEW pillow sham I picked up at Goodwill for only $1.  I cleaned up the chair with one of those AWESOME Magic Erasers, got out my screwdriver, crescent wrench, scissors and glue gun...

 I doubled up the fabric on the seat for extra durability, put everything back together and tightened all of the screws so it's not wobbly anymore.  I sprayed some Stain Guard on it and put it outside to dry.  PRESTO! a "new" chair!                                                                                                                                

Not too shabby for $3!

So now you know about my new adventure!  Turning things over for a profit or having my things in a store isn't new to me, but having my own "mini" store is!  I am tooootally excited and ready!!  Let the "games" begin! ;)