FOR THE LOVE OF JUNK

SOME WOMEN DREAM OF BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND PERFECTION. SOME DREAM OF THE DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, OUTCAST ITEMS, THE TATTERED, THE CRAZED, THE RUSTED AND SOMETIMES DISCARDED TREASURES. IM A MEMBER OF THE SECOND GROUP. I'M A JUNKER FOR LIFE!



Monday, May 9, 2011

Message to me...hang in there.

For those of you that don't know me, first time readers, welcome back friends, etc, I have been in the antiques business almost my hole adult life. I went from a dealer in a pantry size closet, to a small room, to a dingy basement, to my shop off the highway and last to my dream, a shop and home combo out in the country. It's been quite a journey, one of struggle, joy, faith, ups and downs, uncertainty, conviction...you name it. The move took a lot out of me. The logistics of moving an over 3000sf shop into a 1200sf seem daunting but we did it. Moving my home to the new place was something else, a collectors-hoarder home is not an easy thing to pack. We decided to keep the older home a bit longer so we went ahead and rent it. I drove around the other day and my heart just sank. Gone are my fruit trees, my grass, all my plants. The pretty bushes in front of the bay window stand as trees since they have not been trim at all. I don't even want to think about the inside, so we know coming October we will be redoing a lot. We will put the house on the market then. Then my business and my new location...I underestimated what moving to the countryside will do to it. My sales are down, way down. We are so used to doing really well. I invested everything in this, and by that I mean everything. Just like any other investor you go for it. I'm taking the challenge head on. I believe we talked faith but when the opportunity arises for your faith to be tested we run away from it, we hide, we get depressed...all of these are very valid reactions, if you are not me. I believed in doing the walk if you do the talk. Life is one of seasons. Everyhting passes, we don't stay still forever. The only constant in our lives as believers is our trust in the fact that God have our back, actually, He got our everything. The gas prices are high, not enough money, husband is stressed out, I give it all to God, He is able and He can handled it better than I possibly could. I was witnessing to a friend and she was asking me what my plans are going to be. I have none. I will continue to do what I do, I will not try to change the things I can't change. I only know to work hard and to let God do. He got me this far, He will continue to give me grace, wisdom, joy and whatever I need to fulfill His will. God has changed my prayer to "Your will will be done..." so I leave it at that and whatever the outcome we will be fine. To God be the glory!
   
Just for fun, I redo my blue room in the store. Hope you like. Blessings, Marta.
 








3 comments:

Ido said...

Yes Marta, hang in there. We all go through difficult times but we have to continue. I'm going through some depression because my sales were very low at a craft show last week. Just the first two days were good, the other two, I didn't sell a thing. I came back home heart broken and so did most of the vendors, but I'm not giving up, I say that to myself every day, won't give up. I just have this advice for you, advertise is the key, plan some events during the year, sales, etc. and advertise, advertise, advertise, wherever you can, because if you don't do it, nobody will know you're there. I wish you the best of luck and send you blessings today!
XXXX Ido

Unknown said...

Marta, times are tough everywhere for antique dealers. I close down ALL my shops a year ago, just keeping the online going.

I love the blue in your shop, beautiful presentation.

Hope you had a lovely Mother's Day ~
TTFN ~
Marydon

5 Day GIVEAWAY, pop over.

Junk Exchange said...

Marta.. yes hang in there. It will all get better.. one of my fav sayings from old tv show .. judging amy .. it will be ok in the end .. if it's not ok, it's not the end .. i too trust in God and believe and know that he has my back .. he has your back also .. and i pray the stress is lifted from your family and the light of financial success is shining on you once again .. everything is cyclical in this business .. we knew that when we chose this line of work .. i think that was the attraction for many of us .. lol.. you are blessed Marta .. you have a generous spirit and love that fills a room .. yes, do hang in there .. you might also look at Etsy if you don't already have a shop there ..
love ya'
Troy