Call me crazy, but an idea has started snowballing down a hill in my head.
It started a month back as a small, flakey idea. What if I could paint again? What would I paint? And my brain took off!
Kids wooden desks, watercolor pictures, picture frames, pieces of furniture, 3d artwork. The brainstorm just wouldn't stop one night at 1am.
How do I market this? Just an Etsy shop or Ebay wasn't really going to do it for me. Rich being a software engineer could always build me a website.
How do I store the inventory? We have a large house, but no basement.
How much do I charge? The shipping on some items could be atrocious. Not to mention how to package a 3D piece of artwork or canvas and insure it for mailing.
Four fantastic weeks later I think the thought process has percolated enough to run with it.
The answer is: Consignment Stores.
There are handful of them surrounding our house. Some specialize in furnishings, some in kids items, and others are an eclectic smattering. In most cases, the house takes 50% and I would get 50% of the tag price. Not the best commission but it would guarantee getting my initial investment back and a little more.
The little more could be kept as credit in the store or given in a check. I buy the majority of our kids clothes and shoes at consignment stores. My credit would equal FREE clothes at the very least.
The consignment stores would allow me to test the market for my products in a very non-committal way. There is a minimal investment and risk involved.
One thing Ann and I have talked about is my need for anonymity behind the art. There is a lot of perfectionism behind my skill and criticism is a blow when I love something. If a person likes it, they buy it. If not, they don't.
Time. I'm going to need a while to work on stuff and not for just the initial items. Going back to that perfection, I dislike deadlines. This venture would allow me to work on a piece until it was to my liking. I am sure over time I'd figure out ways to streamline the process a bit.
True, my brain is a little overwhelmed, my senses on are an anxious but excited edge.
I will keep you posted.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Bank Store
Jotting down a few funnies from the oldest.....
In the car.
''Mommy, we forgot to buy my chicken nuggets.''
I had just dropped a letter in a blue USPS box in front of Kroger. Nora had been asking for more Tyson Chicken nuggets for several days. (Sidenote: Nora only eats Tyson nuggets, she won't eat any other kind, fast food or frozen)
''I'm sorry honey. Mommy left her purse in daddy's car, so I don't have any money for chicken nuggets.''
''Mommy, we go to the bank store and they give us our money, OK?! Then we go buy the chicken nuggets.''
Hmmm, so she knows that the bank means money. We might be in some trouble here. I've called my mom at this point to laugh about this. Mimi reminds Nora that her piggy bank has money.
''Mommy? You, you go get my piggy bank, with the money? We get it all out, the money, and go to the store.''
Thanks mom!
In the car.
''Mommy, we forgot to buy my chicken nuggets.''
I had just dropped a letter in a blue USPS box in front of Kroger. Nora had been asking for more Tyson Chicken nuggets for several days. (Sidenote: Nora only eats Tyson nuggets, she won't eat any other kind, fast food or frozen)
''I'm sorry honey. Mommy left her purse in daddy's car, so I don't have any money for chicken nuggets.''
''Mommy, we go to the bank store and they give us our money, OK?! Then we go buy the chicken nuggets.''
Hmmm, so she knows that the bank means money. We might be in some trouble here. I've called my mom at this point to laugh about this. Mimi reminds Nora that her piggy bank has money.
''Mommy? You, you go get my piggy bank, with the money? We get it all out, the money, and go to the store.''
Thanks mom!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Flip It Over.
Have you ever considered what the flip side of coin really looks like?
If you want to go for the metaphorical....side one of a penny is a building, the Lincoln Memorial, on the other a face, Lincoln himself.
Now flip it back and forth, back and forth. A person, a foundation. A person, a moral symbol. A person, an ideal. Each side meaning something having lent itself to the other.
Turn over moments from the past. Try it.
The happiness you sought grows from struggling through the dull drums of life.
The idea that you can have a more positive relationship with someone because you are not listening to their negativity anymore.
Goals that were scary and seemingly unattainable can become your challenge and purpose.
You run away to find yourself, then realize the place your AT is home.
Being quiet takes more strength than trying to be heard.
You can value and love people that you've never met in person.
Showing human weakness can draw others to you for the same reason.
Be positive about the negatives in life, something good may come from them. Not what you expected, just a different kind of shiny building or face.
If you want to go for the metaphorical....side one of a penny is a building, the Lincoln Memorial, on the other a face, Lincoln himself.
Now flip it back and forth, back and forth. A person, a foundation. A person, a moral symbol. A person, an ideal. Each side meaning something having lent itself to the other.
Turn over moments from the past. Try it.
The happiness you sought grows from struggling through the dull drums of life.
The idea that you can have a more positive relationship with someone because you are not listening to their negativity anymore.
Goals that were scary and seemingly unattainable can become your challenge and purpose.
You run away to find yourself, then realize the place your AT is home.
Being quiet takes more strength than trying to be heard.
You can value and love people that you've never met in person.
Showing human weakness can draw others to you for the same reason.
Be positive about the negatives in life, something good may come from them. Not what you expected, just a different kind of shiny building or face.
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