Document Photo

I thought I would post this card again because this is the last of my samples and I really want to mail it out to a friend, so I need a photo if I decide to ever make it again. It's been a very non creative year and after losing Annie, I've done nothing at all. I did move all my crafting supplies in hopes that I would get my mojo back but it's not happening. When I taught classes for FabMo it helped keep me in the swing of things but COVID shut that down and now living so far away doing classes isn't really possible with my current schedule. 

Time to move on

Mees likes story time

I've have to admit that I'm not a city type of person. I finally had to tell my boss that I don't plan to stay here for the long haul, maybe just a year.  I originally had planned to be closer to my grandchildren but when my daughter said she doesn't plan to go back to work after her maternity leave is used up, I'm not needed here to help with child care. Yes, being close to the kids would be nice but living so close to a high crime area isn't for me. When I have to worry about just going grocery shopping or to the bank, it's not the life for me. 

My project is up and running and hopefully will start making the money they hope for so I can start looking for my replacement and make the plans to leave before I'm shot or mugged. 

Rabbit lined leather jacket

At the store I'm not allowed to sell animal fur, leather is OK but anything else is a big No No, being a no kill animal shelter that makes sense.

A donor had some very impressive clothes but she's a size 0 which is a very limited market in the thrifting world. She had two leather coats that were in super condition but one is lined with rabbit fur and the other is fur, I'm not sure from what but it's real. I took the jackets anyways and I hope to be able to consign them for the store. I'm looking into all the ways we can sell stuff at the highest margin so I can to meet the 100K goal for the store. I hope to meet that goal as soon as I can so when I pass on my job to my future replacement we know it can be done. 

Lots of the stuff still going on with the store, like installing the heating and AC unit. I thought it was taken off the schedule but the office manager forgot to cancel the appointment and workers showed up on my day off.  I'm lucky my boss is very flexible and was able to get everyone into the building. When I have Mees with me, it's very hard to get to store in between his naps and meals. On top of the that the AV (TV for the front window) was installed on the same day.  I would have normally prepped the building for the workers, making sure everything was out of way and covered, so who knows what I will be walking into today! One more week until we open!

Very Cool Door for the store.

I naturally design to what I like and don't normally following any current trends. I especially like the find things that are very uncommon and repurpose them. Auction houses are really the only place you can find cool stuff that doesn't break the bank. This door was about $200 and I don't think there is another on out there!

I'm not sure what this door was first used for but I do know it was a sliding door because it has inset wheels on the bottom that fitted into a track. It's about 3 inches thick with the metal sandwiched between oak. My first guess is that it was a door to a wine cellar. Condition is good so I don't think it was in a barn. My plan to to design a platform for it to sit on and keep it upright so it can be move where ever it's need. The back door at the store is a big metal sliding door and at some point I will need to add a security gate that still allows light and air into the building but keeps people out. I'm thinking this will work if I can design something where I can lock the wheels in place. 

Finding something like this really makes me wish I could design a house again!

Mid Century Modern

When I first started at Thrifty Kitty, one of the ideas I had for the front windows was to put a cozy chair so those who get dragged in but really don't want to shop. Since we won't ever have live animals up for adoption at the store, making a comfy room setting would be fun. Of course we plan to change up the display to keep things fresh or when I sell these chairs.

These chairs were posted on Next-door and for the last 3 weeks I've been hoping the price would drop low enough for me to buy them. It's a high tech company that ran out of funding so they are boxing up what they want to save and selling off the rest. These chairs were in the lobby and really fit the the theme of the store. I did visit the site earlier when they were trying to sell off some work tables so I already knew what was happening. I knew at some point they would have to lower the prices or give the stuff away because they have to be out of the building soon. But I didn't want to take the chance on these chairs. The black office chairs were $20 and I got to cherry pick out the better ones. Most had wear on the hand rest but at least now I have some place to sit! The moving trucks are already there and starting to load up the giant crates of equipment that will go into storage.

How Big G handles snack time

Mees is a very active one year old. Always on the move and getting into everything he can reach and it seems he likes to see what he can reach so anything on the edge of the table is fair game.

Mees is on the bigger side so he's very heavy. Lifting him and carrying him up and down the stairs is starting to get a little harder for me. 

I decided during his snack time to set it up on the floor on the oil mat under his high chair. He seems to like it and it's the only time he's not actively running around. It also means when he's done, he can just get up and go explore again. I do have to chase him down to wipe his face and hands but this system is working for both of us!

Boss Baby

One of the perks at work, is I get to see everything as it comes in and make the decision to take it or not. 

This little suit came in and I thought it would make a perfect costume for Mees. He so reminds me of Boss Baby both in appearance and personality! 

Most children clothing comes in too worn or stained to resell. It seems to be wedding or funeral clothing (very dressy) that I see a lot of.  So we'll see if this will work out!

Budget Friendly Stool

What I love doing is searching for that usual piece that can be used in a different way.  The Re-Store in Oakland has been my go to place for creative ideas. It's a place that you have to go to often because you never know what will show up. I think it's the picker in me, the hunt is the fun part. I was in search for a stool or chair for the shoe section in case a customer wanted to sit down and try on the shoes. Everything I was finding that was traditional seating was way over my budget. As I was walking by the pallets of wine crates this graphic caught my eye. I'm sure it wasn't there the last time I was there digging through the pile! Anyways, I picked it up because I thought it was funny and I could flip it at the store for $20. When I got back to the store I put it down in the shoe section while I finished unloading my car. I walked by it several times as I finished up some other projects. Then the light bulb went on - I had found my budget friendly stool!  This is a solidly built crate that can be used as a seat all for $5.

I've gotten so many wine crates at the Re-Store, the guys are asking me for pictures of my finished projects. It's funny as I'm very intently digging through the pallet, other people stop and wonder what's so special about these crates. Even after I tell them what I'm doing they just can't see the end results. They just shake their heads and walk away. :) 

Sneak Peek

The store is really coming together fast now that I was given the green light to buy the clothing racks. Long story on why that was delayed but now we're full speed ahead!

I search Nextdoor everyday to see if there's anything we can use. Not knowing the area beyond Alameda, my search area is very limited. Most of Oakland is off limits due to the increase in violence in an already dangerous city. 

The store got a donation of X-men comics and I was researching the best way to display them. Buying bags for each one would cost way too much but I couldn't leave them out as is. Another paper crafters (have to love paper crafters) redid her craft room and was giving away these magazine racks, which are perfect for the comics. The front tilts open so you can remove the comics with not problem. Major score!

I still don't have wifi or an office set up at the store yet (another long story there too) so I'm always worried I'll put my phone down and have it get buried under whatever is coming through the door. I now play music while I work mainly so I know where my phone. My kids set me up with a music app because playing Yo Yo Ma helps put Mees to sleep for his naps.