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Friday, October 16, 2009

My Coming Out Party


The Chamber of Commerce Mixer at my antique mall
seemed to be a smashing success on many levels....
good turnout, lots of schmoozing and beneficial connections made.
I was interviewed for a local radio station and had my pic snapped
for publicity purposes. That's pretty cool.

I met many of the other dealers in the mall,
and friendships were struck up.

I discovered a secret, heretofore unearthed treasure trove
of lethally awesome ephemera that I managed to score
for the ridiculously rock-bottom price of $20.
We're talking a yearbook from 1922, a teen's scrapbook from 1923,
a phone book from the 40s, and a whole host of instant ancestors.

I eavesdropped on overheard many ladies comment
on how lovely they thought my booth looked. Yay!

But did it translate into sales? I'm not entirely sure.
The big crowds were mostly downstairs, as expected.
That left 35 dealer booths upstairs, Fiona and Twig included,
with less than ideal foot traffic.After a cursory walkthrough about two hours in,
I only noticed a few smalls missing.
One of my mall neighbors who has an absolutely killer booth
with quality vintage furniture and whimsical mixed media pieces...
I thought for sure hers would be cleaned out in record time.
No dice. 
People were buying things, but they were all smalls,
and there was a randomness to it. I couldn't get a read on what was hot and not.

We are only 20 short miles away from Fredericksburg,
the home of cutting-edge awesomeness
on the level of the very best of Warrenton or Round Top.....
and yet still so very far away.

My memory card filled up quickly, so I only managed to snap pics
of my booth for the most part. I have lots of the killer ephemera,
which I'll post tomorrow. But for now, here's how my booth
was all decked out for her first  soirĂ©e!


Before all the action started.
That is not my crazy quilt in the upper left!

Look y'all, it's my sign! It's almost like I'm legit now!









 This was looking a little sparse here.
I filled it up with quite a bit more later.




I loooove my crib vignette. I'll be sad to see it go.




 








 


 

So yeah, right now my booth is way more girlish and pink
than I evah planned on. Hang in there folks, if I ever unload some of this stuff,
I'll be switching over to a much more neutral, Jeanne d'Arc toned palette.

So that's my night in a nutshell. I've only been at this two weeks,
so I'm plenty of willing to give it time.
Heck, my husband said I should give it three years to turn a profit! My kind of man!

Have a great Friday, and hit those garage sales for me~
I'm working on my b-day weekend, boo!


I just linked with The Shabby Nest
for their Frugal Friday party.
Since most of my booth treasures are of the very frugal variety, 
I'm eager to see what other thrifty ideas can be found there!
Go pay them a visit!

27 comments:

Unknown said...

It looks just fabulous Anne! AND, you look so adorable and happy sitting among your new venture. I'm so excited for you! All the Vest!

*The Beautiful Life* said...

I agree with Cori!! You look SOOOOO happy!!! Oh my word!!

AND so pretty and cute (great combo, by the way!) ;)

SOOO happy for you!!!

Ruth

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

Congratulations on your new venture! Your booth looks charming and full of inspirational goodies...You look adorable! Have lots of fun with it! Take care, Laura

Zita - Mlle Magpie said...

Anne, your booth looks SO fantastic. I'm very, very happy for you. I'm actually jealous :) (I would love to have a booth to foof and decorate, but there are NO antique malls here!) You are going to have so much fun...

cindy@cottageinstincts said...

Your booth looks fabulous! And I think the publicity you got will help bring traffic your way. Wish I lived near you, I'd be in there in a big tExAs minute :o)
peace.

Anne Marie said...

*clapping* right along with you........

well done.....just doing it!

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

Oh no, not a good sign that you are wanting to hang on to things. That has happened so much to me, but I've got to let it go. I wonder why traffic wasn't going upstairs, was there anyone at the bottom encouraging traffic to go upstairs, weird right. Well maybe they'll come back. Smalls unfortunately are what's selling right now unless you have rock bottom prices on your larger pieces of furn. Good luck, it all looks great!

Six in One Hand said...

Anne it looks amazing!!!!
I love the look of your booth.
Too bad people weren't going upstairs...they totally missed out.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Lisa said...

I love it all!!!! I understand your frustration when you can't get the traffic due to booth location. I am in a great shop, but I'm the last booth in the back and I think many tinker out before they reach me. I didn't realize your so close to FT.Worth, I need to come visit your shop. Lisa

sportsdude said...

Look at how cute you are Anne!!! Don't worry sweets, a lot of times when you have events like this, folks end up making a mental note to come back to REALLY look ~ they partake of the food and the crowd is large so they can't get around as easily. Your space is WONDERFUL!!! xxoo, Dawn

The Green Pea said...

Anne, congratulations with your shop. It looks great and I hope you are having fun. If you find out what is selling well let us all know!!! The baby crib is lovely. sandi

Miss Mustard Seed said...

You booth is just lovely. It sounds like big things are in store for you!

bj said...

i love the look of your booth..I agree that Fredricksburg is a hard act to follow but I have high hopes for your new business.
You are an adorable lady!
xo bj

Debra@CommonGround said...

Everything looks great Anne, what a cutie-pie picture of you! The publicity will pay off. I'm glad your evening was a success!
Debra

Mindy said...

Here's hoping the upstairs treasures are discovered soon. After all, you got media coverage. Surely, that means the coverage will have folks specifically seeking you out. Suweet! Happy Sales! And Happy Birthday! ~Mindy

June said...

Your space is awesome and the picture of you in the middle of it...beautiful! Have a happy Birthday...sorry you'll be working.
Sounds like you have great support from the hubs. That's so great!!! You're a lucky girl.
Hugs,
June

Jodie (everything vintage) said...

Happy Birthday Anne! Happy Birthday Weekend! Happy Birthday MONTH!!!! Us October girls are the BEST aren't we????
I'm so excited you found me, even if it was through my little Cat Daddy seduction birthday song...I have NO shame! haha
Your booth is beautiful and your goodies are wonderful! Now since you are a Chamber of Commerce celebrity, visitors will be running up those stairs and waiting in line!
I hope you have a wonderful Birthday weekend and most of all...HAVE FUN!!!
ps...I love love LOVE your shop/blog name "Fiona and Twig"...it's so "happy"!!!!!

everything vintage

sue said...

Good for you for getting interviewed! Most of the previous commenters have already said what I'd say, but Theresa is right that you cannot get too attached to your stuff, and let the mall management know that you'll be interested in moving to the "main" floor if a space opens up (and you can swing it). It changed my sales DRAMATICALLY. It was a HUGE jump in rent (uck), but it does make a big difference. Finally, good for the hubs for giving you time to turn a profit. It took me 3 different locations and 2 years to finally start turning a profit. Hang in there; you'll beat my record in no time!

XOX

P.S. I'm not proud; people need to know that it's not all glamour. It's HARD WORK.

the old boathouse said...

Hi, Enjoying your blog. Noticed one of your fav movies is the BBC series Pride and Prejudice, I love that you clarified BBC. For as us fans know Colin Firth is the only true Mr Darcy!!haha, cheers Katherine

Artsy Fartsy Junkin Finds said...

It looks fabulous!! All perfectly arranged! It does take time to get it all filled in just the way you want it. You are well on your way, can;t wait to see more pics! Congrats and Hugs!! Janna

Debra said...

Congrats on your new shop. It looks wonderful. Sounds like you have a great, supportive husband so you are sure to do well. :)

Yaya' s Home said...

You have some wonderful treasures. I'm sure your business will take off and prosper very soon.
May I suggest you make a sign for the bottom of the stairs that says, "Treats Upstairs"?
Then, give out the world-famous Tootsie-Rolls at the END of the line of booths.
Good luck with your venture. I just know you are gonna' do well. ~ Yaya

http://yayashome.blogspot.com

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

Good luck to you. I love your booth. It would definitely be one I would stop & shop at. Too bad I live so far away. Thanks for sharing with us.

Funky Junk Interiors said...

Sweet booth! The vintage spelled out in scrabble pieces was an awesome touch! You sure must get alot of practice vingetting with all your wonderful treasures.

Sounds like a new dream coming together for you! Good for you!

Thanks for linking up to the party!

Funky Junk Donna

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

Your booth looks outstanding...so happy for you...and wish you the best of luck with it! Hope you have a awesome week.

Blessings,
Linda

{northern cottage} said...

Hey there cutie pie -

You've been awarded the Kreativ Blog Award here -

http://northerncottage.blogspot.com/2009/10/our-house-has-it.html

Sweet Woodruff said...

Whoa. Hey there girl. I was looking through all these vignette postings from last week and found your blog. I grew up in Ingram, but live in Tampa, FL. I'm very homesick for the hill country and the river, so I hope we'll be instant friends and you can cure my hill country blues.

I'm so happy about your business. Where are you located? The ceiling in your pictures looks like it's downtown some where. Close the Arcadia?

If you ever get a chance, take pictures of the library. I dream about that building frequently. There isn't a good picture of it on the web any where.

((((hugs)))) I'm so happy. Your blog made my day.


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