Despite the snow and cold I got back out today to take a look through the antique and junk shops in town.  Aside from a trip to the post office on Monday to mail a package off to Alaska, I hadn't been out since Friday.  In part due to a messy storm on Sunday and in part due to my need to complete my sewing projects that are to be Christmas gifts.  With sewing projects nearing completion, if one doesn't notice the rag dolls that still need clothing and a mod dress that still needs to be hemmed, I decided it was time to venture out to do some treasure hunting. 

I managed five shops, plus the Goodwill in three hours.  Tomorrow morning, weather permitting, I'll get to three more.  One of the shops I got to today is a rare hit for me, as the shop hours are very inconsistant, I was surprised and pleased to learn that the shop has a new owner with an interest in vintage accessories.  I purchased a lovely fur collar to resell, and a few pieces of pattern glass. 

And with that I bode you all wishes of a fine evening, and am off to prepare green Thai curry for dinner.

The first third of my career I spent working in finance, but life changes.  I found that my creative side was not being fulfilled as I spent my days working with numbers; I then began looking at which of my other interests might provide a more fulfilling career.  I found several things that might have been viable, yet the one that truly struck me was my love of decorating, and the persuit of interesting things to decorate with. 

Starting small, I looked to my home, certainly there was a room that I wanted to redecorate.  My kitchen was in need of a makeover, it wasn't really decorated, but had shelves lined with treasures from many different time periods that I had amassed.  Everything that was only used for decoration and wasn't from the fifties I took down, priced, packed and took to a swap meet one Sunday morning. 

My first swap meet was an adventure.  Although I'd been on the buying side of the table for years, I had no idea what the expect as a seller.  Driving to the meet I was worrying that I would sell nothing, or that someone might remember that the potato ricer I was asking $12 for I had purchased at the same meet for $2 ten years earlier.  My worries were quickly cast aside.  I pulled up to my designated spot and opened the car door, unlocked the trunk, found my tablecloth and turned to put it on the table.  Much to my surprise there were four people standing there waiting to see what I had, the crowd around my table grew larger, many asked what I was selling, I told them that I had old kitchen things, some walked away, but most stayed.  I began unpacking and they began grabbing, dickering, and buying.  By ten I had so little left there was little point in staying, my table looked barren surrounded by sellers who had easily brought ten times as much stuff as I had. 

I was hooked, I began to spend my weekdays crunching numbers, then a night or two a week at auctions, Saturday morning checking out garage sales, and Sunday mornings getting up long before it was light to go sell at the swap meet.  Through friendships made with more seasoned dealers I learned and networked, and continue to do both.  If there is one thing that I have learned being around antiques and collectibles it is that no one will ever know all of them.