December so far.....

My goodness....it's been a whole month since my last update!  Well, I have certainly been busy both with my personal life and with Ça Va.  Every since October, I've taken a step in a different direction with inventory and again, with my own personal life.  I felt things needed to shift just a bit as I was starting to get slightly bored with the typical shabby chic style I first started out with.  Now, there is definitely nothing wrong with what I was doing before however I never like to stay with one concept for too long.  Although October's sales took a large dip with the full on Halloween approach, it was nice to get out of the Parisian mind set. Once November came, I decided to put more effort into achieving a more aesthetic driven presentation with my set up as opposed to just having lots of pretty things.  I thought to myself....."hmmm.....how can these pieces function together in one cohesive display?".....and BOOM.....I started visualizing and designing more than ever; working with balancing color, line, and texture more than ever before.  Here are some pictures from the last two shows at The Long Beach Antique Market and The Groves Antique Market in Irvine.

A very modest set up at the Long Beach Antique Market

I've decided to expand my art pieces both by size and by genre.  I've also brought back some vintage clothing that I use to sell a year ago when I sold with my family. 

As for me, I felt that I had to make a change in my health so I hired a personal trainer.  I've always taken pride in being able to lose weight on my own but I always gained it all back over time.  So I realized that I was missing something in the process and that I could use a helping hand. My trainer is fantastic and I couldn't be happier.  He has even motivated me to join a gym which is something I thought I would never ever ever ever do in a million years but here I am; working out at the gym 5 days a week at 5am when they open!  Thus far, I've lost just a little over 15 lbs and my confidence is really coming around while my waist line shrinks little by little.  

I have this chalkboard right next to my front door so that I can be inspired every day.  Thanks for reading and I'll see you at The Rose Bowl Flea Market this Sunday 12-8-13!

Je vois la vie en rose @The Irvine Antique Market

After flipping through several posts on Elle Decor's site, I was really attracted to the use of pink for Fall interior design.  Specifically, I enjoyed the translation from recent fashion designer runway shows use of pink to interior designers using just a touch of pink to highlight an entire setting/room.  Given that I had very little to work with this month, I had to make it count and I think I did considerably well as I received many compliments for my aesthetic and approach.  I suppose that having Edith Piaf playing in the background completed the ingredients list for a pleasant atmosphere.

My 3 big pieces lol White Dining Table, Shipping Crate Bookshelf, and a 4-Pane Mercury Glass Window!

Keeping it simple with white and pink accent frames.

I got these roses in LA in the Flower District but I wish I had more money to spend because the selection is amazing!  Also pictures: Faux Mercury Glass Vase I made. 

I was thrilled to sell the dining table to a young couple who loved it as much as I enjoyed making it.  I was also happy to sell the upcylced shipping crate bookshelf.  I really only had 3 big items and I was successful with moving all of them plus lots of little extras like single pane windows, postcards, Madeliene pans, and other random trinkets.  I also must admit that I was surprised to so well because the flea market location had been moved to a new area and although it was quite a confusing lay out, there were soooooooo many customers out and about that managed to find me.  I definitely love selling at Irvine and am so glad that they did not shut down operation for a bit like they had mentioned during the summer.

Next week is The Rose Bowl Flea where I will have my own full space and more furniture to work with.  See you there!

Now that Halloween is almost over.....

I know, I know....it's only the 21st of October however when you take part in making and selling Halloween props and decor, it is pretty much Halloween everyday for a few months!  This past Sunday was my last Halloween themed sale that I helped out with at the Long Beach Antique Market and it was a really fun sale.  The space was actually large enough for me to still have my own mini set-up and for the last minute planning, I actually did pretty decent.  I had absolutely no furniture pieces for sale besides my bookcase yet somehow, I still managed to have a good day. 

Art work has now been added to Ca Va!  Not too long ago, I had an Etsy shop called Cranked Up Really High where I sold street art influenced pop art.  My pieces ranged from 50's Hollywood actors and actresses to current hip hop musicians.  After some consideration and positive feedback from the Halloween pieces I painted, I decided to bring back some of my old pieces and create some new ones as well.  Although I did not do an update after The Rose Bowl last Sunday, I took a few pieces to that show to test the waters and I was astonished with how many prints I sold so of course, I took the next logical step and made all new pieces for Long Beach. 

Here are a few pictures of my mini set up!

Now it's time for a much deserved break and a fun Halloween!  See you at the next sale where I will have a new and brighter set up on November 3rd at The Irvine Flea Market!

Vintage Top Hat Wearing Pumpkins and Gusty Winds at the Irvine Antique Market

What a windstorm we've had the last few days in Southern California!  I was genuinely nervous that the show was not going to go on yesterday but by Saturday afternoon, the winds completely stopped and I was able to finish up some last minute pieces. 

Sunday was a beautiful day however the market was a bit on the slow side.  Blame it on the weather?  Who knows?  Regardless of that, the day turned out to be lots of fun and as always, it was great talking to new and returning customers. 

Here are some pictures from my set up.  I didn't have much for sale but I made the best of it and I think my space looked pretty fun.

I will be selling at The Rose Bowl Flea Market on October 13th so be on the look out for those top hat wearing pumpkins!

Why, hello there Long Beach!

Although I have only been selling for a little over a year, (3 months with Ça Va) I had come to fear the month of September.  When I first started, I had taken the Summer off and jumped back into the flea market circuit in September only to pretty much flop at every venue.  Not only was the heat nearly unbearable but the lack of interested customers was just as frustrating.  By 11am, each market was dead!  I mean seriously, there were no customers walking around at all and most people were either packing up or just baking in the intense sun. It was definitely scary enough to make me give selling a second thought.  However this September was different....

I learned my lesson well last year is the least I can say! lol  This year, the heat returned and as expected, the crowds vanished rather quickly.  The difference this year was that I planned ahead and really worked on my sales skills.  This past sale at the Long Beach Antique Market repeated last year all around me but I was fortunate enough to make decent sales on such a slow and hot day.  The previous sale was more difficult (the one at Pasadena that is) because I did not bring Ça Va with me but this time, I did and I think that is what saved my butt haha  

Here are some pictures from our set up.

 We'll be at the Irvine Flea Market on October 6th with even more Halloween goodies and of course, more Ça Va.  See you there!

Some Kind of Madness: A Day at The Rose Bowl Flea Market

This past Sunday was the first time Ça Va has not officially sold since June....or July?  Either way, I joined up with my stall mates for their Halloween season and I definitely learned a few new things.  For this entry, I thought it would be fun to take my readers along side with me as I kept a log of nearly all events that occurred throughout the day from the minute I woke up to the minute we left The Rose Bowl after packing up.  So.........here we go:

• 1:29am: Instantly sat up in bed thinking I had completely overslept.  Too bad it's too early to get out of bed yet too late to really go back to sleep.  Seriously.....
• 1:50am: Time to get up!  Good lord my feet and back are still aching from all of the heavy lifting from the day before....where's the Aspirin? First thing's first, gotta get the laundry out from the dryer so I have my clothes ready for the day.  Second, Rhassoul mud mask......trust me, it really really helps wake my face up and make me feel like my skin is refreshed which is absolutely essential when you have to work with customers for nearly 12 hrs out in the open air. Third, shower time!
• 2:30am: After getting dressed, the next thing to do is press my cold brew French Press coffee that I set up the afternoon before.  Hot coffee just doesn't sit well when it's warm outside.  Grab some cereal for breakfast and then finish packing up the cooler for the day.Finish all last minute packing.
• 3:15am: Out the door and on the road to Pasadena!
• 4:20am: Arrive at the most perfect time as the line is moving and is not back up at all so there really is no wait.  If only this would work out the same at Long Beach haha
• 4:45am: Maneuver the truck into our space and start unloading.
• 5:15am: Start organizing the chaos of items after pulling the truck out of the stall in order to utilize every square inch in our tiny stall.
• 5:30am:  Now that everything is divided up, we start properly setting up and re-arranging items if necessary.  From there, we start decorating and give the stall a more polished look because piles of junk are not always appealing to the eye but I know that works for some people, just not us.
• 6:45am: Finish decorating and sit back and wait.  The 'buyers' are out and about but because we did not bring any collectables or other antiques, they skip over our space.  
• 7:15am: We are accosted by a rather unfriendly worker on a motorized scooter about being "past the damn line".  His attitude is so poor and unwarranted that my stall mate points out that nearly the entire aisle (mind you, we are on the main aisle in the Antiques section a.k.a the biggest aisle!) has placed their items beyond the limits (which is totally normal too btw).  "Never mind what everyone else is doing.  If you don't push your stuff back, we'll pull your damn ticket and send you packing....." he yells as he scoots away on his motorized scooter.  Hmmm......so many reasons why our stall was picked on that day but I'll save that for another entry.
• 7:40am: First sale!  I sold one of my ghost mirrors!
• 7:45am: Take a bathroom break and my usual walk to visit friends before the big rush at 9am when general admission starts.
• 8:35am: Back from my walk and make my second sale of the day.  Sold 3 large solid wood picture frames with spooky late 19th century photo portraits.
• 8:45am: One of my neighbors needs help with her Square transaction and I gladly oblige.  It's all about helping one another out.
• 9:00am: Gates open for general admission!  This is where our aisle becomes flooded and impossible to navigate at times.
• 9:45am:  Where.......is.......everyone??.......oh boy, this isn't a good sign.
• 10:20am:  Help neighbor again with another Square transaction. She is so sweetly apologetic even after I tell her that I don't mind helping at all.
• 10:30am: Second mini walk up and down my aisle to scope out who is selling and what is selling........what I find is rather depressing and exactly what I suspected earlier on......Today is not going to be a good day.  In fact, today is going to be excruciatingly rough with the heat and lack of buying customers.
• 10:50am:  Seriously, where is everyone?!?
• 11:30am: Help my neighbor.....again......at least she is doing somewhat ok.  At this point, I'm rather depressed and slightly regretting not bringing Ça Va  however I know that there would still be no guarantee that things would have been any different if I had done so.  
• 11:45am:  My waxed table is melting!  I don't know what I was thinking putting it out front and center in the sun whit this heat.........oh wait........I remember, I thought it was going to be one of my first items to sell......that's why I put it front and center...........depression is turning into frustration.
• 12:15pm: At this point, I could cry from frustration.  It's not that prices were too high in our stall, it's that there is no one to sell to!  I seriously have not made a sale since those picture frames.
• 12:35pm: Help my neighbor with another sale and am promised a bottle of wine next month in return.....karma, please come back sooner rather than later.....
• 12:43pm:  3rd sale of the day!  sold a large ghost mirror.
• 12:45pm: 4th sale! sold two small ghost mirrors!  
• 1:05pm:  The crowd is really thinning out and several of my neighbors are almost done packing up.  Actually, many started packing at noon which is a sure sign that it was a bad day all around.
• 1:59pm:  5th sale!  sold my solid oak waxed table!  Finally, a large sale!  What's funny is that my customer intends to strip the table of the wax finish and completely re-paint!   Kind of depressing to hear as I spent a lot of time giving the table the finish it had and believe me, Annie Sloan Dark Wax is as beautiful on furniture as it is difficult to work with. Whatever...........I need the sale and my customer really wanted to make the purchase and I didn't hesitate to make it happen.
• 2:44pm: The Rose Bowl Flea Market is dead.......you could roll a bowling ball down the aisle and not hit a single person.  Even the hot dog stand across from us was hit hard with lack of sales and they typically sell tons considering that they sell beer at 7am......
• 3:30pm:  No more sales...........time to pack up with our tails between our legs........
• 4:30pm:  Finish strapping down all of the big ticket items that we were hoping were going to sell first thing in the morning. You can't help but feel defeated but the important thing is to remember that bad days happen, that's just the way it is.    We just happen to have had 2 in a row but what can you do.....We're only hoping that this coming Sunday at The Long beach Antique Market will not repeat last years sale in September because that day was actually much worse.....
• 4:40: Everything is loaded up and secure and we are all back in the truck pulling out of the lot ending our day at The Rose Bowl Flea Market.
• 6:00pm: Home.  Dinner. Sleep.

There you have it.  I really would have loved to be able to share a better day in its entirety but that's just not how it played out.  I suppose this entry sheds more light and realism on what selling at a flea market is like because I can tell you that is nothing like Flea Market Flip lol

Here are some photos of our stall:

I finished that Duck Egg Blue Curio and the table in the center with Annie Sloan Dark Wax.  I'll post better pictures of the curio as it now is a part of my room.

BTW, we reported that rude worker and were told to forget what he said as he has absolutely no power or authority to pull someone's ticket.  Madness....

Last Bit of Summer In Irvine

Holy macaroni!  This past Sunday was a scorcher out at The Irvine Flea Market at The Great Park Seriously, I was surprised at how hot it was first thing in the morning but what was even more surprising was the amount of people still shopping around after noon.  Although it was lots of fun, I must admit that it was not the busiest day.  I'm not saying I did bad but of course, I could have done and typically do much much better.  It appeared to be the same story for nearly everyone there that day which was a bit of a bummer because there were some amazing pieces out there yesterday that deserved to find new homes.  Anyways, here are a few pictures I snapped of my set up:

some new pieces

absolutely love this curio

I'm baffled as to how this gorgeous faux Mercury Glass curio did not find a home......alas, it will be going to Pasadena but will be given a semi make over for a very special occasion

Another amazing piece that didn't find a new home.......seriously though, a chrome finished Mid Century High Boy Dresser.....such a great price but great prices mean nothing if nobody is biting

Fortunately, these new faux Mercury Glass windows were successful :-)

This last show was actually the last official Ça Va sale until November.  I am teaming up with my stall mates who make Halloween props for the next 5 shows.  You'll still see my style but I will be working with a much darker and richer color palette.  I'm actually really really excited to bring out some new pieces with these darker colors because the ones I have done so far look pretty cool.  

Here are some pics of my stall mate's Halloween props.  They plan on having an even bigger set up at The Rose Bowl Flea Market this coming Sunday.  See you there!

These things scare the crap out of me at night in the garden lol

A happy customer having some fun