Good time at Lake Houston Trade Days....and Brayden!

This past Saturday was the Lake Houston Trade Days and Fall Festival.  It was a good show with lots and lots of customers and friends coming out to enjoy the shopping, live music and good food!

A wonderful band called the "Fab 5" Beatle impersonators played---they are very, very good and very popular here and all about.  There was a bungee-jump, a human-hamster ball and much, much more.

It was truly great fun, a time to sell and a time to visit with good friends, customers and fellow vendors.  Here are some pictures of my booth:

It's amazing how much you can fit into a 10' x 20' booth!  And of course, I had to add a picture of my wonderful grandson, Brayden, in his dragon costume!!  He and his mom, my daughter Brittany, came out to enjoy all the festivities.

Our next show will be in two weeks and then another one two weeks after that---November will be a very busy month for us!!  And of course, the Thanksgiving holiday.  We are thinking of going to Dallas to spend the holiday with my oldest daughter, Jennifer.  Mainly it will be a little R & R for me!!

Well, that's it for now, must go and work on items for my etsy shop and for ebay.  More on that later!

God Bless all and any who read this,
Pat, A Remade Life

Decision Made....Now Waiting on God

     This past weekend was our Winnie Trade Show were we have a 660 sq ft indoor permanent shop.  As some of you know, we've been there for about 5 yrs. now, first as just a 'shop-sharer' (we didn't own the shop but shared it with my good friend Kay) and then as the shop owner when Kay retired almost 2 yrs ago.  There are just not enough words to describe the fun, trials, problems, fun,craziness, etc. that we have experienced during that time.

     Like the time we went to work on the shop in between shows and walked in to find broken glass everywhere!!  The shelf on one of our shelf units had collapsed and almost everything had broke.  And then there was the time we went to work on the shop in-between shows and walked into an oven---the air conditioner was broken!   The time the toilet overflowed, the time another shelf fell while I was under it and landed on my head---ouch!!  As you can see, we've had many situations and we learned to deal with them all!

     We have met some amazing people over the yrs!

     These are only a few of the many, many wonderful customers who have graced the doors of our humble shop.  So many allowed us into their lives and we shared our life with them as well..

     I've had co-workers come out to see my shop and even a few old school chums------thanks Ethel Kay, you look the same as you did in high school, only better!!

    The shop has also undergone 'changes' in look and style over the years---

      And so, good times and bad, Winnie has definitely been a fun ride!  We had hoped to simply move into a smaller shop, one that would be less expensive and easier to fill (it's a LOT of work shopping for a 660 sq ft. shop!).  Unfortunately, at this time, there is none available.  So, unless one opens up, the December show will be our last.

     We still have soooooooo much stuff that we need to sell and only 2-months to do it in!  We are marking many, many items down and will be bringing in more to try to move it out.

     Please come and visit and maybe buy a treasure or two if you find yourself in the neighborhood!  We will of course keep you updated.....who knows where God will lead us next!!

God Bless All and Any who read this,
Pat, A Remade Life

Back to Canton Trade Days!...........and an emergency trip home

     I think the title pretty well covers what this blog will be about.  Last Thursday my son Jonathan, my grandson Brayden and I loaded up my van with all the necessities of life and began the 4.5 hour trip to Canton Trade Days, reportedly the largest flea market in the United States!

     We've been planning this return trip for several months.  Our first visit this past spring was amazing, even though I had been very ill the week before and couldn't walk around much.  Anyway, away we went, Brayden singing and happy, Jonathan talking non-stop (as usual) and me just thankful to be able to take a mini-vacation from all the stress and strains of life.

    We stopped for a little break for Brayden (and me, I had to go to the restroom!) at a McDonald's in Huntsville which was only about 1.5 hrs. into our drive.  Here's Brayden enjoying himself at Mickey D's:

McDonald's is one of his favorite places.  We try to take him there as often as possible but I honestly get a little nervous about the play area......have you seen how, uh, unclean those places are!?  Sorry, McDonald's but truth is truth.

     We finally made our way to Canton with only one more stop.  The drive had been enjoyable, Brayden had stayed happy, Jonathan had kept talking and I was again, just enjoying the day!

     We began shopping with purpose!  Armed with our wire cart (you know, the ones you see EVERYWHERE at these kinda places), Brayden in his stroller, diaper bag with drink and snacks in hand, we were off and running!!!  It didn't take us long to begin finding stuff we liked, me for the shop and Jonathan for himself.   We bought a little of this and a little of that, but my favorite purchase was these 2-wonderful mannequins:

     The female one is wonderful cause it's smaller than most of the mannequins I have--about the size of a teenage girl.  This will work wonderfully for my vintage clothing.   Seems like women were much smaller 'back in the day'.  The little boy mannequin is actually about the size of Brayden!  I HAD to have it because it has such a cute face!  I will probably use him in the shop and the female will be used for my ebay stuff.

    The evening was very tiring due to Brayden NOT wanting to go to sleep:

   

     Yes, those are his pajama bottoms on his head!!   He had so much fun that day, I guess he just wanted to keep going!!!!

   

     And then, the fun stopped..........The next morning I got an emergency phone call from my sister.  Seems my sweet mom had fallen AGAIN and she shattered the femor on her right leg!.  This is the same leg she broke about 2.5 yrs ago.  The first time she broke it just below her hip.  This time it shattered the bone right above her knee.

     We loaded up and started the long trip back.  Thankfully Brayden was happy and then fell asleep cause I really didn't want to make too many stops.  I needed to get home to mom.

     We made it home and waited to hear from my sister as to what and how mom was doing.  The doctors said it was a VERY bad break, her femor shattered (their words) and that she must have surgery.  My sweet mom has had soooooo many surgeries over the past 5 yrs and her little body was weak, but there was just no way around it.  Surgery was set for the next day at 3pm and thus begins my mom's next journey in life.

     The surgery went well, mom is now bionic in that leg and the doctor was as pleased as he could be with a 88 yr old woman with brittle bones and numerous medical conditions.

     That was just 5 days ago and mom has had several ups and downs.  Her kidney function is at 50% and she is only lucid moments at a time---that could partially be due to the anesthics from surgery and after.  The big news is that her heart is only functioning at about 30% and of course, that is causing a lot of concern.  She's not hurting and they are watching her very closely but this is not the news we wanted.

     As a child we think our parents will be around forever......as an adult, we realize how limited our time with them really is.  Here are a few pictures of my mom and my kids:

Christmas 2012

My mom cuddling Brayden as an infant--they were watching TV together!

     Well, that's it for now.  I will give updates on my mom (and life) as I get them.  Please pray for my mom, Goldie Marie, and if your parents are still around, go hug them for me!!!

God bless all and any who read this,
Pat, A Remade Life

The Ever-changing Business of...uh, well, Business!!!

It always amazes me how the hills of valleys of business are so much like the hills and valleys of life!  Not trying to get all philosophical or nothing, but there are so many similarities.

You ever noticed how life seems to run in cycles?  Things are going well, flowing nicely from day to day and then, BAMMMM, it hits!!!   Both tires on the back of your car go flat and make you late for an important meeting---the vending machine at work eats not one, but two of your dollars and seems to almost dare you to try again!!  Your hair starts falling out for some unknown reason, your dog poops in your most expensive pair of shoes and you discovery the strange smell in your refrigerator is coming from the tomato that fell behind the vegetable drawer and now looks like a science project!!  No, none of these things happened to me...well, maybe the tomato thing, but that's all.

Our good times are high, our bad times are low and everything in between is what keeps us going.  And so it is with business as well.

Things have been pretty 'low' for us business-wise for quite a while now.  Online sales have been almost 

non-existent and, as you know, my shop has been equally slow in sales.  It has been an unpleasant valley!

Well I'm here to say that we are starting the upward climb on that hill and have started enjoying the high that comes with success!  Sales at the shop have picked up greatly and that by itself is a blessing.  However, I seem to be on a roll with my online sales as well!!  I've been posting vintage clothing on ebay (my seller id is 'aremadelife' in case you would like to check it out!)  and, good news, THEY ARE SELLING!!  Not only that but I've been doing well in both my etsy shops --lovethatvintagestyle and aremadelife---check those out too if you have time!!

So, we are currently on a really nice HIGH----a blessing indeed!  But, I keep remembering that those low valleys are just on the other side of that hill and that I need to keep my 'feet' planted in reality.  Some days are good, some days are bad, but thanks to our Heavenly Father, we get through them all-----and if we remember to trust in Him we will enjoy those wonderful highs and learn from those unpleasant lows!

So we are enjoying this time of success and wanted to share it with you!  Here are a few picture's of my items on ebay and new pic's of the shop!

Vintage 1920's dress--sold within 45 mins.!!

Child's vintage real fur hand muff

Vintage 1940's Fashion Dress

Fantastic vintage Fashion Wrap

Very unusual vintage full slip!

Vintage 1960's Mod-style knit coat

Thanks for listening to me, hope all is well with you!  Leave me a comment!!

God Bless all and any who read this,

Pat, A Remade Life

Mischief Is In the Air!!

     I don't know about you, but when the mornings start getting a little cooler (and I do mean A LITTLE--it's still about 76 degrees in the mornings and topping out around 94-100 by the end of the day!!) and the trees start thinking of shedding their leafs.....well,I find myself feeling all frisky and, dare I say it, mischievous!! NOT in a bad way, but kinda like wanting to run up behind people you know and yell "Boo", then giggle and run off! What?...you don't think of doing that kinda thing?! Well, you should!!

     As I get older (I just had a b-day last month) I find myself thinking more and more of my childhood and all the things the kids in the neighborhood use to do. Things like staying outside until our parents practically dragged us back inside; or playing tennis in the middle of the street until we just got too tired to chase the ball anymore; or just sitting on the street curb and talking...not about anything in particular, just talking.

     Those were good days, but these days can be good too! So I invite you to 'get a little mischievous' (in a good way!) Grab your best bud and go running through the sprinklers before it gets too cold, or invite friends over for pizza and have a food fight (in the backyard of course--NO ONE likes to clean the kitchen!), or just sit on the street curb and talk about nothing in particular---I think you will find it will help to 'cleanse' away all your tensions and stress...and hopefully give you a refreshed outlook on life!

      Before I leave you, here are a few pictures of my curent ongoing project, one I am very excited about. I may try to have a 'grand opening/reveal' before the holidays...at least that's my goal. There is still lots to work out and I can't reveal too much at this time but will try very soon!!

Well, that's it for now----anyone in the mood for pizza!?!?!
God Bless All and Any who read this,
Pat, A Remade Life

Best Customers in the World!!

This past weekend was the Winnie Trade Days show and what a good show it was!  Although we didn't make as much money as we did last month we did ok-- but the real joy came in meeting some of the greatest customers in the world!!

I had the great pleasure of meeting many new customers as well as seeing some long-time returning ones. What fun it was to visiting with people, make new friends and 'share' the love of God with so many!!  I felt truly blessed to meet each and every one that came into my shop.

There was the lovely mom-in-law and daughter-in-law who came in with the cutest of babies (don't worry Brayden, grandma still loves you the best!).   The young ladies husband was in the military and had been deployed.  She was part of a military group that was raising money for the troops by creating a calendar of military wives dressed in vintage clothing---which just happens to be one of my specialties.  We talked and shared thoughts about vintage clothing, she checked out all the different vintage styles I had and even purchased some.  I gave her my contact info and hope we will stay in touch with each other.

Then there was the young girl (17 yrs old) who came in with her mom to look for and buy vintage clothing, not for any party or event but just because she LOVES vintage clothing!!  It just thrills my heart to see young people enjoying great things from the past.  And her mom was the best--she bought her daughter a complete outfit, dress and matching hat.  This young lady is a definite individual, one who knows who she is and not likely to fall into the 'status quo'!

And remember my little buddy Zack, the one who won the American Pickers youth contest, a $10,000 scholarship and a trip to the Smithsonian?  Well, my little buddy ain't so little anymore!!  I saw him walking down the hall and almost didn't recognize him!!  He's grown a foot and it now taller than me and has 'leaned-down' and lost his baby fat.  And even though he's a young teenager, he stopped to visit and we had a good hugging session!!  That kid definitely has a place in my heart!!

Well, that's pretty much how our weekend went.  We only had one minor issue that was our 'fly in the ointment'.  I was cleaning off one of our glass shelf units when one of the shelves collapsed and all the glassware on that shelf broke.  But I count my blessings cause I could have been hurt/cut my the flying glass however, I came away without a scratch!  Thank you Lord for your protecting hand!

So, here are a few pictures for you to enjoy, unfortunately none of our customers--it was just too busy to stop to take pictures.

My 'little' buddy Zack in a 'before' picture---he's NOT this little now!!

The top shelf is the one that collasped--pretty much everything on it broke

And of course, the most beautiful baby in the world, my Brayden!

I had to include this pic of Brayden in NOT one of his finer moments--that's not chocolate he's covered in--ughhh!

Here is he all cleaned up and happy again

He's full of McNuggets, french fries and a smoothie--not his usual diet but ok once in a while

And that's it for now, thanks for stopping by and taking a peepie-poo (sorry, didn't mean to mention 'poo' again!).  God Bless all and any who read this,

Pat, A Remade Life

Winnie Trade Days this weekend!!

This weekend brings another Winnie Trade Days and I have high hopes for this show!  Last months show was the best one we've ever had and I'm hoping this one will be equally good or even better!!  We have added lots of good stuff I found at an estate sale as well as the used clothing I mentioned in a previous post.  We enlarged my son's area since his sales have more than doubled (he just grins from ear to ear when I tell anyone this!) and we even redesigned the linen section.

We are frantically trying to get everything we can priced and ready to go for this show--please pray that we have the strength and endurance to make it work!!!

I of course included a picture of my wonderful grandson, Brayden, who is now 18 months old!!  He is such a blessing to me.

I have been posting lots of good, vintage items in my etsy shop so please be sure to go to my link and check it out.  I am also still working on my 'secret' project that I really hope to get up and running before Christmas---we'll see, but it's very slow going right now!

Well, that's it for now, I'll update you on how the show goes---again, please pray we do well, but mainly that we are able to be a blessing to someone this weekend!!

God Bless All and Any who read this,

Pat, A Remade Life