The shop: to open, or not to open?

You all know I recently left my job at shopgoodwill.com.  The new job is very different but I think I'm adjusting well.  The surroundings are lovely, and peaceful.

Here's the view from my new office's parking lot

The commute is better/easier; and, the job itself,  in some ways, affords me so much more freedom than my last job -- particularly because I'm working non-traditional hours.

Various iterations of my shop logo over the years...

I was not allowed to have my vintage shop open while I was on staff at shopgoodwill.com, so I have been looking forward to starting to sell again. 

At least I think I have.

Either that, or working at a job where I was listing 35-40 items (vintage and decidedly not) a day, 5 days a week, for 15 months, has cured me forever.

To be honest -- so far, I haven't been able to bring myself to get working on opening my shop again.

So, I thought I might find inspiration in having something new and exciting to sell.  I took myself to a couple of estate sales and thrift shops the other day.

 Grab bags are always fun...this one I wanted most especially for the bird brooch in the center.

But it came with all sorts of other great little bits!

The bird brooch will be perfect in a bird-themed creation -- which is something I always seem to be making.

 It is covered in glass and has a good, deep crack over its face.  But I love it anyway.

At the same sale, I bought this lovely hand-carved bird on a branch for myself.

It's yellow, and sits on a branch at the bottom -- do you see it?  I haven't been able to discover anything about the artist yet.

Look at this photo I found in a quick stop at an antique store.

There is something about the way everyone was posed -- especially the women -- and the differences in their dresses that I thought made it so charming!

 And I've been doing some online shopping, too; this is some vintage wallpaper I bought from my friend Linda -- crafty scraps in Christmas red and green!

She always sends along a freebie -- this time it was tags!

 At a thrift store on 1/2 price day I found this mid-century bowl set, two tiers, with a teak wood and metal stand...

 and this little red art glass creamer/pitcher, which is just exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.  These are things I could get excited about offering in my shop.

 Some fabric that is kind of one part bark cloth, one part silk.

 I just loved the colors.

 I also grabbed this monogram transfer set...

I love using these kinds of pages in collages.

Also: I think they would make lovely paper roses!

 At another estate sale I found some more packages of those...I love the one that advertises it has, "dainty, feminine motifs"!

 And some vintage sewing pincushions in wood and fabric; after I set up my own vintage display, I decided I would love to put together some sets of vintage notions to sell in my shop.

If I reopen it.

 The little stitched hot pad was irresistible -- as well as the pillowcase just waiting to be embroidered.

 I don't often see Easter ephemera so I had to grab this little glittered egg -- it was hand made.

 And a little bit more kitschy Christmas items -- all 25 cents apiece.

 A grab bag of Christmas stickers/seals/stamps...

Because I needed more.

Because, after doing the swap with Terri, I'm very much in Christmas crafting mode!

And I would love to make some Christmas ephemera kits to sell, too.

If I decide to re-open my shop, you will be among the first to know!

Today is Tuesday -- but it's really my Saturday, as I'm off work for 2 days.

Let's see how much I can get accomplished, mid week, as I settle into these new hours and this strange new schedule!
Hey, I decided to link this up with Betsy's Vintage Inspiration Link Party!