Happy Sunday
afternoon to everyone. It’s been a while
since I checked in here, but did not realize it had been so long! Things have been a changin’! Certainly, it’s a new year, it’s winter—at least
it is on the calendar where I live, and in reality in much of the country. All those who live in the Midwest experiencing
winter store Jupiter, please stay safe!
I have also
made some changes to my shop. I started
out with making coasters using tumbled travertine tiles and travertine
trivets. I still love doing those but I
have found my thrill … on blueberry hill.
Well, not blueberry hill. My thrill
is painting with chalk paint! I have ‘married’
that love of chalk paint with upcycling
and distressing found items, items I pick up at flea markets, thrift store, and
resale shops …. OH. OH. OH. Be still my
heart. Another LOVE is flea markets and
thrift stores! It seems more a popping
up here where I live.
I am now
making the circuit each week stopping in to look at their lovelies. Well, some are lovelies in disguise. I affectionately call them ugly
ducklings. I bring some of them home to
help them in their process of turning into a beautiful swan.
To merit
coming home with me, there are several qualifications. One is that it must ‘call my name.’ It must be something that has enough unique,
beautiful qualities such as texture, and something interesting about its shape
and design. Sometimes it’s a small glass
bottle with interesting raised edges. Sometimes
it’s a vase with a beautiful shape.
Other times it’s a wooden bowl with a classic shape and interesting
lines.
Of course,
purchase price makes a difference. I do
have a little secret formula that I use to help figure out if I should get it. Sometimes the price is a little more than I think
I should pay but the piece is calling my name.
In this case, it is just a gut feeling and I HAVE to get it.
We have picked
up items on the way home to see my dfil and have regretfully seen one of these
little shops close. It was one I got to
stop in one time and bought two bottles.
They were pretty, matching textured glass bottles at an excellent price for
the pair. I looked forward to shopping
there again on the way home from visiting him in north Louisiana. Sadly, it was closed the next time we went
through that area.
The changes
in my shop include combining the two shops I had into one. The new name reflects that I am diversifying
to include other things besides coasters.
My new name is Cynthia Welch Designs and you can find me under that name
at Etsy (www.cynthiawelchdesigns.com)
and at Instagram. I also have a Facebook
page by that name. My business page has general
information about what is going on. My
fan page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/FansOfCynthiaWelchDesigns)
is where I post specials for my Etsy shop and give aways that I run through my
fan page. Specials and give aways are
not found anywhere else online.
Right now,
it is kind of an off season for craft shows, at least in the area where I
live. It is time to start prepping for
the spring shows. This is the time of
year I work on building stock for coasters, and now my painted, distressed,
upcycled items. I will be building my
stock for a couple of months. Of course
I’ll list it on Etsy t00. I plan on crafting almost every day to get ready. If you have some inspirational quotes or photos, please share them in the comments! {vbg}
If you live
in the Houma, LA area and know of an estate sale, etc. that I should check out,
please leave a comment or PM me through Facebook. I love checking those out.
I will be
doing 2 shows this spring. One is a
repeat for me, Market at the Mill in New Roads, LA. I’ll also be doing Vintage Market Days in
Brandon, MS. I like the idea of indoor
shows because it allows us to skip setting up a tent and it makes shopping easier
for customers when the weather does not cooperate.
So for now I'll say so long. Check back for updates to my blog.
Because of His love I live,
Cindy
