Its got to be-e-e-e-e per-r-r-fect!!

Hello fellow junk lovers!

Well the sun did shine, and the breeze was warm, and the people came out to play!

After the rush hour from 8-9am, I thought my work was done for the day...the next hour was dead quiet.

Even though I had made quite a few sales, I didnt spend the past few months , in particular the last few weeks, and late hours last night, and up at 5am this morning, to open the studio for just an hour!

But then...

Thankfully,the late-comers arrived, and  I had steady sales right up till closing at 1pm.

'Retail' is a fickle business to be in , unpredictable and hard work, with not always satisfying results. I work in a shop five days a week, and we dont know from one day to the next what our sales will be like! Almost classed as a country area, we rely on good weather to draw the customers in, but then sometimes the good weather keeps them outdoors!

 We cant win!

The one thing I do know, is that we offer the best customer service we know, so we are certain they will come back!

Just the same as in this lil studio. I can always rely on my regulars to come back, and for the  newcomers, I try to make them feel most welcome and a new friend to the studio, and me of course!

It is a tough time for retail, customers are smart, and the competition is huge, even when it comes to garage sales, fetes, markets and the like. 

So when all of my customers tell me there is a huge fete in the next suburb,( I might add I was sad I missed it, they are always fantastic), I point out to them how good it is we have choice, and although you might not get quantity in this petite studio of allsorts, you will get quality (junkstyle) and definitely leave with a smile, and maybe a new special or two in hand, and the knowledge that you have made a new friend, or, caught up on some gossip, chit chat and laughs with an old friend.

It is a win win situation for the customer all round!

A wonderful day!

But now I think I need a nanna nap!

Be back again soon, when Ive recovered, and cleaned up my trail of mess throughout my home and verandahs!

A sale like no other....

Thankyou to those who are interested in how the sale went, let me put your mind at rest....I closed after three hours!!!

It was miserable weather, Autumn decided to show up, and I think it scared most of  my customers away....

It was great to see a few of my regulars visit first thing, and maybe a dozen or so came in the next hour, but by 11am, it died a quick death!

I had tarps up everywhere, but the wind was cold and damp, I gave in, and packed up!  And just to taunt me, the sun came out for the next hour, and people were driving up the lane looking for my little studio, staring at the locked gate...shame...

Well after a night of sulking and disappointment, I decided that I will just have to plan my next sale in April. Check for new dates soon over HERE.

I took some pics, and made my new banner, but saved my favourite one to show here!

This lovely lady visits every month, we have a great catchup chat, and she usually finds something special to take home.

So how was your weekend ladies? 

Work overload...

Just a quick update on this weekends sale....

Due to other work commitments, I have to cancel the sale this Saturday.

For the locals who would still like to come and visit, I will take group appointments up until Christmas.

Everyone can still shop online in the studio anytime.

Timing is unfortunate, but hopefully I will be better organised in 2011!

Dont forget my giveaway...

It's a new day...

Hibiscus in bloom

My cleaning frenzy was slammed to a holt a few days ago when I hurt my neck...don't worry ,this is a regular injury, and nobody's fault but my own. I'm impatient when it comes to moving things, and need to move it then and there, no time to loose!

Thankfully it is mending and I'm able to do light duties!

New additions

I have so much to do this week, a sore neck wasn't worked into the equation, oh well, the usual last minute rush is on the cards, in preparation for another sale this Saturday!

New additions

Toby will be happy to see this pile move down to the studio, he likes to be able to see us when he is outside, looking in!

Easy come, easy go....

My experience at 'Maison Montage' has been short lived....two weeks has to be an all time record, but long enough to realise, it wasnt for me.

That saying,'the grass is greener on the otherside', didnt apply.I think my time spent there actually made me appreciate Junkstudio, and what it has to offer!

And speaking of Junkstudio..., it showed its true colours on the weekend, and we had a great day Saturday! There wasnt the usual garage sale crowd, and as I said to Judy( she did cheese tastings and sales), there was a different vibe this time round, new faces, but also many familiar ones, and lots of chatter of their return for the December sale.

 I think, and I say this in a whisper, I have secured a good customer base in the 14 months I have been opening Junkstudio doors! There is a change in the air, and Im liking it, alot!
For those of you who came and also read this blog, thankyou. We had a great day, and I look forward to seeing you again in December for our big Christmas sale!

I finished this cupboard just before Saturday, as you can see there wasnt alot to do, just clean it up, make curtains, and I inserted some corrigated iron in the sides. It still needs a glass shelf, which I hope to get soon, and then I will be listing it into my ebay store. Although it didnt sell, alot of other big pieces did, so despite the extreme heat at the moment, I better get back to it!
Now, if I could just clean up my verandahs, my family would be very happy! Maybe it will be their Chrissy present to them! I have a storage solution in the works, hopefully!

For the locals...

**PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE AND TIMES**

I say for the locals, but if you are holidaying near by, or here for business, dont hesitate to come along and visit!

Im preparing for a big spring sale, in celebrations for Junkstudio's 1st anniversary!

Pencil me in on the 10th of October for some retail and social therapy, nibblies, drinks and conversation to share! Lots of new stock, old stock, and creations!

Still open for winter trading if you want to take a peek!

Uniting Junkers , collectors, and creative people!

Your raindancing worked Jill!

Saturday's sale was a risky one, the heavy dark clouds circled us, but every now and then, the sun peeked out, just enough to give me sunburn (it doesnt take much for me to get burnt!).

I had blue tarps up just incase, and we were ready to scoop everything up in a flash!

We had a great day! I had lots of positive feedback, and handed out lots of business cards. I saw some familiar faces, and met some new ones! Sue came up to participate, and sell some of her own treasures, after I picked out some to keep! My daughter Cara also sold some things, raising more funds for her trip to Africa (5 weeks to go).

The school at the end of the lane raised lots of much needed funds with their bootsale, and there were various garage sales around. I didnt leave my post, in fear of finding to many lovely things and not being able to resist!

I forgot to take photos of my customers, but I quickly snapped a few of our items before the stampede of people arrived! Well , slight exageration,there may not have been as many shoppers as my last sale, but it was nice to see some come back, and everyone genuinely interested. So I could say it was a successful day!

Sunday, Sue and I went looking for chickens, not for me ,for Sue . Then we drove back up to the gorgeous nursery in Wentworth Falls, with the huge barn out the back! It was a great day, though we were tired from Saturday.

Well ,the cheeky pup we have been minding, has left the building, and just in the nick of time ! I thought she was going to start chewing us! I cant tell you how much she destroyed on my verandah...lets just say, I could have used her, instead of my paper shredder! We had all the boxes of sales thing there, and she ripped them all to pieces, along with some of the chairs, toys, and tools etc!

Goodbye Tiger Lily!

Today, Ive been catching up with some much needed computer work. So I will be adding some new items soon to my Website, and ebay.

My next sale will be on the 28th February, 2009.

It sounds so far away, so Ive decided to open the studio on Wednesdays and Saturdays, by appointment only, up till Christmas.

If interested, drop me an email!

Gather a group of friends together, plenty of interesting gifts for everyone!

Till later, x

Christmas spirit .......?

Things have been a bit slow lately, along with the fact I havent been out junking for a while, so it has been an opportunity to stock some shelves for the next sale.

It's that time again, Im hoping for a great day, the school at the end of the lane is having a big bootsale and fete, so it should be busy!

My father has just had a major operation, and is recovering nicely, and will probably be out of hospital by the end of the week. I feel like a weight has been lifted, so now I can concentrate more on things here.

For some people, Christmas couldnt come sooner, they prepare all year for sales and decorating.....I'd like to think I will, it would be wonderful to be that organised, but as I may have mentioned before, I work better under pressure! I just cant find that 'chrissy spirit', maybe it is because of the aussie dollar deflating, and everyone being careful at the moment.

I need to display a wall of gifts and decs in my studio, maybe once I start the ideas will flow...

I have made a couple of things today and will be adding them to my website tonite. Hope you will take a look!

Sale Success!!

Speech!! Speech!!

Thankyou to all the support from my wonderful friends out there, I really couldnt have gone through with it ,without you! In particular,my dearest friend Sue, who has been up helping me for months, and mum who has always been there for me, with a helping hand. Also a big thankyou goes out to my good friend Jen, who has great talents with hammer and nails!

My blogging friend Jill has also been helpful, giving me the confidence I needed to finally open the studio.

Now, sit back and enjoy my video!

The song is appropriately called "Yardsale", by David Campbell.

What a day...

Well, what a day! It was blowing a gale, and whirlwinds of dust, but my mum and I battled it out as real troopers do!! We had a great day, despite the wind, and managed to sell alot of great stuff.

Our kind market neighbour looked after us, being a professional stall holder for 30 years! She helped tie down everything that could be tied down, so if they were going to go, so was the car!

It was a long day, and I came home a little rosier, quite sunburnt actually. Mum was well behaved, and sold some of her crafts, including ceramics, and bits and pieces!

I had a couple of visitors from blogland, and a couple of local friends, so it was a wonderful day!

So what I dont understand, is after packing the car, it was as full as we had started out!! Why is that?? I know what you are probably thinking, but no, I didnt buy anything, I was so good!!

So now it's back to ebay...keep watching!!

Here are a couple of new additions....

New quote for the day from 'dont sweat the small stuff'...

"If someone throws you the ball, you dont have to catch it".

Meaning, you dont have to keep giving all the time.You dont always have to be the shoulder to cry on, and carry everyone else's baggage, and you dont have to say yes all the time...something to think about!