If you want to be...

... in business... you're going to suffer. 

So, you want to be in business? You must like suffering. That is something an old fella I rented a 'retail space' from, said to me... 

many years ago when I was living at 90 Forest Cove and trying to get out of 'dead- end' jobs.

I'm trying to recall the 'end of year' 7 weeks that I rented this space... at the same time as the local politician rented the space in the same complex.

My photos for this little retail space are on an external hard- drive so I'll add those at a later date if need be. I purchased a little black Baroque style upholstery button- tufted tub chair. Then I purchased a sleek black firm seating chair with stainless steel 2 1/2 inch covers on the bottom of each chair leg. (I gave this chair to Scott and Tammy when they moved to Winterton).

 None of the items I purchased to set up this tiny little showroom, sold. 

My black and white striped drapery, that I made, were put up and I'll have to check my photos to see if the black and white desk, that I purchased from Salvation Army and then refinished for that swanky 60's look, was situated under the drapery. That little showroom, completely furbished by myself, was really quite adorable.

Now, what was not adorable was all the money I 'lost' doing this little business venture. All the capital was my own... thank the good Lord I didn't do anything foolish like borrow money for this.

So, the day came when I suffered the most traitorous $5 sale. A woman, who babysat in the Meadows West area, and whom I had listened to for reasons of being a 'unpaid counselor,' came into my little business. I still have the little receipt taped into a journal, as a reminder of what the cost is... of kindness. 

One of the pastors I listened to for a time taught me this lesson with a fake, dusty, chicken sitting in his office. I recall asking him why he had such an ugly, dusty fake chicken sitting in a pastoral office... Oh, he said, that's to remind me of a camp conference that I was invited to speak at and the pay for my services that weekend was this 'crafty' fake piece of garbage 'chicken.' 

So, my 'crappy craft' story is from the babysitter who came into my little 7 week shoppe with an old dusty wreath. She wanted it re- purposed so she could use it another year. She didn't bring in any supplies to refresh this dusty mess. It took me at least an hour and my own supplies to refresh this wreath and, when I was finished she offered to pay me $5. 

She was in a hurry to get back to her little house for the after- school babysitting children that she had been hired to care for... so, she left all the mess for me to clean up. 

When she left, I thought, I am never doing anything for her again. She had no concept as to the expenses of a 'retail business' to set up and operate. I have never put up a shoppe like that again and, unless I had guaranteed real customers, I will not.

P.S. I am waiting for my children to come for a visit... much more important to spend time that way.