Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Shopkeeping: Smaller Can be Better

(click any image to enlarge)

Hello friends - I hope you'll join me as I take you on a tour of our new smaller (but in my opinion better) space at Whispering Willow Gifts & Antiques...the photo above was taken as you walk in from the front of the shop...

...turn to your left and here's what you see...

...here it is with the flash and turned a little more to the left...

...and here's a close up or two...

It may be hard to tell from the photo, but this tray is an embroidered design behind glass. I wish you could have seen it when it was all brown and dated, with a $.50 sticker on it. I love what a simple coat or two of spray paint can do...

...a simple plate stand gives these vintage strawberry dishes a higher profile and more visibility...

This is one of my favorite finds ever - rusty old baby bed springs...I love using it as part of the wall display...it adds such texture and it's easy to hang items from it...
...I found the old springs leaning up against the outside wall of one of my favorite thrift shops...it had vines growing on it (but not in a pretty, planned way), and I loved the rusty-shabbiness of it, so I simply picked it up and brought it in to the ladies working the shop and asked if it was for sale. They looked at me as if I were a tad bit nutty, and said..."sure, why not....how about $3...? I happily paid my three dollars and have been waiting ever since for just the right place for it...

I'm hoping the new space, with its expanded wall space (my previous space though bigger had mostly windows instead of walls) will give me more opportunities to better merchandise some of my handcrafted/handpainted pieces, like these cabinet-doors-turned-coordinated-wall-hangings...

...or the hand crafted sign I shared earlier...

...and another cabinet door creation, this time using small china saucers, vintage knobs, and even a vintage earring...

...and though not part of the wall grouping, this galvanized bucket that I painted with a watermelon motif would make a great beverage holder for a summer patio party, but for now it is content to hold a pile of vintage doilies and linens...

I chose to group all my hand-made cloches, covered cupcake platters, and various other vintage glass serving pieces together on the baker's rack in front of the only window in the space...

My favorite furniture find of all, the old kitchen island/hutch we painted black still anchors the space and holds all my Universal Designs paper goods as well as my notecards from CafePress... I'm hoping that now that this island is not in a walkway like it was in the other space, shoppers will be able to stand on either side of it and take time to read the cards and shop without feeling like they are in the way of other shoppers...


Here is the view of our space from the back of the shop...to give you a different perspective...
From this direction, if you turn to your left you will see the last small section of our space...this part backs up to another vendor who has a small space behind it. In this space we put a new gorgeous furniture piece that my parent's bought to sell...it's a wonderful antique marble-topped buffet. Beside it is our small hutch filled with vintage ceramic and Pyrex pieces...
Well, there you have it...thanks for staying with me for the tour! I'm looking forward to seeing how we do in this space. I'm already enjoying the fewer workdays (no days this week or next!) It should be interesting to see how it goes...

I hope everything in your piece of the world is going well... I am doing my best to get caught up on visiting and commenting at your blogs...I've had so many lovely new followers and commenters lately - THANK YOU!...please know that I have read and appreciated your thoughts and I am visiting all your blogs and leaving comments as time permits. I am so very grateful that the Lord brought you to the doorstep of my little place - I look forward to getting to know you better as we share more in the future...

"From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another."
John 1:16

8 comments:

  1. It looks terrific. So many things caught my eye in that display-- and that platter! Looks like it has a huge ship on it. And I think the old bedsprings are a very clever display for all those things. It's all so well done. Good job. I think smaller just might be perfect.

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  2. It may be smaller, but it's still full to the brim of fun goodies that I would love to get a closer look at! It looks wonderful Becky:>)

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  3. so many treasures! oh how i wish i could shop at your place :) you did a great job with that space.
    blessings,
    aimee

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  4. Hi My Dear Becky, OH I love your smaller space. It is gorgeous and has such impact with every gorgeous treasure. Makes me want one of everything. I tell ya, when I get to your area, I going shopping in your space. I know it is a lot of work as I had my mall spaces for 10 years and worked them several times a week. You will love being a bit free from so many days of reworking vignettes.

    You should feel so accomplished with your rearrange, because it is gorgeous! Best wishes for great and continued success!

    Thank you also for stopping by with your kind comment and giveaway entry. Good Luck sweetie.

    See you soon and have a special weekend.
    Love to you, God Bless~~Celestina Marie

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  5. Anonymous6:42 AM

    Becky, your shop is so lovely! I can imagine what you've done to your little abode too! You've turned all of these things into Total Temptations!
    Diane

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  6. You're shop is beautifully done! Wish I lived closer!
    Happy Mom's day!

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  7. I agree that black hutch just makes everything that much prettier! And I'm nutty about rusty old bed springs too! Very LOVELY! Blessings... polly

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  8. Oh, what a wonderful blog...
    Thank you for sharing! I am going to sign up to follow you, now. You are invited to
    come by my blog, too....
    www.msbinglesvintagechristmas.com
    Leticia

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