The Search

Once again, I'm on the road,

 searching for one of a kind and hard to find

 items for the shops.

I'll be pulling out 

VERY

early in the a.m.

It's one of my favorite challenges in the business :

putting on my favorite old jeans and hat, work gloves in my back pocket,

comfortable boots

coffee in the cupholder

music playing

On the road again

zigging and zagging cross country

to visit my favorite haunts

and some good ol' boy pickers.

The anticipation is amazing

envisioning the possibilities!

I love scouring through loads of tantalizing old treasures,

and sometimes some pretty strange salvage

(aka worthless junk)

hoping to find those special pieces

  

that 

delight will my senses!

I

am

 always

 expecting the mother lode

that sweet spot where I'll walk into a barn full of breathtaking antiquities

 to sort through

......

each piece more fascinating than the last

......

untouched for generations

each one in pristine condition when I blow off the dust

......

Undisturbed history

just waiting patiently for 

ME

with all the stories buried along with the treasure

......

Ah 

Excuse me,

 I was caught up in the dream again  

OK

I'm back in reality

and I know it's tedious

dirty

heavy hauling

driving for hours and hours

day after day

......

and there are spiders and snakes and rusty nails and 

lions and tigers and bears

OH MY!

(It's just that I don't want you to envy me too much!)

I love to set off on a road trip

with miles before me

good music playing

and

the

dream

 alive in my heart

Wish me luck!

Antiques By Joy
selling at
 Dwell Antiques & Home
Greenwood Village, Colorado
303-795-3454
dwellantiques.com
facebook.com/dwellantiques

Dwell on the possibilities

I've been

looking back over the last year 

and

 my journey, thoughts and struggles

 on

 expanding my antiques business.

A lot of prayer and calculation and heart searching went into the process.

Dreaming, sketching

more praying.

Dwell Antiques & Home 

opened in September of 2012

just south of Denver proper, 

at

5912 South University Boulevard

 Greenwood Village, Colorado

Three capable, determined women

each with a strong skill set 

decided to come together to create the dream.

DWELL
 is not a typical antiques shop
and 

 there are no hard and fast rules about what we collect and present.

We bring an ever changing collection of found objects from our forays  . . . 

items that have a mellow patina
memories
connections
 some special essence,

hoping that our clients will find DWELL an interesting and enchanting place to visit.

The ambiance we strive to create is one where you'd like to spend time perusing,

even when you're not looking for anything in particular.

We love it when you identify with an object and delight in it.

We'd like to invite you to visit,

to relax and stroll through the shop,

to

enjoy the music

 and the fragrance 

and the hand picked items that speak to our hearts.

Grab a coffee just 5 doors down

and

if you have time,

pull up a vintage stool or chair

and

chat with us awhile.

We're happy to give advice on styling your home 

in a way that reflects
what you're all about.

We'll make notes in the

 Wish Book 

about the things you're looking for,

and hunt for them on our journeys across the country.

We'll help you think outside the box when it comes to

"what do I do with the huge 16' expanse of wall"

or

"I want a headboard with charm"

or

"I need to work around the 9000" TV my hubby just brought home."

We love a challenge!

So

Come see us at Dwell Antiques & Home

Monday - Saturday

10am-5pm

http://www.dwellantiques.com

303-795-3454 Dwell Antiques
303-795-0816 Patina Antiques
www.facebook.com/DwellAntiques
https://pinterest.com/dwellantiques

Baby it's Cold Outside

Baby

it's

COLD

outside

In the negative digits here in Colorado, and the windows are icing up

inside as well as outside!

This is a day for doing 

just what you feel like doing

and keeping warm and cozy in every possible way.

I'm taking to time to count my blessings.

It's the day for building a fire if you have a fireplace

 or cranking up the thermostat

just

a

little

and brewing a pot of

 Swiss almond coffee

 and baking brownies or homemade bread.

My vegetable soup is simmering

I've lit my delightful

 Votivo 

candle

and chosen a nice thick to novel to transport me.

My music is playing in the background

I have on an extra thick pair of ski socks

and

I'm enjoying the big leather chair and the mohair throw.

I'm feeling blessed

and

warm and cozy!

Hope you get to take advantage of the day

 and do

 whatever you wish.

"Contentment", Said Grandmother

Contented New Year!

Yes

I wish you contentment!

My grandmother used to say that it was all in how you looked at life.

There is something to be said for that state where you look around you and smile

and know that 

no matter 

what's still on your

 bucket list

or

how many home improvements need to be accomplished

you are indeed

 blessed and content 

to be living at a level

 high above most of the world

in a country where we can 

 worship

vote

purchase property

buy groceries

attend public school

express our opinions over the internet

cuddle our children 

choose a radio station

use the library

and 

have our mail delivered

I am happy to be loved and to have friends.

I'm happy 

 to have 

hot running water and indoor plumbing and electricity

to be warm and protected from the elements

to be able to cozy up with a book and my tea and cookies

to have a phone and a computer and a car and work I love.

I'm delighted

to get to buy a new coat and mittens,

and

to give  Christmas presents to those whom I love.

I am blessed to be able to support those causes I believe in.

I'm at a peaceful place of recognizing that I have

 little to

 complain about

 or 

long for

SO,

while

I pray that you enjoy 

that rollicking

 feel good

 laughing till you can't breathe

stitch in the side

gasping

giggling

euphoria

that

comes along once in awhile

What I think is even more significant

and 

essential to our long term

 peace of mind

is

that 

deep, cognizant sense of 

being content 

with all that we have

Thanks Grandma!

Ending 2012 in Faith

Finishing up 2012 today with 

paperwork

filing

organizing

and reflecting about how I can improve and grow 

in

 2013

There's always a sense of starting fresh and doing a better job in the new year.

It's human nature to believe we will grow and improve

and become better with age and wisdom

If

 2013

brings personal challenges

(and you know it will)

I'd like to think I'm more prepared to handle them with a modicum of grace

less panic

less stress

less fear

more assurance

that in the end, all things will work out as they are meant to.

Sunday

in church service

my pastor spoke of the storm the disciples faced in their boat on the Sea of Galilee.

You know

the one that was raging

 while 

Jesus

was

 asleep

in the boat.

He spoke of storms that we're meant to ride out, 

because those trials test our faith

and bring us growth, endurance, maturity

and

greater faith

I've experienced

 many

 of the

 challenges 

life can throw at a person

and struggled through a fair number of trials

and

have come to believe 

that

God

is here

He's participating in it all

very close at hand

watching and guaging and coaching

and

hedging me about

and

providing and comforting

and

delivering

and

tenderly

discerning

what 

I

will

face

I'm thankful for the trials I have missed

due to His action of moving me out of the way.

Some folks have faced things much harder and more profound, 

and not because they deserve any tougher trials that I do.

I'm just

saying

I'm thankful

in

hindsight

for those 

He has allowed me to walk through

and

survive.

They grow us up

and

change us

and

sand off some 

rough edges

but

most importantly

they 

have taught me

that

nothing

is

uncontrolled

when we are relying on His grace and asking for 

His

guidance 

and 

direction.

My

 faith

 continues to grow

and

2013

will will be a year of growth

Road Trip Again!

I'm off on a

 road trip

 for a week

scouting the Midwest to see what

treasures I can find

for 

you!

Over the last 35 years in this business,

I have heard a million times,

"Ohhhh . . . you have the perrrrfect job!

That's what I want to doooo . . . ."

And

you know what?

They're right!

I DO 

have the perfect job!

I love my job.

I love traveling,

 searching,

 prowling through barns and attics . . . 

buying,

and

meeting wonderful folks

all over the country!

I love the thrill of the hunt

and

the surprise of what I might stumble

onto . . . 

Such a surge of adrenaline when I come upon some

 especially lovely item

 I never expected to find!

Pitter-Pat . . . Pitter-Pat

I love the excitement of packing my bags and loading the gear necessary for a road trip!

Trailer

totes

blankets

packing supplies

magnifying glass

M&M's

magnets

silver polish

bungees

and

a Thule

 on the top!

Hat

sunglasses

Wellies

rain gear

sunscreen

you name it - I may need it on any given journey!

I've been chased by tornadoes

swept off the road in high winds

rained out

mudded in

sunburned

barked at

chased

startled by snakes

tickled by mice

and

followed by strange men.

Or was that "tickled by strange men" ?

(Heck - I've bought antiques from some pretty strange men!)

Hi Mike - not you . . . 

There's a wonderful sense of anticipation as I set out on the road to hunt for treasure.

I have developed a network of friends and suppliers

 across the country

and

come to know a lot of wonderful folks who

share my obsession.

(Guys with 6 huge sheds full of who knows what.)

AND

I recently bought from a gentleman who'd been on the American Pickers T.V. show.

Before I leave town

I make a few calls

to determine who's got some fresh finds

and

plot my journey

accordingly.

It's pretty common for one picker to send me on to another,

so the trail can meander somewhat . . . 

but it's all good.

I may find things at auction or in someone's barn or attic.

There may be some farm sales

or

flea markets

or

junk shops.

You name it, I've shopped it.

There is a kinship among the group

and

I find I can be invited home to supper

or to share a glass of iced tea on the porch

as likely as not.

We may sit late and swap lies

or

keep on prowling by the light of a lantern.

It's always fun.

This trip is extra special

because my daughter 

Kellie

(who is my new partner)

is joining me on the trip.

We'll enjoy the camaraderie

and

kinship

as well as

the

journey!

I'll be back next week with a big truckload 

of sweet antiques for you to see

so

stay tuned!

I never know what I'll find.

I may head out with a desire for French Country

 or primitives

but find instead that I come upon a wealth of industrial chic

or

Italian Florentine and crystal chandeliers!

As the saying goes . . . 

"The worst day antiquing is better than the best day working!"

DWELL ANTIQUES & HOME

I've been keeping busy 

preparing for the new shop

DWELL

Antiques and Home

and

maintaining the quality and quantity of inventory

at

PATINA

Antiques and Home

and

neglected to sit down and share the journey

with you my

friends!

The delightful daily process of

 hunting, examining and choosing

 beautiful and soul nourishing treasures

 could 

consume all my waking hours!

THE JOURNEY

toward creating a shop

is more than

 licensing, legal documents,

 leases, list making,

 signage, 

contracts, 

operating agreements, corporate docs and construction.

It's more than

stress,

financial statements

and

restless nights.

It's even more than choosing 

the flavor of inventory

style

and

personality of your shop.

It's about 

making life decisions

and long term commitments

and

choosing

to

lock into a lifestyle

that,

once chosen,

is

there to be lived with

day in and day out.

Like marriage or child bearing,

these decisions

change your life,

for a 

long, long, long time.

There are no vacations from retail.

No

 "unsigning"

 of long term leases,

no

divorce from obligations

no way to 

opt out.

WHEW!!!!!

I've lived for 35 years in a retail lifestyle.

Owning a small business is an everyday challenge.

The shopkeeper's holidays are geared around 

what customers desire

and

the hours they prefer to shop.

Price competition from the big guys is unbelievably fierce.

Consumers cannot always afford to make a choice to own

 a one of a kind, 

handmade or antique item,

 when a mass-produced lookalike is readily available at a fraction of the price.

(Who could blame them?)

That said,

I would not dream of any other approach to life.

I have chosen who I am comfortable being.

I have chosen to be content with a small portion of the retail pie.

To present a tiny portion of the population 

with a

  small and select range of wares 

which I hope will

 enhance their live and nourish their spirit.

Limiting?

Challenging?

Thought provoking?

Time consuming?

(Questionable logic?)

Yep!

Worth it?

As the saying goes,

"PRICELESS"!

If you know me, 

you know that my life revolves around my belief system.

Being a blessing to

God

family

all others

then,

working hard to do my best 

to be self sustaining

and

to have something left over to give away.

I'm sharing with you because many ask.

. . . . YES . . . .

The new shop is coming along,

slowly

but no doubt in perfect 

time.

Prayers !