humbled optimism

I had a very humbling weekend. This vintage dealer/buyer/been-doing-this-for-30-years-and-really-knows-her-vintage lady came to my house to buy my vintage in bulk from me. . . and I thought I was ready to sell it to her. I went through all my things the night before, removed the stuff I was not quite ready to say goodbye to (for me) and the things I was pretty sure I wanted to sell on my own at Etsy, which left about 200 pieces for her to purchase, including boots and shoes and purses and great dresses and coats and things. I felt pretty good. . . letting the stuff go. . . out of my life. . . no more over stuffing mess up there. . . just the cream of the crop left over. . . THEN AFTER. . . I didn't sleep. I couldn't sleep. what if the stuff I left for her really sucks? What IF ITS REALLY GOOD? What if she takes it all and then I don't have enough to sell? What IF ALL THE VINTAGE IN THE WORLD JUST DISAPPEARS AND I AM LEFT WITH NOTHING!!!! It got a little intense. What the heck is my problem? It is just OLD CLOTHES. Old clothes I don't even wear. They are just hanging there. Taking up space. Mocking me as I adore them. Fast forward through an unbearable, rolling around, asinine and ridiculous, uncalled for restless night, and the woman arrives. She looks at my stuff, immediately starts gathering a small pile, good stuff, things I suddenly can't part with. She asks me to put these aside, says these are for something else. OK. Then she says "Aside from the few things I gave you, that I don't think I can sell, I will take it all. What is your asking price?"  What?  I thought you were just going to give me a price???  I have to start this horror??? UUUUUUMMMMMMM. . . . . . . .  "$ Expletive." I tell her. It was an actual dollar amount and not an actual expletive, but it may as well have been since the amount she told me she would pay was 10% of my original asking price. and not a penny more.

WOW. That was way less than I thought this was worth. How embarrassing. Thing is, thats how people buy in bulk. No one piece is special. There are just things that may sell for more than $3 somewhere. . . . but you know where they will now be selling for more than $3 (but not too much more)?  My new etsy shop SecondSkinStyle.  That is right. I am closing the old shop since the name doesn't coordinate with my blog, and I am trying to be consistent, and I ordered business cards and labels and tissue paper and stickers and the whole nine yards so it is all coherent and Brand-ish and professional and stuff like that. There is nothing actually IN THE SHOP right now, but there will be. VERY very soon. Soooo, ya. Kapow! Got my wake up call. There is no easy way around the whole actual act of listing. I realize now the little bit of work is WAY worth it when dumping it all for a couple bucks just doesn't feel right. Welcome to reality Christina! I hope you find your own way to be comfortable since it is the only reality that actually exists! People actually work in reality! and you will too now. Congratulations and have a nice day! Why thank you for welcoming me, you chipper voice in my head! I will do my best and be super thankful I didn't throw this opportunity away for some quick cash!

Sorry. I am a bit schizophrenic. If you have not noticed.

By the way, I was super grateful to the lady for coming out and apologized for taking her time. She was adamant that it was not a bother and was happy she got to meet me and see what I had. She said it was good stuff and that I really should sell it on my own. She gave me tips and disclosed magical information to me. I felt like a very small potato. a baby new potato. I wanted to ask her to be my master. I still might.

Cardigan: vintage thrifted
pants: UO
Shoes: luck brand
hat: thrifted