Under the weather, slow to recover...

Hi everyone, I figured I had better check in since I haven't posted anything lately... I was sick all of last week, with some mysterious bug that had me down for the count, in bed with a fever of 101. My doctor gave me a pill for every possibility, and one of them did the trick - except for my energy level. It is not picking up as quickly as I was hoping... Which means I have gotten next to no work done for 2 weeks now. Which, when you work for yourself, is bad. Very bad.

But, hopefully over the next few days things will get back to normal. I am planning on hitting a few sales tomorrow morning, so hopefully I'll have some fun new stuff to list next week! I think that would help my energy level as much as anything - a bit of excitement always lights a fire under me to get stuff done...

Some thrift scores - for me?

I hit an estate sale and a couple of thrift stores today, and managed to come home with a few things for myself! Pretty rare, but they were all things I couldn't pass up - and I only spent like $4, so my conscience is clear. ;)

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby - I have a goal of thrifting all of Nick Hornby's novels - I only have 2, so I have a long way to go. I've really liked all that I have read, so when I saw this one that I didn't have, I snatched it up.

Becoming Jane Austen by Jon Spence - I'm a fairly recent Jane Austen fan, I've read 4 of her 6 major novels, and seen I think 4 movie adaptations so far. (I LOVED the version of Emma that was just shown on PBS - I've watched all 4 hours of it twice!).

I had heard there was a movie version of this biography out, but I haven't seen it - and I'm so happy to have found the book before I did. I was looking and looking for the 2 novels of hers I haven't read - Emma and Northanger Abbey - today, with no luck. But this was a great score, so I am happy. :)

This version of A Little Princess is one that they used to play on PBS a couple times a year when I was growing up. I watched it every time it is on, and I am so happy to have found a copy! VHS is OK with me - my VHS collection is starting to grow, actually, since they are so cheap out at the sales these days...

Now, I need another coffee mug like I need a hole in the head... but I have a small collection of these Westwood Yesteryear coffee mugs, so when I saw this one I had to have it. It's brand new too, which is always a plus!

Hmm... a quick search on eBay just turned up a couple lots for sale - they are already bid up pretty high, I'll have to watch them and see what they end up at! The other two I have are not in the best shape anymore (I use them too much) - I have the green Kasper's and the red Everfresh.

Yesteryear by Westwood Coffee MUGS Cups LOT of 5

WESTWOOD YESTER YEAR SET OF 6 COFFEE MUGS FROM 1996

I want them all! I wonder how many there are all together... that's a research project for another day I guess.... ;)

Automatic eBay Newsletter = FAIL.

So I tried and tried to get my eBay newsletter to go out automatically every week - and I never could get it to stick! I don't know what the problem is, but I'm officially giving up and going back to sending it out manually. If you want the scoop on the new stuff we list on eBay delivered right to your email box, this newsletter is the way to go! Click on over to sign up :)

Did you know I design stuff too?

I just finished a banner ad project for the wonderful Collette over at Serendipity Vintage, and she asked me if I had a link to my design work that she could Tweet to all of her pals. What a great idea, I thought - and then I realized I had nothing!

Serendipity Vintage banner:

I am sure I've mentioned here that I was an ad designer for a newspaper for 10 years, but I don't think I've ever really talked about the design projects I've done since I was laid off and started working for myself.

I'm always available to do logos, banner ads and buttons, eBay store logos, shop headers, blog headers, and the like... My average rate is $20 an hour, but I can be a little flexible depending on the project and the budget. Small projects can sometimes be done in an hour or two (depending on how many changes to the original design you want) so really you can get a logo or banner ad for a very reasonable price!

Here's a few of my past projects for both myself and others, to give you an idea... all graphics belong to their owners, no stealing! ;) Click to enlarge if you need to!

Logos:

eBay Store Logos:




Banner Ads:


A few of my old newspaper ads:


And finally, an ad I've never used but love :)