Bella Rosa Antiques

Monday, May 13, 2013

Getting to Know Hometalk. Can We Talk?

Okay. I just joined yet another social website, HOMETALK.

I'm a little concerned because when I joined Pinterest I thought I was never going to get anything done around my house again!

Now there's Hometalk.

It looks like a lot of fun!

Is anyone else on there?

Can we talk?

Drop me a line and we'll chat!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Day Reflections

A Happy Mother's Day to all of my Momma bloggers and readers!

(My Mom helping me on my wedding day)

Here are a few reflections I found for today:

My Mother was the source from which I derived the guiding principles of life.
- John Wesley

A Mother is not merely a provider, housekeeper, comforter, or companion. A true mother is primarily and essentially a trainer.
- Ruth Bell Graham

No nation had a better friend than the mother who taught her children to pray.
- Anonymous

From my mother I learned the value of prayer, how to have dreams and believe I would make them come true. While my father was filled with dreams of making something of himself, she had a drive to help my brother and me make something of ourselves.
-Ronald Reagan

Friday, May 10, 2013

Pretty in Pink! My Shop is Featured

Today I was featured in a treasury on Etsy. And perfectly enough, it was a "Pretty in Pink" theme!

Here is what caught the attention from my shop:

A pink lustre teacup and saucer.

Then from other shops:

This pink depression glass dish

This gorgeous floral print.

Did I say gorgeous?

And check out these shoes.

In pink!

And a charming pair of silhouettes

with pink mattes.

They are all gorgeous!

Since it is Mother's Day this
weekend, here is a picture
of my beautiful Momma

With her arm around
her Sister...at the lake where she
met my Father.

Happy Mother's Day!

And it is beautiful day too, here in Pennsylvania.

Enjoy the weekend!

Linking to Pink Saturday

and A Favorite Thing.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Forging Ahead, A Thank You, and A Little Advertising

First I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to all who stopped by my blog yesterday to leave me words of support and kindness. It really helps to know that I am not the only one who has doubts and struggles.

I guess it is just a part of the human element. Doubting. Struggling.

One thing I was telling my Dear Bebe, just this afternoon, is that we don't give up. We just don't. It is not in our vocabulary.

So, that being said, I am forging ahead with my shop, blogging, and enjoying the hunt for vintage treasures.

Above is my new ad for Somerset Life magazine from Stampington & Company.

Since a lot of the feedback I hear about my shop is that the inventory is beautiful, I thought I would incorporate that theme into my advertising. And why not? It fits well into the "BELLA" of Bella Rosa Antiques!

Thank you again to those who stopped by. And also to those who stop by and read but don't leave a comment. (That's you too, Sista K!)

Your support means a lot!

Enjoy the day,

Monday, May 6, 2013

Thoughts on Blogging and Selling Online

It is Monday folks.
And I have a few things on my mind.

About blogging.

About selling online.

About blogging and selling online while being a stay at home Momma.

It ain't easy.

But I don't want a pity party. Wahhhhhhhh!

I just want to get my thoughts out there.

Doubting thoughts.

Am I the only one who has doubts?

Some days I wonder why I am blogging. I don't have much time to visit
other blogs and comment. So, of course, I do not receive too many comments on my posts.

Some days I want to say "IS THIS THING ON??????" But I know you reap what you sow, so to speak. I do post at least three times a week.

I do enjoy selling online. But, (here is the but) again, I don't have much time.
My mind (and heart) want to really do well with the Bella Rosa shop but with all of the time and effort it takes to shop for antiques, clean the antiques, take pictures and list them all, I am out of time AND energy.

(Romantic Homes ad 2011)

My prices are fair and I am not making much at all when I do sell an item by the time you pay for the item, pay the web fees, the PAYPAL fees, the Etsy fees, then pay the advertising bills, and lastly, pay for supplies. And now, shipping has gone up so high, I am losing money when shipping to the West Coast. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the sales but it is a lot to think about. PLUS.... here is the biggie: Sales are down.

So, of course, I wonder, why am I doing this?

My answer is this... right now while Bebe is still young, it is a great way for me to enjoy antiques, make a little extra money to buy Bebe clothes or toys, and I get to stay home with her instead of putting her in daycare.

Will this be enough as she heads to school? Only time will tell but I do know Hubby and I will always be antiquing...we love it so much!

Thanks for "listening" to my Thoughts! I'd love to hear from other gals who are selling online or from customers who buy online. Feel free to drop me a line!

Friday, May 3, 2013

Time Captured: New Arrivals Are Up!

Some how, some way,

I managed to lasso the time.

Captured!

And below are the vintage

finds I listed up

until latelast night.

Not much pink but

all the sweeter

are the few I have:

A little vintage,

a little repurposed...

Vintage cherub frame.

Cute smaller juice or milk

ball pitcher for the

breakfast table or maybe

just a little iced

tea on the porch!

Vintage baubles and beads

for the craftier people

out there.

I really don't have time

to be crafty.

Seriously.

I barely have time to get

my shop stocked

with inventory!

And then there's a whole bunch of other

industrial type of antiques.

Letter press blocks, cobalt apothecary jars,

books, a suitcase, and more!

But, which listing is my favorite this week?

Hmmm.... I guess it would have to be a "tie" between

this pearl tie necklace and the antique cobbler shoe lasts below.

Enjoy the day!

We are having some GORGEOUS

weather here on the East Coast.

Azaleas are blooming....

Love it!

So many blessings.

Counting them today!

Linking to

How Sweet the Sound's

Pink Saturday ,

Common Ground for

Vintage INspiration Friday,

and the Cottage Market

for Junkin Joe

and Glitter and a Movie with

Gathering at the Table.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Vintage Printer "Letter Press" Blocks

Still adding things to

my ever growing list of

vintage finds for

my shop this week.

When does the week

officially end?

Because I might not

get to it by tomorrow night!
(See update below!)

After all, isn't a lovely

photo display of my

finds just as important?

Of course!

See below!

(Thank goodness for Pic Monkey)

Found some old books

of interest:

Canterbury Tales

Chaplian of the Fleet

Count of Monte Cristo

(In French)

And an old, large glass frog.

Plus, vintage letter press blocks

used by a local printer or

newspaper company.

Capital letters, lower case letters,

numbers and ampersands, etc.

Is that how you spell ampersand?

Anyway, don't forget the

other cool stuff

I shared yesterday...

vintage petite suitcase,

high heeled shoe forms,

and cobalt apothecary

bottles!

Will be adding anything

else I find this weekend

after we make a trip

to our antique booth...

Linking to:

Common Ground Inspiration Friday

Cottage Style Party at Lavender Garden Blog

Share Your Cup With Mrs. Olson

Stay tuned!

UPDATE: I just made it under the wire

and listed some of these new finds...

be sure to check them out here!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

This Elusive Thing Called Time, A Sneak Peek, & An Anniversary Project

This week we've collected

a few vintage goodies for you!

Now if I could just find

the time to get them listed...

Where does time go?

I mean really?
Can't I just bottle it up

until I am ready?

Check out these really cool

"high heeled" cobbler's

shoe forms.

When was the last time you

found one of those?

And speaking of bottling...

I just noticed I used the cobalt glass twice in my collages!

See, the time is very valuable around here.

Haste makes waste.

Tee hee!

I do know I'll have some "new" vintage

goodies to share with you...

this is just a sneak peek sampler.

PLUS I'm working on my 5th Anniversary!

Five years since I opened my Bella Rosa shop this May.

Who knew it would be such a fun way to

work at home with my sweet Bebe.

And I've "met" so many

wonderful people along the way.

Stay tuned!

To see last week's arrivals click here.

Linking to Ivy and Elephants
"What's It Wednesday"

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Bunk Beds in An Attic Space & Blog Shop Markets

See this weed below?

It means summer is coming!

And that means more time at the lake.

Last year we had just started working

on the inside of our summer home.

It was a rough summer.

Not much boating.

Not much playing.

A lot of work.

But we think the results

were worth it!

And this summer we are going

to tackle the kid's room.

How are we going to fit

bunk beds in an attic space?

I've grabbed some ideas

from Pinterest.... we have a unique

space to fill!

I will have pictures to

show you ... when we

figure it out.

**********

And today is blog shop...

linking my Bella Rosa Shop

to How Sweet the Sound
and The Common Ground
Marketplace.

There's a 20 percent off Bella Rosa coupon
link waiting on both of their pages!

Plus, check out what other blogs

are sharing today.

Sometimes you'll find vintage,

handmade, and collectibles.

What's not to love
about shopping the blogs?

Enjoy!

Stay tuned for some
of my latest finds:

Flower frogs (one is green glass!)
Industrial Doo Dads
Jewelry
Silverware
Petite Suitcase
and more!