Patina General

Coming Up For Air... it's been a long haul

I finished the last major leg of my lengthy journey to close our store Patina General... the garage sale at our home. Hubby's golf clubs are photo bombing this shot.

The Last Few Months... It's been a Blurrrr

I told my husband earlier this year to fasten his seat belt, because this spring was going to be a wild ride.

Goodbye, Patina General in Bufflalo

The sun has set on Patina General in Buffalo. We had a great weekend of clearing out, and customers had fun with the rock bottom prices. It was kind of different being at the other end of "making piles". A lot of dealers and other customers went home with great projects, whether it was our backdrop fabrics and trims for children's clothes in Africa, or furniture and hardware in the rough that will be get repurposed and sold.

Sentimental Journey

These past few days have reminded me that this business is not about the junk...it's about the people. The junk will come and go, and the pretty will be made and then ripped apart and remade, but the relationships we've made will endure...and that's what we're celebrating.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

It was 6 years ago this coming Mother's Day that Cheryl and I, with our husbands, first looked inside this corner building in Buffalo. We had been selling in other people's stores for three years, and before that, had held 6 outside home sales. We knew it was sink or swim time for our junk business. We either had to take the leap and start our own store, or light a match.

Projects in The Works For Our Last Occasional Sale... May 2016

We are all gearing up for May Occasional Sale 2016, it will be our last. This is the last week of projects and we are ramping up the caffeine to keep ourselves fueled.

Spring has Sprung... Patina General Style

We look forward to signs of spring in Minnesota. Birds chirping and the soil bursting with new growth insuring the new season is upon us. Spring is a time of renewal and fresh colors.

Shopkeeping: Moving Furniture

There's some shop-keeping tips and wisdom I've been thinking I should share with you. Quite a few of our readers are shop owners themselves, or sell items in a dealer-type store, or at seasonal event-type venues. And we get a lot of questions about how we go about owning a store that's only open 4 1/2 days a month. I decided every once in awhile I'll describe some of the different aspects of our business, in hopes that it will help some of you with yours.

Older Technology... it Fascinates the Kids

Our young visitors are fascinated with the older forms of technology found around the store.

Junky Jewelry

I am imprisoning myself today in my closet. I will arm myself with my vacuum, some nice smelling Mrs. Myers spray and paper towels, and either some 80's rock or Christmas music on Pandora. The insanity must stop before I can move into a new season. I cannot see the floor.