Oh Awesome,one of THOSE kind of buyers

Remember the dress I sold last week?Well today I got an email from the buyer..

The dress is not in excellent condition. Its pretty white skirt and ribbons are dirty with some stains on them. When opening the package, I cut the piece of fabric. Please, next time DO NOT do that, you should rap the cloths at least into the paper before putting into the envelope!!! VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!!!
WTF?!?The dress was not dirty when I mailed it and she's complaining because she cut the fabric??
I took a look at the feedback she's left for sellers and every fourth to fifth one is pissy and negative.
Oh awesome...I can see where this is going. I emailed her back and told her I'd be happy to refund her money if she sent me a picture of the stain(cutting the dress is on her). I'll probably end up with negative feedback.Grrrreaat....

Finds from the G-Dub

Here's a couple of items I've found at Bargain Barn (aka Goodwill Outlet)lately.I've actually found more,just haven't photographed them yet.

Thomas and Friends Trackmaster Shake Shake Bridge. I got this in a box that had this and an incomplete Thomas set for $2.50.This sold yesterday for $15 plus shipping.Since the other set is incomplete,I'm dividing it up and selling as replacement parts.

A vintage Shawnee Smiley Pig Cookie Jar.It's got a big ol' crack(that's been repaired) right above the flower and a couple of major chips.In pristine condition,this cookie jar can go up to $80.I've got him listed at auction for $19.99-already got a ton of watchers.I paid $1 for him.

Last but not least,I snatched up these owl mugs as soon as I saw them for a quarter a piece.There's an owl face on each side of the mug-adorable.I've got them listed for $19.99.

Angry vent

Ebay has free listing all week for people who have stores.That means I'll be a busy little beaver trying to get as much as I can listed/relisted.I want to get my Ebay playhouse thinned out plus we could really use the money(insurance payments and deductables are a bitch).I've promised myself a leisurely day of yard saling Saturday if I can get a ton of stuff listed.
The husband is always asking how much money is in our Paypal account.Seriously?!I don't know what pisses me off more, the fact that he refers to it as "our" account or the fact that he expects a ton of money in there. If I didn't have to transfer money over all the time to pay bills,groceries, or gas "we" probably would have a nice chunk of change in there.He keeps saying I should list more, but he lays up in the bed every morning until almost 12 (and he leaves for work at 1).That leaves me making sure the four year old stays out of trouble for most of my long ass day. Arrrgh-sometimes I just want to smack him.
He asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day-I want to be left alone. I want a whole day where I'm not responsible for the well being of any children and then I don't want him to act like a fucking martyr because he took one day and took care of HIS kids.And his day shouldn't start at noon.
Sorry this post is so whiney..just had to vent so I don't go all postal on him.

Sales this week-first week of May 2012

Last week, I swear I could hear crickets chirping in my store but thank goodness it's picked up. I'm hoping to get more stuff listed (and sold) when the kids get out of school.
Here's what I've sold this past week-not the best sales week, but certainly better than last week.

A set of 8 vintage aprons(including this one).Took a Best Offer of $8.00 on this.I think I paid less than $1.50 for all of them.

This vintage gingerbread doll kit.Sold for $9.99.Paid .50 cents for it, but I've had it for awhile.

Cappeli Straw Purse for $15.99-free shipping. Paid $1.25 for it, but again has been in my store for awhile.So glad to see it go.

Vintage Embroidery Kit.Sold the day after I listed it for $19.99.Paid .50 cents for it.I think I might have listed this one a little too low.Oh well.
Also sold a smocked boys romper for $17.99 and a set of 6 steak knives for $12.50.I'll have to post about the place where I got those steak knives-it's a hoarder's dream and the owner is cray cray crazy.
Hopefully next week will be even better.

The Craptacular Karate Tournament

Yesterday I competed in the annual karate school tournament. As you can see in the title, I didn't do well. I had practiced for weeks for this tournament. I placed 5th in forms and 4th in sparring as compared to 2nd in forms and sparring last year.
First up was the forms and my kata was Kanku Dai. I was placed in the 19 and up category (at 40, I am definitely in the "up" category).I was the only woman out of 6 people in my division.I knew I was screwed when a black belt (an instructor from another school) was placed in our group.I even joked that he must be a ringer for the other school. Then the 16-18 year old division competed before our group and there were three girls that did the same kata I was going to perform(Kanku Dai).One of the girls was disturbingly good with emphasis on "disturbing".She screamed so loud and for so long-I thought she was going to lose her voice.I'm loud when I do the kata and it disturbed/scared me.I'm pretty sure they were still thinking of her when they saw mine(although I don't think I should've gotten 5th).
Then I put on my gear for sparring and realized,"Oh hell,these are the people I have to spar."Let me explain..I am 5'2" on a good day and the guys in my division were over 6'.Stoney, the first guy I sparred, is about 6'4" and built like a brick shithouse.We're in the same class together and spar each other every week so I knew he was tough.Lost that match. Immediately after that match,I had to spar again.This guy, from another school,was about 6'6" and built like Stoney. On both guys, whatever I would do-they would outreach me and pop me on the head.Grrr. I tried defensive kicks, but the side kick that's way over my belt hit Mr. 6'6" right in the balls(the only highlight from my matches).I got a warning for that(good thing he was wearing a cup)
See..this is why I HATE point sparring.Regular sparring, you just keep going until the timer ends. I am so short that I often "eat" the first punch just so I can get in there and get my licks in.Point sparring,you stop when the judges call a point.So to be good,you either have to be huge or really fast.I am neither.Craptacular.
I am supposed to test for my black belt in December.Although there won't be any point sparring,I still feel soo inadequate.I just am not sure I'll be ready...and that makes my anxiety go into overdrive.

Fire in the Hole!!

So after my husband left for work this afternoon, my 4 year old jumped in my lap and yelled "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" Then he proceeded to loudly fart and wanted a "high five."
Seriously?!
Just another reason I am not allowed to die...ever.Somebody's got to teach this kid some manners before he grows up and ends up on some Mtv reality show like "Jersey Shore" or "My Favorite Idiot".

Took the joker to his Little Ninja class this afternoon. He is getting better in class...sorta. He'll stand on his sticker and sit with his legs crossed, but he's still in his own little world.He's four-I don't expect Bruce Lee moves. I swear, though, watching him in karate is just about the funniest thing I've ever seen.It's better than TV,lol.Imagine this one and add 20 more his age-it's 30 minutes of hilariousness.

Not much to report on the Ebay front.To be honest,I took a little break from listing.I'm trying to get back into it now-I'd like to get 200 items in my store before the kids get out of school.

Who knew??

Last summer, I went to a garage sale and found two boxes of smocking and hand sewing magazines.I didn't feel like dragging both boxes home so I only bought one box for $2.00. It all magazines from the late 80's/early 90's. I looked at them,oohing and aahing over some of the little girls' outfits,and decided that smocking was way too much work.So back into the box the magazines went...and they stayed ...until I finally had enough of looking at that stupid box(and I had stubbed my toe on it).I looked them up on Ebay and some of them were selling for pretty good prices.I broke them up into lots and this is what sold.

                                         Lot of 22 Smocking Arts magazines- sold for $23.50

                                           Lot of 3 Sew Beautiful magazines-sold for $10.49

                                        Lot of 5 Creative Needle magazines sold for $14.99

         Another lot of Creative Needle sold for $14.99.Both of these lots sold to the same person.
I still have three lots of the magazines to sell, but dang $64.00!! Why, oh why, didn't I buy that other box?I am totally kicking myself on that one. So if you ever see any vintage smocking/handsewing magazines at a garage sale,snap those babies up.They are worth it!