Welcome to our new weekly newsletter…
Watch for it every Thursday!
Hi! Welcome to our new “Lynn’s Consignments” newsletter. As many of you know this is a family business…that’s my daughter Indiana (Indy), me, and my mom! Many of you have asked who the kids are in the huge beach photo behind the counter and I have always played dumb….but not anymore! Wow, I am already spilling the tea….but yes that really is my son Houston & daughter Indy pictured with their backs to us in that back & white photo.
For those of you who don’t know, my grandmother was Cheryl Leaf of Cheryl Leaf Antiques & Gifts…a Bellingham, WA Antiques & Gifts store that she owned & operated for over 52 years. She was AMAZING!
Here is a newspaper article about my Grandmother in the 1950’s I think…WOW! How cute is she?
OK but back to me….LOL!
After years (literally about 20) of writing an eBay ezine (newsletter) that went out to 20,000 subscribers, I am ready to focus on my new brick and mortar store (est. March 1st, 2018)….I hope many of my former ezine readers decide to join us and re-subscribe!
I am not sure how this newsletter will evolve over the years, but here is to seeing what happens!
I do hope to show you lots of the new merchandise that comes in each week…However, as many of you know, it often sells before even making its way into the store.
Here is a new display that Val, Emma (my son’s girlfriend), and I put together the other evening.
What I love about this mini-vignette is that it epitomizes the way we mix old, vintage, gently used and brand new in the store. The Victorian Fireplace Screen with the man in needlepoint is circa 1880’s and is priced at $395.00.
The Luxe Velvet Arm Chair with Gold Accents by Kulus is brand new and priced at $295.00. I believe the throw pillows are also brand new and reasonably priced. The lamps are both vintage and so much fun. One is circa 1950’s and the other circa 1990’s. What is so awesome is being able to mix so many different decades together!
We will also be sharing our upcoming Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Classes in this newsletter. Our first basics only paint class for 2020 will be held on Saturday, February 8th from 10:30 to 12:30 ish. Cost is $69. We found that it was almost impossible to get you out for an evening paint class so we have now moved it to the day. Way more fun! Spaces are limited so sign up here now.
If you have any questions please call the store at 805-628-3289…
This is the Basic Course offering an Introduction to the Annie Sloan Method of Chalk Painting….Furniture, Lamp Shades, Fabric, and just about anything!
Come learn four techniques during this 2-hour hands-on workshop. We will cover painting, waxing, buffing, mixing, blending,
distressing, and so much more!!!
You will create 3 Sample Boards with different finishes to take with you and all the confidence and knowledge you need to go home and tackle any project!!!
Please wear painting clothes and aprons will be provided…..you don’t need to bring anything except maybe a friend!
Can’t wait to see you and help you learn about the…..
BEST PAINT IN THE WORLD!!!
Check out this before shot of a worn-out and tired dresser……Keep in mind it is still functional, just not “in style”…
Here is the after…with just a little Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White and a part of an Iron Orchid Design Transfer. Voila! Don’t miss our first chalk paint class of 2020!
For those of you who have been following me and my family for the past (almost) 20 years, here is an update from where my most recent eBay ezine (from March of 2019) left off right after our 1st year anniversary. Here is a link to that if you missed it.
http://www.thequeenofauctions.com/articlepages/ezinev15is01.html
Zach and Kai (Kiki’s boys–my nephews) came to visit us for Spring break in April and it was epic. Right boys? We did Pepperdine, Hearst Castle, Pismo Beach, Universal Studios, and the Danger House (Houston’s apartment with the Milch Men in Calabassas). Can’t wait for their next visit!
The biggest news of this past year was my little Goosie (aka Houston) graduated Magna Cum Laude from Pepperdine with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Film History. So proud of this kid! Do any of you remember when he was about 10 years old and he went up to a table of my students at a Live Boot Camp and said: “Hello Ladies”? LOL!
And btw, this photo of him on Instagram was my most liked photo for 2019! Please follow me at both LynnDralle and LynnsConsignments! I spend most of my time on Instagram and hardly ever visit Facebook.
And to top that off, he was accepted into Notre Dame’s ACE Teaching Fellows M Ed Program. What this means is that he attends Notre Dame in the summer, teaches at Mt. St Mary’s Catholic High School in Oklahoma City during the school year and in just two short years he earns a Masters in Education that is tuition FREE. WOW!
We had a graduation party for him at the house and it was amazing. About 50 people attended and many of them were our new friends from Ventura. We love our new home town. As my brother says….it is Bellingham, CA. Perfection!
Indy finished her Sophomore year at Pepperdine at the end of April and came home for a few weeks before heading off to Buenos Aires for her summer abroad to study Spanish. It was such an incredible opportunity for her. She came back with lots of great stories and a darling boyfriend, Brandon (a Chemistry Major at Pepperdine), who we love!
Here is a photo of Indiana and Brandon at Cafe Nouveau in Ventura when we celebrated her 21st Birthday. Can you believe my little Indy is 21? Me either!
After everyone went their separate ways this Spring, we were fortunate to meet up for the 4th of July at my mom’s beach house. Houston from Notre Dame, Emma from Portland, Indy, and I from Ventura and it was awesome!
The craziest part of that visit was that we stopped by my grandmother’s old shop/house and were given a tour of the remodel. I hadn’t been able to step inside that place for over 17 years because it would have been too painful, but this visit was therapeutic and brought back great memories of working for my grandma. Here we are taking a selfie in front of the old shop at 2828 Northwest Avenue.
I took the Lynn’s Consignment Girls up to Bellingham in August and it was a blast and then the Palm Desert Girls spent a weekend with my mom in September. So much fun travel and great memories.
In September we had a 50th birthday party for my sister Kiki on my mom’s beach deck. Only my sister could rally about 30 people to celebrate her birthday 8 years after she passed away. She was something special! And Zach, Kai, and John were able to join us!
In October, my mom and I flew to OKC to check out Houston’s new digs as a history and economics teacher at Mt. Saint Mary’s Catholic High School. It was so fun, but the weather was crazy. My mom and I watched him help coach a football game in a down-pour. Yes, we are dedicated. I am so proud of him. He is a true adult and my dad would be proud.
Indy had a role in the Pepperdine fall musical (Ragtime) and it was so much fun to watch! She was also accepted into the extremely competitive Edinburg Scotland program to perform at the Fringe Festival in the summer of 2020. I am going! Can’t wait to see this European musical!
Both my kids were home for Thanksgiving–in addition to my mom and brother being in town! Yay! And Houston’s girlfriend Emma turned 21 in our new “hometown” of Ventura. We had a blast making her feel special.
2019 was an incredible year with so many blessings. The store is doing great, my kids are both happy, and I have great friends, customers, consignors, and employees at the store. Couldn’t ask for anything more! Here is a photo from our 2019 Christmas Card and we want to wish you and yours a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!
OK! That was a lot to update you on and now back to the “Lynn’s Consignments” newsletter….our inaugural issue!
Does anyone have a catchy title for it?.. I would love to hear your suggestions! We have the best catchphrase for the store
“Everyone Wins When They Shop at Lynn’s”…
Now we just need one for this newsletter! Lynn’s Letter?…No boring! Lynn’s Lecture?….Too stuffy! Can’t wait to hear what you think…now let’s wrap this up!
OK, you know me…I can never just wrap this up that quickly. Let’s take this time to share an eBay score! Houston went through his room last Christmas and did a Marie Kondo on it…for those of you who don’t know she is a “minimalist” to put it bluntly. Lucky for me, I got this train book for free! Well, probably not for free since I bought it for him originally…LOL.
I listed it on eBay back in January of 2019 and I just took the best offer of $140! I am doing the happy dance 🙂 Here is a link to the listing on eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/312417653846
One more thing…I surprised the kids with a rescue orange tabby kitten this Christmas! Talk about an awesome experience. Houston and Indy were both so surprised and we just absolutely LOVE Carlos (yep that is the name they gave him at the shelter)! He has brought so much love and joy to our lives. We love this little knucklehead.
OK, one last photo share of the store before I end this first newsletter.
Our new front window is done in red, black, grey, and white to celebrate the Chinese New Year….when is that anyway? Just kidding, it is Saturday, January 25th, 2020 on what would have been my grandmother, Cheryl Leaf’s, 108th birthday! I wish she was still alive, but I do know that her spirit lives on in my store. Here is to 2020, a great new wonderful decade and the year of the RAT!.
That red couch is a brand new Klaussner that retails for over $1,700…our price is $695. You have got to love that curly willow and black room divider/screen…current price is only $177…Seriously? It came in at $295 but has had its two markdowns.
Happy New Year from Lynn’s Consignments team to you and your family! We hope to see you soon!
Pictured…Sandy, Adolio, Val, Sharon (Mor Mor), me, Indiana, Peggy, and Ktea!
Thanks for reading my ezines! I appreciate it….as always!
eBay with Heart & Design with Heart……Lynn