Yes, you read it right -- my Etsy shop is finally open for business! It's a slow and tedious process, and with mountains and mountains of vintage stuff to wade through (or maybe I should say, climb over?), one that will be ongoing for quite a while. But I have listed 15 items in a couple of days, sold one(!), and have attracted some interest. So it's a start.

{my first Etsy sale -- a joyous day!}
But so time-consuming! There's the photographing (and the setting up of the photographing), and the research (much, much, research), and the describing (it's hard to write when little people keep asking you questions, and then you forget where you left off, and what was that train of thought again?), and the tagging, and the shipping figuring, and, finally, the listing.
The research is the worst. I've come to realize I know a little bit about a lot of things, but not enough to describe it in an online shop! My wealth of knowledge about my items fits on one of those little tags in an antique store: “Vintage 1950's Wedding Cake Topper” (fortunately, it was dated so no guessing there). But is it chalkware or bisque? Mesh or netting? Is that silk? What are the measurements? What does it weigh?
And then I just keep looking at the scariness that is my art studio storage area, and realize I have to go through this with EACH AND EVERY ITEM, and wonder, maybe I should just have the mother-of-all-yard sales (but I can call it an estate sale!) and be done with it? But no, must soldier on. Must muddle through. Must persevere. Must. Musty. Mustier. At least I know I have plenty of product to keep me busy through the long yardsale-less winter months.
In addition to all that, there's the technology learning curve. I feel like I've been getting a mini-degree in Geekspeak 101 these days. I think of myself as fairly computer literate; all of the computer graphic design, illustration, and photography programs I use for my "real" job are self-taught (yes, kids, when I went to college there were no computers!).
But now there's always something new to figure out. First it was Typepad so I could do my blog* (and logos and banners and icons and avatars). Then some HTML coding so I can add and customize things (still hoping Nicholas will figure that out for me and then just TELL me how to do it). Then Etsy and its attach this and set up your policies now and click heres. And USPS and its shipping fees and priority this and flat rate that.
I'm telling you, I am inundated with knowledge, facts, and code; my brain just can't work this fast anymore, or at least retain this much info.
In addition to all the vintage I've been working on, I am also trying to update my (freelance business) graphic design collateral, which means redoing my logo, updating my resume, and putting my portfolio together. Right now I'm trying to figure out WordPress (ack! another program!) so I can put those portfolio samples online. And updating my LinkedIn profile to stay connected.
So it's been a busy summer. I've spent most of it sitting by the computer. Which may seem like just so much socializing, but really not. I'm also trying to build a social network (this is the 21st century, right?). So I have my Vintage Junk in My Trunk Facebook fan page and I'm on Twitter (lord help me) as Vintage Junk Girl. And just got a spot on The Vintage List (still trying to get that doodad posted to my sidebar; I get a link but no photo).
And don't forget, school is out. Two kids with swim lessons, art classes, tennis… the list goes on and on. The little one is bored. Is it too early to get her working on that HTML code?
* I JUST figured out the “Follow” feature on Typepad and Blogger. Maybe not so much figured out as now it's just somehow working. I had been linking up to some people with the little “Follow Me” boxes on their blogs, and had Google Reader, but was never notified with any updates from anyone I was following, except for ONE Typepad blogger. Until last night. Somehow I found the Blogger feature which allows me to receive updates and follow people through it. So I "followed" tons of people I thought I had already been following. So if you're just seeing me following you now -- HI! -- I've been trying; believe me, I've been trying.