Hi!

Howdy! I hope you are all doing great . I can't believe that summer is over and my kids are already back at school. That went by FAST! In my most recent ezine that I wrote back in June, I was picking up Indy in Malibu and in this ezine I am taking her back! If you missed that June ezine you can check it out here.

Let's start off with a score! I found 22 of these dinner plates at a garage sale here in Ventura. It was right around the corner from my house. The man who sold them to me had worked for an antique dealer when he was in high school (kind of sounds like the way I grew up except that my antique dealer was my Grandma ) and he had acquired these from the dealer. He wanted $100 for the pile of plates and we settled on $60.

I took a best offer on 5 of them for $150. SCORE!

Click here to see this auction.

Before we get to news regarding what is going on at the store (it is still crazy fun), I want to share an awesome experience that Indiana and I had. Most of you know the story of Indiana getting her Audi Convertible TT as a surprise back in November of 2015. If you don't know the back story…here it is.

Houston was given my old BMW when he turned 16 in 2012 and drove that car his Sophomore through Senior years of high school. It finally gave out in 2015 and Indy needed a car to drive. I went to my European Auto mechanic and said “I need a car that you can work on for Indiana”. How about an old VW? An old BMW? An old Mercedes? An old Saab? All were no’s. He said “Hold on, let me walk the back lot”.

He came back and said “How old is Indy”? I said “16 almost 17”. He said perfect. Follow me. He showed me an Audi TT 2003 convertible that he had completely redone and would have given his daughter, but he had already found her a car. It was DARLING but I knew I couldn’t afford it. Then he named the price and it was definitely doable. I said, “I will call you later today when I round up the money”. Called him at 4:30 pm and said I would take it.

The entire process was hysterical. I had to get the money and pick up the car without Indiana knowing about it. I parked it over by the clubhouse and since it hadn’t been driven in quite some time, I had to drive it about 200 miles before it would pass smog. I visited Smog Dog in Palm Desert about 6 times. Also an awesome guy. Took me four days. Finally, it passed smog and we wanted to surprise Indy when Houston, my mom, Lee, and I were all in town.

Well, that had to be during her play “Fools”. Houston did not make it to town on time, so it was my brother Lee, my mom and I that went to pick her up in between her Saturday Matinee and Saturday evening performance on November 21st, 2015. What great “subterfuge” we pulled off. Great word Mor Mor . Check out the video for that one…..

Still can’t believe this is her darling car! You deserve it Indiana.

Indiana’s real 17th birthday was on December 15th, 2015. Check out this sign I put up at her school so she would see it when she drove in.

My dad was in town for Indiana’s birthday. He couldn’t decide between her birthday or flying in to see her play. He has made it a point for the past 17 years to NEVER miss a birthday so that is when he came to town.

Here are Papa and Indy at Islands on her actual birthday.

OK, back to present day September 2018. I just had to share that part about my dad never missing her birthday. As many of you know, I opened my store on March 1st, 2018 to honor what would and should have been my dad's 84th birthday. He passed away from Pancreatic cancer on May 5th, 2017. We all miss him every day. The store and my move to Ventura wouldn't have been possible without the inheritance he left me and I want to make him proud here in Ventura. So thank you all for helping me to do that with Lynn's Consignments!

We still had Indy's Audi when we were moving to Ventura from Palm Desert in February of 2018. Over the past three years that car has been an EXTREME lemon and I am being kind in saying that. It was a NIGHTMARE. I paid $5k but ended up putting in about $10k in repairs over those three years.

To get the Audi to Ventura I started driving it with my mom following in my SUV. Once I hit Redlands the "check engine" light came on. I called AAA and they could tow it on a flat bed to Pepperdine, but not Ventura, as Malibu was within the 150 free mile radius. Ugh! Couldn't get it to Ventura but at least we got it to Indiana.

Long story short, that car needed a ton more work and I was OVER it. It was fine for her to drive around Ventura, but it was not freeway safe. I was going to wait to deal with it until she got back from Europe this summer (that story later) but I was at a garage sale and found a darling SUV (I think it was a Huyundai). It was only $2,750 and in very good condition. I paid a mechanic $100 to check it out and had Indy test drive it. We made an offer but it was refused. I went to the bank and got out $2,400 just in case.

We decided to play the waiting game and figured that the next day the seller would reconsider our offer. When I text him the next morning he let me know that it had sold that prior evening for full price. Ughhh! "The time to buy it is when you see it" as my grandmother always said. This is especially true in my store. I am not kidding. Things fly in and out of that place at an incredible speed. If you wait even an hour, it may have sold to someone else.

I was very upset at not getting that SUV for Indiana. I knew how important it was for her to have a reliable car and something that my dad would have insisted upon. She was his favorite "brown eyed girl" and they had such an amazing bond. I had a weird feeling that my dad was guiding me to get her a car sooner… rather than later. I told Indiana that I really felt like I had let her down by playing the "negotiating" game. She (being the incredible spirit that she is) said "Mom, something better will come along". Wow! That from a 19 year old. Such wisdom.

Well, the next day I put the Audi TT on Craigs List for $5,500. Even though I priced it high I was ready to let it go for $3,500 as that is what I had been offered when I tried to sell it in Palm Springs and I was ready to get Indy some new wheels!

The first guy that called about it, Garrett, took it to get checked out. We were chatting and he mentioned that he had a lot of furniture to consign. SCORE for Lynn's Consignments Fun Home Furnishings. Here is an amazing mid century modern Bar that Garrett brought in. Currently priced at $1,597. It won't last.

"The Time to Buy it is When you See it".

Well, Garrett didn't buy the Audi, but the next guy did. Yay! I had $2,400 plus the $3,500 in a war chest for Indy's new vehicle.

I checked with the mechanic that had looked at the Huyundai and asked him what a reasonably priced "reliable" SUV would be for Indiana. He suggested a Jeep. I called Indy and said "What do you think about a Jeep?" She was like "YES!...When I told you that something better would come along I was hoping for a Jeep, but didn't think that was a possibility."

I got on Craigs List and found a newly listed Jeep in Ojai that was for sale at $5,750. It was silver (I'm a girl and I care about color) and had only had one owner. I called and spoke with the seller. It was Thursday night and I made arrangements to see it on Saturday morning. It sounded perfect.

I called Indy and told her about it. She was taking a summer school class at Pepperdine for the month of May and would be back in Ventura on Friday afternoon. I said "I don't think this one is going to last and I AM NOT LOSING another…let's change our plans and see it Friday night". She agreed.

Friday night we drove to Ojai and test drove the Jeep. It was PERFECT. Indy was beaming. I said "Do you want it?" "YES"! I offered Mike (the owner) $5k. No way. He had three people lined up to see it on Saturday morning. $5,500 my final offer. Still no. I said "Mike, I just lost an SUV for my daughter and I will not be losing another one. I will be leaving with this vehicle tonight." He laughed and said "You are screwed". LOL.

I said, "Please just give me a little bit of a break on this." Silence and I waited him out. Finally, I said "$5,600?" and he hemmed and hawed and finally said yes! We had a Jeep for the Indy Girl. We were so excited! Indy said to me afterwards "Wow Mom, you are one tough negotiator". I will take that as a compliment.

I followed Indiana out of Ojai and if you can believe it we passed an Audi TT convertible EXACTLY like her former one and I got a photo of it LOL…Audi is in the rear view mirror. Praise the Lord. The Jeep (now named Otis after Mike and Jill's dog--the sellers) has been a GODSEND.

Sorry for such a long story but it has been such a great ending to a traumatic experience with that Audi. BTW, I will NEVER buy another Audi.

OK time for a score! Sold these in June when I was helping Indy buy that Jeep.

I had paid $5 for these Mexican silver and Wood Salad Serving Pieces. They sold for a best offer of $75!

Click here to see this auction.

I hadn't seen the Palm Desert girls (we are the baseball moms--all of our boys grew up playing ball in the Valley) since I got out of dodge back in February. They were all too busy to come and visit so when I was invited to San Diego in June for a girl's weekend, I decided to finally take a break from the store.

I left on a Friday to spend time with Lori, Hunter and Paige and then head to Riley's house on Saturday to spend time with Mo, Kel, Candy, Madhuri and Riley. Sooooo much fun. Drove back to Ventura on Monday morning and it took me almost 4 hours. Not going back to San Diego for a while.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from that weekend with the girls.

Time for a score! This one is bittersweet. This bowl sat on my grandmother's fireplace mantle for as long as I can remember…..which is a long time. She treasured this piece and always told me it was worth at least $10,000. It held vintage match books that she would use to light the fire. She never wanted her personal papers to be put in the garbage or recycling so she always burned them and used a match out this bowl. I had it listed at $10k but took a best offer of $2,000.

Click here to see this auction.

But getting back to that fireplace. I will never forget one day I found a stack of love letters back in the snake pit that were written from my grandfather, Elmer Leaf, to my grandmother, Cheryl Leaf (well Sussex was her last name then). They were addressed to her sorority at WSU Kappa Kappa Gamma.

This was when I was in high school and I was so excited to find those letters that I immediately ran into see my grandma in the other part of the house to show her. She looked at the bundle and immediately made a decision. I begged her to let me read them and she said "These are too hot to handle" and wheeled her chair over to start a fire using matches from that bowl. I watched her as she read each one and then put it into the flame.

Years later I found a book that my grandfather had made for her that somehow missed her burning frenzy that day. I have treasured it and kept it and did read it after she passed away and trust me….if this little book is anything like those letters…They were definitely "Too hot to Handle" and I am grateful she didn't let me read them ! Grandma????!!!!!!

For those of you who have been reading my ezines/newsletters for the past 16 plus years, you know that I try and do waaaaaay to much. Some things never change! I thought I could open this amazing new store, run it by myself, and continue to teach and sell on eBay at the same break neck pace. NOT.

Huge wakeup call and I will address that now. Immediately with the store it became very clear that the store would need 2 people there at all times. I also wasn't able to keep up with the eBay pulling of sheets and shipping. I was doing fine with the listing….well OK not great but the shipping/bookkeeping was out of control!

When I first moved to Ventura and needed help unpacking all of the eBay stuff I had hired some really great high school kids and local neighbors. One of the high school kids, Bridget, became my eBay shipper (but her hours were so sporadic) that I knew I needed another helper to pull sheets, items and make labels. BTW, Bridget is amazing! She is such a blessing to all of us and the store. She pops in for an hour here and there and is willing to do any job…no matter how big or small. We are going to miss her when she goes to college next year!

Anyway, back to my problem of actually delegating something that definitely needed to be delegated. Of those original unpackers, one of them, Cindy was amazing. I had tried for months to get her to work in the front of the store but she wanted nothing of it. LOL.

Who doesn't love the public?

In any event, I was brainstorming and kept remembering her saying if she could work in the back, she would gladly take the job. I text her one day and asked her to come in and discuss the position. She turned out to be the absolute perfect person for the job. She is super efficient, positive and funny. We love having her as an addition to the team.

Since she and Bridget knew each other from the original unpacking job back in February, they work incredibly well together. It cracks me up that Cindy (a mom with high school kids) will text Bridget (a high school kid) during the day to see if she knows where a particular item can be found (when we lose eBay items…who doesn't?).

One day I found a coconut that we all had been looking for on an incorrect shelf at my house and Cindy was so excited she text Bridget during the school day to tell her! I was like "you are awesome people that take this job as seriously (well probably) more seriously than I do". It totally cracked me up.

Here is that coconut that sold for a best offer of $20.

Click here to see this auction.

Houston spent most of the summer in DC doing his paid internship and at the beginning of July, Indy would be heading off to London for her Harry Potter Course hosted by Pepperdine.

I was going to miss that girl! She had been such a big help at the store and she really enjoyed her job there this past summer. She would be missed but I was very excited for her to head off on her first Pepperdine International program. She would be flying out on the 4th of July and I drove her to LAX that morning.

I was afraid that her suitcase was too heavy because she had a paperback copy of every Harry Potter book and enough clothes for 4 weeks in London. When we got to LAX I tipped a bag handler $5 to weigh her bag for us. OMG if you can see the scale weight in this photo it came in at a perfect 50.0 (the max for free luggage on international flights). Praise the LORD!

Here are a few of my favorite photos of Indiana in London. She had such a great time and I am so blessed that both of my kids get to attend Pepperdine and take advantage of their incredible programs. Pepperdine was just named 46th best University in the United States by US News and World Report. AYO Waves!

This photo is one that Indiana posted on her Instagram story and I LOVE that she titled it Indy 2.0. Check out that air she got while visiting Notting Hill in England.

A few days after Indy left it was my birthday and I had a GREAT day. I had brunch at Brophy Bros and then read a book on the beach ALL by myself. It was heaven to take a day off from the store. I got a phone call from Indiana to wish me a happy birthday, but nothing from the Goose.

Here is a super score that sold on my actual birthday for full price of about $200. Happy birthday to me!

On my birthday , as I was driving back home from the beach I was checking my cell phone at a stop light (mind you) to see if Houston had text me. Nothing, but in my rear view mirror I saw a motorcycle cop back up and get behind me…my guess…I was busted! Ughhhhh

Yep, he pulled me over and was going to cite me for being on my cell phone. I explained to him that I was at a red light and was just checking to see if my son had wished me a happy birthday. The policeman had proof it was my birthday (thank you god) from looking at my license and just issued me a warning. I had no idea that you could NOT even use your cell phone while stopped at a light. Big warning for all of us. Leave your phone in the back seat and don't be tempted to look at it. I was so relieved to just get a warning that I didn't even care that Goose had forgotten my birthday.

Then I got home and on the front porch was a BEAUTIFUL flower arrangement from that one and only Goose! So sweet and it really made my day .

Here is the card and here are the flowers .

OK time for another score! This one is hysterical because as I was sorting the kids stuff that they didn't want anymore when we moved from Rancho Mirage to Ventura, I came across their sombreros that I had purchased for them when they were kids in Mexico.

This pink one of Indy's turned out to be a great brand. I listed it on eBay and it sold for $135. Yikes! That same day a very special family came to visit me in the store.

Click here to see this auction.

Diva Dawn, Diva Dude and Grand Diva were in the HOUSE! They made a special trip to Ventura to see me and the new store. So much fun! Their grandson is darling and even agreed to wear the sombrero for the picture!

Speaking of Diva Dawn and the Queen's Court…..we have some exciting news. With everything going on in my life and the life of the store, I have decided to change the QC to "Queen's Court Lite" as Lynnette has dubbed it. The forums are remaining open with so much great information but the price has been reduced to $4.95 per month. This new QC Lite is open to any former QC members. Email me for more information if you are interested in rejoining.

OK, time for another score! This one is awesome because it was in a box of perfumes waiting to be listed in my barn. Peggy (who works for me) wrote them up against her will. She thought they were disgusting and no one would buy them. LOL. Jokes on her. This one had a bidding war going with 261 page views and 16 bids and it sold at auction. Check it out!

Click here to see this auction.

Our Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is in stock and it is amazing! We have started hosting workshops and I have begun upcycling furniture.

Here is Indiana and McKenna (a summer employee) showing off our paint display.

Here is more information about our chalk painting classes.

An "Introduction to the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Method" class will be held in October. Date to follow!

$99 Per Student

Check out what our students are saying...

"Loved the class & meeting everyone tonight! Thanks Lynn for orchestrating it all! I felt a 'shabby chic women’s bond' tonight. And I loved meeting other women that love the same type of decor and interests. It was very cool. Hoping we can all do it again!... part 2 Lol! Thanks again!" Ilene Colton

"Thank you for such a wonderful fun class…I can’t wait to paint something now and will definitely take more classes!!!" Lynn Knudson

"Had a blast too! Was fun sharing a pint (of paint) with u all! Hugs from the trunk lover~" Lori

"Thank-you was a blast! Can’t wait for the new class!!! Many thanks" Rebecca

"Hello Lynn, It was a thoroughly informative and entertaining evening. Thank you!" Margaret Sparks

"Thanks for such an enjoyable evening last night, such fun and now I feel like I can face the table project with a can of chalk paint! Your energy and enthusiasm was contagious. See you soon to buy my supplies." Susan (Nodar)

Here is a photo of us during one of the teaching workshops.

This is the Basic Course offering an Introduction to the Annie Sloan Method of Chalk Painting....Furniture, Lamp Shades, Fabric and just about anything!

Light appetizers and beverages will be served.

Come learn four techniques during this 3-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 or bring an apron.....you don't need to bring anything else except maybe a friend!

Can't wait to see you and help you learn about the.....

BEST PAINT IN THE WORLD!!!

When: October date to be announced soon!

Where: In our New Workshop behind the store at 1975 E. Main Street.

Using Credit Card

With Paypal

Here is a dresser that I painted in Annie Sloan Pure White and then added a decal from Iron Orchid Designs of a Mermaid. I love this piece! It is for sale in the store.

In this photo of the transformed dresser you can also see a stool and end table that I have painted in Duck Egg Blue. The end table sold! Painting furniture is soooo much fun!

Time for a score! Well, it is actually a score that is about to happen. I listed this vase on eBay at a high price, $199 and asked for help. Immediately I got an email telling me exactly what type of glass it is and who made it. It is now in my eBay store at $399 waiting for the right buyer. Check it out it is a very beautiful and unusual piece.

Click here to see this auction.

With everything going on and Indiana in and out all summer, it helped me to not miss the Goose so much! He finally returned to Ventura from Washington DC at the end of July. It was a blast having him at home!

He even went to some garage and estate sales with me. One of those sales was crazy HUGE! It is an estate liquidator's warehouse and Houston was blown away by all the crazy items. Here he is standing in the yard with a baseball glove he found.

Indiana returned from London at the beginning of August and it was awesome to have both kids in the house!

The store was still crazy busy but, we had made plans to spend a week in Bellingham August 9th to the 17th to celebrate Mor Mor's 82nd birthday. So off we went. It was a great week in the Pacific Northwest and my brother was also in town. In addition, we got to spend a lot of time with my sister's kids, Zach and Kai.

Before I share some of those Bellingham memories, it's time for another score! Bought this little guy at an estate sale in Palm Springs about a year ago for $10 and couldn't believe it when it sold for full price! Yaya!

Click here to see this auction.

This Steiff piece is a perfect one to share as I talk more about Bellingham since my grandmother's store was an authorized Steiff dealer and we love Steiff.

On the day of my mom's party, here are Houston and Indiana giving Mor Mor a birthday hug.

Here I am with Queen's Court member Bev Helton and her husband Bob. Too much fun.

We also got to spend some time out at Birch Bay at my Dad and Sue's cabin. It was bittersweet without him there, but also fun for all of the cousins. My step sister's kids, my kids and Kiki's kids all bonded.

Check out this photo of them back in the day.

And this one from last month.

And then Indiana took everyone across the street to the beach to do a photo shoot. The results are hysterical. Especially with the little kid sunglasses they had all purchased at the ice cream store for $2 a pair. Tres chic!

After Houston returned to Malibu for his job as a tour guide at Pepperdine, me, my mom, Lee, Indiana, Zach and Kai decided to go into Bellingham for lunch. One small problem….my mom's car only held 5 people and there were 6 of us.

Well, Kai and I put our heads together and came up with a plan. He and I would take the city bus and meet up with everyone else in Fairhaven. So off we went on our adventure. Here is Kai guy as we wait for the bus.

I am a huge fan of the bus system….it was so easy and now everyone is teasing me about it. LOL. Here we are in Fairhaven at lunch.

My mom flew back to LAX with us to spend her real birthday at an Oktoberfest party that one of my consignors was having on August 18th. Houston invited his "Milchmen" roommates from Heidelberg and his new girlfriend Emma (who is awesome). We all had a blast and much dancing, drinking and eating was done by all.

Indiana even won the Yodeling contest!

Time for a score! This came from my grandmother's antiques store and was up in the attic. I considered putting it in the store, but it was as is. It is a Motto needlepoint that says "What is Home Without a Mother". I am sure that my grandmother held on to this for so many years because her mother passed away when she was only 15 months old and she missed having a mother for her entire life. This sold for a best offer of $175.00.

Click here to see this auction.

Houston was already back at his condo in Calabassas (the 4 boys call it the "danger house") and working at Pepperdine at the end of August when I took Indiana back to school on August 25th.

Check out this super fun Danger House sign that Indiana made for the boys! She used a pallet from our Annie Sloan shipment and letters that one of our consigners gave her and some letters I bought at a garage sale!

The wait at Pepperdine to move in was super long but it was worth it as Indiana got an incredible room on the 3rd floor of a tall dorm with amazing ocean views. She got even luckier with her roommate, her really great friend Syd. Yay!

Here are the girls surveying their room.

I had déjà vu when Houston and his best friend Reilly were carrying in Indiana's white shelf. They had both carried it in for her Freshman year. Let's check out those two photos from Frosh and Sophomore year. I am glad I was there to snap both pics We will see if the white shelf goes back to Pepperdine for Junior year. LOL.

Here is a photo of Indiana's dorm room all decorated. Is it too cute! So many pieces were purchased at my store!

She got the green nesting tables, a wooden teddy bear and lots of wall art. "Everyone Wins When They Shop at Lynn's". That slogan is thanks to my nephew Kai who came up with it when he was 9 years old!

Here is a photo of more furniture that I am working on for the store. So much to do and so little time!

Even with so much going on at the store, I have still been listing 100 "new" One of a Kind items on eBay each week. Here is one of my current auction listings that sold a few days ago for $35 with 7 bids. It is a simple men's tshirt. I love selling Men's clothes.

Click here to see this auction.

The store has taken off with an incredible trajectory and we have been slammed and super busy. Business is great! Thank you to VENTURA and to all of you ezine readers that voted for us for the Best of Ventura County! We took 3rd place in the Home Furnishings Category! YOWZA

For those of you in the LA, Santa Barbara or San Diego areas or anywhere within driving distance, we are accepting consignments daily. Please spread the word for me and please stop in and say hello!

To end this ezine, I have some great news to share! Indiana was cast in one of the lead roles in Pepperdine's only musical of the year, Curtains. She will be playing the comedic role of Carmen the Broadway Producer--she will be singing, dancing and acting. I am sooooooooo proud of her and have bought tickets to almost all of the performances. If you are in the LA area, I highly recommend checking out one of the shows. Pepperdine puts on a quality show for only $20 per ticket. Here is a link if anyone is interested.

OK, one last score before I end this ezine! Check out this Cake server that sold for full price of over $100. If you are not selling flatware you should be.

Click here to see this auction.

Lynn is an experienced eBay Power Seller, author and teacher. If you want to know the eBay tips, tricks and tools that Lynn uses for buying and selling at online auction click here.

Some links in my emails to you may be affiliate links. You can be confident that I only partner with companies that I fully stand behind.

Past eZines

As you may have noticed, this is volume 12. I have been writing my ezines for at least 14 years! When we first started over 14 years ago (and I was still living in Bellingham, WA) we didn't even put volume numbers on them! Wow!