Changes In Between

Some people have a tendency to look at change fearfully. Fear can translate to sorrow or anger. I personally try to look at change as adventure, the opportunity for experience or growth. I would be totally lying though if sometimes I didn't actually say, "What the crap?"

This little store has always been kind of a pipe dream of mine. So you can probably imagine how excited I've been to be able to at least try. So far its had its ups and downs, it's been an insane learning experience, show me that for all the years I've worked in retail, that owning a business can be very different from running one. But make no mistake, the dream is a live and continues.

So as my magical red is washed away by beige, I don't let it dishearten me. This incarnation is done, and the rebirth is not far away. I just hope it's growing pains and not after-death twitches.

Just wait and see what we come up with next. Thanks for coming along on our journey.

In Between Moves

This upcoming weekend is the last weekend that we will be at the International Flea Market.

But this is not really a bad thing.  

Right now, as I type, there is actually a garage in our home that is going to be converted into the shop.  The next incarnation of In Between will be right beside/part of our home.  This is good on many levels, like security, reduction of overhead, travel time, travel/offsite expenses, and all those business things.  This has been a bootstrap operation from the beginning, some of our help coming from close family and so we wanted to keep it closer to the family, so to speak.  

This also gives us the ability to work on our online presence (we have unique items which go on Etsy, some which go on Ebay, and our regular stuff on StoreEnvy...the latter will probably change soon...)  Hopefully, develop this blog into a working blog which will help feature articles, links and opinions in regards to magical workings and local happenings we attend in the community of Houston, Texas.

Because we are moving, our last weekend at the shop will be, in store, 30% off.  Just keep that in mind.

The hope here is to create a relaxing environment away from the crowding and noise of the flea market. We are hoping to re-open at the latest, the middle of may.

Come all ye seekers..... 

Careful what you wish for!

Mom is back from Thailand! Yay!

Good times were had by all.  But of course, Mom gets home, the hammer falls, and I gotta get more productive.  Which is why on our Etsy store, We've now got a lot of items that have come all the way from Thailand.

One of the reasons I even wanted to open this shop is that I wanted to know more and be more part of the community.  I don't want drama - I want a place where people can go and discuss, where they can find staples of their practice, exchange ideas, and fellowship.

I used to tell myself I wanted a place exactly like Gateways, which used to be a metaphysical bookstore in League City.  It lived through about three incarnations, and was a wonderful place to go.  In fact...the first time I stepped into their doors, I was 11.  When they closed up shop, I was in my early twenties.  The shop stuck around for about a decade, and I missed it greatly when Brenda and Linda closed its doors.  But ever since I was a kid, I always wanted a place like that.

Sometimes, when we send our wishes out into the universe, things happen.  Sometimes our wishes do come true, but we have to be careful how we ask about it!

Like Brenda and Linda, it seems that in March, the shop will actually become a part of our home.

Crazy, I know.  I've been thinking about this.  On one hand, I'm quite happy, because a home requires love and care and work, and so does a business.  On the other, heck, I'm bringing my work home with me.  Literally.

But they survived, they existed and seemed harmonious.  I don't see why I can't either.  It's just going to take a lot of work.

It was kind a spur of the moment idea - which is how some of my most brilliantly insane ideas happen, both the good ones and the bad ones, but they're pretty big and spectacular.

Anyway, after blurting out the fact that it could be a possibility, mom had me looking stuff up.  No, my house isn't zoned or deed restricted, so ...we're going to be turning one of the garages into the storefront.  This will allow us more liberties to care for the shop, get more inventory, alter the shop in the way we want, and do events and festivals easier.

So...I'm doing the research.  We'll find out soon.  Either way, In Between will be dealing with moving in March.  So we're hoping that the next incarnation is a modest storefront on a street in the east side of Houston.

Light a candle, say a chant and wish us luck.

Second Thursday....one more to go.

We picked this particular venture to start in a flea market - the overhead isn't as high as a physical shop front and we have the flexibility of scheduling/staffing/dealing with things differently (when you run a storefront, there's schedules to be maintained with vendors, etc...).  This shop will be open three days a week, which isn't a fantastic way to do business, but really, it's a start.

Izzy, one of my oldest and dearest friends (as in, I've known her forever, not that we're old...pppfffftt.....) has been totally amazing in her aid.  With her help, I've gotten the shop painted, she's donated some wonderful things for inventory, and her suggestions are invaluable.  We've got more painting to do, and more to work on next Thursday.  She's been incredibly kind too, suffering the fact that although it is an indoor, air conditioned flea market, they turn down the thermostat only enough that the candles don't melt.  So, we come out of there, totally sweat-drenched and dying of thirst.

But it's amazing what a little love and devotion can do.  This experience has been very positive, very upbeat. (About the only person who sweats this is Mom....I mean, the husband does too, but that's because this really is his venture as well...)  All I can do is order, hope and pray.  And give it my all.  This place starts out small, our baby steps, but in reality, we would love to see it grow into the large dream that we share.

So...one more working Thursday, we'll probably be open next Friday for an early look at what's going on, and Saturday is our official opening day.  Come out and see us!

In the Beginning....

So, for a while, I've been kicking around this idea.  I've always wanted a metaphysical book shop, a spiritual store.  I want to create a place of learning, a place of comfort, and a place of community.  A couple of months ago, we really started talking about it.

How we have scraped up a bit of money for start up is a whole story unto itself, but the joyous part?  We're able to open a small both at a local flea market.  This booth, this store, is called In Between....take it as you will.  But much can be drawn from the name.  We are all here on our journey between birth and death, and what we gather from our accounts, we will take with us.  My darling husband chose well the name.

Here we will begin by carrying things from different faiths, gifts of love, and other accouterments.  Circling supplies, magical tools, icons, statuary, books and heartfelt gifts.  By the grace of the gods and by your patronage, we hope to eventually expand it into a wonderful place to come.  Please follow the link to our facebook page.