Sometimes you have to break the mold

I have two retail spots one in Turlock,Ca and one in Modesto,CA.  These stores have given me a huge presence in the community, but at the end of the day only so many people come into stores.  They're is a huge clientele that I am missing by them not being able to come in store, so I've created an etsy store to sell some of my items online.  Let's face when most people who are luck enough to have jobs are working long hours and don't have the time to go in store.  This is why I am working on creating more of an online presence with facebook and also since shopping online is my favorite thing to do, I think I'm on the right track.
 My goal when I started a year ago was to have a foot in the local market and now I want customers throughout the state.  Also as of January I'm closing my Turlock location to focus on going into other markets, also because both of these shops are within 15 miles of each other, and sometimes I feel the customer base crossover each other.  Modesto is more profitable and will stay my retail spot official and I will consigning items into shops in other areas of the state, where people may have never seen my products and I want to do more craft fairs throughout the state. At the end of the day no one can sell your product as good as you, I want to secure my customer base throughout the state and also I love meeting new customers!!!  I have always had the attitude that I need to approach this in a business frame of mind and I'm always thinking ahead.  Stay tuned more change is a coming!!!

Making new items handmade signs

Sometimes when your doing furniture, you realize that you can also create other home decor items for your clients home.  I have currently started creating handpainted signs that have various sayings, they are a way for you to bring a lil sign of life into your home.  Each sign is one of kind and can be customized to the clients liking and some have glitter added to them of them.  Please email at herroyalhighness1@live.com for details on any of my products!!!

Doing Handmade events Artsy Girls xmas boutique

Doing handmade events are a great way to connect with new customers that have never made it in store to either of my boutique locations.  It is always good to connect with other handmade crafters and find out what is new in the community.  Sometimes it may not be necessary rich in profit, but the exposure of your business is key to its success, you can never have too much exposure!!!  More events that you do, the more the word spreads and the more chance you have of getting new clients.  I think sometimes establish businesses forget that you always need to be working on getting new clients, espicially in these tough economic times.

New in Store: Adorable Vintage White French Vanity

When I got this piece, I really wondered what I had gotten myself into.  It has had lots of nicks, chips and messed up veneer.  I spent alot of time fixing it, and its result is very, very breathtaking.  This adorable Vintage White French Vanity has five drawers, two hidden compartments, was repainted in a classic clean white and at $150.00 it is perfect for your home.  Give that princess in your life, a gift they will treasure for the rest of their life!!!

New in store: Vintage White Texture Dresser

Sometimes when you find a vintage treasure you wonder what for it will take, once your done.  When I got this dresser it had a top that had been severely damaged, and the bottom veneer on the edges was also damaged.  It sat in my workshop for almost one year before I started to work on it, now is a adorable Vintage White Texture Dresser that has four drawers, I added reproduction victorian glass knobs, had a bottom border of trim was added on the front and sides of the dresser.  It was added to give strength to the bottom, to give it dimensions to the dresser and gives it so much style.  I also love using trim on furniture, you can get great results and it makes it look truly unique.  In doing this piece it has inspired me to look outside the box when redoing a furniture piece and be more creative.

Christmas decorating ideas....

AHH the holidays are upon my royal followers, the time of year to eat to much good food, see the family and decorate the home is upon us.  Get a head start on the holiday mess by decorating your home before thanksgiving, this way you can enjoy the holidays without worrying about where to put the tree!!!  I also advocate using vintage items in decorating, pull out a Silver Platter and put some vintage ornaments on it, add a candle in a jar (an old mason jar would be absolutely fabulous), add some flowers from your garden for some charm, presto a vintage centerpiece for your holiday gathering!!!  Incorporate your personal taste into decorating your home for the holidays for example I collect fashion ornaments, they are apart of my personal love for high fashion, so I put them on my tree every year they show my personal fashion.  Don't forget that vintage treasures make wonderful gifts for the holidays. 

Alternative Use for a Vintage Item

I love, love old saucer plates from teacup sets.  If you have a great teacup and saucer set, and the teacup breaks I have found alternative uses for saucer plates.  My favorite use for it is using it to put my teabag and spoon after having a cup of green tea after a long day.  This saves you from getting tea stains on your counter and making a mess in your kitchen for no reason.  Also they can be used for a stylish spoon holder on your stove, why go and buy something ordinary when you can reuse and repurpose a treasure.  Also I use them for an alternative soap dish in your bathroom, a great idea for the holidays!!!

Adventures: Going on a Boutique Crawl

I was very fortunate to go on a boutique crawl that included two of the boutiques that I sell my vintage chic furniture in store.  It included about 20 stores, a variety of stores were featured including handmade boutiques, antique stores, consignment stores, clothing stores and a catered lunch.  I was lucky enough to enjoy this event with two of my best friends.  We got to spend from 9am to 6pm, together shopping (helping stimulate the economy, by shopping), and see alot of  local shops we never get the time to see in our busy lives. 

I hope that if you live near modesto,ca you get the opportunity to participate in a event of this caliber.  If you live out of the area, you should try to organize an event of this magnitude.

New in store: Vintage Chic White Dresser/Buffet

This adorable Vintage Dresser was completely redone in a clean white, when I got it was antiqued brown and had to stablized it structurally.  After making it like brand new the paint transformation, and oversized glass knobs were added for a lavish glam touch.  It has five drawers and they are lined with paper perfect for all of your goodies!!! It can either be used as a dresser would could be a unique buffet, or can be used in a entryway in a large home!!!  Its available for sale inside Unique Boutiques at 180 E. Leveland Ave Modesto,CA or email me for details at herroyalhighness1@live.com.

Creativity inspired through my travels .....Morgan Hill

I was very fortunate to get away for a day and go visit my one of my good friends Andrea.  On Sunday we went and explored the downtown area eating at a local eatery Just Breakfast (which I highly recommend).  Then walking around taking in this lovely warm fall weather, part of living the vintage life is appreciating the surroundings you are in and enjoying the moment.  I was inspired creatively by the downtown the sidewalks were lined with bricks, adding to that adorable small town charm and some of shops even though not open I got to pick inside the windows and they were so vintage chic. 
I remember as a child hearing my grandmother talk of visiting family who lived in Morgan Hill, and how much she appreciated that even though its in the bay area it still had small town feel.  I was very happy to share this opinion and enjoy a lovely little small town in California.  I have to say that my creativity was recharged and made me appreciate the the little things in life.  Even though we all live busy demanding lives, we need to take time to appreciate life, and make an effort to get away every once in a while.   

New items in store!!!

I have new desk vanity in my turlock location that has 6 drawers, it was redone in a clean white, and added glass knobs for a regal touch.  The desk was orginally a yellow, brown in color with brass knobs.  I say it at a yard sale and within two minutes I knew that it had hidden potential.  Once completed, it is a true showpiece waiting to go into someone's home!!!  This piece is $95.00 in store and once paired with a mirror would make an excellent vanity!!!
Her Royal Highness II- Bohemian style inside Ritzy Ragz and Thingz 126 W. Main St Turlock,CA

Custom Creations- Rustic Sofa Table

I do alot of custom creation for clients, one client in particular wanted a custom sofa table that was 7 ft long to go behind her sofa.  She wanted me to use vintage fence boards for to make the table, which I did and made sure to give it the antique look.  It was done in a clean white, then antiqued and added a beige brown to give it that old fashioned weather look.  My Client was extremely happy with the table and it gave me new ideas of also adding some rustic vintage chic items to my locations.  If you are looking for a custom creation let me know, I'm always looking forward to create one of kind creations.

Alternative uses for a vintage item

When I am out hunting for vintage items I am always thinking like my customers, because I am one of my customers.  I was looking for a container to hold my makeup brushes, like many women I have way too many beauty products and I was looking for a way to help declutter my makeup drawer in my bathroom vanity.  I wanted something unique, vintage and that went with my decor.  I went to an estate sale and found this adorable vintage silver serving basket that is traditional used for serving crackers, nuts or various food items.  As soon as I brought it home and put my makeup brushes in it I knew that I found the perfect item.  I also chose this container because I santize my brushes with a anti-bacterial spray, to help prevent bacterial build up on daily basis.  If you are looking for a something unique to store items around your house, keep in mind that I have vintage treasures like this in both locations and if you have any questions just email me I love talking to my followers!!   More posts like this are soon to come, helping people use vintage items to solve daily uses!!!

Her Royal Highness is located inside Unique Boutiques 180 Leveland Ave Modesto,CA or
Her Royal Highness II- Bohemian Style inside Ritzy Ragz and Thingz at 126 W. Main St Turlock,CA
Also become a fan on facebook and remember that you can email me at herroyalhighness1@live.com.

A Little bit about me Her Royal Highness

I decided to start Her Royal Highness in October of 2009, for years I have been lover antiques, collecting and creating one of a kind treasures for my home and friends.  After years of being a working educated professional, I became one of millions that were suddenly unemployed, as devastated as I was moving on was my only option.  I had always felt in my working career that I never got the opportunity to use all of my creative potential.  Since I suddenly had time, I decided to pursue my creative dreams and use my business background to create one of kind treasures for others.  Her Royal Highness creates one of kind furniture and home decor items from vintage furniture and vintage items, I redo them in vintage chic style completely restoring them in the painted style and making them new one of a kind treasures.  I have bulit my business to not only redo vintage items for sale in local boutiques. I also do custom paint jobs and make one of a kind creations for my clients. I decided to start this blog to not only share my products, but show how to create a one of a kind look in your home that is not only pretty, but practical.  Part of my mission for Her Royal Highness is to make pretty one of kind items accessible to everyone, not just wealthy and with this blog I plan on showing how to use vintage items in your home.