INTERVIEW: From Antique Collector and Crafter to Teacher to Crafter Again

Today’s story is from Judy at JAMs Craft Closet. I met Judy through another friend, when she was referred to TheDrawingBoard to get help with her Shopify store. While we’ve only met “virtually” through TheDrawingBoard Slack group, we talk on a frequent basis and I am honored to know her. I asked her if she would share with us how she came to be a Shopify store owner. Here is her story, in her own words…

While living in West Virginia, antiques could easily be found. It all started when my husband and I purchased a 108-year old home from four elderly sisters. We had just purchased a home the year before, but I had to have this one. The sisters financed it for us with $5,000 down. Every month we wrote out four checks going to the four sisters. We were lucky to rent out the first house we bought.

After moving in, I found out that an antique dealer lived across the street. Oh what fun it was to visit, especially when they had new arrivals! This neighbor exploded my interest in antiques. I already loved antiques, but having an outlet across the street was awesome. I gained so much knowledge from them, too.

Soon the birth of JAMs Hobby Shop came to a reality. We had the front porch enclosed for my gift shop and office. The second living room became the painting supply room. I sold paint, brushes, books, wood cutouts, and anything else needed to complete particular projects. The dining room became the classroom for weekend painting classes. The basement was the workshop with all of the tools (band saw, drill press, table saw, router, pottery wheel, etc.) that I needed to produce the wood items I painted, sold, and used for my painting classes. My home store was open in the evenings and on weekends because I had a full time job as a school secretary. All I had to do was flip the OPEN sign over and unlock the door. This was a PERFECT set-up because I could still help with homework, cook dinner, or anything else I needed to do in between customers. This store helped me pay for all of the antiques I purchased from my neighbor, the antique dealer, across the street. 😉

Years later, my husband and I decided to move south. He was a foreman in the coal mines and he wanted out. I moved first to Cape Canaveral, Florida because I got a job first. Needless to say, my now ‘ex’ never made it to Florida.

Then came the divorce. I went back to college at my old age and received my teaching degree in Special Education. My teaching journey began and my antique collecting came to a halt due to finances.

Now that I am a retired teacher, I am back into antiquing and crafting. I opened my Etsy shop and began selling my handmade goods and the antiques I had collected years ago. Now, I have a new Shopify store. I love that it is mine and mine alone. No fees for renewing items every four months, no restrictions on what I can sell, being able to add as many items as I wish without worrying about the cost to list each item and then the renewal fees, and the freedom to promote my store as I see fit. I still have my Etsy shop, but all of my new items are now listed in my new store – JAMsCraftCloset.Com.

I am still a teacher at heart. You will see that when you read my blog posts. I still love sharing ideas to get everyone’s creative juices flowing. When you are no longer learning, you are dead. So, learn something new every day to keep you and your brain alive and kicking.

NOTE: I also have a TeachersPayTeachers store where I sell my BEST lessons and resources. Share with your teacher friends and visit my store JAMsReadingCloset at TeachersPayTeachers.Com.

Thank you Judy for sharing your story with us! It is always interesting to hear about the diverse backgrounds of Shopify store owners. I wish you continued success with your new website!