Why I Love What I Do...

In my Etsy shop remarks, I say that sometimes I feel like a matchmaker who gets an invitation to the wedding.  It's the best feeling in the world to connect someone with an item they've been looking for or have a childhood memory of.

Last week I listed a signed photo I'd picked up of the Ted Herbert Orchestra from the swing era.  If you're from New England, you may know Ted Herbert, but growing up in Ohio and living in the Midwest, I'd never heard of him.  I did some research (one of my favorite parts of any listing) and learned that he'd been a band leader in New England for decades, taught at university in Manchester, New Hampshire and had well-known music store there, too.

The photo sold within one day.  I just got the nicest review from the buyer, with this comment:

As a Manchester native who ended up as a music teacher, Ted Herbert and his music store hold a special place in my heart. This picture is so cool, great shape, I'm so excited to have found it! I absolutely love it!

Right after Christmas, I sold a Dillon's Grocery Store glass.  I'd never heard of Dillon's (a big name in the Kansas City area) but learned all about it as I researched the glass.  It, too, sold very quickly to someone who grew up in Kansas City and wanted a little bit of her childhood.

If you've read my blog for a while, you know I'm hooked on souvenirs -- especially pennants!  I have over a hundred of them...some listed, many waiting to be listed and some I'll never part with.  (If there's a pennant you're looking for, message me...there's a good chance that I have it!)

I sold a Mohawk Valley pennant not long ago and this is what I heard from the buyer:

I just wanted to let you know that the pennant is great, and the graphics are amazing. I live fairly close to the Mohawk Trail, and have even traveled on the illustrated "Hairpin Turn" in a snowstorm. Yesterday was a lousy day at work, and finding your package in my mailbox made it a little bit better.

What could be better than making someone's day?  I love what I do!

What I've Learned as a Seller

Three years -- that's how long I've been selling vintage!  It's hard to believe it's been that long, because the time has flown by.  I opened my Etsy shop in October, 2010 and began selling in the antique mall in February, 2011.

I knew there would be a big learning curve, but I don't think I was prepared for what I didn't know.  Selling vintage is so much different from collecting vintage.  Today I'd like to lay out some of the things I've learned in the last three years and maybe they'll be helpful to new sellers (and to collectors, as well!)

1.  Sell what you know and what you love...
This seems so obvious, but it isn't really.  When I was working as a floor walker at the antique mall, I'd see all the interesting things people were buying -- often things that were completely not 'my thing' (for example, depression glass, vintage designer clothing and primitives).  I tried picking up similar items at sales to add to my booth or shop and it just didn't work.  I didn't know how to price them, didn't know what was worth buying and didn't feel 'invested' in them.  I think we're all much better off staying in our own passion areas.

2.  Just because it's old it doesn't mean it's worth buying...
I picked up lots of old stuff at the beginning that will never sell.  I haven't been able to sell it in the booth, on Etsy or even at my garage sale.  You know something is a loser when you take it to the resale shop and they turn it down!  Now I stick to things that I know are sell-able (though I still make mistakes sometimes).

3.  Don't buy it just because it's cheap...
This one goes with number 2.  Sometimes things aren't cheap because they're a bargain, they're cheap because they aren't worth more than that.  Those little goodies are losers, too -- if you spend 50 cents on something you really don't want just because it's 50 cents, you've just thrown that money away.

4.  Don't buy junk...
I keep a list of things not to buy.  Sometimes it's items I have lots of (like breadboxes), sometimes it's things that don't sell in my booth (hankies), but this is written at the top of my list in capital letters:  DON'T BUY JUNK!  If an item is broken or needs repair, I'll usually pass it up now (I didn't used to).  I don't have time to fix everything and will never get enough money for the little thing to reimburse my time spent.  I'll still buy lamps that need rewiring and linens with stains (but not usually holes), and the very dirty doesn't stop me, but ceramic or mechanical items that are broken just aren't worth it.  Exceptions are ceramics that are really special -- those are worth restoring.

5.  Don't be wishy-washy...
There have been times I've put something in my 'buy' pile at a sale and then spend the rest of the sale trying to decide if it's a smart purchase or not.  Most of the time, it's not (for me, anyway).  I've learned that, if I go back and forth on whether something is worth buying, I should leave it for someone else.

6.  If it's right, jump on it...
The flip-side of number 4 is the fact that I KNOW the instant I see something that is just great!  When that happens, I've learned to grab it.  I've really regretted the times I've lost something cool because I've decided to 'think about it and come back' or I haven't picked it up and held on to it.  

7. Trust your instincts...
If you feel that an item is a winner, you're probably right (and don't let someone else talk you out of it).  Mr. KV doesn't go shopping with me much, but I laugh because usually when he does there will be one moment in the outing when he'll ask 'Will someone really want that?'  I've learned to be pretty confident about what I know.

8.  Don't beat yourself up over mistakes...
I've learned that I'll make mistakes -- that's a given!  I don't know a single dealer who doesn't have a 'what was I thinking' story' or who can't tell me about the ones that got away.  It's really hard for me not to dwell on the money I've wasted or the things I didn't buy that I should have, but I think I've gotten (almost) to the point where I can just move on.

9.  Keep it fresh...
I've learned to make lots of trips to the booth to rearrange and 'fluff'.  Even if I don't take lots of new items in, little changes can make it look more interesting and catch someone's eye.  Often it's as easy as moving things from one side of the booth to the other, because people tend to always walk a mall in the same pattern.  (If you don't believe me, try walking your favorite mall in the opposite direction and see how different the booths look to you).
On Etsy, I try to change the titles and make revisions on items that I renew and often will take new pictures, too.  It's good practice to review the keywords, as well -- maybe just a tweak is all it needs to sell.

10.  Have fun...
When this starts to not be fun any more, I'm done!  Ive learned that it takes LOTS of time and energy to run my own business -- even a small one like this. If it starts to be a chore or something I dread, I'm going to phase it out.  Life's too short to hate what you do every day.

Those are my words of wisdom (wisdom being a relative term...)  It's not often that I have an entire post with no pictures.  The next one will be back to the fun stuff, I promise!

Two Sad Truths...

Sad Truth Number 1:  The second that Halloween is over, Christmas starts showing up everywhere -- too soon!  Well, because people start shopping then, too, I made a promise to myself to really stock up my Etsy shop, so all I've done this week is work, work, work.

My goal was to get 200 items listed in my Etsy shop by November 1 (today).  I didn't make it -- but I gave it a good try and am now up to 189 items!  Hopefully, I'll hit 200 tomorrow.

Sad Truth Number 2:  Working is not as much fun as playing (or shopping)!
There were some good sales this week, but I determined that I wasn't going to buy anything new until I got lots of things listed and ready for the mall.  It was so hard not to go shopping yesterday or today...

I did buy something great last week -- these two 1950s lamps with stovepipe fiberglass shades.  They're small and would be perfect as bedside or vanity lamps.

Sunday is Dealer Day at the antique mall (when it's open to our dealers 2 hours early so we can work on our booths) and I'm planning to start bringing in a little bit of Christmas.  I think it's just wrong to push the December holiday when we're still 4 weeks away from Thanksgiving, but people start buying now to decorate later, so I'll try to make them happy!  By the way, if you live in southeast Michigan, the first Sunday of the month is a great time to shop Livingston Antique Outlet, because so many dealers have just stocked their booths!

Speaking of shopping and selling on Etsy, I think thrift shopping is contagious!  My youngest son has just opened an Etsy shop specializing in vintage records, vintage barware andall things rock & roll.  He's like me -- can't pass up a sale or a thrift shop -- but he's also a musician, and has been the go-to person for rock knowledge around our house.  So he's decided to turn his love of music and old stuff into a small business.  If you get a chance, check out OldTimeRockNRoll -- it's a good place to find old records in good condition and at good prices.  If you're looking for something in particular, let Dan know and he'll search for it for you.  Don't forget to tell him 'Mom sent you'!

That's it for today -- back to work!  Next time, I hope I'll have some more thrifty finds to share...

In the Mail Today: Mid-Century Clip-On Bird Ornaments!

Look what came in the mail today -- these 1950s clip-on bird ornaments.  These aren't classy and beautiful like their mercury glass 'elder sisters' from the early 1900s, but are totally kitschy plastic birds!  They have a spring inside and they open and close like a clothespin.  People used to put them on their Chrstmas trees in winter and their outside trees & bushes in the summer.  I saw some on Etsy a while back and that particular lot was priced well beyond my budget, so I've been watching for them ever since.

These little guys definitely need a trip to the bird bath, but other than that, they're great!  I plan to keep some, share some with some special family members (you know who you are -- I hope) and sell the rest.   Mid-century kitsch is so much fun!

Eight Treasuries in One Week!

One of the most fun parts of selling on Etsy is making treasuries (collections) and being included ones that other people have made.  A treasury is a collection of items related by theme, content, color or pattern -- pretty much anything the curator can imagine.  I've created several and always enjoy searching for my 'hook' -- whether it's flamingo pink, or weddings or items that all link to 'bark' (think dog planters and barkcloth purses).  The only 'rule' is that the curator doesn't include any of her own shop items and also tries not to include more than one item from any one shop.

Each day, Etsy chooses treasuries to feature on their front page -- I'm hoping one day that either one of my items or one of my collections will end up there, too.  

In the past week, Kitschy Vintage items were featured in 8 treasuries -- what an honor!
Here's where they've been:

Tropical Nights

EVT Takes a Trip

Happy Daisies

Time to Hit the Road

Pink and Gray

Blast from the Past

Down on the Farm

Sun and Sky

If you get a chance, click through to some of these treasuries and see all the great vintage items that Etsy (and the Etsy Vintage Team) have to offer!

Three Bits of Happy News!

I've been so busy at my day job that I haven't had a minute to blog.  I'm going to take a day off tomorrow and had to get 4 days of work finished in 3, because I had to have all my usual tasks finished before I could go.  So I've been working until 6:30 or 7:00 every night this week and get home too tired to do much but the necessary at-home jobs.

Anyway, I have 3 happy things to tell you about:
I just got word that one of the items I have listed on Etsy (an old cookbook) was chosen as the Etsy Vintage Team's Facebook Item of the Day.  That's HUGE for me!   This cookbook is one of the most unusual and interesting things I've ever found (it may be the only one of its kind in existence, and how many of our vintage items are that?)  Think of it as an early version of the standard fundraising cookbook that many of us have bought  -- the kind where lots of people in the school, church or social club turn in recipes and then they all are compiled into a cookbook.  This one is lots of recipes from the ladies of Bath, Michigan back in the 1920s or 30s and it's completely handwritten!  Most of the ladies are listed only by their husbands' names, such as Mrs. John Smith.  It even has handwritten ads in it for places like the local pharmacy or grocery store.   Here's what it looks like:

 I'm really proud to be part of the Etsy Vintage Team.  It's a group of smart & creative sellers who all love vintage as much as I do, and one only gets into it after an application and review process.  That's cool all by itself, but to have my item chosen from all the items of the over 250 members is SWEET!  Here's the Facebook post.

The other happy thing is that my blog was nominated for a Liebster Award!  I'm counting it as 2 happy things because it was nominated twice -- by Bargain Hunter over at Bargain Hunting Treasure Seeker and by Emily at {thrifty nifty kitchen}.  I'm really thankful to have been nominated.  I found out from them that Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, beloved, loveliest, cutest....  The award is for an 'up & coming blog' with less than 200 followers.
Thank you so much, ladies!   I'll post more about this tomorrow when I have more time and I'll look through the very long  list of my favorite blogs for some that I can nominate, too.  Thanks again, SO MUCH, Bargain Hunter and Emily!

Well, that's it for now -- it's been another long day (but one with happy surprises) and it's time to shut down the computer for a while.

A Fun Surprise!

What do you think the best part of blogging and selling on Etsy is? Getting to know new people! As we read each other's blogs and join each other's Etsy circles, we get to know what we each like (and don't like), how our weeks have gone and to share a little of our lives. Whether it's Anna in Colorado, Vonlipi, Deb, Sandy or Chris in the US or Sian & Lakota in the UK, I've made blogging friends across the country and across the ocean, and that's just so much fun! There are too many 'blog-friends' to name and, in a way, we're all connected. I love it when people I've come to recognize comment on other people's blogs that I read. I don't know if any of us will ever meet, but I feel like I know you all.

Anyway, back to the surprise. . . . A while back, I made a little 'Reserved Listing' sign in Photoshop for Anna at Moon Over Marilyn and look what she sent me -- these sweet monogrammed hankies! No thanks were needed, but I'm so happy to have them. (Now that I have something to delicately dab my eyes, all I need is a fancy hat and I'll be all ready for the big wedding tomorrow)!

By the way, Anna sells great vintage items with a Mexican flair over at Etsy -- you can check out her shop here. Thanks for the hankies, Anna!

Cock-a-Doodle-Doo

I got two great rooster linens last week and I just have to share!

When I got to work on Wednesday, I had a surprise at my desk -- this sweet cross-stitched rooster apron from my friend and booth-partner, Bargain Hunter. My picture didn't come out well, but the apron is a small yellow gingham. Thanks, friend!Then, I had a package waiting for me when I got home -- a tablecloth I'd bought on Etsy. Isn't it great? It's got hens in 3 corners and a rooster in the fourth.

A Quick Trip to the Thrift

I made a quick trip to the thrift store and it was my lucky day! I found some great vintage & pyrex stuff...

A vintage bathroom rug - unused, with the tag still on it. It goes perfectly in my pink bathroom with the wall art swans I just listed on Etsy. Too bad I'm not keeping either one...

A yard cut of fabric, for use in quilts & yo yos. When I got it home I found that it had been hemmed and had actually been used as a tablecloth.A set of Pyrex Butterprint mixing bowls -- just missing the second smallest one.

A gorgeous blue Pyrex divided dish (unfortunately, no lid) and a small brown casserole. I don't normally like the brown Pyrex, but I really like the simplicity of the white flower pattern. I'll need to look up what it's called.Hopefully there will be some good estate sales to hit tomorrow with my friend Bargain Hunter. I'm really looking forward to the warmer weather coming so there will be some garage sales to go to, too!

'Wish I'd Thought of This' Wednesday

One of the great things about blog-surfing and shopping on Etsy is seeing all of the really creative things that other people have thought of. I found Fancy Lamb on Etsy recently and just love what she does with old books. If you aren't interested in collecting old books and just want to see what she makes, skip the next paragraph or two and go right to the end!

When I was in high school, I started collecting 'antiquarian' (old) books, buying them from a wonderful store in downtown Cincinnati called Bertrand Smith's Acres of Books. It was an wonderful early 1900s building with 3 floors and a basement filled floor-to-ceiling (12' ceilings) with books -- all old and all priced the day they came in. Since it was open for over 50 years and the books were never repriced, there were some real treasures! There's nothing left of the Cincinnati store -- it was torn down to put up a parking lot (literally). The owner (no longer Bert Smith) had only a few days to salvage what he could with the help of volunteers. All the rest of the books were demolished with the building and ended up in a landfill -- what a waste. I lived several hundred miles away by this time and was heartsick thinking of all those ruined books and knowing that I couldn't go help save them!

Anyway, back to the treasures... My first book cost a quarter and was a 'Complete Works of Shakespeare' with tissue thin pages and pictures of old actors in their Shakespearean roles. It's still one of my favorites!Most of the books I bought from Acres were what are called 'gift editions' and most were published between 1860 and 1920. They were classics and poetry collections with beautiful cover work and usually had gilt edges; published with the intention of people giving them as gifts. These mostly cost me about $2.50-$5 and were easily affordable. Soon I started collecting illustrated children's books. The last children's illustrator I bought was a few years after I had children and cost well over $100. When I bought that one and paid that much (with a young family) I realized that it was time to quit! That book was Peter Pan in Kensington Garden, illustrated by Arthur Rackham, who's still my favorite children's illustrator. His books are hard to find in bookstores (though easier on sites like Ebay) and keep going up in value. Now to the 'wish I'd thought of that'... I love old books so much that I've always been what I think of as a book purist -- I don't like the framed illustrations torn from them or feel that they should be defaces. So I was surprised to find that I really like what Fancy Lamb does with hers. She takes common mid-century hardcover books (even textbooks), cuts off the covers and makes journals out of them. She even sprinkles some of the book's original pages in the journal for interest. They're nicely bound and just the titles on the covers give me lots of ideas of who I could give them to for gifts. That brings a whole new meaning to 'gift edition'! Visit Fancy Lamb's Etsy shop and see all of her nifty journals!

This is REALLY scary!

About 6 months ago, I radically cut my paid work hours to be available to help my husband with his new business. Since then, I've been trying to find ways to earn money, while still being flexible in my hours -- not an easy task in this economy!

I've done lots of thrifting and estate-sale-shopping with my friend, Bargain Hunter. I've bought and sold on Ebay for years (okay, so I've bought more than I've sold -- who's counting?) but started selling on Etsy in October. I'm having so much fun! I find that I enjoy doing this more than just about anything else.

But, here's the scary part... My friend Bargain Hunter and I were talking about our dream to have a booth in an antique mall. She found out that our favorite local mall, Livingston Antique Outlet, has a few coming available in February and March. BH wants to get one of them and share it. We figured out that we'd have to sell just 13 items each to make the monthly rent. And LAO gets great shopper traffic -- you can hardly find a parking place there on the weekends and there are always lots of shoppers at other times of the week, too. The idea of doing that, though, is REALLY scary to me -- but exciting, too!

What's funny is that, in her last post, BH blogged about how scared she is to sell on Ebay and Etsy -- that's a piece of cake! I'm totally freaked out by the idea of selling in a mall! How can two friends who have so much in common have such different points of view?

So what do you think, dear readers? Should we give it a try for 6 months or so and see what we can do with it? Is it too late to begin doing something you've wished you could do for 20 years or more?

Pretty scary stuff!