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!

A Perfect Day for a Vintage Flea Market

Today was the first flea market of the season at Midland Fairgrounds.  My friend Bargain Hunter couldn't go, so Mr. KV kindly offered to go with me (what a guy!)  It was fun shopping with him and he even found a few things to buy.  It was a perfect day, too...blue skies, wispy clouds and a high of 80.

I laughed with him about how I'd really have to rein in my buying because I didn't have Bargain Hunter's granny cart to use, in addition to my own (I usually end up spilling over into hers when I run out of space in mine).  I really held back!  My total purchases (and his) didn't even fill my cart.  I think having a huge yard sale and still donating a lot of the leftovers may have had something to do with my frugality, too -- I'm just oh-so aware that I have so much stuff!

There were the usual sights to see at Midland...many favorite dealers were back, though their prices were noticeably higher.  Even the 'digger' vendors who just pile their stuff on plywood and sawhorse tables were priced like malls today!

I did see some very cool things, though...

This big Pepsi Santa was pretty creepy

Love this tin toy

This glider and chair sold almost immediately after I took the picture

SO many Hummels!  (and no one was stopping to look at them...)

Great starburst entertainment set and holder!

Outstanding red & gray barkcloth, but not for me at $25

The prize for 'most creative' goes to the man who makes these birdhouses -- he told me that no two are ever alike, since he uses whatever he can find to decorate them.  I'm kicking myself (pun intended) for not buying one of the cowboy boots.

 Here's what I actually bought:

A few souvenirs (of course...)

Some Christmas (also of course...)  The Helen Gallagher Christmas catalog is from 1967 and the ceramic tree is a music box!

Love these flocked apple ornaments with the pixies inside...four will make their way to the Etsy shop, but one will have to live on our tree

My newest passion...colored aluminum!  These dessert bowls will end up on Etsy, too

 You always find the most random and unusual stuff at flea markets -- that's what makes them so much fun!  Here are some of the unexpected things that came home with me:

The Wilken family (whoever they were) published a cookbook and photo album in 1935.  I really like the previous owner's handwritten note, 'very good biscuits', on the front.  It makes me want to try the recipe before I sell it

Stiff cardboard calendar pages from 1937, illustrated with monkeys and orangutans doing sports -- they're very strange

A 'my pal' dog night light for a child's room, a turquoise wall sconce (which needs a really good cleaning!) and a pair of cemetery vases with spikes

Here are my favorite finds of the day:

Black cat's eye glasses decorated with rhinestones (with case), a red Swingline pencil sharpener and best of all, a ceramic 'My Rosary' angel rosary holder, that came with a little girl's rosary.  I think she's pretty rare

 And this is the only thing I actually bought for myself...

Pyrex pink daisy space saver with lid -- in great condition!

It was just a fun day all around...I hope you're having a great weekend!

Etsy Every Day Project - Made it through January!

Well, as usual time has flown by and January is over!  The days just melt away (even though the snow doesn't)  I managed to list at least one item every day and sometimes several more...now to keep the momentum going...

Here are the rest of the January items:

#22 - Polka Dot Half Apron

#23 - Indianapolis Speedway Souvenir Pennant

#24 - Mid-Century Mad Men Roly Poly Glasses

#25 - 1929 Honeycomb Valentine

#26 - Kittens in a Basket Plate

#27 - Watkins Glen, New York Souvenir Postcard Folder

#28 - 'My Recipes' Recipe Binder - never used

#29 - Mid-Century Bamboo Glasses

#30 - Missions and Landmarks of Southern California Postcard Folder

#31 - Nova Scotia, Canada Souvenir Pennant

That wraps up January -- 31 down, just 334 to go (gosh, that sounds overwhelming)!

On an equally fun note, the shop went past the 400 sale mark, so I'm busy pulling together items for a giveaway to celebrate.  I think I'll theme it 'My favorite things', which guarantees that there will be at least one postcard folder, one souvenir pennant and some kind of vintage Christmas in the mix.  More on that soom...

Etsy Every Day Project - Week 1 Recap

Well, I did it! I listed (at least) one item on Etsy every day for the past week...one down and fifty-one to go (I don't think I'll say that again -- it sounds REALLY overwhelming)!  Two days of being snowed in didn't hurt -- we got close to 20" of snow.  Check out Mr. Snowman (he's about 3 feet tall):

Here are the items that made it in this week:

Day #1 - Texasware 118 Bowl

Day #2 - Thousand Islands New York Postcard Folder

Day #3 - 1950s Child's Mittens with Duck Faces

Day #4 - 1950s Child's Gloves with dogs jumping through hoops

Day #5 - Buffalo New York Souvenir Pennant

Day #6 - Wear Ever copper-lidded casserole

Day #7 - very large Washington Zoo souvenir pennant

September = Spend, Spend, Spend!

Now that we're through the first week of October, I'm looking back at September and all I see is spend, spend, spend!

I knew it would be like that to some extent, because both Greenmead Flea Market and Michigan Antique & Collectable Festival in Midland, Michigan (affectionately called just 'Midland' by all of us who love it) are in September.  Those are BIG 'merchandising' opportunities.  Thrown into the mix, though, was a great estate sale that I would have missed if my friend Bargain Hunter hadn't text me to ask me about pricing a typewriter...

I was invited this year to go, too, to the Junk Bonanza in Shakopee, Minnesota, but I just couldn't make it work.  I definitely want to visit my friend and fellow picker, Kally, there in April next year!

So I almost had the basement completely organized, but have sabatoged all my efforts by bringing in the sweet things I've bought lately.  But who could resist finds like these?

West Bend Hallite Casserole with great Bakelite knob

West Bend Hallite Casserole with copper lid & handles

I can't resist pennants and I picked up some great old ones!

Two vintage Brownies in boxes.  One has film, too

Can't resist melmac, either.  These are cute little serving pieces

From Midland -- I LOVE this picture of 'Bob', painted by his Aunt Ev in 1951.  She really captured his personality!

From the estate sale -- this is the typewriter I helped price for Bargain Hunter

This is from the estate sale, too -- I'm excited to put it together and turn it on before I list it on Ebay.  I don't think I've ever seen one work -- just as display or for sale in antique malls

This print is really big -- 18x24 or larger

This little kitty holds a pen as his tail

A hard-to-find Teetertot Shoofly bouncer by Delphos Bending Co.  I hope it will sell better than rocking horses do at the mall.  It has a seat, which makes it great for displaying vintage stuffed animals or dolls (but it's NOT for real babies any more!)

Art Deco kitchen clock

Wood shopping list from the 1960s

These flocked cats, made in Japan in the 1950s are wonderful

A made-in-Japan asian planter from the 1950s.  I might keep him, he's just so cute!

Pantry Parade tomato range salt and pepper shakers

These made-in-Japan 1950s cats are great, too.  I see a made-in Japan, mid-century and cat theme developing...

With Spending-September gone, I can concentrate on listing on Etsy to get ready for the Christmas shopping season, which has already begun!  I can also (hopefully) get the basement organized (again)...I'm afraid that will turn out to be a never-ending task.

Maybe I'll even have time to post on the blog more often!

But, before you go, what do you think about Bob -- would you have bought his portrait?  I'm thinking about resurrecting 'Would You Buy It Wednesday' since (I think) Junker Newbie doesn't do it any more.  I would definitely have contributed Bob...

What about Bob -- yes or no?