The Vintage List

Destash on Etsy Means Bargain Goodies

2012-01-19T13:31:00.000-08:00

Just type in the word "destash" on Etsy and you'll be amazed at the choice items, lots, collections and bargains that come up. Seeing that word in the title is a good indication that the price will be low, even at the wholesale level.

Sellers use the word destash to mean a number of things. It may be supplies or items that they need to move out on clearance because they have too much. Or it can be an unused portion left over from a project.

Vintage sellers usually use the term destash when they have a piece they haven't sold so they are marking the price down or they have several pieces and they are putting it together as a lot price. It can even mean that the vintage item is from their personal collection - they no longer wear or use it and they are clearing it out (usually so they can go buy more :)

If you know of any more meanings or uses of the word or want to pass along a link to a good destash listing - please post.

Here's our latest "destash" project....

Vintage Pin Destash - 6 Novelty Figure Pins - on Sale

On Sale - Vintage Pins from our collection. New stock is coming in and we need to make room.

Are you a collector or like to wear vintage pins? Here's six 1950's novelty pins to pin on your sweater or scarf. We're also including our list of "Clever Pin Ideas" with your order to inspire you :)

Pins include Top Hat Cat, The Dashing Gent, Roadrunner Pin, Pearly Guy (there are two of these pins included) and Lounging Dog.

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

New Website and New Items!

2012-01-18T10:58:00.001-08:00

Have a look at our newly designed website with some fabulous new vintage!

SLV-Some Like it Vintage.com

As an owner of a an online vintage clothing company, my world is virtually virtual. My gigabytes are my highway to customers and my storefront is my Homepage. So I've become more and more intrigued with the pop-up shops concept in North America.

I've toyed with the idea of a business with brick and mortar, putting down permanent roots to a homebase where my interactions would be you in the flesh, not just you in an email.

On the other hand, I've become more intrigued with a best of both worlds solution. There is an increase in popularity of pop-up vintage shops for people who have a passion for vintage clothing and accessories who wish to set up temporary displays of their merchandise. This allows for low overhead costs and each event can be treated as a joyful celebration as opposed to the potential tedium of hanging about waiting for that next person to walk through my door. Some people plan for monthly pop-up shops, allowing for that build-up of excitement among their friends and past customers.

Right now I'm considering all options. I am as always thankful for your business and continued interest. I love what I do and being completely immersed in my vintage and retro world. Please have a look at my revamped virtual storefront. I think that you'll love its dynamic quality and as always, there are plenty of fantastic items to chose from!

1950s Satin Brocade Wiggle Dress

1930s Navy Blue and Black Velvet Ruffled Sleeved Dress

1920s Chiffon, Velvet Dress

1920s Wrap Coat

Vintage Love Mini Style : Go Big

2012-01-13T18:40:00.000-08:00

Have your own majority vote with this mini DC Capitol building. $12.95 here.

Minimalist is in. The vintage bug bites. You are out of room. The new apartment is crammed. The condo is packed. The house is overflowing with joy. Hubby complains, he's not much on your vintage piano collection. Perhaps too much in such a small space. So what does one do? Downsize the large and bulky vintage into the teenie weenie. That's right, go miniature.

Minature Beagle Pup, requires no food or water, $12 here

A small curio or table top display of your mini collections may be talk of the next gathering at your house. Host your own mini-museum full of curiousities.


Smile with these vintage pinbacks, $8 for the both here.

You can even start your own mini-art gallery. Right in the confines of a corner of your room, a tiny nook or shelf to house the odd and one of a kind. The bottom line?

Miniature Sculpture made from Vintage Toys $14.95 here!

Yes, you can go BIG by going small.

Post by IraMency

Jewel Colors - Rich and Vibrant

2012-01-09T09:05:00.000-08:00

Vintage Dress - Jewel Tone Color in Playful Pattern

KALEIDOSCOPIC - Vintage Dress in glowing colors on deep purple background - sz m

* This vintage dress feels dressy while still being a comfortable easy to wear style. The whispery lightweight fabric flows through your fingers. As you can see in the picture the fabric is semi sheer and has pink, cobalt blue and green flowers abstract shapes that glow against the deep purple background.

**********************

Jewel tones are rich and sometimes bold colors that evoke gemstones in all their rich allure. Just the say the names - emerald green, sapphire blue, amethyst purple, ruby red and turquoise blue and your imagination is filled with the rich hues of those gems and stones. When they are used in clothing it gives a lush look.

These colors also open up all sorts of possibilities with jewelry and accessories. You can match or play off the jewel tone fabrics with complimentary colors - a turquoise necklace on amethyst purple or yellow rhinestones against emerald green. Play with colors and enjoy!

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

Vintage Industrial Spunk or Just Rusty Old Junk?

2012-01-07T07:58:00.000-08:00

Salvaged Nails for sale at Vintage Hillbilly.

Ever wondered just where the rusty and crusty lost remnants of industrial age yesteryear actually go? These days most of it goes to the scrap pile for sure. Recycle yards for scrap metal and in this economy we all need the money. Top dollar is paid for brass, copper, and aluminum. Recently Vintage Hillbilly was cleaning up an old farm, and seeing those great nails (above) buried in the mud. Those little spikes of yesteryear may be used in assemblage art, or used to make old-looking new wooden creations. Wayne says, "I just had to fish them out of the mud."

Aluminum glove molds at RetroChalet

Retro Chalet was buying out an old glove mold factory for porcelain hands for catering when she saw antiquated rusty equipment with aluminum glove molds still attached to the machine line. "I asked what they were doing with them, and they said going to the scrap yard. I told him, I don't believe I can let you do that. He looked at me a bit funny, but I pitched the industrial part of history speech and soon we were negotiating prices. The rest of the weekend was spent dissasembling them from the original machinery. Now the aluminum hands were saved from being a part of forgotten history. I will slowly sell them off to people who can appreciate them as much as I do."

Old Brass Porthole at RetroChalet.

Sometimes the salvage becomes impractical. This brass porthole was bought at high dollar prices years ago because it was going to the scrapyard. Still worth more in scrap to most, the beauty is there, for the right collector. For practical purposes, who has an old yacht that needs this? Most stores would try to sell it for a few cycles, then get discouraged, scrapping it themselves. For Retro Chalet, it's worth waiting for the right person to give it a home, and save it from the scrap pile, for a bit longer. "It may look good in an industrial house, in the bathroom or a study. The right designer may have a dual purpose for this, or someone will come along with a boat."

So what do you think? Save it from it's eternal demise? Or scrap it for top cash?

Guest Post by IraMency.

Italian Music Box Swiss Reuge Movements Giveaway Until Valentines Day

2012-01-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

RetroChalet Vintage Shop on Etsy, curator of everything tacky, wacky, and retro is hosting a giveaway for a vintage-styled Italian Sorrento musical ring box. The lovely box plays "Blue Danube". Entries are open to US and non US residents, and are being taken until February 14, 2012 at midnight EST. I am not sure what's most exciting, the fact she has found a way to offer unlimited entries based on social networking and sharing options or the history of these types of music boxes. Although the one "up for grabs" is probably mid 1990's, these boxes have a big history!

History of Sorrento Italian Inlaid Music Boxes:

These Sorrento Italian Music boxes have been hand crafted for many years in a small town averaging 16,500 people or less in the region of Campania, Italy (close to Naples). The art of Italian Woodworking has been handed down from generation to generation, in conjunction with Swiss movements dating back to the 1800's. Careful inlaying and heavy shellac have made these Italian boxes "the box to have" for centuries! Some are brought back from people visiting Naples or surrounding areas. Others are imported in, even to this day. Older boxes with many notes may be worth upwards of $50,000, one even retailing for $90,000! They are extremely collectible and most are unique. No two are exactly alike, although they may resemble one another. Most are musical with Swiss Reuge movements, and there are many sizes available. Today, they are still being imported and sold in high end gift shops, in the $100-$500 range. Collectors buy and sell them on sites like Etsy, and Ebay.

Collectors of Sorrento Music Box Value Notes:

The ones with Swiss Musical Movements (Swiss Made Romance mechanical movement by Reuge) are worth more, and will retain value higher than the Made-in-Japan musical movements.

The ones with more movement aka "notes" will be worth more, so in essence, the more complex the movement, the more value in the box. (This one below is 18 notes, but some have as many as 50 notes!) FACT: To put a 50-note Swiss Musical Reuge movement in a box today retails for $995.00 and the less I could find it for was $400 ! that's just for the movement , not the box!

This box is probably circa 1995 due to the identification sticker of the importer.

It's safe to say this lovely little Ring box, can almost fit in your hand. It has a pretty inlaid violin would make a great wedding gift or special collectible that will no doubt just double, or triple in value over the years. Find out how to enter on this blog.

Posted by Ira Mency

Vintage Wrap Dresses - Flattering Iconic Style

2011-12-29T13:56:00.000-08:00

Vintage Silk Wrap Dress - Deep Sea Blue w Golden Moons- Petite sz S/M

AZURE WAVES - Vintage Dress Greek Isle Moonlight Silk

This vintage dress has the classic 80's wrap dress look. The front of the dress crosses over and fastens with inside hooks and snaps. The front and back of the bodice has seperate over pieces giving it a soft "vest" look. The skirt has side pockets with button flaps. The shoulders are padded, the lapels are wide. This fabric has an intriguing pattern. It's done in shades of blues and greens with glowing moons floating over deep sea pools of golden fishes and coral.

Wrap dresses were a staple style in the 1980's. It's easy to see why - they are versatile and flatter almost any figure. They are easy to wear and accessorize, going easily from day to evening. Diane von Furstenberg is credited with "inventing" the wrap dress although variations on the style have always been around. She certainly popularized the style and was the first to use jersey knit fabric.

Asked by a French journalist back in the Eighties how she came up with her iconic wrap dress, Diane von Furstenberg replied: “Well, if you’re trying to slip out without waking a sleeping man, zips are a nightmare.” Remind her of this now, and the 64-year-old gives a languid smile. “Haven’t you ever tried to creep out of the room unnoticed the following morning? I’ve done that many times.” from http://www.styleite.com/media/diane-von-furstenberg-daily-telegraph/

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

Very Vintage Christmas Decorations

2011-12-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

Vintage blog mold Santa from Vintage Mom

Even more wonderful than collecting or selling vintage in my shop are the memories of Vintage Christmas items. You know the kind, the ones that bring back memories of something you had as a kid. Something you saw at Grandma's house or something that you saw in an old store window. It's those memories that often make us take the leap and buy something we wouldn't normally buy. Something vintage that reminds us of a warm and fuzzy memory.

Little bendie santa from RetroChalet

Vintage Christmas is a huge thing. I know people that collect vintage Christmas items all year long, just waiting for the day after Thanksgiving to start unpacking and decorating. Little elves, or gnomes. Old glass bulbs or Spinning Christmas toppers. Some made in japan chickies and putz Christmas Villages can also be found. Somewhere admist all that is a giant silver Christmas tree, the kind where you can't string on lights....but instead spins a color wheel of glorious colors.

Crazy novelty card lines with Japan santas at RetroChalet

So it is that a once novelty junkie dimestore item for 29 cents now fetches upwards of $8-$12 or more on Ebay or Etsy. Inflation wise, vintage Christmas has held it's value and sometimes fetches 36 to 50 times it's original sales price. I suppose it's safe to say that vintage Christmas is a darn good investment.

Red Barn Retro, original box and lights only $11 what a bargain!

Whatever the case, vintage Christmas items and decorating have become a full time hobby for some. Transforming the old into the new again is but a joy. So before you chuck your old ornaments, think about what can you do with them to preserve them and pass them down for generations to come?

VintageGoodness offers this apothecary jar filled with lovely ornaments!

Post by Ira Mency.

Vintage Suits Always Look Put Together

2011-12-22T13:41:00.000-08:00

SHALL WE STROLL - 1940's draped wool suit in lush purple - sz med

* This vintage suit looks like it's from the 40's but has a relaxed look that reminds me of suits from the Teens. The back of the jacket is slightly longer than the front. The front of the jacket curves up and there is a second separate layer that echoes this bottom curve. Notice how the jacket closes with two overlapped tabs & a distinctive shell button.

Suits are classic, classy and sometimes the only outfit that will do for a formal dinner or business meeting. And if you really want to make an impression try a vintage suit. Besides the tailoring they have a certain drape and style that I don't see in today's suits. Maybe it's those padded shoulders and nipped in waists :)

Here's a little history about the style of women's suits through the years. Thanks to wikipedia.org

"Earliest women's suits were riding habits, which consisted of a tailored coat or jacket and matching skirt from the 1660s. Practical and sturdy, riding habits were worn not only on horseback, but also for travel and other daytime pursuits. Suits not intended for riding appeared in the later 19th century. Both riding habits and walking suits reflected the skirt and sleeve styles of the day.

In the first half of the 20th century, the skirted suit became the common daytime city costume for women, in the workplace and out; dressmaker suits featured softer fabrics and "feminine" details, and cocktail suits were worn for semi-formal occasions in mid-century.

Under the influence of Dress for Success, a working woman's uniform of skirted suit, tailored shirt, and floppy tie evolved in the 1970s and 1980s. Pantsuits (women's suits with trousers) were introduced by designer André Courrèges in 1964 but were only gradually accepted as formal business attire." Read more at wikipedia.org

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

Vintage Dress - Fitted Sheath - Dove Grey Embroidery - size Small

2011-12-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

GLORY - Oh My , what beautiful embroidery - sz small

* This vintage dress is a lightweight wool shading from light grey at the top down to a darker grey at the skirt. The bodice is embellished in rich flower and vine embroidery done with satin thread in shades of white, silver, grey and black.

The combination is subtle but this wiggle dress will certainly get you attention.

"In fashion, a sheath dress is a type of dress designed to tightly fit the body." wikipedia.org It's a popular fashion that never seems to go out of style. And with the right fit it shows off your curves in all the right ways. Here's a look at this iconic style along with fashion trend setters such as Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy Onassis and how they wore the sheath dress. Fashion 2011 - The Sheath Dress Gave Way To "The Little Black Dress"

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

New Items Now Available from SLV!

2011-12-16T06:13:00.001-08:00

An unusually mild December so far, but I'm already thinking of a tropical holiday!

Have a great weekend everyone!

New items now available at Some Like it Vintage.

1950s Ruched Peach Nylon Dress

1960s Cranberry & Gold Satin Brocade Purse

Vintage Celine of Paris Black Suede Sandals

Eduardo Calucag Silk Gradient Dress

Delicate Hand Painted Mother of Pearl Persian Hunt Scene on GF Chain

2011-12-09T15:11:00.000-08:00

Delicate Hand Painted Mother of Pearl Persian Hunt Scene on GF Chain

ORNATE - This vintage Persian pendant is hand painted on Mother of Pearl. It is luminescent and glowing and very detailed. It shows four figures on horses with a forest background. The back of the pendant is plain.

The top loop is marked "Sterling" inside. The chain is probably not original to the piece. It is marked "Kiddie Kraft 1-20-12 K - GF"

These necklaces are often called "Persian Story" pendants because they set a scene with figures going about their daily lives, hunting or dancing. Most of the ones I've seen have hunters on horseback. They range from very detailed paintings to designs indicated with a minimum of brush strokes.

I'm trying to find out more about the history of these pieces and would welcome any information you can post. Were they made for the tourist trade? What's the history behind them ?

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

I Love it When You Talk Retro-Holiday Gift Guide

2011-12-09T06:53:00.001-08:00

Hoochie Koochie, Double Whammy, The Buck Stops Here, You Sound Like a Broken Record, You Are Skaing on Thin Ice.....

Do you say any of these in your daily speech? If you do you are at least my age. I am especially fond of the broken record one...kids today don't even know what that is. Doesn't quite sound the same when you say 'You sound like a broken MP3' does it?

Anyway, with the holidays fast approaching, here are my retro book picks that I'm sure will suit just about anyone on your list!

I Love it When You Talk Retro:

Better Homes & Gardens 1953 Cookbook

Retro Rock

Vintage Hairstyles: A step by step guide

Retro Makeup: Techniques for getting that Look

Vintage Cocktails

Vintage Face: Period Looks from the 20s, 30s, 40s & 50s

Ready to Roll: A celebration of the classic American trailer

Tiki Modern

Retro: A guide to Mid 20th Century Design

All American Ads of the 50s

Dealer's Choice: At Home with Purveyors of Antique & Vintage Furnishings

Double Feather Spray - Orange Blush Blossom - Velvet Stem

2011-12-05T08:40:00.000-08:00

Double Feather Spray - Orange Blush Blossom - Velvet Stem

BLOOMING Two stems of gathered feathers with soft downy bottoms and blossoming into billowy orange blush feathers.

This set of feathers has been wrapped and wired onto a dark brown velvet stem, the upper stem is wrapped in brown tape. They can rise as a long graceful spray or bent to rest side by side. Would make a lovely hat trim or Fascinator.

Did you know ? Feathers on hats reached a peek during the Edwardian era known as the "Plume Boom." Large feathers were curled and steamed into fantastic shapes to adorned fashionable hats.

"Birds of all kinds were used for both their feather and bodily appearance. Ostrich, heron, peacock and bird of paradise were enormously popular, but common garden fowl, such as pigeon, turkey and goose were also used. Feathers were put through several stages of processing before they were ready to be attached to hats. In the final forms they were known to the trade as plumes, pompons, aigrettes, breasts, wings, pads, bands (that would to encircle the crown or to outline the brim), and quills. "

excerpt taken from http://fashioningfeathers.com/fashioning-feathers read more at this site about the processing of feathers for fashion and the fashion feather sweatshops that existed to fill the demand.

Hey Viv Discovered on Etsy - Unique adornments and vintage embellishments

S A L E on Now at Serendipity Vintage.com

2011-11-26T11:56:00.001-08:00

Shop online this weekend to avoid the crowds!

Save a huge 25% off EVERYTHING STORE-WIDE

priced above $5 this weekend at SerendipityVintage.com.

And FREE SHIPPING on orders over $35!

This is our deepest discount of the entire year, and

new items will be added throughout the weekend so check back often.

NEWEST LISTINGS - 1930s & early 1940s sewing & transfer patterns:

Sale begins on Friday, November 25th and ends
on Monday, November 28th at 11:59 p.m. PST.

We wish you a great holiday weekend!

Vintage Letterpress and Printers Blocks

2011-11-25T18:02:00.000-08:00


Large metal typeface, great for scrapbooking, at RetroChalet $28

I just love old metal letterpress typeface letters and wooden print blocks! They make the best retro displays in my home. I love putting them in tiny collections here and there...wee remnants of yesteryear. It is hard to believe that letterpress printing dates back to the mid 15th Century....

From my vintage home. The tall skinny letters are rare.

When I'm not gazing upon the little mini-collections in awe, I often steal them away to my art studio to use them to press fun and exciting designs on my work. The metal press quite well, though I do wash my hands after use, as they were made of old soft junk metals, and sometimes contain lead or leaded alloys. I don't mind leaving some ink on them, the more character the better. I'm not alone, many artists or crafters use the letters now sculptures, mixed media collage work, and scrapbooking.

Little "n" wooden print block, $12 at RetroChalet.

The wooden ones are quite addicting also. Depending on the font, the size, and the letter, some are super rare and hard to find. I use them in my assemblage sculptures quite often. Collecting them can be a fun and exciting hobby because there are so many different fonts floating around out there. I love sitting them around or spelling words with them. When I get tired, and happen across a new batch, I sell my old ones off.

I want this so bad, from ThreeOldKeys only $35.

The best look for spelling words, is imperfection. When the letters don't match, this is just divine. Since the 1990's there has been a large demand for these, with the "Small Press Movement" wherein more people are going back to vintage ways of printing. In fact, some companies are making new wood letterpress and metal typeface kits today. Of course, I say, why buy new when you can buy vintage? Have something that's been around, has a story, and is just as useful as the newer model. Gotta love the letterpress. ♥

Post by Ira Mency.

Specials at Serendipity Vintage

2011-11-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

Planning on a handmade holiday?

All holiday and toy patterns are a special 10% off now at

Serendipity Vintage.com!

Be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for

advance and current sale notices.

Today is also the LAST day to enter our current giveaway from Bee Wise Goods, so hurry over to our blog, Serendipity Handmade!

Yours in vintage,

Collette

Hey Viv on Etsy - Vintage Cloche Hat - Snow White Eyelet w Wings

2011-11-16T13:20:00.000-08:00

WHIPPED CREAM - Vintage Cloche in Dreamy White Embroidered Eyelet

* This retro cloche hat was made with loving care probably in the 1960's. The sides are gathered gracefully to create a sculptural effect. The top of the hat is a flat round piece sewn to the sides. The hat is lined with white quilted fabric that helps it to keep its shape.

* The best part are the fantasy wing shapes, like two round bunny ears that are pinned to the side. You can leave them pinned or sew them into place. I'm intrigued by the thought that the original maker moved them around, maybe to different angles depending on her mood. The wing fabric shapes are lined with a stiff material that could be a lightweight plastic, so they can stick straight out.

The cloche hat is a fitted, bell-shaped hat for women that was invented by milliner Caroline Reboux in 1908, became especially popular during the 1920s, and continued to be commonly seen until about 1933. Cloche is the French word for "bell".

Cloche hats were usually made of felt so that they conformed to the head, and were typically designed to be worn low on the forehead, with the wearer's eyes only slightly below the brim.

(thank you Wikipedia for the historical information about cloches http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloche_hat)

New Items Now Available from SLV!

2011-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

The weekend is here again? Not that I'm complaining....enjoy the days everyone! Don't forget, Some Like it Vintage also carries great modern designer clothing in addition to vintage :-)

BCBG Max Azria Gold Lurex Dress

Modern cream chiffon tunic blouse dress with petal sleeves

Gent's vintage tuxedo

Retro VERA chiffon scarf

Retro dove grey suede purse

Vintage Erwin Pearl floral spray brooch

Favourite Vintage Finds - eBay Auctions This Sunday

2011-11-10T20:54:00.000-08:00

For 10 days from this Sunday night (Aussie time), November 13, I'll have these vintage items up for auction on eBay. My auctions are open to bidders worldwide and you'll find them at favouritevintagefinds.

I'm having a destash of my vintage clothing and accessories, and as much as I love all these items, it's time for me to part with them. Photos taken in natural light. Click on the photos to enlarge them. All items are clean and ready to use/wear.

The first bag above is a needlepoint bag from the 50's or 60's. Label: Walborg. In very good almost excellent condition. Also a needlepoint bag, the second bag above is from the 60's. No label. Has a different butterfly and floral design on each side. In excellent condition.

The first bag here is a beaded needlepoint bag from the 40's or 50's. No label. In very good almost excellent condition. The second bag is a needlepoint bag from the 50's or 60's. No label. In good - very good condition.

This scarf is from the 50's. Silk and made in Switzerland. In excellent condition. This maxi skirt is from the 60's. Label: The Lilly - Lilly Pulitzer. Butterfly print. Applique lace accents. Cotton blend fabric outer and lining. In excellent condition. Size XS - S.

These maxi skirts are from the 70's. Both in excellent condition. Both same label: Tumbleweeds - Phoenix, Arizona. The first skirt has cotton blend fabric and lace panels. Woven ribbon look on lace. Acetate lined. Elasticized waist. Size S M L. The second skirt has cotton fabric and lace panels accented with ribbon. Bottom section is velvet. Acetate lined. Elasticized waist. Size S - M.

Again, these maxi skirts are both from the 70's. Both in excellent condition. And both the same label: Tumbleweeds - Phoenix, Arizona. The first skirt has cotton blend fabric and lace panels. Woven ribbon look on lace. Acetate lined. Elasticized waist. Size S M L. The second skirt has cotton fabric and lace panels. Acetate lined. Elasticized waist. Size S - M.

That's it for my destash auctions for this year. I hope you're all travelling well this week. :) Until next time...

Best wishes,

Carla. :)

www.favouritevintagefinds.blogspot.com

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - The Collectible Tapestry Purse

2011-11-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

Vintage Purse - 50s Tapestry Purse in the Garland Garden w free Sheer Scarf

LOVERS VINES - 1950s Retro Handbag with Sheer Red Scarf

* This 'go to church' 50s purse has ivory and flowered vines floral tapestry on both sides set off by black vinyl sides and bottom. The bottom has four small metal "feet" knobs. It closes with a snap top and has hinged sides. It has a matching black vinyl lining with a zipper pocket inside. The purse is big enough to carry your wallet, makeup and a personal items yet small enough to carry easily.

* The purse comes with a vivid red sheer scarf tagged "Made in Japan." Enjoy it with our compliments.

Tapestry is defined as: " A cloth woven with rich, often varicolored designs or scenes, usually hung on walls for decoration and sometimes used to cover furniture." Well, tapestry bags collectors know that tapestry fabric also makes a wonderful and durable purse. These purses are a fun and beautiful collectible - they are readily available and come in a variety of designs, sizes and colors. The fanciful flowers and vine designs sometimes incorporate people and animals. Each one is a dreamy world.

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality

Favourite Vintage Finds - eBay Auctions This Sunday

2011-11-03T01:51:00.000-07:00

This Sunday night (Aussie time), November 6, I'll have these vintage dresses up for auction on eBay for 10 days. Click on the photos to enlarge them. My auctions will be open to bidders worldwide and you will find them at favouritevintagefinds.

I'm having a destash of my vintage clothing and accessories, and as much as I love these dresses, it's time for me to part with them. All of these dresses are from the 70's, are in excellent condition, and are clean and ready to wear. Photos taken in natural light.

The peach dress above is Renaissance inspired. Label: Gunne Sax by Jessica San Francisco. Could be worn as a wedding dress. Cotton blend voile fabric. Bodice and skirt lined with acetate. Sheer unlined sleeves. Lace accents. Faux pearl buttons. Tie back waist. Size M - L.

This dress is also Renaissance inspired. Label: This is Yours San Francisco. Cotton blend voile fabric. Bodice and skirt lined with acetate. Sheer unlined flared sleeves. Lace, ribbon and crochet accents. Corset style bust. Tie back waist. Size S - M.

Again Renaissance inspired, no doubt this cream dress could be worn as a wedding dress. Label: Gunne Sax by Jessica San Francisco. Lace all over and acetate lined bodice and skirt. Sheer unlined sleeves. Accented with applique flowers and ribbon. Size S - M.

I can see Anne of Green Gables in this Victorian inspired dress. Label: Gunne Sax by Jessica San Francisco. Cotton blend voile fabric. Bodice and skirt lined with acetate. Sheer unlined sleeves. Lace and ribbon accents. Faux pearl buttons. Elaborate lace bib and high neck collar. Tie back waist. Size S.

This cream dress is Renaissance inspired. Label: Gunne Sax by Jessica San Francisco. No doubt this one could be worn as a wedding dress too. Cotton blend voile fabric. Bodice and skirt lined with acetate. Sheer lace sleeves. Lace and ribbon accents. Faux pearl buttons. Tie back waist. Size XS.

I'll be back here sometime next week with photos and details of vintage maxi skirts, handbags and a scarf I'll have up for auction on eBay on Sunday November 13.

Until next week...

Best wishes, Carla. :)

www.favouritevintagefinds.blogspot.com

Get Your Home Run Guide NOW - Seperate The Junk From The Treasures!

2011-10-24T15:50:00.001-07:00

Who wouldn't like to have a 457 page guide written by almost 50 experts on what to buy for resale when you are out shopping garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets, and estate sales? I mean really, why hasn't a book like this been put together before now?!?! Lucky for us, the amazing Janelle Elms from OSI Rockstars had the idea and made it happen - and it is going to be released very soon!

I'm so excited that I was able to contribute three chapters to the Home Run Guide - one on Vintage Luggage, one on Vintage Task Lamps, and one on Domino Magazine. I'm also incredibly flattered to be included as an expert with such a great group of sellers - I mean these folks are the cream of the crop! The Queen Of Auctions Lynn Dralle, Skip McGrath, Jason and Brian from Thrifting With The Boys, Melinda Jackson from RRB Radio, Kat Simpson from eCom Connections Radio... the list just goes on and on!

The pre-release price is only $29.00 - I'm sure there is an article (or 20!) in there that will end up making you WAY more than $29.00, so this one is definitely a no-brainer. From what I hear the price is going to increase significantly after it is released, so now is the time to get your order in... I know I can't wait to get mine, as all of us in this business know, knowledge is not only power, it is also PROFIT! :)

Melmac Central: History of Plastic Fantastic and Melamine Galore

2011-10-24T07:02:00.000-07:00

Retro Chalet has this Brookpark set in Modern Design.

MELMAC IS HERE TO STAY
Vintage melamine dinnerware is making it's way back into houses again. I should say, it's never left. The push for mid century modern decor has never been stronger. Still readily available the millions of pieces of plastics produced in the 1950's, you can easily assemble a set. Not to mention piecing one together from shopping on Etsy, Ebay, thrift stores and flea markets can be fun and exciting!

MELMAC HISTORY
Melamine was actually used back in 1834....maybe not a USA invention per se' but in the 1930's prices were so cheap that America began using the melamine powders to make things. American Cyanamid, the industrial giant making fertilizers and chemicals back then was on the bandwagon. It was used in army helmets, plane parts, electrical housings, and industrial applications thanks to many plastics factories molding with melamine. Soon America's factories found that per pound, this new wonder plastic could save lots of money versus metals, especially during the wartime metal - crunch of the 1940's.

In the 1930's and early 1940's home, Beetleware and Bakelite kitchen items were being used, but did not hold up to the modern housewife's quality standards. Plastic in the kitchen was not so fantastic. Beetleware was okay for picnics, but using everyday this appeared to be thin and cracked and scratched easily. Bakelite didn't hold up so well after many washings, and would discolor, become brittle and cracked. Perhaps it was time for something better.

Speckled melamine butter dishes, unmarked were made for International Molding part of Joan Luntz's gaiety line. So some melmac may be worth money...

AMERICAN CYANAMID
American Cyanamid was already mass producing and distributing the powders for molders to make melamine items, and labeled their melamine "Melmac". These factories buying the powders to mold things, were producing everything from clock housings to dishes. In fact, many of the molders would have told you that melmac dinnerware was only a small part of their business. This is because melamine was used for so many things we take for granted. The molders were mostly operational twenty four hours a day, seven days a week to keep up with demands. Their employees had to work in hot conditions, often taking salt pills. Factories often would be manufacturing lines for several different companies. This super duper new plastic "Melmac" was said to be unbreakable and boil proof. Dinnerware of course wasn't safe for the oven or stove top however as it would scorch, and shouldn't be mauled with heavy knives. Dishes from the factory to the dinner table took awhile however--it was used industrially first....

Boontonware Salt and Pepper Shakers by Retro Chalet.

THE JOURNEY TO THE TABLE
It is believed that Watertown of Connecticut (Makers of Lifetime Ware) were actually the first manufacturer working with the military in getting melamine trays and cups into mess halls as per fellow plastic researcher Christopher McPherson. Soon melmac was on planes, trains and used in hospitals, prisons and other institutions. Russel Wright was doing a huge study report for American Cyanamid in 1945 on how to make melmac more attractive to households. He tested his own line (precursor to Meladur) in restaurants in New York, while other makers such as Watertown, Edward Don and Company and Devine Foods were already using theirs for industrial purposes.

By 1946 molder's were waiting, they were already making residential lines to appeal to the housewife. Watertown's Lifetime Ware, Boontonware, TexasWare and Devine's Storage Containers were already making their way into kitchens just to name a few popular brands. Soon Melmac and Melamine dinnerware had boomed and by the early 1950's there were hundreds of molders in the US and three major ones in Canada. I interviewed one man, who owned two out of three factories in Canada, who told me that although the lines looked simliar to US lines, they were not identical. Additionally, plastic dinnerware was not as popular there.

Confusing to the collector is why one set can have two backstamps, for instance, these at RetroChalet say both Arrowhead and Silite, due to the fact they were merging.

WHY YOUR DINNERWARE MAY NOT SAY MELMAC
Melamine powder could be purchased from other places aside from American Cyanamid, but you weren't allowed to use the "Melmac" trade name if you decided to do so. This is why often you see old boxes or ephemera marked Melamine and not Melmac. So, in a sense, all Melmac is melamine, but not all melamine is Melmac per se' though chemically the actual composition is almost certainly if not exactly identical. Melamine was chemicals mixed with fillers, such as wood, pulp, paper, fibre, or filler substance. Over time it was improved upon for durability. It would behoove a factory to purchase the powders from American Cyanamid , even though they may be paying top dollar, American Cyanamid had huge advertising and marketing campaigns for Melmac. Just look in any old Life Magazines. Melmac was indeed a household name.

By the late 1950's some factories were being absorbed by others, some were selling off dinnerware divisions to others. Some of the larger companies combined forces just to stay alive. By 1962 only the strong survived. By the 1970's only a handful of American Melmac molders were still alive. Some of those big fish survivors included Kenro, Brookpark, Texasware, and Boontonware.

Surviving the decades...

SURVIVING THE DECADES
So where did all that melmac go? Some badly stained, scratched, or cracked has been tossed into a landfill never to be found again. Others have made it's way into thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales, old restaurants, Etsy or Ebay. Some are still in your grandmother's attic just waiting to be found.

JACKPOT
Some old plastic dishes could be worth a lot of money. Some lines were made by famous designers such as Joan Luntz for Brookpark, Raymond Loewy for Lucent, and Russel Wright to name a few. Certain colors are rare and some pieces hard to find. Collectors are waiting to complete their sets.

CARE AND CLEANING
If you find it scratched or discolored, there are ways to clean it as found here in this article on Care and Cleaning of your Melmac Dishes.

FREE MELMAC RESOURCES
You can read and learn about old melmac in a variety of places thanks to free resources on the web geared to keeping this wonderful hobby and history alive. Here are just a few.

View Melmac and Lustroware on this awesome Flickr group by Vintage Goodness.
Read about all kinds of melmac on Melmac Central by Ira Mency.
Learn more about Collecting Melmac on Hub Pages.
Read about Watertown and Airline Melamc here at Plastic Living by Christopher McPherson.
Read about Branchell and Colorflyte here thanks to Not Again Graphics by Dennis Teepe.

This article submitted by Ira Mency aka Cindy Fahnestock-Schafer of Retro Chalet Blog and Etsy Shop.

New Items Now Available from SLV!

2011-10-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a blustery, rainy week. Just the type of October weather that is expected. Hoping everyone has a great weekend despite the weather whatever that may be!

New items now available from SLV - Some Like it Vintage.com

Mario Serrani cropped bolero green jacket

Retro pink lace and taffeta prom dress

1950s cream satin strapless rhinestone studded cocktail dress

Retro 60s copper lamé dress

Vintage brushed cotton brocade rose cocktail dress

Check Out My New Blog! - Flipping Vintage :)

2011-10-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have heard about this already, because I leaked a little bit of info about it during my interview on eComm Connections, but for those of you who missed it, here is my official launch announcement:

I have a new blog! It's called Flipping Vintage! It's all about selling vintage online! Check it out! Follow FV on Facebook and Twitter! Sign up for email updates! Tell all your friends!

Whew - that's all the enthusiasm I can muster for one post... See you over there! :)

New Items Now Available from SLV!

2011-10-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

New items now available from SLV-Some Like it Vintage.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Valentino Silk Striped Blazer

Early 1950s soft fabric black handbag

Men's brocade Asian smoking jacket

Vintage silver & white rhinestone brooch

Yves Saint Laurent black velvet & leather slingbacks

How to Spot a Good Auction

2011-10-12T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hello Vintage Listers! It's "the other Mitzi", Mitzi Curi from Mitzi's Miscellany. I'm guest posting today to share some of my knowledge about auctions, which is my preferred method of acquiring great vintage goods to sell in my antique mall booths here in Michigan.

My time is very valuable, as is yours, so we need to know in advance if an auction will be worthwhile, especially if traveling will be involved. So I thought today I would share a few considerations I use to determine if an auction is worthy of my time in an effort to help you, especially if you are just getting started in the exciting world of auctions.

For many years, I subscribed to The Auction Exchange, a weekly newspaper that included ads as well as informational articles about the auction biz, antiques, and other fun stuff. But times have changed. Now, I go directly to the very helpful AuctionZip.com, an easy to navigate website, and peruse their calendar each week. Most auctioneers will have numerous color photos under their listing as well as a written list of items being offered.

If the pictures look interesting, I check to see if the auction "reads well". I'll then read the running list of items in the sale on AuctionZip word-for-word. Here's an example of auctioneer Art Durocher's added exclamations:

HUGE ESTATE AUCTION WITH ANTIQUE & COLLECTIBLES!!!!!
NUMBER SIX FROM SAME JAM PACKED HOUSE!!!

Auctioneers note: NO BUYERS PREMIUM/SURCHARGE!!!! Here is a Great ESTATE Antique & Collectible Auction from a house that is packed full. 6th of several AUCTIONS!!! If You Have Been To any of the others the Hall will be packed with quality items.Depression glass,old Victorian items, Advertising items,Vintage Toys,Great Glassware,Stoneware,Lots of Costume Jewelry,Old Prints + more.GOOD FULL SALE!!!! 5 + hours FAST PACED AUCTION, Watch Auctionzip for Sale #7 from same house on May 20th. If you are a Avid collector or sell on Ebay THIS AUCTION is for YOU!!!! Very diverse sale with many hard to find items. HERE IS A GREAT AUCTION!!!! Eagles Kitchen will be open Great Food!!!!!!

I love to hear that there is "No Buyer's Premium", which is almost always announced in the auction ad. A buyer's premium, often 10%, is tacked on to each of your purchases. For a good explanation of buyer's premium and other auction basics, please refer to this page to get up to speed. The buyer's premium can add up, and should be factored in when you are bidding.

Another thing I consider is how many other auctions are in the area on the same day. It's usually a group of the same people attending most of these auctions, with some relatives of the consignors or neighbors of the estate thrown in the mix. When there are 24 auctions within a 60-mile radius of Lansing, I get excited, thinking that prices for the auction I select will probably be low because attendance will be less than usual.

A collage of auction offerings:

There are a couple types of auctions that I attend. There are consignment auctions, where various folks contribute differing amounts of stuff to the auctioneer, as opposed to an estate auction, where all the items come from a single person's collection. Sometimes estate auctions will be held right on the person's property, and other times everything will be hauled to a facility like a reception hall or an auction house.

A typical table full of auction goods:

I often attend catalogued auctions, which are auctions that might be of higher-end, better quality goods. Each item is "catalogued", or assigned a number, and the auction progresses in order through the catalog. Auctioneer Glen Rairigh at Americana Auctions always puts together a wonderful catalogued auction. So do the high-end auction houses like Sotheby's; Christie's (both in New York); and DuMouchelle Auction Galleries in Detroit, Michigan.

Sometimes the high end cataloged auctions will take phone bids, so if you can't attend the auction in person you can register and place a bid over the phone! But remember one important thing about auctions: you can't change your mind after the gavel falls. You are legally responsible for payment, and failure to pay will get you into all sorts of trouble.

The collage below includes Glen's offerings from a past auction, including a genuine Tiffany Studios grape vine humidor; hand painted porcelain vases; Steuben Aurene bowl and underplate; beautiful Moser glass vases; four elegant porcelain figurines; and another lovely Tiffany Studios grape vine inkwell.

Glen's Auction:

I've never attended one of the storage locker liquidation auctions that have become popular reality TV show fare, because I just can't sift through all the crap that you end up with. I'm not a trash picker. I want good stuff, not junk, and I'm willing to be selective to get it.

Finally, I look for things in an auction ad that I want to actively avoid. When an auctioneer pictures or lists "brand new collector dolls", "Franklin Mint", Precious Moments", "Hallmark collectibles" or, heaven forbid, "NASCAR", I pretty much move on to another auction listing.

I hope this information helps you a bit and gets you excited about the world of auctions. Perhaps we'll bump into each other at a future auction!
Happy Bidding,
Mitzi

New Items Now Available and Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-10-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving weekend is upon us here in Canada, so wishing all my Canadian fellows a wonderful holiday. Whether you are eating turkey, tofurkey, turducken or nothing that resembles a turkey in any way - enjoy!

New items now available from SLV-Some Like it Vintage

FENDI Animal Print Jeans $275

Couture Carmen Marc Valvo Strapless Cocktail Dress $135

Retro Black and Silver Lace Strapless Gown $55

Atomic 1950s Print, Reproduction Organza Dress $225

Bohemian Paisley Print Ruffled Chiffon Dress $42

New Items Now Available from SLV plus FREE SHIPPING

2011-09-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

New items now available from SLV-Some Like it Vintage

A rainy week we have had. I'd say it was good for the garden but autumn is officially here. So despite the gloominess, I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Retro gent's tuxedo with striping

Eco 1950s baby blue dress

French angora 1960s sweater

Vintage patent leather & suede pocket book purse

Vintage 1960s gold purse

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - Ghostly Vintage Poetry, Oh My!

2011-09-28T13:57:00.000-07:00

Vintage Dress - 40s Sheer Floral Crepe Navy Blue Day Dress - Ornate Pearl Motif buttons - size Medium DREAM OF ME - 1940s Retro Semi Sheer Daydress with Spectacular Buttons. This 40s vintage navy dress is semi sheer and buttons down the front with very ornate pearl motif large dusty rose buttons. The fabric has a crepe feel, and sprinkled with a pattern of playful lime green, pink, baby blue, magenta, and gentle white wildflowers. The bust is somewhat fitted, and comes down into a playful skirt that has darts and light pleating for shape. It has a turned down collar, and turned up cuffed short sleeves, with light padding in the shoulders. The dress also comes with it's original belt.

Halloween is coming and what better way to get into the mood than to delight the mind with some macabre themed poetry! This week I thought it would be fun to share bits of poetry, along with a vintage dress or accessory that the poem evokes, as week one of my retro themed countdown to Halloween. Here is a poem that I thought fit this 1940s dress perfectly. It is called "The Ghost of a Flower" by an Anonymous poet. Spooky!

"You're what?" asked the common or garden spook
Of a stranger at midnight's hour.
And the shade replied with a graceful glide,
"Why, I'm the ghost of a flower."

"The ghost of a flower?" said the old-time spook;
"That's a brand-new one on me;
I never supposed a flower had a ghost,
Though I've seen the shade of a tree."

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality

Vintage Industrial Porcelain Glove Molds

2011-09-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

Photo via Vintage Chalet, Bracelet from Treasure Trunk Designs.

You just have to love vintage porcelain glove molds. I'm talking about the industrial kind that were chock full of porcelain, and were originally made for dipping in latex for glove making in factories. These have now become eye catching decor, awesome jewelry displays, or fun projects for the artsy type. They are still relatively easy to find, even so many years later. In essence, it's amazing just how these specimens survived. Think about the life cycle of a glove mold. Some, made in New Jersey, were shipped to factories in South Carolina, Kentucky, and Oregon. Later defunct, the factory bought by someone who sold them to someone else. Dealers who are now selling them to you, and amazingly some are now ending up in people's homes for decor half way across the globe.

Credit: Retro Chalet , not only are they functional, they are artsy!

The machines that the glove mold attached to (by their base) made them easy for factories to switch out molds to new styles of molds. Generally having a plethora of molds on reserve to produce a particular style of gloves the factory would find themselves retiring the molds if the glove style was retired. The factories would close up, and new owners would find crates of old molds in the basement. Sadly, one factory owner I interviewed told me "We were smashing them into the overflow parking lot for crush and run."

Kim from Everything Etsy took her glove molds and painted them oh-so-pretty!

The ones that did survive are such wonderful relics of industrial history. I fell in love with them and after my husband acquired a large lot for catering (they look great on wedding tables). When my husband no longer had a use for them, began selling them in my Retro Chalet shop, usually priced from $28-$42 depending on style. (Readers: See money saving coupon below!) One day the glove molds will be hard to find. For now, you can find them all over the web, on Etsy, Ebay, and stores like FishsEddy who sells them plain or painted. Painting them works best on the "unglazed" glove molds.

Photo: VintageChalet

A large plethora of the molds you will find came from General Porcelain of Trenton, New Jersey that was one of the world's largest producers of glove molds and served many factories in the USA. Now defunct, their relics still survive and you will find them dated into the late 1980's.

Tons of these Hall China specimens found at RetroChalet

Hall China Company produced a lot of glove forms, unglazed and are hard to find but great for collectors of Hall China and glove mold collectors alike. I remember a factory tour in 2000 I took of Hall China company and I can remember seeing one vintage glove form on top of a bookcase. I had wondered why it was there, and now I know.

German Hands, RetroChalet.

Rosenthal and later HCT (Rosenthal Technik) of Germany produced a lot of glove molds in the 70's and 80's, and this is a photo of an original shipping carton that came from Germany to the USA. Amazing that the dainty fingers were not broken during shipment with virtually no padding, simply cardboard in between. Most hold up quite well, and some chunkier types weigh between 3-4 pounds of porcelain!

Unglazed molds hold paint rather well ! Credit: RetroChalet

Other molds, unmarked, may have been made Mexico, England or Japan, (whose Shinko factory had an important part in glove making history!) All may contain mysteries as to yesterday's past. Here are some great glove mold links!

Glove Molds at Retro Chalet (Use Coupon VintageList10 to save 10% off any item in my shop!)

History, Care and Cleaning of Glove Molds

Many Uses for Glove Molds!

Shop All Glove Molds on Etsy

Guest Post submitted by IraMency.

Eeewwww....it's Vintage!

2011-09-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

By SLV-Some Like it Vintage.com

I have a beef. Since the explosion of vintage clothing on the mainstream fashion scene, there are tons of sellers out there taking advantage of second hand clothing.

While I of course encourage the wearing of vintage and second hand clothing, I do not however encourage the selling of un-washed and un-pressed clothing at premium prices.

Have a look. This dress is offered on an online store (of which I won't name). Although very pretty and I love the color, it is incredibly wrinkled. Which makes me think, "is it washed?". And for a $112 price tag, it better be.

I take great care in handwashing, dry cleaning, pressing, hanging and folding of my precious vintage clothes. I just cannot imagine selling a dress in a wrinkled, un-pressed and unwashed state. Eeewwwwww.

Would you buy such a product? And then pay shipping on top of it? And then have to have it cleaned yourself? I should hope not.

Dear readers, while this photo is artistic, appealing to the senses and sharp - look closer. (And always read the fine print.) Nowhere in the listing does it say it is cleaned. It looks like it was just pulled out of the plastic shopping bag from the store it was bought from.

This pretty dress is $410, very wrinkled. Is this how the buyer will receive it?

$388. A beautiful gown.....but the buyer should definitely ask questions about how, when and if this is washed.

Don't be fooled by pretty pictures. That's just called marketing. As an old friend who is an ex-marketing guru once said, "it's just chicken - but it's how you arrange it on the plate that matters". Caveat emptor, and do your research.

Enjoy FREE SHIPPING to Canada & USA until the end of September.
SLV-Some Like it Vintage.com

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - Dreamy Sheer 50s Dresses

2011-09-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

Vintage Dress - 50s Sheer Light Blue Shirtwaist Dress with Tie Neck and Pearl Buttons - Claire Carmen New Old Store Stock - size Large

SKY'S THE LIMIT - 1950s Retro Girly All Sheer Day Dress with Robin's Egg Blue Atomic Floral Pattern - sz Lg - Never Worn - Claire Carmen by American Apparel
This "never worn" vintage dress has all the classic allure with it's very iconic fully sheer style and girly floral pattern. Just wear it with a complimentary slip underneath, put on a cute vintage hat, and paint on some gorgeous cherry red lipstick and you are good to go! It has a unique tie neck collar that is trimmed with dainty white lace.

Often times when searching through vintage dresses, you will come across terms such as "NWT", "New Old Store Stock", " NOS", "Deadstock", and "Never Worn". These terms mean that the dress is actually vintage, but "like new" because it is old store stock that has been bought by someone many years later, and never sold in a store and worn by a person first. So even though it is vintage and might be many decades old, it is not second hand, and essentially in "mint" condition. Isn't that special? Kind of like a time capsule. Read more about vintage deadstock here: "Hey, What is Deadstock?"

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Floral Hat Embellishments Galore

2011-08-31T14:05:00.000-07:00

Vintage Vibrant Orange Millinery Flower - Pin On Hat Flower - Fire Yellow and Tangerine with Velvet and Tulle Petals

SOFT SUNSET - Vibrant Tigerlily Orange Retro Millinery Flower with Pin Back and Plump Velvet and Tulle Leaves - This retro hat rose is a vibrant tangerine orange and yellow color with shimmery velvet accents and delicate sheer tulle petals. It has a pin back for ease of embellishment - pin it anywhere on your hat, or wear it as a corsage, no time or commitment necessary. It is sitting on a green stem.

Millinery embellishments are not just for expert milliners. Pin back hat flowers allow you to pin on some vintage flare and color with no time or commitment necessary. Versatile accessories like these can be a great asset for the vintage lover on a budget. Pin your skirt up on the side for some flirty gathers, or wear it in your hair on a fabric tie headband. DIY fashion will make sure you never show up wearing the same outfit as another girl in the room, and allow your personality to shine through while still looking great. Read here about how to make your own DIY flower headband with a few simple steps in "DIY Fabric Flower Headband".

Hey Viv Discovered on Etsy - Unique adornments and vintage embellishments.

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Floral Aprons in Sunny Kitchens

2011-08-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

Vintage Apron - 40s Vivid Flowers Bib Style Floral Pattern Full Apron - Coral Red and Blue

FLORAL DREAM - 1940s Retro Full Bib Apron with Pretty Coral Red and Blue Flower Design on White This is a vintage 40s apron with a vivid flower pattern in a painterly, gentle style. The pattern is pink, coral red, cobalt blue, dark blue, and burgundy. Contrasting coral and blue stripes serve as trim for the pockets and top part. The bottom of the apron was made with thought-- 5 separate pieces were sewn together to give it a flare shape.

Vintage aprons are a popular collectible whether you're a vintage clothing enthusiast or a kitschy kitchenware collector. Early aprons were often made from left over cotton feed sacks - a durable fabric and a good way to reuse and save money. Floral print aprons became fashionable in the 30's and also developed from bib into the half apron style we see today. Read more about apron history and collecting tips in "Collectors Tie One On with Vintage Aprons"

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Art Deco Rhinestone Buckles

2011-08-10T13:45:00.000-07:00

Vintage Rhinestone Belt Buckles - 40s Art Deco Lot of 11 Old Store Stock

GLORY DAYS - 1940s New Old Store Stock - Vintage Rhinestone Art Deco Silver Belt Buckles - Lot of 11

This is a collection of vintage 40s art deco rhinestone belt buckles in different shapes and sizes. They are silver metal, and new old store stock-- so they are vintage but generally in "like new" condition. All of the buckles have very sparkly rhinestones, some very large, and others on the teeny side. I purchased these in the 80s from a jewelry company that had been open since the 1930s.

Rhinestone buckles can be used on belts and also as an embellishment for headbands, shoes, jackets and in re-purposed jewelry. Get imaginative and add them to a craft project for extra bling or with a hair ribbon for a romantic retro look. I like to add a feather to the buckle and use that to spruce up a vintage hat. Want to know more about vintage buckles ? Check vintagebeltbuckles.biz for a little bit of history and how buckles are classified.

Hey Viv Discovered on Etsy - Unique adornments and vintage embellishments

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Moygashel Irish Linen Dress

2011-08-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

Vintage Dress - Irish Linen Dandelion Yellow Daydress - Moygashel Linens tailored by McMullen

IRISH MORNING - 1950s Retro Fitted Button Down Dress with Belt by Moygashel Linens - sz med to lg* This 50s short sleeve casual dress is yellow linen, with fabric covered buttons down the front. The fitted shape is accentuated by it's matching belt. It is a real Irish linen dress, made by an Irish dressmaker. The tips of the sleeves are lightly padded for shape.

Moygashel linens are known for "never creasing" The inside tag says: "Moygashel Linens tailored by McMullen" Moygashel linen is known throughout the world as the highest quality Irish linen one can buy. Moygashel is a small Irish village located on the outskirts of Dungannon in south Tyrone. The famous Moygashel Linen Mills were established there in 1795. It is said that Moygashel linen has a unique ingredient using the soft rainfall from the tributary streams on the Mourne Mountains to soften the flax."

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Sail Away Sailor Girl

2011-07-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Sailor Pin Up Girl Cheerleader Style Vintage Dress

MOD JAPANESE SCHOOLGIRL - Early 1960s Retro Sailor Style Double Breasted Pleated Dress - sz sm to med

This 60s vintage double breasted dress has nautical wear style rows of pearly bone white buttons going down the front, accented by a very lolita white bow at the bust. The full pleated skirt has contrasting white panels that have each individually been sewn in. The dress is navy blue with a fitted bodice, and also has contrasting white piping around the neckline. It really gives off the feel of a 60s mod Japanese schoolgirl.

Learn more about more about the Japanese School Girl and Harajuku Style at http://www.wikihow.com/Dress-Harajuku-Style

Hey Viv ! on Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

Where is YOUR Inner Diva?

2011-07-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

I Think every woman has an inner diva. And its really easy to find. When you find it, what do you do with it?

Being a diva is a state of mind. I am convinced that I was born " A Diva" I was born an "old soul" also and when I put those together vintage appreciation is what came out of it.

Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco,Retro and days of Mad Men. All these eras are fun and all of them have items to make you feel like A Diva. Jewelry, Vanity Items, Clothing and home decor. I would love to take you through a stroll of The Eclectic Diva which is a shop with every aspect of being A Diva.

Jewelry~~~Jewelry is a special way to let people know who you are or your mood of the day. You know Marilyn said "Diamonds are a girls best friend. But vintage rhinestones have the wow factor without the diamond expense.factor without the diamond expense.factor without the diamond expense.factor without the diamond expense.

Designer Art Deco Rhinestone Set

Clothing~~~From your wedding day to prom or that famous designer you admire. Nothing more glamorous than feeling Like a screen actress of days gone by.

Hollywood Sequined Cocktail Dress~ Oleg Cassini

How about a little bit of whimsey with your vintage?

Madame and FiFi

A combination of vintage components and frilly feathers to give you

A ONE OF A KIND

Whatever you love that will make you feel like a DIVA, can be found in vintage. Try adding a few perfume bottles or a complete vainity set or some vintage linen.

Please visit me at The Eclectic Diva or for some of my designs Divas Secret Stash and please visit The Vintage List where you will find dedicated vintage sellers that carry every type of vintage items.

If you have questions or a request to find you a special item contact me at

Theeclecticdiva@gmail.com

The Vintage List Blog Gets A New Look - And New Authors!

2011-07-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

Following the upgrade to the software that I did on The Vintage List website, I decided it was time to give the blog a bit of a makeover as well - as you can see, I have switched it from a 2 column to a 3 column layout - thanks Blogger for adding that feature!

The other big change is that from now on, The Vintage List Blog is going to be a team effort - all List members have been invited to become blog authors! I already have a few folks on board, and hopefully will get a lot more... Members can add promotional posts for their items and shops, news about their businesses, and/or articles of interest to us vintage enthusiasts - I am so excited to see what everyone contributes! Members of The Vintage List are all professional, talented, passionate, and all around awesome people - I think that together we can make The Vintage List Blog a great resource and a fun destination!

If you haven't already, be sure to sign up to get updates when new posts are added - you can sign up by email, by RSS feed, on Google Friend connect, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. The links are in the sidebars, be sure to choose one (or all!) of them so you don't miss any of the good stuff! :)

Half Off Listing Fee Sale On The Vintage List!

2011-06-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

Ok all you vintage geeks out there - if you have been debating about adding your link to The Vintage List, now's the time to do it! Today through June 30th I'm running a HALF OFF special on all listing levels and banner ads. Click here to read all the details about becoming a member - and if you have any troubles creating an account or adding a listing, just drop me a line at thevintagelist@gmail.com :)

Member Spotlight - Luv2LuvAntiques & Old Fashioned Charm

2011-06-12T09:08:00.000-07:00

Name: Diane McQueen

Shops:

Luv2LuvAntiques www.luv2luvantiques.com
Old Fashioned Charm www.oldfashionedcharm.com
The Vintage Crows Nest www.thevintagecrowsnest.com
Vintage Country Cottage www.vintagecountrycottage.com
BlackRain4’s Vintage &Antique Shop www.etsy.com/shop/blackrain4

Blogs:

Luv2LuvAntiques.com http://luv2luvantiques.blogspot.com/
Old Fashioned Charm.Com http://oldfashionedcharm.blogspot.com/
The Vintage Crows Nest.Com http://thevintagecrowsnest.blogspot.com/
Vintage Country Cottage.Com http://vintagecountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Luv2LuvAntiques A Vintage ‘Picker’ With A Passion! http://diane-mc.blogspot.com/

Vintage 1950s Japanese Salad Bowl Set 7 piece Japan

How long have you been in the business?

I started buying and selling antiques and vintage about 1977. I was into antique furniture restoration, and sold quite a few pieces from my home through advertising in the newspaper. I used to have quite a few yard sales, selling some vintage merchandise along with the household stuff.

Then, in Sept. 2006, I rented a ‘room’ in a local antique store. It felt like I was there all the time! LOL I was one of about a dozen vendors at the shop. The owner rented out areas of the shop, and also charged commission on sales he made for us. It was a good sized store, and very attractive. Due to the poor local economy, and other factors, the business closed in March 2008.

I had been selling very part time online, on eBay, for years. I opened my Etsy shop in the fall of 2008, but really didn’t get it going until 2009. In 2009 I purchased domain names, and arranged hosting. I started designing my own websites for vintage / antique sales.

I have 4 interlinking websites, with different themes. The first to open was my main website, with its Angel theme, Luv2LuvAntiques. What made me pick my little angel, as my trademark, in the first place? My love of angels of course! I’ve always been fascinated with the Archangels... the shop reflects that....

Even before I had completed the two pages of www.luv2luvantiques.com, www.oldfashionedcharm.com became a reality. The picture of the Victorian Lady stood out in my mind, and I remembered my Gramma, and Grampa, in Edwardian clothing... I must have a site that I could put vintage and antiques, from the 1960's all the way back to the Victorian times... a good mixture of the family tree, so to speak! I decided to make it all flowery, and feminine, as there is at least a bit of that in every female! I hope to showcase things my, and my husband's, aunts, uncles, parents, and grandparents use to value, or have in their time! Take a look at the shop categories, and you will see what I mean....

I have always had a luv of the sea and all things nautical! I'm very interested in the denizens of the deep, and those that wash up on the seashore! On my third website, I feature unique things from vintage 1970's, all the way back to antiques from Victorian times, that have to do with the sea! On the front page of the site you can see the site banner, which is U.S. Coast Guard life rings laid against a hammock, on the side of my back yard fence. Believe it or not...these were discards of my neighbor! The shop categories have a pirate theme... I’ve always been fascinated with pirates too!

Vintage Country Cottage was the fourth theme idea that I had for my vintage and antiques websites, but I just needed the proper site banner. On one of my estate sale jaunts, I found the perfect framed vintage print of a country cottage with surrounding gardens... my dream of heaven!

Vintage Ladies Green Penoir Set Nightgown Robe Lingerie Negligee

What made you decide to start selling online?

I really did not make any money renting a space at the antique store. After all the expenses, and time spent.... It’s much better working on your own at home! Oh... I can’t forget my hubby who helps me with the heavy lifting, storage of items, and trips to the post office!

Vintage 1950s Irish Linen Double Damask Tablecloth Napkins Boxed Set

What are your favorite ways to find items for your shop?

I luv estate sales, garage sales, thrift shops, antique stores, and junk shops! I also find some deals online.

Vintage 1950s Miriam Haskell Yellow Moonglow Cabochon Earrings

What types of items can usually be found in your shop?

I sell antique / vintage linens, costume jewelry, clothing and accessories, home décor, kitchenware, barware, glassware, china, pottery, bedspreads and quilts... I try to find the unique, interesting, and the beautiful... things I luv!

What are your goals and plans for the future?

I will keep on searching for vintage / antiques, researching them, and listing them, on my websites and Etsy shop. Also, I will continue to learn more about marketing, and will continue to promote my business on Facebook, Twitter, and social networks, such as www.Iantiqueonline.ning.com and www.thevintagevillage.com . I have joined 5 Etsy teams and will continue to get involved in promoting team treasuries, and creating my own. I have been a member of the VTLC (Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club) for several years now, www.vintagetableclothsclub.com and I will continue to promote it!

If you could give one piece of advice to a seller who is just starting out, what would it be?

I really luv the advice that a fellow member of the VTLC (Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club) gave members in the chat... she said to only buy what you love, not what you think someone else might like, in case it ends up with you!

eBay Spring 2011 Fee Changes - Strategies For Vintage Sellers

2011-04-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

If you are a seller on eBay, I'm sure you have already read the 2011 Spring Seller Update, and you've already taken a look at your business to see how the new final value fee structure is going to impact you. If you haven't read it yet, head on over and get caught up and come on back here - I'll wait. ;)

The bottom line - fees are going up. Don't let their tiny reduction of final value fees fool you - for a lot of sellers they don't even come close to cancelling out the extra you will be paying when they start charging fees on shipping. eBay's answer is to roll your shipping cost into your item price, so you can dazzle your buyer (and eBay's Best Match search results) with the illusion of "free shipping".

Even if you do go ahead and make all of your items "free shipping" guess what - your fees will still be going up! You can only hope that you will sell more (because of the bump in Best Match) to help offset the increase. Or, if you are a Top Rated Seller, you will get 20% off your FVFs - on the item price fees ONLY, not on the shipping fees price. So, rolling your shipping cost into your item price would allow you to get that 20% discount on all your final value fees.

I did a quick bit of math the other day and posted it on the List's Facebook Page - and I got a pretty big response. Here are all of my comments:

"Interesting: Under the coming new eBay fee structure, with Final Value Fees being charged on the cost of shipping as well as the item price, an $8 item with $8 shipping will have a FVF of $1.76. The same item sold on Etsy, will have a FVF of $0.28."

"The eBay FVF under the current fee structure is $0.96. Suddenly Etsy is nearly twice as attractive as a selling venue as it used to be. :P"

"By the way, if you have worked really hard to become a Top Rated Seller to achieve that 20% FVF discount, that discount DOES NOT APPLY to the FVF on the cost of shipping. So in the above scenario, your TRS will save you a whopping $0.18."

You might not be as negatively impacted by this increase if your average selling price is over $50.00 - once your price gets high enough, the fact that your shipping cost is such a small percentage of your item price means that in the overall scheme of things you will only be seeing a small increase, or your fees will remain basically the same, due to the lowering of the final value fee percentage.

If you are like me and your average selling price is more in the range of $10.00 - $20.00, then you need to start looking at ways to make sure you can still sell profitably on eBay.

Watch Your Margins

The saying "you make your money when you buy, not when you sell" is now more true than ever. With eBay taking more in fees, you need to be extra careful that you are not cutting into your profit by overpaying for your inventory. This could mean:

- Making fewer "risk buys", where you buy things and you aren't sure of the value or demand. Save your money for items that you are certain will bring a good return.

- Haggling more often on individual items, and buying more inventory in bulk so that your per item price is less. Often if you make an offer to "take it all" - buying an entire collection rather than cherry picking a few items from it - you can get a better per item price.

Raise Your Average Selling Price

The only real way to stop feeling like eBay's overworked/underpaid employee is to raise your average selling price. This is difficult if you are like me, and your comfort zone is in selling lower dollar items. This is a strategy that can be employed slowly over time though, working to gain the knowledge and experience it takes to venture into higher priced items. A good and hopefully attainable goal is to get your ASP to 50.00 or more.

Raise Your Volume

While you are working to build your ASP, raising your number of listings will (hopefully) bring more sales and help offset the money that you are losing to eBay in fees.

- If you buy collections as mentioned above, you can often list them quickly since you will be using essentially the same listing for all the items - "sell similar" is your friend! It is more time consuming to list 10 different items than it is to list 10 similar ones, simple as that.

- Sell items in lots. If you have a group of low dollar items, listing them individually may not be the best way to go anymore - list them as a lot, and free up that extra time to list more higher dollar items.

- Set listing goals in the terms of numbers - "I will list 50 new items on eBay this week". Just telling yourself that you will list "more" rarely works - believe me, I'm a living example of it! I am going to start setting daily and weekly listing goals for myself to try to keep my numbers UP.

Sell More Lightweight Items

If you tend to deal in larger, bulkier items it is time to start looking at selling more smalls - especially things that are under 13 ounces and can be shipped 1st class - or items that can be shipped via Media Mail. You don't have to get rid of the larger items all together - especially if they could help you with your higher ASP goal - but having the smalls in your product mix will help build your number of items listed and keep your fees down.

Raise Your Price / Add A Handling Fee

This is not really an ideal solution - I'm sure most of you are like me and it makes you feel a little icky to pass this fee increase on to your buyers. But, if you want to stay out of the hole this is something to consider. Of course any raise in item price or handling fee will also increase your eBay fees, so you have to do a bit of math and see what could actually be helpful. Be careful - if you overshoot and raise them too much, you will either lose sales or get dinged on your DSRs! Now is a good time to do some testing, before the fee increase kicks in in July.

Get a 2nd (or 3rd!) Selling Venue

This isn't really a strategy to stay profitable on eBay as much as it is a strategy to stay profitable in GENERAL - and that's what we all really need, right? So if you haven't explored selling on other venues, now is the time to start!

One of the best things I ever did for my online business was starting my Etsy shop back in 2008. The fees there are significantly lower than on eBay (see my above fee breakdown). It takes time and some experimentation to figure out what the buyers on other venues are looking for, but it is definitely worth doing, especially now.

Another popular venue for Antiques and Collectibles is Ruby Lane. I haven't sold there personally, but I know people who do, and they seem to like it and have success there.

Marketing yourself on these alternate venues is very important - their built-in traffic isn't as high as eBay's. So if you haven't started a blog, a Facebook page, a Twitter account, etc. you will need to do so to help drive traffic to your listings on other sites. Really it isn't a bad idea to also be marketing your eBay listings off of eBay as well!

I hope that these strategies are helpful to you, and to me too! I'm trying most of them as we speak. There isn't really one strategy that will work for everyone and everything, but hopefully with time, experience, and determination we can all figure out what will work best for our businesses. :)

Gifts For Kids - The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guide

2010-12-07T18:03:00.000-08:00

Gifts For Kids

Vintage Children's Handkerchiefs Alphabet Elephant & Dog - Cobaley

Victorian Ring Charm 10K Gold Signet Child's Size 2.5 - Sunday and Sunday

Vintage Doll in Norwegian Folk Costume c.1960's - Catwalk Creative

Made In Japan Children's Luster Ware Tea Set - Cobaley

Lot 4 Large Limited Edition Vintage Gund Bears - The Crystal Rose

Vintage Wooden Playskool Puzzles Lot Of 2 - A Flea Circus

Vintage 50s Children's Book Teenager Modern Girls Annual - Catwalk Creative

Vintage Chenille Bedspread Boutique Baby Outfit - Luv2LuvAntiques

Huge Hand Carved Crayons - The Crystal Rose

Vintage 1960s Girls Velvet Party Dress - Old Fashioned Charm

Vintage Puzzle Dump Truck Magnetic - A Flea Circus

Vintage Sunbonnet Sue & Sam Applique Quilt - Luv2LuvAntiques

Vintage 1930's Baby Boy Blue Onesie - Old Fashioned Charm

Gifts For Cooks - The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guide

2010-12-02T17:40:00.000-08:00

Gifts For Cooks

Cute French Chef Vintage Kitchen Canister Containers - Cobaley

1960's Green Cotton Half Apron Size Medium - Catwalk Creative Vintage

Vintage Cherry Pie Plate Ceramic Dee Designer - Luv2LuvAntiques

Vintage Box of Six Tin Cookie Cutters - Vintage Junk In My Trunk

Couroc of Monterey Retro Serving Tray Cook and Chef - Cobaley

Pizza - James McNair Vintage Cookbook - The Crystal Rose

Vintage 50's Tureen by Crown Clarence England - Catwalk Creative Vintage

Vintage Green Ceramic Chicken Soup Tureen - Vintage Goodness

Vintage 1950s Japanese Salad Bowl Set 7 Piece Japan - Luv2LuvAntiques

The Best of Cook's Magazine Vol. 2 Vintage Cookbook - The Crystal Rose

Antique 1800's Victorian Pink Fish Salt & Pepper Shakers - Old Fashioned Charm

Vintage Spice of Life Pyrex Mugs - Set of Five - Serendipity Vintage

Vintage Sealtest Cookbook 1940's - Vintage Junk In My Trunk

Fire King Meadow Green Bake Ware Baking Set Mint In Box - Vintage Goodness

Vintage 1950s Chase and Sanborn Coffee Can - Old Fashioned Charm

Cowell and Hubbard - Sheffield England Silver Plated Hostess Serving Set - Sunday and Sunday

Vintage Pyrex Casserole Dish Verde / Olive Pattern - Serendipity Vintage

Gifts For Him - The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guide

2010-11-25T18:06:00.000-08:00

Gifts For Him

Beautiful Vintage Gold Tone Metal Swank Cuff Links - Judy's Gems

Vintage 1950s Cotton Cowboy Round Up Barbecue Apron - Luv2LuvAntiques

Art Deco White Gold Filled Howard Pocket Watch In Box - Sunday And Sunday

Small Carved Wood Duck Decoy Canada - Cobaley

Vintage Pioneer Gold Tone Model T Car Cuff Links - Judy's Gems

Vintage Remington 300 Electric Shaver - A Flea Circus

Movies For a Desert Isle - The Crystal Rose

Anson Tie Clip & Cuff Link Masonic Tools Emblem - Cobaley

Vintage Mark Cross Telephone Book - The Crystal Rose

Vintage Firefighter Badge Pendant - Mitzi's Collectibles

Tropical Coconut Palm Trees Glassware Carrier - Luv2LuvAntiques

Vintage 1940s Men's Smoking Jacket Robe Mint - Old Fashioned Charm

Vintage Cuff Links Gold & Black Matte Etched - The Eclectic Diva

Castle Films 8mm Abbot and Costello Foreign Legion - A Flea Circus

Vintage Brass Cross Badge Blank Pendant - Mitzi's Collectibles

Vintage 1940s Men's Parisian Tourist Coat Scarf - Old Fashioned Charm

Vintage Men's Necktie - The Eclectic Diva

Gifts For Her - The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guide

2010-11-20T14:48:00.000-08:00

This is the 1st installment of a new series here on the blog - The Vintage List Holiday Gift Guides! Each guide will have a specific theme, and List members have submitted some amazing items - so stay tuned! :)

Gifts For Her

Handbag Purse - Vintage Raffia Plastic Beaded Bag - Old Luxe

Vintage Sterling Silver Christmas Themed 20 Charm Bracelet - Sunday And Sunday

Vintage Metal Art Nouveau Floral Jewelry Trinket Box - Vintage Goodness

Vintage 835 Silver and Amber Floral Pendant Necklace - Judy's Gems

Miniature Perfume Bottles in Lamp - Cobaley

Art Nouveau Blue Glass Bead Enamel Lapis Lazuli Necklace - Judy's Gems

Joe St Clair Art Glass Perfume Bottle - Cobaley

Vintage Agate Brooch and Matching Clip On Earrings Set - Vintage Goodness

British Vogue Magazine November 1985 - Catwalk Creative Vintage

Blackinton Victorian GF Ladies Rhinestone Turquoise Locket Necklace - Sunday And Sunday

Vintage Carolee Double Strand Faux Pearl Baroque Style Bracelet - Luv2LuvAntiques

Vintage Art Deco Style Perfume Bottle Stopper - Catwalk Creative Vintage

Vintage Faux Pearl Single Strand Beaded Necklace Jewelry - Luv2LuvAntiques

Vintage Christmas Journal Address Book - The Vintage Nest

Cafe Bracelet (Ruby Red) - BeadRee

Vintage Maud Frizon Black Suede Heels - The Crystal Rose

Earrings Grande Bal - BeadRee

Vintage Gianni Versace Black Silk Full Length Skirt - The Crystal Rose

Sherman Alexandrite & Purple Flower Brooch & Earrings - The Vintage Jewelry Boutique

Whimsical Hand Crafted Journal - Pink Poodle - The Vintage Nest

Vendome Imitation Pearl Brooch & Earrings Set - The Vintage Jewelry Boutique

Vintage Small Purse with Beads and Rhinestones - Vintage Junk In My Trunk

Vintage Jewelry Mosaic Belt Buckle Leather Belt - GeorgiaPeachez

Vintage 1950's - 1960's Black Sequin Hat - Vintage Junk In My Trunk

Vintage Clear Tassel Shoe Clips - ShoeClips.biz

Vintage Suitcase/Luggage, Medium Tan, Upcycled Chic - A Flea Circus

Rhinestone Skeleton Key Reconstructed Necklace - GeorgiaPeachez

Vintage Cameo Shoe Clips - ShoeClips.biz

Avon Cameo Vanity Set - A Flea Circus

Antique Edwardian Beaded Drawstring Evening Purse - Old Fashioned Charm

Vintage Rhinestone Designer Brooch and Earrings - The Eclectic Diva

Vintage 1950's Black Velvet Feather Beaded Hat - Old Fashioned Charm

Vintage 1950's Chokin Compact and Perfume Atomizer - The Eclectic Diva

Auction Hunters - Premiering Tuesday, Nov. 9th at 10pm on SPIKE!

2010-11-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to be contacted by the folks from the new show Auction Hunters asking if they could sponsor a post here on The Vintage List Blog to help get the word out about the premier of the show, coming up this Tuesday, November 9th at 10:00 PM on Spike! It looks like a really fun show, here is a quick description and a couple of video clips to give you an idea of what it is all about:

Every day in America, there are over ten thousand abandoned storage units that are put up for public auction. Each unit has the potential to be a goldmine or a bust for those who make their living hunting unclaimed property. This eight half-hour episode series follows two of the best prospectors in the business, Clinton "Ton" Jones and Allen Haff, in their quest to win auctions, acquire treasure and sell it for profit.

How to Hunt | SpikeTV | SPIKE.com

What is Auction Hunting? | SpikeTV | SPIKE.com

You know I'll be on my couch watching - I can't wait to see what kind of treasures they find! :)

Dear Estate Sale Organizers... Price Is Everything.

2010-08-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy of Yard Sale Bloodbath

I went to an estate sale last weekend - like a lot of you, it is something I do every weekend. I have gotten to know the companies in my area that organize and run estate sales, and I have my favorites, for various reasons. I also have my Do Not Shop list, mostly for one reason - the prices are too high.

The sale I went to was put on by what I think is a fairly new company - I have only gone to one other sale hosted by them, and that was a month or two ago. I walked out empty handed - everything (and I mean everything) was priced way, way out of my price range. I was actually slightly shocked, if you want to know the truth. But, their next sale sounded good, and wasn't far from my house - so I decided to give them another try.

Once again, most things were priced way too high. But, there were a few things that would be reasonable once everything was half off. This was a change from their last sale - so I was happy, but at the same time just as frustrated... there was so much great stuff that I couldn't even come close to considering.

I went back on half off day - I drove up at 9am on the dot, and there was no one outside. I looked around, checked my directions to make sure I had the right start time, looked around some more... I couldn't believe there wasn't a single person at the door. I decided they must have opened the doors a few minutes early, so I grabbed my box and headed inside.

No one was there. It was unreal - half off day is ALWAYS busy at these sales. I had never in all my years gone in on half off day and had not another single person there shopping! After I got over the novelty, I enjoyed myself grabbing the few things I could, and a few minutes later a couple other shoppers arrived. Just a couple, though.

photo courtesy of Yard Sale Bloodbath

There was another estate sale at half off that day, so I headed over there to check it out. I hadn't been to it earlier in the weekend, so I had no idea what kind of stuff was inside. I could see the sale from halfway down the street, there were a lot of cars and a long line at the front door. My little universe was back to normal!

It turned out to be a very run of the mill sale - if there had been anything interesting there, it must have sold at the beginning. Yet there was a huge crowd - and the other sale had a ton of great stuff and no one there to buy it!

So, Dear Estate Sale Organizers:

Price is everything.
Price is everything.
Price is everything.

You can have the best stuff, the most organized and well run sale, and if your prices are too high you aren't going to sell anything. I think what you need to realize, if you haven't already (which you probably haven't if you are pricing too high) is that a good chunk of your customers are dealers. Another good chunk are folks who are looking for a deal. If you cut those people out of shopping with pricing that is way beyond reach - well, your half off day is going to be empty. And that is a sad, sad thing to behold.

Advertise on The Vintage List Blog for just $0.10 a day!

2010-08-22T15:15:00.000-07:00

Member Spotlight - The Vintage Nest

2010-08-15T10:31:00.000-07:00

Name: Lynn Wheeler

Shop: http://www.thevintagenest.com
Blog: http://lifeatcedarhill.blogspot.com

How long have you been in the business?

I've had my own website for three years, but I've been selling vintage and antiques through another online site and a brick and mortar site for 11 years.

What made you decide to start selling online?

I thought selling through my own website was the best of both worlds. "Decorating" the site like a real brick and mortar store, and reaching a world wide audience, plus having total control of how I wanted things to look and work.

Shabby Scalloped Syroco Boudoir Gold Vintage Clock

What are your favorite ways to find items for your shop?

I have many... estates sales, yard sales, auctions, other antique shops, and word of mouth. I have a number of people that call me with items they want to sell having heard about what I do through my best advertising... friends.

What types of items can usually be found in your shop?

Whatever you see in the popular decorating magazines such as Romantic Homes, Romantic Country and Country Living is what I look for on my "treasure hunts". What's hot today is not hot tomorrow, and vice versa. So it's important for me to stay up on the trends. I also love to make little girl's dresses from vintage pillowcases, and altered art, repurposing items that are no longer useful or have served their time.

Antique Ormolu Rhinestone Vanity Photo Frame

What are your goals and plans for the future?

I love what I do, and hope to continue to do it for a long time. When I am not on the road searching, where else can you go to work in your PJ's?

Member Spotlight - Mitzi's Collectibles

2010-08-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

Name: Mitzi Curi

Shop: Mitzi's Collectibles on Etsy
Blog: Mitzi's Collectibles Blog

I also sell antiques at The Antiques Market of Williamston and The Livingston Antique Outlet, both in central Michigan.

How long have you been in the business?

11 Years

What made you decide to start selling online?

About nine years ago, I decided to sell some of my more unusual antiques and vintage collectibles on eBay, especially those things that didn't have local appeal. I live in central Michigan, and the customers in my antique mall booth are used to a certain "look". I don't try to sell anything-and-everything in the antique mall, but on eBay, anything goes! Then, when I started creating my own jewelry from vintage bits and pieces, I decided to start an Etsy shop, Mitzi's Collectibles.

What are your favorite ways to find items for your shop?

I get most of my vintage goodies from live auctions. I just love the excitement of an auction! I also regularly shop estate sales in our area. There are good deals to be had here in Michigan, let me tell you!

Vintage Paper Ephemera Red and Green Wet Paint Signs

What types of items can usually be found in your shop?

I always have a selection of pendants that I've created using vintage bits such as pressed wood puzzle pieces, furniture hardware, and poker chips that I've covered in vintage wallpaper using decoupage. I also sell unusual vintage finds, such as marquee letters or "Wet Paint" signs from an old hardware store.

What are your goals and plans for the future?

I'm really enjoying my blog, and would like to eventually sell things directly to blog readers. I have truckloads of vintage paper ephemera that I'm scanning into my computer and would like to sell sheets of the pictures, my collages, and other such things.

Flapper Girl Chalkware Handmade Figurine

My other passion right now is making my own little flapper girl figures. I've created these from custom molds cast from chalkware carnival prizes. I pour plaster into my molds and hand paint each figure, including aging them so they look vintage. I've sold two of them on Etsy so far, and have several more I'm working on right now. They are very time consuming but something original that I'm confident isn't being sold by any other artist.

If you could give one piece of advice to a seller who is just starting out, what would it be?

Do your research! You really need to know what you are buying, and selling. You owe it to your customers to have knowledge about what you are putting out there. Knowledge about value is very important for you as you go about purchasing things to re-sell so you can make better decisions, and spend your money more wisely.

Tell Congress: NO New Internet Taxes

2010-07-27T17:42:00.001-07:00

eBay is fighting the good fight against H.R. 5660 - the Main Street Fairness Act - otherwise known as the Tax The Internet Fiasco. Here is a great blog post that details the bill - if you sell online it is a must read!

Please sign the petition eBay has set up - this would be a death blow to thousands of small ecommerce businesses all of the country...

$30 Etsy Giveaway on Swap Vintage - Post To Win!

2010-07-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Swap Vintage is now about 6 weeks old, and over 100 people have joined! I couldn't be happier with how it is going so far, except for one thing - only a handful of members have posted items that are available for trade.

So, I've decided to do a giveaway - for every item that you post as available for trade between now and August 1st, you get one entry into the contest. The prize is $30 worth of merchandise from my Etsy shop - http://vintagegoodness.etsy.com - and shipping is FREE!

To post items you must be either a paid member or a free trial member. Then you need to create a post on the Forums for your item in the appropriate category, with a detailed description of the item and hopefully a clear photo. You should also place a photo of your item in a photo Collection on your profile. If you need help with posting items, see the How To Guide I wrote - it has all the details. (How-To Guide is only visible for free trial or paid members.)

I will choose a winner at random on August the 1st - remember, each item you post as available for trade gets you an entry, so the more you post the better your chance to win! :)

Before I go, I just have to share - Swap Vintage has gotten a few mentions out in the blogosphere! I created a Press page to link to all the wonderful bloggers who were kind enough to write about the site. Check them out! :)

Thanks, and happy swapping!

WINNER - $60 Gift Certificate Giveaway!

2010-07-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

It's time to pick the winner of the $60 CSN Stores Gift Certificate Giveaway! But first, a HUGE thanks to everyone who spread the word and left a comment - you guys rock, I'm so happy to have been able to do an awesome giveaway like this for you all! :)

Luckily, I just happened to have a vintage hat to pull the names out of - perfect!

Let's give them a shake, and pull out the winning entry...

Here it is! With a happy smiling boy on the back! But who's name is on the other side?

Congratulations Moddities! I'll be sending you an email to get your info to send to the folks at CSNStores. :)

$60 Gift Certificate Giveaway!

2010-06-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

The kind folks over at CSNStores.com have offered to sponsor a giveaway here on The Vintage List blog! The winner will receive a $60 gift certificate - how cool is that? You can use the certificate on any of their websites:

BedroomFurniture.com - If you need a bed...

CSNLighting.com - If you need lighting...

WritingDesksAndMore.com - If you need a desk...

Or, you can use your $60 on my favorite out of all their websites:

AllModern.com - If you need, well, anything with a Retro feel!

Here are just a few of the things that $60 can get you on AllModern.com:

Cotton Tale Lizzie Pillow Pack

Working Class Studio Kay Tumblers

Working Class Studio Charles Clock

DwellStudio Woodblock Lake Coasters - Set of Four

So - you want to enter, right? Of course you do! It's simple - head out to your blog, your Twitter, your Facebook, etc. Post a link to this page, inviting your friends and followers to come get in on the giveaway. Come back here to this post, and leave a comment letting me know how you got the word out. That's it - you're done!

I will draw a winner a week from today - next Sunday, July 3rd. Good luck!!! :)

Hint: Hover over the Tell A Friend button below for a quick way to add this post to your social networking sites :)

Member Spotlight - Metro Retro Vintage

2010-04-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Your Name: Laura

Shop Names and Links:

Metro Retro Vintage http://www.metroretrovintage.com
Hep Cat Vintage http://www.hepcatvintage.com
The Collectible Kitchen & Bar http://www.collectiblekitchen.com

Vintage 60's Wiggle Dress w/Shoulder Wrap Stole - Mad Men

So chi-chi darling! Is this sweet vintage early 60's wiggle dress with accompanying shoulder wrap or stole by Jerry Gilden.

How long have you been in the business?

I've done online retail since 1994, during the early days of the web and before eBay existed.

What made you decide to start selling online?

It was a natural progression, since I was already selling via mail order and selling at festivals.

Vintage 30's Deco Silver Carved Shell Cameo Pegasus Horse Tie Bar Clip
Pegasus gracefully leaps across the sky in the classical mythological scene depicted for this beautifully carved vintage 30's shell cameo and silver tie or necktie bar clip for men.

What are your favorite ways to find items for your shop?

Shhhhh! A seller never tells her secrets, lol.

What types of items can usually be found in your shop?

I specialize in vintage costume and silver jewelry, and also carry an array of vintage clothing and accessories.

Vintage 60's Modernist Atomic Harmony House Scandia 3907 Suger & Creamer
Here’s another great vintage set to match the Scandia gravy boat in this shop – the vintage 60's mod atomic Scandia design covered sugar and creamer set, by Harmony House.

What are your goals and plans for the future?

We hope to continue to advance "Metro Retro Vintage", and also expand our other two shops. "Hep Cat Vintage" specializes in vintage menswear and men's jewelry, and "The Collectible Kitchen & Bar" specializes in vintage kitchenalia and barware.

If you could give one piece of advice to a seller who is just starting out, what would it be?

Sell what you know and love and stay the course. Also important is to research, handle items of interest as much as possible, and not be afraid of asking questions.

New IV Post - How To Go Yard Sale Shopping Like A Pro

2010-03-06T11:54:00.001-08:00

I just posted my latest article for Inherited Values - How To Go Yard Sale Shopping Like a Pro. It is a re-write of a post I did a while back for my newsletter and The Vintage List blog - the original one was written for sellers, this one is more for collectors... especially those that might not think yard sales are worth the time and trouble.

Welcome our new Sponsor/Partner site - Inherited Values!

2010-02-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy to announce that The Vintage Lis t has a new Sponsor/Partner site - a group style blog called Inherited Values. It is targeted specifically at collectors, and there is already an impressive line-up of authors on board, with more to come I'm sure...

I just published my first article there, The Island of Misfit Collectibles - it's my intro post, about what kind of collector I am, now that I am a dealer as well... I'll be adding new articles a couple times a month, so stay tuned! ;)

I hope to include items from members of the List in the articles I write about vintage collectibles, and I hope that as time goes by I will find other ways to give List members a little extra exposure via my collaboration with Inherited Values.

In return, I hope that all visitors and members of The Vintage List take some time out to read the great articles that are being added to IV on an almost daily basis - it's shaping up to be a great spot to get a quick "vintage fix" - and who ever really has enough of those? ;)

What's Hot From Member Shops - A Vintage Valentine's Day

2010-02-05T11:52:00.000-08:00

Yes it is February already, and love is in the air! There are some amazing vintage goodies for sale from our members that would make a perfect gift for your Valentine (or yourself!)... here are just a few!

Voyage D'Amour Necklace - from BeadRee

Vintage Dresden Trinket Box Germany Royal Blue and Gold - from TheEclecticDiva

Sterling Charm Heart with Arrow & I Love You

V intage Pink and White Lucite Double Strand Necklace - from WhimsicalVintage

Dumont Rhinestone Dial Heart Shaped Wrist Watch - from SundayAndSunday

Vintage Valentine Greetings Book of Poems Illustrated

eBay changes - what do they mean for vintage sellers and the auction format?

2010-01-28T06:31:00.000-08:00

I've had a couple of days now to digest eBay's first announcement of 2010, and to hear what other sellers are saying about how those changes are going to affect their business model. I've taken some time to crunch the numbers for my own business, and to try to figure out at least a basic plan for how I am going to handle the new structure.

I have a few thoughts about how the new stores in core change, as well as the new fees, could impact antiques and vintage collectibles sellers, and there are a few things we might need to consider changing once April 1st rolls around... But, let's start at the beginning.

I think it is safe to assume that for most vintage sellers, fees are going up. How much they are going up is the question - and that depends on how you handle the new structure, and how many items you list or have in your store on a regular basis. eBay's fee illustrator is helpful if you haven't tried crunching the numbers yet.

For me, with 800+ store listings, upgrading to the Premium level and getting the $0.05 listing fee is a no brainer - I'm looking at about a $50 a month increase, but when you subtract $15 for Selling Manager Pro, which is free with the Premium level store, it is really only a $35 increase.

Not too bad - in fact way better than what I was expecting! When you add into that the reduced auction listing fee, the extra $35 becomes even less depending on how many auctions I run a month.

But here is the thing that I have really been pondering the most in the last day or so - why do I run auctions?

The Benefits of Running Auctions

1. Bidding wars - On highly desirable and/or rare items, bidding wars can drive the price of an item up significantly.

2. Exposure for items in Core search - Auctions show up in the main search, where they get more exposure, and also help drive traffic to your store inventory items.

3. Best Match - Auctions get a boost in Best Match toward the end of the listing period.

4. Lower final value fee - 8.75% vs. 12% for store items

Now, what is changing with the new store items in Core scenario? Well #2 ceases to be a benefit of running auctions right off the bat. #1 is a pretty rare situation these days - the majority of my auctions end with just one or two bids.

Side note on the free under $1.00 starting bid auctions - who starts their auctions that low anymore? It's too risky, unless you have a super rare item... I rarely start one under $9.95, and only if I can live with the item selling for only $9.95!

Anyway, here's my point. With store listings in Core, running a ton of auctions might not be so necessary anymore. Unless you are fairly sure the item will get more than one or two bids, why not just list the item for a fixed price? You can even price it high with a Best Offer option and still end up doing well, and for a $0.05 per month listing fee rather than a $0.25 per week listing fee...

Lets do a bit of math and see how it breaks down - lets just do a $9.95 item:

$9.95 start price auction - $0.25 to list, 87 cent final value fee
$9.95 start price FP30 - $0.05 to list, $1.19 final value fee

So for $0.32 more, your item is listed for a full month, rather than a week. Subtract the 20 cents difference in listing fees, and that number becomes $0.12.

See what I mean? When you factor in the fact that you can probably sell that $9.95 item for $11, $12 or even more at fixed price (I do it all the time - auction for $9.95 ends with no bids, but item sells out of my store for higher later on down the line...) then the auction is pretty pointless.

But, #4 remains a viable reason though - auctions do get a bump in Best Match toward the end. The question is if that bump is worth it or not, in the grand scheme of things...

Remember in my last post when I said that we were in for some serious math, and a re-thinking of our business models? This is what I mean! I still haven't worked it all out, and it could all change once we get into it and see how things are going to sell once all items available on the site are listed together in Core.

What I do know for sure is that it is time, now more than ever, for every one of us who sells uniques on eBay to take a long hard look at why we do it, what level we want (or need!) to be at, and the bottom line as far as dollars and cents goes compared to the time, effort and energy it takes to sell on the site. The answers - and numbers - will be different for nearly everyone - I referred to my own situation here only because it is what I know and understand the best...

I hope throwing a few of these things out there is helpful to some of you - and I would LOVE to hear your thoughts about the changes, and your own plans for dealing with them - feel free to leave a comment or ten ;)

New round of eBay changes coming Tuesday, January 26th!

2010-01-23T13:50:00.000-08:00

If you are a regular seller on eBay, you have probably already heard that the first round of eBay changes for 2010 are going to be announced this coming Tuesday. If you are like me, you've spent at least a little bit of time the last few days poking around for info, trying to get at least a general idea of what is up eBay's sleeve this time...

The main one that I have heard that has me the most worried is that eBay Stores will be moving more toward the way they have them set up in the UK. Sellers pay for a certain level of store, and that level dictates what your FP30 listing fee is. Get ready to do some serious math, people - there won't be any way around it, since it is probably going to work out to be a fee increase, no matter how eBay tries to spin it.

Auctionbytes has done a couple of posts, about the upcoming changes as well as about the 4th quarter earnings report. Ina's Stores prediction seem to have some weight, when you consider some of the things CEO John Donahoe said in the earnings report:

Ina Steiner:

"We're still expecting eBay to make changes to Stores this year, possibly along the lines of what it did in Italy and the UK, where it kept Stores, eliminated Store Inventory Format, and introduced a 30-day Buy It Now (BIN) fixed-price format with special rates for Storeowners."

John Donahoe:

"So I think what we’ll do in 2010 is take some of the learnings (did he mean lessons? -M.) that we generated outside the U.S. and apply them as appropriate and as tailored to the U.S. market. I think we feel we’ve proven out some of these things outside the U.S. and they will apply inside the U.S."

"But I feel good that coming out of 2010 we will have the structure and alignment of our pricing in the marketplace that is aligned with sellers and optimized for marketplace success."

Interesting...

Also interesting are a few of the comments from sellers on the Auctionbytes blog. I'm not talking about snarky, "death to eBay!" comments either - but real, thought provoking opinions. A couple of examples:

Ebay.com means nothing to the powers that be anymore. It's an afterthought. They are drunken with glee, doing a happy dance around the firepit while eating greasy porkchops. ''Paypal, paypal, paypal, skype sale, $$$$$$$, YOY, Oh, ebay.com not doing great this year? Oh, well. Yawn.''

Yes, the fees will go up, and the stores will either be discontinued or under a fee structure that more closely resembles Fixed Price. Those that can't hack the new listing fees will drop out. This is a war of attrition. Small sellers will continue to be squeezed out. Demand more perfection of the middle size sellers and they will be squeezed out of more profit. Have your pride and joy Paypal hold their money for 21 days. Keep this up and your ebay.com will be ALL megastores. And you know what? It doesn't matter to them. That's what they want. They don't care about the medium and small sellers. We're just a thorn in their sides, reminding people that they have taken the original eBay and killed it. They're not into nostalgia. They're into CASH.

and this...

Thank you, Buck. I read the cnn article and I don't think that eBay management even gives a whit about what they have lost in marginalizing their sellers. This is what JD set out to do 2 years ago, and 2010 is his big growth year and he will continue marginalizing us.

But the stupid thing is that, with absolutely NO creative thinking, they procured all these megasellers to come on eBay and stuck them in the 'regular' people's auction/buy it now format. So now we have a ridiculous looking site with what used to be chock full of unique item after unique item -- now loaded with picture after picture of the same identical item, as if someone is really going to browse through that. That is why the buyers are dropping off. It's annoying to shop on eBay. They're trying to make it a buyer friendly marketplace but forgot to consider that factor.

I definitely fit into the "small" and "unique" category - as most of you who are reading this do, buyers and sellers alike. Our eBay seems to be pretty low on the priority list, and only on the outskirts of the "big vision" at best. So any upcoming changes are most likely going to be ones that force us to really evaluate the way we do business on eBay - or, worst case scenario, if we can even continue to do business on eBay and make enough profit.

I'm sure I will be back here posting again after the announcements are out - I have a funny feeling there is going to be a lot to discuss!

Member Spotlight - Judy's Gems

2010-01-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

Your Name: Judy Dunn

Your Links: JudysGems

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/judysgems (Judy's Gems)
http://judysgems2.etsy.com

Visit Judys Gems at EveryPlaceISell.com

http://www.hagjewels.com/woj.html

Blog Link:

http://judysgems.wordpress.com/

Beautiful Vintage 1980s Chanel Gripoix Black Poured Glass and Enamel Cuff Bracelet

How long have you been in the business?

Over 40 years (since 2000 on the internet)

What made you decide to start selling online?

A friend of mine introduced me to e-bay and we started selling my vintage costume jewelry on our site two crazy girls.

Vintage Trifari KTF Glass Fruit Salad Floral Dress Clip

What are your favorite ways to find items for your shop?

Online, antique shops, estate sales, flea markets, garage sales, my pickers, and friends.

Stunning Vintage Coro Enameled Asian Man Face Parure

What types of items can usually be found in your shop?

Costume jewelry, designer signed, antique, Art Deco, and retro by Hattie Carnegie, Chanel, Har, Ciner, McClelland Barclay, Coro, Trifari, Jakob Bengel, Bakelite, Egyptian Revival, Czech, gold, diamonds, silver and many more!!!

What are your goals and plans for the future?

To continue in a progressive direction making our online stores a full time business and maybe to write a costume jewelry book or price guide.

Hattie Carnegie Egyptian Revival Scarab Dangle Earrings

If you could give one piece of advice to a seller who is just starting out, what would it be?

Be prepared for some hard work.

1/3 OFF Listing Fees - Happy Holidays from The Vintage List!

2009-12-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

Have you been thinking of adding your link to The Vintage List? Now's the time to do it - all listing fees are 1/3 OFF their regular price, from now through January 1st! It's my way of saying Happy Holidays :)

Regular Listing - regular price $15 - now $10!

Featured Listing - regular price $30 - now $20!

Blog Only Listing - regular price $15 - now $10!

Banner Advertising - buy 2 months get the 3rd month FREE!

What's Hot From Member Shops - Vintage Christmas Decorations

2009-12-10T12:59:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe it is the holiday season again already! Luckily our members are on the ball with tons of great vintage Christmas decorations in stock to help you deck the halls in retro style!

Vintage Christmas Bulb Wreath - Georgia Peachez

Embossed Christmas Postcard - 1906 - Pearl's Parlor

Vintage Wreath of Spinning Lights, Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus - VintageDay

Vintage S.S. Kresge Hand Blown Glass Christmas Tree Topper - VintageGoodness

Vintage Lanissa Christmas Bulbs West Germany - Lisa'sRetroStyle

eBay begins efforts to win back Vintage sellers...

2009-11-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

There have been a few interesting developments lately out of the eBaysphere relating to the Antiques, Vintage and Collectibles categories. It looks like eBay might be realizing that in the last couple of years they have basically shoved this entire segment of their buyers and sellers to the sidelines, and it might be hurting the site. At least that's how it looks to me, I'll let you make your own judgment:

50% off Auction Style Listing Fee Sale - through Nov. 22nd
This sale only applies to the following categories:
Art
Antiques
Dolls & Bears
Toys & Hobbies
Pottery & Glass
Collectibles
Stamps

I for one love this - anything that saves me money puts a smile on my face, and you better believe I'll be listing as many auctions as possible between now and the 22nd!

As reported on AuctionBytes, other things are being "discussed" to "reinvigorate" the collectibles categories:

A private forum where collectibles dealers can interact with eBay to give feedback - (Don't they already have this on the regular discussion boards?)

Regular promotions and quarterly Event Sales in certain collectibles categories that will be heavily promoted by eBay - (This would be nice!)

Implementing Item Specifics in certain collectibles categories - (This should be interesting, if they do it right it could help, if they do it wrong it will be a nightmare...)

Changes to Best Match - (Same as above!)

Integrating outside pricing catalogs such as Krause and Beckett's guides - (Integrating how? I don't like the idea of shoppers being shown values on items - I want the buyers to decide what something is worth, not a price guide! I guess we'll see if that is what they have in mind or not...)

Verifying authenticity of items by using community experts - (This sounds shady - like an in house VERO program?)

Also according to AuctionBytes, "eBay is also launching a program in which it asks users to help it create Community-Generated Catalogs, particularly relevant in antiques and collectibles categories where it is difficult for sites to create structured data around unique items." This could be interesting, I wonder how many sellers will be willing to help eBay in this project?

I think the next year or so is looking to be an interesting one for Vintage sellers on eBay - either they genuinely realize their mistake (pushing us to the sidelines) and want to help, or they are throwing us a few bones to get us to stick around and keep paying fees. Time will tell!

What's Hot From Member Shops - All About Fall

2009-11-05T11:33:00.000-08:00

Summer has slipped away from us again for another year, but luckily there is so much to love about Fall!

Moxie Thrift - Vintage Leaf Dish

Dusty Rose Vintage - 1960's Mod Pale Yellow A-Line Swing Coat S XS

Century Finds - Modern Wood Deer Pair

AlleyKats Vintage - Little House on the Gunne Sax Prairie

MidCentury Jewelry - Vintage Sterling Silver & Enamel Leaf Pin

Stiletto Girl - 1960s Mod Aqua and Brown Trench Coat

Member Spotlight - Holly Lane Antiques

2009-10-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

Name:

Marie Maguire

Shops:

http://www.tias.com/stores/hollylane
Antique & Collectible China - plus Linens, Silver, Glass

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/hollylaneantiques
Antique & Collectible China - plus Linens, Silver, Glass

http://hollylaneantiques.etsy.com
Lavender Sachets Hand Made From Antique & Vintage Linens

Blog:

http://www.hollylaneantiques.blogspot.com/

Antique Kirk Sterling Silver Demitasse Spoons

How long have you been in the business?

About 10 years

What made you decide to start selling online?

I am a retired teacher and was looking for something to do with all that time!

What are your favorite ways to find items for your shop?

Auctions and estate sales.

What types of items can usually be found in your shop?

I am addicted to Early English White Ironstone at the moment and my collection has grown too large to keep, so there are always wonderful pieces for sale.

English White Ironstone Brush Box - Forget Me Not Shape

I originally began 10 years ago selling antique Haviland Limoges China on eBay. I always have a large selection of this wonderful antique china for sale.

Rare Haviland Limoges Handled Tureen

Recently I began making beautiful lavender sachets with antique and vintage linens - the English linens being my favorite. These are for sale in my Etsy shop.

Vintage English Linens Lavender Sachet

What are your goals and plans for the future?

We are trying to be more patient waiting for the economy to recover. Since we sell mostly "like to have items" rather than "need to have items", this economy is quite trying for us. This has proven to be an interesting retirement and we hopefully will be able to continue. We also participate in antiques shows and love being able to meet our buyers in person and the connections we have made with the other antiques dealers.

If you could give one piece of advice to a seller who is just starting out, what would it be?

Have patience and take the best possible pictures.

Saying Goodbye to Lisa B. :(

2009-10-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

I'm sad to announce that my wonderful co-blogger, Lisa B., has to give up her posting duties here on The Vintage List blog, due to her ever busier schedule - something all of us vintage sellers are more than familiar with! She has been such a huge help and wrote such great posts, she will be sorely missed! A huge thanks from all List members to her for everything she has done!