Another Etsy First!

I received an email today from an Etsy seller, silkwormvintage, who was including one of my shop items, the vintage strawberry tin tray, in a treasury she created (I Love Strawberries for Christmas). I'm really pleased (and excited) to be included!

What's an Etsy Treasury? Etsy defines it as an "ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery comprised of lists of items" and it's usually based on a theme or their favorite items. Any member can create a Treasury list and edit it as often as they like. Members can use treasuries as a great way to shop (for example, by search of 'strawberries'), click through to the items and leave comments. The number of views your list receives as well as the number of clicks the items featured in your list receive are displayed in the list's Stats section. The cool thing is that Etsy then features some treasuries on the home page!

When my life slows down a little (when will THAT be?), I plan to create a list or two myself!

Opening the Shop Soon!

I spent most of the day photographing, wrapping and boxing up items for Ebay and my Etsy shop. I had so much fun going to estate sales and flea markets with my friend Bargain Hunter all summer, but all the treasures I found have to go somewhere. One of my son's friends, when he came to our house, walked down the basement steps and said, "Wow! This looks like an episode from 'Hoarders -- Buried Alive'!" Personally, I think he was exaggerating, but nonetheless, I got the message.

A Capri Cream & Sugar Set

A light blue Lu Ray Creamer

It's HARD to get rid of things! I always have a hard time at sales buying things I don't particularly like but know will sell well, so most of what I buy, I'd love to keep. These are just a few of the items I'll be listing soon -- you'll be able to actually SEE something when you click on the link to my Etsy shop!

A Holt Howard Cat Salt & Pepper Set

Shafford Black Cat Redware Cookie Jar
Tin Strawberry Tray

I'm getting into the selling spirit, though and have been reading lots of great blogs about how to display, how to photograph and how to wrap items for my shop. I have to admit that it's really intimidating -- there are some truly creative and interesting people out there in the blogosphere and on Etsy! I don't think I'll ever be one of them, but my creative muse has been awakened.

First things first -- the hoarder's pile must go. Then I can start making some things I've had on the drawing board from the vintage fabric, findings & buttons I've been collecting. I think these days 'they' (whoever 'they' are) call a person's second career the 'encore' job. Well, maybe this is my encore -- an it should be a fun adventure!

Flea Market Finds

I had such a great time this summer, hanging out with my friend, Bargain Hunter, and going to flea markets and estate sales. You'll see some of the the great items I picked up in my Etsy store or on Ebay in the next few weeks; but there were some things that I just had to keep! Here are some of the treasures I found:

A Homer Laughlin Kitchen Kraft look-alike cookie jar

A great recipe tea towel (you just can't have too many tea towels!) --
check out the recipes below...
Yet another vintage clothespin bag with clothespins
A homemade sock clown with the cutest look on his face.
Normally, I think clowns are scary, but he's cute --
maybe it's the polka dots.

A pair of Holt Howard cat salt & pepper shakers --
too bad that the 'meow' mechanisms are broken in them.

A chef grocery list and pencil holder -- too cute!
Bargain Hunter and I will no doubt go to more sales this fall -- I'll keep you posted on my flea market & estate sale finds!

Vote on my Retro Fabric!

I went antiquing with my friend Kim last weekend and got this great 'mid-century' barkcloth. Kim later described it in her blog as 'funky retro fabric' and implied that it really wasn't as cool as I though it was.

So...you get to vote, faithful readers! Here's a picture of the fabric and a poll (in the left panel) -- you make the call, cool or not cool!

The Living Room's Done!

After a couple of weeks of what feels like non-stop work (and shopping and returns), the living room is finally *almost* completed! With Charlie & Sarah arriving tomorrow, Sarah's mom & stepdad coming on Tuesday and the Gilmore clan coming on Sunday, we REALLY felt the pressure to get it finished this weekend. I felt like I was on 'Design Star' and I could hear people shouting "just 15 more minutes. . ." as we hurried to get the last drop cloth put away and the last picture or pillow in place.

Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out (although it still feels like someone else's room). Here are some pics:

Arnold Ziffel

The year of the pig (and the cute little pic I chose) made me think of one of my favorite pigs, Arnold Ziffel! Here he is, for all of you who remember him and, especially for those of you who don't.