Vintage Rescue Squad

3 Things I Hope I are OUT for 2012

I have a typical love/hate relationship with annual year-end In/Out Hot/Not lists. I take a perverse glee in seeing pet peeves deemed OUT, and an equal dread in seeing trumped-up seemingly media-generated "trends" deemed IN. This week's Washington Post's list didn't disappoint on either front. The odd thing is that I don't read these as crib notes for trends I need to keep my eye on; I tend to look at them for validation. Either that, or just amusement.

OUT: Civil War re-enactors, quinoa, and hoarding. IN: Pinterest, naps, and duct tape. Now we're talking!

All this got me to thinking: what do I fervently hope I never see again in 2012 and beyond? Behold:

 

My sister can readily tell you that there is a long list of things that skeeve me out, but these are the latest ones (in the vintage category). If I never see another glove mold, owl, or nut cup, it'll be too soon. With my luck, my next estate sale will have all three, surrounded (of course) by a sea of Wade figurines.

The most disturbing thing about the Post's list: flea-market chic has been deemed OUT, in favor of Scandinavian rustic. But what does the Post know? They also deemed etsy OUT, which is patently ridiculous.

Do y'all have any vintage trends or items that you feverishly hope are on the way out? I'd love to hear them. And no fair baiting me by listing suitcases and typewriters....

More Presents

If you're like me, once you get in shopping mode, you just can't stop. You may also buy more presents for yourself than is considered seemly. Before you judge me, consider my friend Diana, who buys herself things all year, hides them in a closet, and then opens them all Christmas morning. Such is the life of us single grrrls.

 

new items added to my etsy shop!

For more years than I care to admit, right after Christmas I tend to buy myself additional gifts. It's not that I don't get what I want; it's not that I don't get enough. It's merely that I'm in acquisition mode, and there's so many deals around.

Today, don't be jealous: I bought myself a new windshield (long story). But I also bought new cowboy boots, earrings, and have my eye on a flat-screen tv—all necessities, mind you.

If you're in a similar predicament (or didn't get a calendar in your stocking), I've got additional copies of my 2012 Dreaming of Junking calendar available in my etsy shop, along with a bunch of new items just listed today.

See? I'm already starting on my new year's resolutions!

My Wish

Sincere holiday wishes to all my junky peeps! No matter your race, creed, or political affiliation, let's celebrate our diversity, and enjoy peace, love, and prosperity in the coming year.

I'm honored to share Blogistan with you, and relish our kinship. XOX

New Rule: No Etsy Before Bedtime

While home for our family's patented "early Christmas," my dad commented "you girls spend a lot of time on computers." I'm tempted to dismiss his observation as the Luddite views of an octogenarian, but, um, TRUE DAT.

I spent the bulk of my time catching up on blogs, reviewing a friend's young-adult novel, and playing stupid games. But I'm here to attest that my sister spent nearly 10 hours a day on etsy: checking etsy, researching on etsy, favoriting on etsy, creating secret treasuries on etsy, yadda yadda. Basically, plummeting down the etsy wormhole. It was a wonder to behold.

 

And now I'm doing it too. Lord, help me.

One night, while in Florida, my sister crept into the room we were sharing and I awoke from an AWESOME dream I was having about an AMAZING estate sale, with lots of cool mixed-media artwork that I knew I could sell for big bucks on etsy. Snis hooted when I told her about it—even louder as I desperately attempted to re-enter that great dream.

Then, last night, after exploring a wormhole of carnival/medical oddity items (represented above), I dreamed I had flown out of town to a flea market that was really good, ran into a medical-oddity dealer and we fell in love, so I skipped my flight home—in part hoping he'd give me some good deals. WTF.

Great. Just like spicy food, I now need to avoid etsy before bed.

And the Award Goes to....

On the heels of my anticipated nomination for Best Junk in a Biopic, I'm shopping for a party dress and calling Winston's to borrow some jewels for my big night. Yes, yet another bit o' VRS junk will debut in a film in 2012!

 

A few weeks ago, the shop called me to tell me a prop guy had purchased some items from me, and wanted to "rent" one of my typewriters for a film. He offered to pay full price if he could return it in a week and get half his money back. Fine by me—it's like selling it 1.5 times! He just sent me the above photo (on the monitor, so I could see it in the "dailies"), where it's barely visible in the center of the frame, in the background between the 2 dapper gents.

 

And here it is on set! I'm so excited. Personally, I think my Royal and I are a shoo-in for Best Cameo by Vintage Office Equipment. Here's hoping an adding machine doesn't steal the sympathy vote....

P.S. I have no idea what the title of the film is, but will try to find out.

Meh Christmas!

Unlike seemingly every vintage and/or junky blogger out there, I'm ambivalent about most holidays. I don't go overboard on decorating the booth (or my home) for ANY holidays—in fact, I've STOPPED holiday-decorating my booth at all. I rarely buy vintage Christmas items, mainly because I don't want to lose an eye over a box of Shiny Brites. God forbid I get between a maniacal dealer and a sparkly Putz house. Oh, you know who you are.

 

Now that my family's patented early Christmas is behind me (yes, we celebrated last weekend), I'm moving on. What little yuletide vintage I have will be in the etsy shop this weekend—yes, I'm an enabler. 

I am Picker #27

Breaking News! Snis and I are down in Florida for our family's patented "early Christmas" and we just spent a day shopping for vintage. At our last stop she espied these awesome Picker tickets!

 

They were used in the groves—migrant workers were assigned a number and then used these packets of tickets to mark the bushels they had picked. Each pack measures approx 1" x 2.5" and has 2 perforated tickets per page, with approx 50 pages—that's 100 little picker tickets.

 

Here's my dilemma: do I go back tomorrow (or Monday) and buy the remaining ones? I bought 20, only because they wouldn't give me a discount if I bought them all. Is the market too limited? Will anyone be interested? Is it too late to change my business/blog name to Picker 27?

Feel free to let me know if I should buy them or not—please!

Transition Complete (and a New Addition)!

As many of you know, I've slowly been transitioning my booth from the tried-and-true shabby chic/white/romantic (if mine ever could be called that) style to what is truer to my own heart. OK, maybe not that slowly, but ....

 

late November

Last week, my sister and I happened to be at the shop at the same time, and she commented that my transformation was complete—I had transitioned. Whew! (Not entirely true, as I still have 1 white painted piece).

For me, the white painted girly look had become a burden long ago. I can still enjoy looking at it, and know that many others do too, but it's not as universally popular and fresh as it once was. It's also not selling well in the DC area. More importantly, I didn't enjoy it, it wasn't selling, and I felt smothered by it.

 

yesterday

For those of you just starting out in the re-selling business, I urge you to re-evaluate your m.o. once in a while. Many will find that it's better to stay true to what you love—the customers will come. Others will chase the latest styles, knowing the customers will also come. It's a tough decision. For me, I ultimately decided to go with what I like, what I can find, and combine it all for an eclectic look.

Wait! What's that off to the left?

 

Yes, it's a big honking new glass case! John scooped it up at an amazing price at the last Big Flea, and it's now in my space. I'd been pondering renting one of the shop's glass booths, so this works out well. I won't have to buy furniture through the winter! Yeah, it takes up a lot of space, but look at all the loot we can get in it—treasures that we can't risk getting stolen, and those that can't withstand frequent manhandling. Michelle/John have one half (right) and I have the other (left).

 

I'll admit that I took some convincing, but I'm now happy about it. In fact, we each had a sale from the case on the very first day!!! Oh, no. Will I have to eat my words about locked glass cases? 

2012 Calendars are In Stock!

2012 cover features Anne's amazing photography from Fiona and Twig

As many of you know, I'm a diehard junker who spends all my generous vacation time hitting far-flung flea markets. Forget Disneyland—aisles of treasures in a sunny field is my idea of R&R! Well, start planning your vacations now ... or re-schedule that business trip to coincide with a Rose Bowl weekend. The calendars are now in my etsy shop!!!

 

December features one of Georgia Peachez's wreaths!

This year's theme is ABUNDANCE—something many of us aren't seeing a lot of in our day-to-day dealings in a down economy. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that we junkers DO see abundance most weekends. Who isn't thrilled to see a stash of awesome vintage Christmas ornies buried in an estate-sale basement?

 

The thrill of discovering multiples is unparalleled, causing some of us to move faster than we thought possible. I'm pretty sure I sprained something grabbing for this key ring earlier this year. And I definitely know the woman who subsequently bought it from me needed oxygen afterwards.

 

Paula of One Lucky Day spotted these at the Country Living fair

In a bold move, this year I created my own abundance by ordering 200 calendars—more than last year, as I kept getting requests well into February. They are traditional 11" x 8.5" spiral-bound calendars. As usual, I've included listings of most of the larger flea markets and antique shows nationwide, as well as some of the smaller occasional and pop-up shows.*

They're $19.50 with FREE SHIPPING in the continental U.S. Calendars will ship daily except Dec. 8-14, as I will be in Florida. Start planning those junk trips now; I know I am!!! And, as usual, if you see me at a flea market, I've got dibs on that vintage typewriter.

UPDATE: My apologies to those that submitted photos that were ultimately not included. I lost all my emails for the early part of November, so have no way of acknowledging you each individually how profoundly grateful I am that you thought of me. If your photos were included, you would've received an email from me last week. Again, thanks for all the drool-worthy submissions!

 

*Unfortunately, because I have to do it so early, many shows had not announced their dates or responded to my requests. Also, due to space constraints by those teeny little squares, I could not include many smaller fleas and/or occasional sales. Before making plans for any show, please verify show dates and times.