Gathering Dust

15 Years of Buying Junk and Selling Antiques

I stopped at my booth at the antique mall today to bring in a few new things and pay my rent for April.  As I was writing my check, I realized that I've been a dealer at the mall for FIFTEEN years. 

That got me a bit nostalgic about the different spaces I've had at the mall, the stuff I've sold and the displays I've put together. I pulled out the scrapbook  of snapshots I kept before the days of digital cameras.

This is from my first Christmas at the mall, and it kind of surprised me how much it looks like a display I'd put together today.  One difference is my booth is a lot more crowded now.  I really cram it in.

When Karla and I started sharing a booth, we went full into a cottage floral shabby chic look.  Sharing a booth isn't for everybody, but we got along great.  We planned color schemes, themes and displays ahead of time and could spend a whole day re-do our booth.  Sometimes that included painting.

If you look at the very top of the picture above, to the left of the curtains, you can see some of Karla's faux painted bricks.

Not everybody "got" our chippy rusty painted look.  This cartoon kind of summed it up.

We did a lot of flower and garden displays and used a lot of white metal plant stands.

I really like this yellow and green garden display, but PINK always sold better than yellow.

It didn't take very long to get a full cozy cottage look.

One of my favorite parts was always being the first person to see Karla's newest painted creation like this floral chest of drawers.

Looking back on these pictures, I am ever so grateful for digital cameras. 

I wish I had taken more pictures. The last of these pictures was probably taken in 2003 and I really didn't start taking pictures again until I started my blog in 2007.  I guess I'll just call 2004-2006 my "lost period".

Missed It By That Much...

My very first blog post was Feb 9, 2007; I missed posting on my blogiversary by two days.  In honor of seven years and two days of blogging, I'm doing a post about what I've been doing lately, which isn't really all that interesting, but what the heck?

Trying to "bust my stash" of yarn, I've made two small afghans, lapsize for watching TV or reading.  I divided up my extra and half used skeins into blues and pastels.  The afghan on top is the blues.  The pastels are below.

Button thinks I made them both for him.

I found this great gooseneck lamp, but the plug was old and scary, with only a little piece of cardboard holding in metal wires, so I put a new plug on.

(I did warn you that this wasn't going to be the most interesting post...)  I used to rewire lamps a lot, and in theory, it's easy, but in practice it takes time and patience.

Estate sales have been few and far between lately.  I think the weather has something to do with that.  I did go to a great auction and I bought even more than the "auction I went to when my dog died".

At the auction I indulged in my fondness for silver vanity and desk items that no one would use today.  Button hooks, metal nail files, metal tools to dig at your cuticles- no way!  I didn't get all of these at the most recent auction, I just added to my collection.

Two of my favorite new pieces- fancy scissors and and a fancy knife that wouldn't cut much more than warm butter.

So there you have it, my two days late anniversary blog post.  I thought about doing one of those "how blogging has affected my life" but it just didn't feel quite right.  Maybe that's because my goal for 2014 is to be mindful of the present, instead of reflective of the past.

But I will leave you with some pictures of the recent past- like last Friday when I hauled a ton of stuff from that auction into my antique booth.

Why Won't Anyone Buy This?

This morning I made a visit to my booth at the antique mall to straighten up a bit and add a few new things. 

Instead of my usual pictures of "look at this awesome antique I brought in", I snapped some pictures of things that seem...like...they...have...been...in...my ...booth...forever.

I don't mean "props" like glass bowls, wicker baskets or books that I use as to make displays.  I usually price these items, but most of them are generic enough that I don't expect people to buy them.

I'm just curious if anyone has any ideas about items that just don't sell.  Is it just the law of averages that some things will take a long time to sell, or do I have a blind spot for some merchandise that is just doggy?

Like this architectural bulls eye.  It's only priced at $4, has chippy paint and is appropriately distressed.  I'm pretty sure it's been in my booth for at least three years.  It's small, makes a nice stage or backdrop, so it doesn't bother me to keep it in my booth, but I'm surprised no one has wanted to take it home.

These shoes are super vintage- patent leather and clear plastic.  Chances are the only person they would actually fit is a seven year old, but I'm surprised no one has bought them as a display piece- they're only eight dollars.

How about this?  New Old Stock baby bonnet in a gift box with an unused card.  I know that yellow is not a "best selling" color- a green, blue or pink box would probably have been gone long ago, but at $3, I'd think someone would want this.  It's probably only been hanging around for 6 months.

This candy tin definitely shows some age, but it's not UGLY ugly and I don't think I've seen another one like it.  I think its been hanging around for over 2 years.

This old metal mail box hasn't been around for too long.  I think I brought in as part of a display last Oct, but I'm surprised that someone hasn't bought it to use to hold a spray of flowers, or tucked some vintage letters and lace out of the top.

This tobacco tin/lunch pail is fairly common, but it has nice graphics and at $18 would make a good piece for a beginning collector.

So, I'm just curious.  Any ideas why these pieces are still hanging around?  To be sure, I'm not worried about them.  Like I've said before, I have GREAT customers and I'm lucky to sell most of what I bring to my booth.

Is there anything that you other dealers just can't sell and can't figure out why?

I'll leave you with one last picture of things I've just brought in.  If I have my way, they won't be in my next "Why won't anyone buy this?" post.

What I Saw at the Old Summit Antique Show vers. Jan 2014

 

Once again, the Old Summit Antique show had an abundance of great displays and country ware.  This baritone and boiler in a tin bathtub made me smile.

I love everything in this picture- old drawers, old books, but the woman in the picture looks like she might reach out with a ruler and slap your hand if you touch her books.

Sweet vignette with a doll, hat, parasol and baby shoes.

I LOVE the embroidery on this "low color" skirt and blouse.  Speaking of low color, it was so nice to have customers mention that they had read my post about being excited about finding cream colored books, and they completely understood.

Another customer was buying a handmade craftman style stool that had some really intricate cutwork, but had also been repaired.  When I sell something that is less than perfect, I try to point out the flaw to the customer.  I don't want someone to get home and be upset because they didn't get what they expected.  I pointed out the repair to the woman, and she said "Well of course it's been repaired, it's old and its seen a lot of life- and that's why I want it my house". 

It's so nice when people "get it" and realize that imperfections are just part of the story.

Sweet little calico dresses.

I think these are old croquet balls, well worn and well used, and that is part of their story.

The show was very successful for me.  I'm lucky to have great customers who like the same things that I do, and show up at every sale so we can catch up and visit.  The show gets to be almost as much of a social event as a sale.

This is my booth about 1 pm.  The dress form and stool on the back table were sold to other dealers, but they left them in my booth so it wouldn't look so empty.  It still looks kind of forlorn but for me, it's a good kind of forlorn.

Random Thoughts on Selling Antiques: Where Do You Find That Stuff?

Lately,I've been busier than usual  keeping my booth stocked for Christmas. As I've been cleaning, sorting, pricing & arranging merchandise, I've been thinking about things that have and haven't worked me for me when it comes to reselling.

This post could come under the category of giving advice, but it's really just my random observations.

Most of my merchandise comes from estate sales and auctions. One reason I like estate sales and auctions is they are an efficient use of my time.  If things go the way I like, I can head out to  estate sales at 8:30 on a Friday morning, and by noon I'm home with a lot of stuff.  

Sometimes auctions are a little bit more of an investment in time, but I usually come home with more.  If there are only a handful of things that I want at an auction and it doesn't look like they'll be up for a bid for quite a while, I head home.  My free time is precious, and I don't want to spend it sitting on a folding chair while a hundred beanie babies are sold. (Or even worse, STANDING while model trains are being sold...you get the idea)

The other reason I like estate sales and auction is the merchandise is fresh.  Not fresh as in new, but fresh as in new to the market.  It's usually stuff that has been in people's homes for thirty plus years.  It's not that I'm a snob about what I sell, and only want to sell one of a kind items. 

If you look around my booth (or Etsy shop), you'll see plenty of things you've seen other places; but it is fun to have that one of a kind piece to display in your booth.  And it's fun to hear customers say "Where did you find that?." 

Of course, there are other ways to get inventory.  Flea markets, antique shows, antique stores and eBay are a few I can think of. 

Some dealers are lucky enough to have "pickers".  A picker is someone who sells directly to a dealer.  Generally, a picker is someone who knows a dealer's tastes,likes to hunt for antiques, but doesn't want to bother with the extras that go with selling at a mall, show or flea market. 

Some pickers don't buy with any particular dealer in mind.  They may load a truck full of stuff and drive around to antique stores,resale stores, antique malls etc and approach whoever is there about buying from them. I've even had pickers approach me at antique shows.

I haven't really run across any treasures this way, but occasionally I'll do what I call a "courtesy buy".  If a picker, dealer, or a neighbor, friend, coworker or acquaintance offers to sell something to me with the idea that they may have a future stream of merchandise to sell to me, sometimes I'll buy the item, even if I don't want it, just to be "courteous" and hope they will think of me the next time they have something to sell.

That's just some of what's run through my head as I'm working on my antique business.  I have thoughts on merchandising (how much is too much?), customer service (how much is too much), haggling and more.

And of course, these are just my opinions.  Like they say, your mileage may vary.

More Holiday Ideas from Bottoms Up

Last week I posted about all the different ornament display ideas I saw at Bottoms Up Antique Market, but Bottoms Up has lots more Christmas ideas.

Like these paper angel wings and felted wool icicles.

Love this combination of a champage bucket, vintage beads and pink French crepe paper.

Red snow boots make a great vase for greenery.

Silver bells.

Traditional colors of Christmas.

Glitter covered paper mache Christmas cottages.

Check it out for yourself next weekend Dec 6 & 7.

Vintage Christmas Inspiration from Bottoms Up

Yesterday I had a sneak peek at Bottoms Up Antique Market's Holiday Open House.  I took lots of pictures- the place is full of cool, inspiring, amazing and incredible stuff- industrial, vintage, French, fine antiques, repurposed vintage, funky clothes,handmade jewelry and more, all in a great old building I posted about here.

Because a lot of folks will be doing some holiday decorating this weekend and next, I thought I'd share some different ideas I spied for displaying ornaments.

The classic tree full of ornaments- especially cute when the ornaments are color coordinated and PINK.

Balanced on a cruet holder.

Sorted by color in vintage glass jars.

Lots of the same color in different sizes and finishes gathered in a planter make a big impression.

So do just a few ornament on a pretty plate.

Mercury glass vases look extra festive with an ornament perched on top.

Garden urns are great for smaller table top trees.  Wouldn't you like to be invited to this tea party?

Love this two tiered Florentine tray overflowing with gold.

And how's this for a great take on Florentine?

...a whole tree decorated with Madonnas in Florentine frames.

If you don't have a whole tree, improvise with just a branch to make an ornament curtain.

If all this decorating has made you tired, how about a nap with a linen throw and pillow next to a giant basket of pinecone ornaments?

For more great holiday ideas, inspiration, and creativity, check out Bottoms Up Antique Market.  They'll be open First Friday weekend, which is Dec 6-7.

If you  liked these pictures, be sure to "like" Bottoms Up on Facebook.  They regularly post pictures of all the great "new" old stuff coming in.

Seven Things I Did This Weekend

(Isn't that a great title for a blog post- so clever and original.)

1.  Finished the base of a small applique quilt with mini charm pack pieces from French General.

I still want to add embellishments, buttons, charms or stitching to each square.

 
2.  Brought in two tubs of stuff to my booth at the antique mall and redid a couple of displays.  Sorry about the distracting price tags, but you can't sell the stuff without price tags...

I think I've shown some of these pieces on my blog before, but I've moved them around.  Theoretically, that should make them sell.  You just keep moving stuff around until you sell it.

3.  Despite some of my knitting follies, I started knitting the LEFT SIDE of a cardigan.  The right side is done, the back is done.  I just hope that when I line them up, they are all the same length.  Is that so much to ask?

4.  Finished the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy.  I know, I'm late to the Hunger Games party.  But I did enjoy it and will read the third book for sure.

5.  Read Altered Couture magazine for the first time. There are some really imaginative and pretty ideas for enhancing and embellishing clothes, a lot of it by repurposing thrift store clothing.

6.  Was delighted to find a "Katniss" dress in Altered Couture.  (Katniss is the hero of The Hunger Games).  In the book, she wears a dress of fire.

This dress is embellished with painted matches.  What a clever idea.

7.  Listed stuff in both Etsy shops.

 All this can be found in SugarPinkMoon.

And all this (and more) in Gathering Dust.

Saturday Morning Flea Market

Last Saturday, Karla and I made a mini road trip to St Joe Missouri to two of our favorite antique malls Jesse James and The Rusty Chandelier.  There was a flea market in the parking lot, and a flea market on sunny Saturday with temps in the 70s is almost always a good thing.

After making several trips back to the car with our hauls from the flea market we headed inside. 

The Rusty Chandelier has always been a great place to get pretty stuff and inspiration.  The booths are carefully decorated and full of ideas for repurposing- none of those mantique booths full of tools or baseball cards.

The mall was so full of pretties and fun ideas, I ended up taking a lot of pictures.  When I started looking at the pictures, I realized that most were from booths belonging to my friend Joyce Gilpin who's business is called All That Jazz.

Joyce has a great eye for fun stuff and pretty ways to display it.

Joyce has a great mix of vintage, antique and handmade items, like this fun tintype frame used as a necklace.

Here are some more of my favorite vignettes.

 

More Antique Show Vignettes

Besides having great merchandise, the Old Summit Antique Show that I sold at last weekend has dealers with great merchandising skills.  They set up beautiful and intriguing vignettes that make you look and linger.

 A soft and faded red white and blue display of ironstone.

Stacked frames on top of an intriguing portrait.

Black and gold- classic combination.

I love the upholstery and detailed woodwork on this chair.

Here's another view sans wildlife.

A bit of tatting still on the shuttle.