Gifts of love

Love...remember how you felt when you first fell in love?  I fell in and out of love in high school and eventually married my high school sweetheart several years later.  I remember the trip to the fair where my love gift was earned at the shooting range booth.  I remember the French valentine attached to my locker at school.  He was so proud of his being able to write Amour on it.  The gifts have changed over the years and so did the celebration.  I remember the romantic meals on the set up card table in the living room with fancy glass candlesticks and burnt food.  One year I got my Fontanni nativity set on the seat of the car after he  faked a sprained ankle and sent me out to retrieve something on the seat.  The homemade chocolate cake he made and put on a cut-glass plate that was more crumbs than cake.  As the years went on the creativity changed but the gift was never forgotten.  It could be jewelry, a pretty vase, a piece for my collection or a bouquet of flowers.  Many times I told him,  "just bring me one rose,  you   don't have to buy a whole bouquet" but he always said  " You are worth more than that, honey".  My favorites  are the homemade cards he  made when we were too broke to buy anything.   Such wonderful days and how wonderful to be loved. The lesson learned for me is the gift doesn't have to be from Kay's Jewelers, or from the florist it can be something small or tenderly written because it is about the action rather than the amount spent.  Happy Valentine's Day, honey.

My take on "When old becomes new again"

     Goodbye 2012......

Loving collectibles and antiques as I do I was interested in the end of year numbers for what has sold on the collectible site Tias.  As anyone who sells on line  "old junk" we all try and pay attention to what has "returned" and what is not "in" anymore.

Looking at 2012 from a sellers point  of view I saw jewelry as the big seller. When I looked at the "What was selling" area of  Ruby Lane, ebay and Tias I  found that fact frustrating as I do not sell much of the items. All year I have found the numbers  climb weekly. I also find it alarming that the cost of gold has made the allure of money and the economics of the time  more important than holding on to beautiful pieces that were placed on a lapel or a ring by our ancestors who cherished them.  What does that say about the attitude of the young about "old" in any category including people?   Those beauties of stones and gold are now gone forever I am sad to say. The reality is the stories are gone as well of family and how they were obtained.

I love pottery and not just one kind but many types and price brackets.  I cannot pass up a figurine with wonderful details and delicacy.  Just head to a dollar store or a huge merchandise store to see the lack of workmanship our young people are buying.  It lacks detail, quality and even weight.  Sadly each one is the same and  mass produced as well. The quality is just a sad reflection of the fact that buying a piece of technology is far more impressive to young people these days then finding a piece of our past made by a crafters hands. The beauty of a planter is definitely a plus when you are talking pottery.  Yes, there are some beautiful pieces of planters now but isn't it interesting that at my garage sale every year that is one of the items most asked for.  Maybe people realize the sturdy durability of the old pieces Grandma used.  In looking at my own selling numbers sales have definitely been slower of those pieces on line this year but they have been consistent.

I am in heaven when I get the chance to look at old toys and games.  I am definitely hung up on the memories they bring  I guess.  Interestingly this year I have sold quite a few.  I believe there is a renewal of the" old" slowly trickling into the market.  My thought is that some parents are seeing the unwanted influence of technology and are looking for a way to bring  family time back  into their life. "Game nights" and the resurgence of the remake of old standby games prove that in the trendy specialty stores.   Even though the WII has become a family favorite I believe there is also a sense of some wanting the next generation to learn how to do fun without the modern conveniences and in a simple way.  From my view my granddaughter was totally enthralled with a game of jacks on the front sidewalk and we played for a good hour.  I think that says it all.

Lastly, is the trend of vintage clothing.  Now there is where you see quality.  Goodness knows, we all complain about the quality of the mass produced new these days.  Hollywood has helped this trend upsurge, I believe.  Economics has helped as well.  People are now not as able to afford the price of the fashionable new and fashion has, as it always does, taken from the past so that has definitely helped vintage clothing sellers.  I am afraid the real reality is as the population increases in size the ability to wear the clothing of the past will become less marketable. Tiny waists and small sizes were the trend years ago.   So if we want sales we need to promote the diet and exercise push now in our market not only for sales but also for better health. 

So that is my take on the end of year evaluation.  It is not worth much I am afraid and is not done with the economics of numbers as math is not my God given talent.  It is just one lonely seller with a keyboard and an opinion. 

Check out my "The Vintage Village" blog for my page to see the numbers and what was in and what was out.            

Happy Anniversary

I had the chance to watch this movie again and it is just as good as it was when it first came out. A synopsis of the 2005 movie, Coach Carter, would tell you it is about basketball at Richmond High School, academics and showing youth the value of education.  It is excellent and should be shared with our children and grandchildren.  The lessons on values, what is really important and the lack of some to see that teaching our youth is more important than using sports to get ahead are a reminder of what many people believe.  Although, I do not embrace all that Marianne Williamson   has written this portion of the quote used in the movie speaks volumes. 

Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to  manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. 

When I started my Carmel Collectibles Shop I had my husband pushing me to expand my world.  There were others who saw me as a foolish person, or a collector of “knicknacks” or junk, or someone not wise enough to be able to do it.  I took the step and am glad I did.  I have succeeded to have kept the shop open since November of 2005. I have lost a partner, closed a brick and mortar shop and have had very lean years.  Have I made oodles of money, no, but I have enjoyed what I have done.  Have I enjoyed the hunt, oh yes!  Do I have way too much inventory and could some say I border on hoarding, oh yes.  Do I still have nay sayers in my family who believe I should load up everything into  black garbage bags and walk it to the trash, oh yes I do but to them I say, no. 

It is another shop anniversary.  To my buyers and friends thank you for your support.  If you find something you like lower the cost with my blogger 20% discount.  Just mention the name ”coach”.  Why the blog about the movie?  Coach Carter defied the nay sayers and he believed in what he believed in and I hope I always do that as well and not let anyone  convince me this is not the right thing to do.  Happy Anniversary to me and Carmel  Collectibles.    

Most people head to the second hand store looking for items to buy but I also look for “the lookers”.  I enjoy browsing at next to new shops, The Rescue Mission, Goodwill and Salvation Army.    I love to watch people picking through the shelves of the Goodwill Store.  I have kind of categorized the people.  There is the   ”select picker”.  They lean over slightly with their hands on their back or at their side and they only pick up if they are truly interested.  When they pick up they don’t scrutinize the item they just take it.  There are the “lookers” who wander but never touch.  They just tip their head from side to side or elongate their neck to see the upper shelf.  They never seem to find anything to buy or hold.  Then there are the “grazers”.  They pick up, set down and pick up again.  Glance at the item and put it back.   Their cart usually has only one or two items in it.  Then there are the “grazers” who pick up everything they like and put numerous items in the cart and after they walk through the aisles they go back and put half the cart back on the shelf.  The ones I always am amazed at are those who are not intimidated by the search.  They are willing to spend an hour checking out the tubs piled high with items not on the shelf yet  or search piles of clothes to see what is at the bottom.  I call them the “bottom finders”.  Often they find a goodie way down underneath that no one else ever even saw.   And finally   there are the “collecters” who selectively look at items checking the bottom for marks or ringing   the edge looking for nicks.  You see them in there a lot and some days the cart is full and some days they leave empty handed.  The clerks know them and they exchange a hi or a smile.  Next time you head to the Goodwill Store play the treasure hunter game and see how many of the “lookers” you can identify.

It is definitely Fall.  My yard is 3inches deep in leaves so I have had to move my vintage garden containers to the shed for the season.  The tomatoes have been picked, My two cucumbers are waiting in the frig to be eaten.  I had fadja last night with some of my yellow and green pepper cuttings.  I did so love my little garden and will do it again next year.  Are you ready for cold and snow? I wish the gold and orange colors had stayed but our hard frost ellininated the seasonal colors.  I sure miss the Wisconsin  maple bright colors.So here are a few of my vintage garden shots.  

gardening in vintage

Fall is here and it is time to clean up my vintage garden.  Using vintage items in the garden has been so much fun this year.  I actually have had vintage items in my garden for years.  This cream separator has been a member of my yard for years and always finds itself full of flowers each summer.  Obviously my lab finds it a restful area to just relax near. My stove actually came with the house and in pieces.  We put it together and hopefully I never have to move the jigsaw puzzle and put it back together again!  this year I made a vegetable vegetable garden area and had some success gaining a few tomatoes, 2 whole cucmbers and some peppers in red and yellow.  I had a few failures like the peas that did not like their new home location and the squash that lost to the volunteer moss roses but still I think it was a success.  I will do it again next year. It was fun finding the iron pieces to put out in that garden.  Fits right with what I love!

Fall surprises

I love this piece and can see it with one of my favorite casseroles in it or green bean casserole.  I love the cattails swaying on the outter holder and the way the green peaks through.  I keep fighting with myself to take it off and keep it.  So many kitchen items attract my attention.  I can see it on the Sunday dinner table.  A pretty table is so pleasing to me.  A table with fall colors really makes me smile.  Greens, golds, browns and yellows are so calming. 

http://www.rubylane.com/item/357173-692035/Northington-green-dish-w-tigertail