Finds, Flubs and Updates…Oh My!

I try to be very selective in what I buy for my store, but every once in a while I still choose items that causes my family to shake their heads…like this one. I’ll admit I went out on a limb with this strangely shaped beaded thingy. But I’m drawn to folk art items and I think this would look great in a bo-ho room.

Turns out it’s a vintage toran (door decoration) in moti bharat (beadwork) from India (likely Gujarat). I don’t think this is an antique one, so not valuable, but still a nice bread-and-butter find.

I also bought this framed Egyptian-themed needlepoint picture. (I have a thing for needlepoint and embroidery.) This photo, from the online listing, is not quite in focus but it still looked pretty darn cool to me. These typically sell in the $50-$60 range, so I should make a reasonable profit.

I noticed this little crystal bud vase on my second pass down the aisle in my neighborhood thrift store. Hmmm. It had a maker’s signature on the bottom. Now an etched pieced with a signature had my attention! Turns out it was made by artist Albert Arnits of Longview, Washington, who died in 1999. While his pieces aren’t valuable, they are charming and usable. I think this would make a sweet Mother’s Day gift…don’t you?

I love selling purses so when I spotted this vintage Neiman Marcus beaded clutch in pristine condition, it was a no-brainer. I think every woman needs at least one beaded purse!

I also bought myself a shopping tote for jaunts to the farmer’s market, estate sales and  what not. It’s sturdy leather with a flat bottom and was just $4.75! It was the flat bottom that sold me. I wanted a tote that I could set down without it tipping over.

Flubs

Isn’t this Ann Taylor baguette-style black leather purse adorable? I did a little in-store research and though I couldn’t find this exact purse I was sure it was a winner. I was wrong. At $13.15 there just wasn’t enough profit left in it. Poop! Rather than try to exchange it, I decided to keep this like-new bag for myself. It makes a great little “about town” purse fitting my wallet, phone, keys and a few cosmetics. I consider this a redeemed flub.

Now the big Kenneth Cole leather tote seemed like a definite winner and it would have been if the plastic piping along the edges hadn’t been damaged…I failed to spot that at the store. 😦 This I will exchange.

Updates

I’ve been slowly sorting through the mystery linen box I received a few weeks back. I’m re-donating all the pillowcases, scarves that aren’t worth a tuppence and anything damaged or poor quality. Thankfully there are still a lot of “keepers” in the box! I’ve started listing a few things like this heirloom quality hanky, six nice linen napkins and some doilies for upcycling.

I’m also continuing to sort through older inventory purchases and stumbled upon a little bag of jewelry in one of my bins of clothing! I was soooo excited until I remembered these were the “lesser” items from a lot I bought on eBay over a year ago. Most have condition issues. For example the sterling circle pin is missing a tiny rhinestone and the faux pearls on the Lisner pin are worn. I will add these to a crafters’ jewelry lot I am putting together.

Though I did pull out the tiny “100% Duty” pin. Turns out that’s a vintage Boy Scout pin and they typically sell for $25-30. And I may sell the Egyptian pin (with a C clasp) separately too. Though it’s not a spectacular example, it is of the 1920s “Egyptian Revival Jewelry” era, likely a child’s pin.

Sales

Thankfully sales have picked up a bit. Not wildly, but enough so I’m not obsessing about it! Many thanks to those of you who shared about your own lackluster April sales. It helps me feel less alone in this dry season. 🙂

As always, happy hunting,

Karen