On My Radar: Handmade Primitive, Rustic & Weird Things

First, let me say I do love pretty things. Both my store and home have items of conventional beauty and classic design. But I am also drawn like a moth to a flame to handmade things that are primitive, homely and even weird. They intrigue me.

My only criteria, they have to be HONEST. I see a lot of fake primitive things that are churned out in China–the slapped together wood box with faux distressing or the metal signs that have been “aged” with special paint. I am not interested in these.

Here are some of the honest things that did interest me…

My oldest daughter looked at this when I pulled it out of the bag and shook her head in a “What were you thinking?” manner. But this mid-century fat lava candlestick (handmade in Iceland!) is so deliciously weird with its dark, autumnal, drippy glaze and rough, jagged bumps that I was riveted to it.

I adored this wacky bird figurine. It took a while to find the right buyer, but I always thought it was pretty cool. (Paid $4.50, sold for $40.)

This small handmade pottery “alien” vase barely took a minute to sell. (Bought for $1.79, sold for $25.)

This homely pottery bell figurine from Puerto Rico sold in a day. (Paid $2.00, sold for $17.00)

Here’s my latest bit of pottery weirdness. I have this little vase/cup thingy on my coffee table right now.

This handmade primitive wood box was one favorite vacation finds from a few years ago. I had in my store for a while and then took it out because I’m not ready to part with it yet!

When I spotted these handmade tobacciana wood sneakers in a thrift store, I thought they were amazing and ironic. I mean wood sneakers as ashtrays and cigarette holders?! Hoping somebody else likes their weirdness. 🙂

I bought this rustic handmade willow child’s chair at an estate sale. Loved it, but it was a pain to ship when it sold! (Bought $3, sold for $30.) Oddly, the buyer wanted me to personalize the chair by painting a name on it. I had a heck of a time trying to convince her that I don’t offer that service. Because she was buying it on Etsy I think she made some assumptions.

But I have to share that I have had a few duds too. Things that just didn’t capture anyone’s heart. These weird artisan ceramic plates hang around in my store for years and I only sold one to a friend. I finally (and sadly) decided to donate the rest a few months ago.

In general though I find that handmade rustic, primitive and weird things sell. Sometimes not quickly, but eventually (95% of the time!) the right person comes along. So I keep them on my radar…always.

What’s on your radar?

Happy hunting,

Karen