Yes, I Keep Some of My Finds!

I adore doing what I do–finding great vintage things to sell. But every once in a while I find things that are difficult to part with. (It’s probably the same for you!) Even after listing them in my Etsy store, there’s that moment when I realize, I really don’t want to sell it. At least not yet. 🙂

It’s the blessing and curse of being in this biz–falling in love with the very items you’re trying to sell. It would be so easy to have a house crammed with great stuff, but I do limit what I keep and often follow a one in/one out policy. If I’m keeping something I have to let something else go.

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Definite Keepers…

This wacky little hand-made wood box. It was in my Etsy store and almost bought by someone in China. When she didn’t follow through with the transaction after I calculated the shipping, I decided to deactivate the listing.

I bought it for $4 at an antique store two or three years ago. It’s something a lot of people would just throw out, but I thought it was fabulous then and still do.

This 1959 Native American painting. I bought this on eBay earlier this year and decided I need to keep it for a while!

Just love the stylized deer and the little owl.

This Victorian-era sterling silver/mother of pearl fruit knife. Bought this three years ago from my cousin-in-law’s collectibles store for $20, which I thought was a steal.

I keep it on my desk in a little crystal dish with other fabulous bits!

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Possible Keepers…

This Ceska crystal vase. It’s been in my store for almost a year now and during that time I’ve used it time and time again and it occurred to me…why am I selling this? I think it’s beautiful and I use it!

This mid-century modern hand blown glass ashtray. I found it at an out-of-the-way thrift store located in a series of portable trailers on a dead-end road. (Grey Bears in Santa Cruz, CA, is worth tracking down if you’re in the area!)

It was so beautiful and in perfect condition. Later I did some research on it and found that it’s made in the Sommerso style.

“Sommerso is a Murano glass technique with a unique look of layered colors inside clear glass.”

glassofvenice.com/blog

I believe it is a piece of Murano glass, but because I can’t guarantee that it is, I have priced it lower than similar Murano pieces. I finally listed it in my store after enjoying it for over a year and now am having second thoughts about selling it. Hmmmm.

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Letting ‘Em Go…

This small numbered print “Blue Bouquet III” by artist J. Valentine. It’s a sweet image of Queen Anne’s lace that I bought years ago before I started my biz.

This 1940s/1950s “Lord is My Shepherd” embroidered piece. I bought this about a decade ago. It was loosely framed and I had it displayed for a time on one of our picture rails.

This Bohemian garnet brooch. Love it, but found I just wasn’t wearing it. Time to let it go…reluctantly!

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I realize that most things in my house are fair game for my store. When I was in full collecting mode, I couldn’t have imagined parting with some of my treasures. Now it’s much easier. 🙂

Got anything you can’t part with?

As always, happy hunting,

Karen