End-of-Year Vintage Hunting and Hopes for 2024

By the time we reach the last few days of December, I think we are all ready for the year to be over and to start “a fresh” in the new year. I know I am. 2023 had its share of lovely highs and crushing lows. If I were to have any personal hopes for 2024 they would include an international vacation. I haven’t been overseas in 12 years when my youngest daughter and I vacationed in Prague. (A great trip.) I’m also hoping we undertake some much-needed house renovations. Thirty-plus years in this house have taken a toll! (The bathrooms look particularly shabby.) And I am really, really hoping no one close to me dies in 2024. (The last three years have been somewhat shattering with the deaths of four relatives I loved and adored: my aunt Mary, cousin Shirley, cousin Carol and my brother Dave.)

**This photo is from a long ago family trip to Ireland with our Dublin hotel in the background.**
**We got stranded here for an extra week because ash from an Icelandic volcano grounded flights for days.**
**It was insanely stressful not knowing when we could leave. My eldest missed her prom.**

On the biz front, I want to make a few changes. First I want to have less inventory. I need to go through all my old lingering stock and figure out what to do with it. Likely some pieces will get donated. Then I want to keep focused on items with more value. For me that means selling things valued at $60 and up. And I want things to sell more quickly which may require that I expand where I sell. But first I need to get caught up with my accounting!!

Now onto the fun stuff…

Hunting at my Neighborhood Thrift Store

After finding a Lisa Larson ceramic “Grumpy Bulldog” piece in this store five days ago I decided to go at least once more this year. And bingo, I found this antique sugar bowl with sterling silver basket and original glass liner by Watson Co. This made my heart go pitter patter. I love old stuff like this and it’s still a usable item. Wouldn’t it be cute as a candy dish, say filled with M &Ms or jelly beans? Thank you to whoever donated this!

Now a very similar Watson basket with the same glass liner sold in August 2023 for $275. The feet are fancier, but it’s essentially the same. Is this really a $275 item? Hmmm…I guess it was for someone, but I’ve priced mine at $125.

And this lovely Persian Khatam frame had just been put out while I was shopping and I snagged it. I’ve sold a number of inlaid pieces like this that exude exotic glamour. What surprised me was it’s size–it’s a whopping 16.5″ tall. (Personally I’d remove the metal bird picture and put something else there.)

Hunting Online

From time to time I buy jewelry from other online sellers. This old sterling silver and turquoise pendant came from an eBay seller who said it had belonged to the estate of a single, 90-year-old woman who loved to travel. It was big, heavy and gorgeous…and, I thought, undervalued. (With shipping and tax it came to $113.) I’ll enjoy wearing this for a while before I eventually list it in my store!