Posted by I’ll be honest, summer is not my favorite season. When I was a kid it was tons of fun playing and swimming on those long, hot days, but even back then by August I was ready for fall and school to start. I’m still that way! It’s only mid-July and I’m already dreaming of sweater weather and crispy leaves.
Still I am trying to make the most of what’s left of summer. We’ve got a few upcoming free concerts in the park (tribute bands for Fleetwood Mac and Heart) and our annual block party. And I’m enjoying puttering in our garden. There is something very satisfying about tending to plants. I’ve cut back all the lavender now that the little goldfinches are done eating the seeds and whacked back most of our shasta daisies for another bloom cycle. Other flowers get a regular deadheading to keep them blossoming. Supplemental watering is also a must with our rainless summers.
But going to my neighborhood thrift store is a year-round part of my life. In every season!
I hadn’t been for days so I popped in. I spotted a number of things. Things I would have bought a few years ago but not today. None of them was happy-dance worthy! And that’s what I’m looking for these days.
For example, this heavy crystal ashtray was a chunky beauty, but unsigned. Not Waterford. Not Swarovski. And I looked and looked at it from every angle for minutes because honestly I couldn’t believe it wasn’t signed. But as an unsigned piece it would linger forever in my store and likely wouldn’t sell for much. It was a wrench to leave it behind.
So in lieu of buying I am still whittling down my remaining “death/money” piles. Most days I try to add five+ items to my Etsy store which doesn’t sound like a lot, but that can be a good two hours work when you factor in research, photos, descriptions, measuring, search terms, etc., etc. and the fact that I don’t work too quickly!!
I recently added this vintage/antique Chinese carved soapstone brush pot to my store. It came from one of my big fall private pick hauls last year. So yes, 10 months later I still have some stuff to list from those amazing hauls! Crazy I know. Sadly it didn’t turn out to be valuable but it’s rather interesting.
I’m also reluctantly selling off some of my personal library books. I adore poetry but rarely sit down and read it! This wonderful book by Peter Davison falls in that category. (My Maya Angelou “The Complete Collected Poems” book sold in a week. So yes, poetry can sell!)
My vintage sterling charms have been selling well so I figured it behooves me to keep listing them! This WWII-era sailor has a cheeky demeanor with hands in his back pockets, big chin thrust out and bell bottom pants.
And while I’m still longing for fall, it doesn’t stop me from enjoying these lovely summer days and nights.
I hope you are enjoying summer in your neck of the woods,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 