Trying to Get a Little Work Done

November weather here in the San Francisco Bay Area tends to be fabulous, so the other day I took advantage of it–did a little yardwork and then went to my fav boutique thrift store. I was determined to find “something.” (Maybe you know that feeling!) This store has so many nice things that it should be like “shooting fish in a barrel” but prices keep edging closer to full retail. Still I thought I would find something–particularly on these shelves packed with metal and silver plated items. I didn’t. Well, the vintage wine funnel in the front middle shelf was cool, but $14. Could I even sell it for $28 or so? I would have bought it at $5 or less.

But in another part of the store I spotted this antique copper jelly mold lined in tin. Past using, but with a beautiful patina. I have sold a few in the past and according to Worthpoint data, folks are still buying them! It wasn’t cheap, but there was still meat on the bone so there was my one find. Just one. Hardly worth the effort to drive there, but it was fun looking. Always is.

Later at my neighborhood thrift store I found three small porcelain fish platters with a Bavarian mark on the back. They intrigued me. I don’t buy many plates, still I thought these were worth a try and would be cute serving appetizers over the holidays. Haven’t been able to find this exact pattern anywhere and the mark is a scarce one.

Here’s a purchase I hope I don’t regret–a set of five Portmeirion Botanical Garden flared mugs. I have sold Portmeirion pieces before, but these are not uncommon. The placement of the lettering is different than others for sale and I believe indicates an older version. But I am not looking forward to packing these for shipping if and when they sell. So I have mixed feelings about these.

Total spent for mugs, platters and jelly mold: $32.

I’ve also been listing more of my charms. But here’s a funny story first…I have several lots of charms listed including one with six vintage silver charms valued priced at $58. A gal contacted me a couple of days ago wanting to buy just one charm in the lot. Now I checked and that charm was available individually from other sellers in the $20 to $30 range. So why did she want mine? Obviously she thought the one charm would be just $10 or so. I said she could buy it for $20 and never heard back from her. I guess folks don’t understand how lots work–you get the better individual price by buying more!!

These tiny cup charms are rather intriguing. One is 900 silver and embossed with people, animals and trees. The other is copper with an old penny bottom. They are cute as can be.