Getting Older, Trying to Get Wiser!

I always get reflective around my birthday and this year was no different. But perhaps this year more than others I thought about my vintage business and all the stuff it brings into my life. Good stuff, wonderful stuff, but too much stuff! As I’ve gotten older I feel that both my store items and a plethora of personal items are zapping my physical and emotional energy. I have been downsizing both over the years, but not enough. I still have drawers that are too full, shoes I can no longer wear and a guest room that is so full of store stuff that there is little room to move.

Another problem–I have put some of my downsized items on Facebook Marketplace first so they haven’t left the house yet. They are still taking up space! I have sold a few, but mostly I get “Is this still available?” or low-ball offers. And now some of them have been there for over two months. Perhaps it’s time to take them to a charity shop.

Now having just said that, what did I recently do? Bought myself a birthday present!! This year a painting by one of my fav artists, Margaret Layton. It’s an atypical style for her, but who wouldn’t like Coney Island in such moody colors? I just adore it.

But so far this April I haven’t bought one thing for my Etsy store and instead have focused on listing items from my stockpile–silver charms, books and random bits. In reality I have enough unlisted inventory to keep me busy for a month or two.

A few recent sales

I am happy that my sales and revenue have exceeded my expectations this first quarter of 2026. We’ll see if it continues through spring. Last year’s May and June were horrendously bad and I remember fretting about it. But so far so good this April.

Here are a few things that had sold recently…

I bought this old cast iron lass at our local flea market in October 2024. (Paid $20.) Was hoping she was once used on a ship or something cool. Turns out she was once part of a Victorian towel rack! Honestly a towel rack. Still she was a good thing and sold for $70.

This 1990s beaded purse by Christiana was one of my personal items, but I hadn’t used it in years. (Last seen here at a high school reunion over a decade ago!!) Decided to list it and it sold quickly and without fuss.

This long carved tribal wood bowl was a fantastic Goodwill find in August 2022 (paid $8.79), but it took almost four years to sell! Too long.

This vintage filet-lace tablecloth was a flea market find from this past March (paid $7) and I had had second thoughts about buying it but it sold quickly. Not quite in the profit margin I want, still it was easy to ship.

I was happy to see this vintage coral necklace find a new home. It had sold once before and that buyer had wanted to return it. Which was fine. I allow returns and you don’t have to give me a reason. But she was so nasty about it making all kinds of disparaging (and unwarranted) comments about the necklace that I was gobsmacked. Hopefully the new owner will appreciate this pretty piece.

Moving forward

I know I need to keep letting go of things that no longer serve a purpose in my life. As the years tick by it just makes sense on so many levels. And I also want to figure out how to run a successful vintage business with fewer items and I think it is possible.

So I am trying to get a bit wiser. But in all of these birthday reflections I realize as much as I love vintage and antique things it’s really the people in my life who are the true treasures. I know it sounds corny, but I see you all nodding. And I feel blessed to have so many amazing people in my life. Thank you.