Mitzi's Miscellany

Meet George and Carol, LAO's Antiquing "Power Couple"!

This is the first in a series of dealer profiles I'm doing for the Livingston Antique Outlet (LAO) in Howell, Michigan, one of the three antique malls where I rent space.  The owners of the mall, Jeff and Lori Wengle, have asked me to photograph the booths and profile dealers in the mall to post on the LAO website.  I will be duplicating some of the posts here on my blog.

George Gosheff has been an antique dealer for 30 years.  His partner Carole became a dealer "out of self-preservation" 14 years ago as she began seeing George and visiting the antique malls with him.  Together they have become quite a dynamic duo!  Carole started collecting hand-painted plates from Germany and Austria, but as with most of us, her collecting habit grew.  George's interest in antiques began with automobile-related items for the first 15 years, then he expanded his repertoire into furniture and advertising memorabilia.

 

George and Carol in one of their three booth spaces at LAO:

At this time, George sells antiques at LAO, the Antiques Market of Williamston, swap meets in Hershey, PA, and occasionally on Ebay.  Carole sells at LAO only, but if you see how many items they have there, you'll understand why Carole doesn't need to expand!

Carole sells primarily "smalls".  She keeps an eye out for anything she thinks will sell quickly at LAO, and snaps it up!  George specializes in automobile related items, advertisements, general store merchandise, some early clothing and antique bathing suits, trains, toys, signs, and furniture. George did a ton of refinishing for about ten years but grew weary of that and now only buys furniture if it's "mall-ready".  He also keeps an eye out for vintage clothing boxes with super looking graphics, and has sold some really great examples over the years.

An old display with some of George's general store merchandise:

"When Pigs Fly", a cute cast iron figurine:

Salt Water Taffy "Cut-to-Fit-the-Mouth":

I'm always curious about the homes of antique dealers.  Do George and Carol have their house decorated like their booths at LAO?  Not really.  They have a 12' shelf against one wall in their kitchen on which they display most of their artifacts.  But George's garage is another story!  That's his place to display is auto-related memorabilia including a Texaco display with gas pumps, a mannequin gas attendant and advertising, cars, clocks, and thermometers.  "Guy Stuff", basically!

This clock qualifies as "Guy Stuff":

I also asked George and Carole if they would reveal their sources for the items they sell.  They spend time in Florida each winter and acquire much of their stock there in the towns of Mt. Dora, Webster, Arcadia, and Bartow.  They also travel a lot and cover antique malls in the Northeast and Southwest, plus Hershey, PA, and Iola, WI.  They rarely hit garage sales.  George and Carole also get bites from sellers that contact them from a listing in the phone book and business cards left at LAO.  Lastly, Carole acquires much of her jewelry from the large community rummage sale that's held yearly where she and George spend their winters in Florida.  So in a nutshell, George and Carole do a lot of legwork to bring their treasures to us at LAO!

Feminine items from the "girly booth":

 

What are the hot sellers in their booths?  Carole noted that Fire King Jadite always sells well, but actually she can't complain about anything at LAO!  While in Florida the last three months, she had over 230 items sell from her booth!  George's hot sellers include advertising signs, primitive cabinets, and the 8 x 10 photos of various categories (pictured below):

There's lots of Jadite on these shelves:

If you were looking for a gingham apron, now you know where to find one!

Glass Scotty dogs watch over the booth:

What was the most interesting item George or Carole has ever sold?  George responded that it was a vintage diving mannequin he found in Michigan's Upper Peninsula several years ago in an old department store.  The owner didn't want to part with it for several years, but George finally wore him down.  Once George acquired it, he had to make repairs.  But once he got her back in shape, she wasn't on the shelf long before she sold:

George bought the bathing cap from me, I'm proud to say!

 The large selection of jewelry Carole always keeps in stock:

 Cow creamers mooing:

 The glass is grouped by color for an eye-pleasing effect:

I'd like to end this post with a picture I took on the fly, but I think it sums things up nicely.  I left LAO with Carole writing out price stickers for her items, something I know she's spent many hours doing.  She's very organized, even highlighting the price with a yellow pen!

Be sure to say "Hello" to George and Carole if you see them at LAO now that you know who they are. George loves to chat about antiques, and Carole is as friendly as can be!  

Contact information for George and Carol:  gogeo1938@yahoo.com

Written by:  Mitzi Curi

An Amazing Estate Sale Extravanganza

I've written about estate sales before, and I must say they're a great way to liquidate a large estate in a relatively short amount of time.  Still, auctions are my favorite way to acquire goods for me to stock my antique mall booths and Etsy shop.  It would take a pretty good estate sale to make me forget about auctions! 

Two weeks ago, I travelled to a small Michigan town called Bancroft to shop an estate sale in the bungalow pictured below:

I really want to show you some interior shots of the home, but I didn't take my camera inside.  The following images were taken from the ad posted in EstatesSales.net, and that's why they're a bit blurry. 

I loved the old wallpaper in the home, and I wanted you to see it too:

Another beautiful wallpaper pattern is evident behind this brass bed.  It had lots of metallic gold touches in the leaves:

I believe the estate belonged to a priest, which explains all of the religious statuary.  There were gorgeous embroidered satin robes for sale, too:

A beautiful assortment of glassware shines in the window:

I spent time in the cozy library, sorting through the selection of books:

There was a lot of everything at this sale.  I went back on the second day when the items were marked 50% off, and really got some great deals.

I bought some ladies' and mens' hats.  Why did a priest have ladies' hats?  Well, I'm sure I don't know the whole story.  And it's none of my beeswax, anyway!



The bungalow was so stuffed, the estate sale company moved some of the items to a storefront downtown.  The estate sale company was Randolph House out of Flint.  They were really nice folks, and allowed me to take a few pictures when I showed up the second day with my camera.  Believe me, not everyone gets excited at the thought. 

Why look, there's my friend Montgomery, who seems to have forgotten to wear a coat on this chilly day!

On the way out of town, I stopped to admire the cemetery in Bancroft.  It had a cool sign, suspended from two trees:

This unusual headstone had the appearance of blood oozing from a crack through the center:

Once home, I admired my goodies.  Isn't this little book charming?

I bought this vase at full price, because it's for me to keep!

The ever-popular Cupid Asleep and Cupid Awake:

A view of the back of my van.  I thought these green plaid hat boxes would look great at Christmas time:

This hand painted silk fan charmed me.  Look at the little angels filling the nest with eggs!

Something I've never sold before:  vintage pens.  I'm going to give them a try!

This is only a fraction of the jewels I purchased.  Aren't they lovely?

Out of that great library, I found this book.  I don't care what's inside, I just liked the cover:

 The cover of this souvenir folder is lovely too, isn't it?

I grabbed this bust on the second day:

 A pretty plate:

This carpenter's folding ruler really grabbed me, or I grabbed it, because of the bold graphics.  It sold right away in my Etsy shop:

For me, that was a memorable estate sale.  If I keep attending more sales of that caliber, perhaps I  would forget about auctions!

Mitzi

Holiday Giveaway at Kammy's Korner!

My Michigan friend Kammy Wielenga is generously hosting a giveaway for me, just to help promote my blog for her readers over at Kammy's Korner!  You can enter by using a new-fangled gizmo called Rafflecopter on Kammy's post, so hop over there right now to follow the directions!  Kammy is a whirlwind of activity over at her place, and I know you will be inspired by her projects.  I'm putting her blog on my blogroll (right sidebar) to keep it on the forefront at all times! 

For the giveaway, I put together a yoyo fun flower kit, so the winner of the giveaway can do some crafting and make some yoyo flowers like the examples below:

But that's not all!  I am including some yoyo garlands for the Christmas tree.  If you don't celebrate Christmas, they can be used for other decorative purposes year-round:

And then there's a yoyo mat or two, which are great to use instead of the common crochet doily underneath a vase. 

 

Recently bought the fall issue of Flea Market Decor twice.  At $9.99, I get a little upset with myself when I do that!  But I'd love to include it in the giveaway, so you can enjoy the great ideas in this fun magazine.  Here's proof I did indeed buy two of them and I'm not giving you a used magazine:

 

So here's the whole kit and kaboodle.  You'll notice I'm including one of the flea market glass candy jars I painted and distressed recently:

And just a reminder for my Michigan friends:  this weekend we have the Perfect Storm of antique mall sales!  Saturday, December 1st all three of the antique malls in which I sell my wares are having special holiday events.  My booth at the Livingston Antique Outlet in Howell is having 15% off everything for two more days, and other dealers are offering their own special sales too. I've been doing a brisk business since the sale began and I'll be restocking before the weekend.

At the Antiques Market of Williamston, the most popular sale of the year is being held Saturday.  From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. everything in the mall will be 15% off, then from 4:00 to 6:00 the discount increases to 20%.  There will be homemade food served all day, which is not to be missed!

Last but not least, the Mega Mall in Lansing will be having a two day Christmas Open House beginning Saturday.  Everything in my booth is 20% off, and other dealers have various discounts throughout the mall.  There will be door prizes all day and lots of other holiday fun!

Wishing you happy treasure hunting this weekend, wherever you may be!

Mitzi

Vintage Gift Ideas in Plenty of Time for the Holidays

Holiday shoppers don't equate "Black Friday" with the antique malls.  We don't open the doors at 2:00 a.m. and don't offer crazy deals on quilts or blue willow dishes.  There won't be customers fighting with each other over anything or running through the mall with a shopping cart.  I'm not even sure what I'll have for sale in my booths on Black Friday, to be honest.  I don't order my goods from a catalog, after all.  It's as much of a surprise for me as it is for my customers. 

So shopping for antiques as gifts takes a little more thought and effort, but I think it's worth it.  Don't we all have enough electronic gizmos?  You buy the latest and greatest item and then a year from now a better version comes along and you have to shell out $400 more dollars.  Doesn't that seem like a rip-off? 

I'm here today to make some suggestions for vintage gifts far enough in advance so that you can stroll through some antique malls this fall and hopefully find them without too much stress.  Or you might stumble upon something totally different!  That's the fun of it.  It's a treasure hunt!

Something that is very useful for a teenager that doesn't like to hang their clothes up on hangers, a college student or a new apartment dweller with limited closet space is a clothes tree.  I have one near my closet on which I hang belts, sweatshirt jackets, and tote bags and I love it.  These are equally appreciated by boys and girls, men and women.  The wood version can be painted, and although brass is unpopular right now, the older brass is another story and can still add flair to a space that has eclectic vintage style.

From the booth of Kristy and Richard at the Antiques Market of Williamston (AMW):

An oak version from Sally's booth at AMW:

Planning on popping the question during the holidays?  The diamond trade is a sleazy business if there ever was one.  Bypass the current "blood diamond" controversy and buy from an estate jewelry dealer.  Wouldn't it be cool to buy your sweetie an authentic Art Deco ring, or a Victorian-era masterpiece?

Photo Credit:  Wooden Skate

For the "Man Cave", game room, or maybe even Dad or Grandpa's office, how about some vintage game boards that have good memories attached to them, or one that reflects the recipient's occupation, like "Go to the Head of the Class?"

Speaking of office accessories, aren't we all tired of the same cheap stuff offered by the big office stores?  Viewing vintage office accessories will remind you what quality is all about, and will show the gift recipient you went out of your way to look for something special, like these horse bookends from Barn and Stone House Antiques on Etsy: 

 

Perhaps you know a young person in your family is interested in mid-century collectibles.  You might take the time to find something in their area of interest to help add to their collection, or something special to add to their home decor, like a cool lamp, chair, or mirror (from The Jazz Age at AMW):

If you know a new collector of vintage treasures, consider purchasing a price guide/collector book for them.  Most antique malls and bookstores will have a selection of price guides/collector books that are full of information for the new collector.  They make a very thoughtful gift.

Even out-of-print books can be found in some antique malls or other selling venues, like this book I purchased on eBay for my own library:

Everyone likes something personalized, like their initials or their lucky number.  Look for vintage marquee letters or sign numbers, like those used to post the price of gas.  These are so popular right now, and are well-liked by men and women of all ages.  I sold these red letters (below) a long time ago, but I have a few gas station numbers left in my Etsy shop:

 

Every girl should have a dress form!  A dress form is a great way to decorate a corner, keep necklaces in one place, and display a special dress and hat.

Why not consider something similar for a man?  I found this in Hugh and Suzy's booth at AMW and think it would be cool in a guy's bachelor pad as a display piece.  The high school varsity jacket could be dug out of mothballs, or a swinging Austin Powers-esque velvet blazer and ruffled shirt might be a cool option:

Can't find a dress form, or need something smaller?  How about a bust?  A bust looks great on a bookshelf, or can function as a cool display piece for a special piece of jewelry:

Re-purpose something into a candle holder, like I did with these brass oil lamps.  A grouping of something can be quite attractive:

Do you know someone that is a talented quilter or quilt collector?  A vintage ladder is a thoughtful gift that can be used as a display for their prized quilts.  Even small hooked rugs look great displayed on a ladder that can be leaned against a wall.

 

Photo Credit:  AllPeopleQuilt.com

Do you know someone that likes to cook?  How about a couple vintage cookbooks, maybe tied with a ribbon, presented in a nice vintage mixing bowl like this yellow ware example:

 

A mirrored plateau mirror is a nice gift for a young lady or woman.  Perfume bottles look wonderful sitting atop it, or just about anything else you scrounge up for that matter:

A nice piece of art pottery, like this Weller Woodcraft vase from my brother's booth at the Antiques Market of Williamston, is a nice gift for the collector or someone that appreciates well made home decor and wants to avoid Home Goods and the like:

I hope these ideas get you started.  I'm sure many of you have your own list of vintage gifts you might be looking for.  Would you like to share them here to give other readers more suggestions?

Mitzi

My Interview with Baggage Battles' Laurence and Sally Martin

The Travel Channel has my number, and I couldn't be happier!  First I had the opportunity to interview Jordan Hembrough prior to the launch of his show Toy Hunter, and last week I interviewed Laurence and Sally Martin, antique store owners from sunny California. If you are a fan of the show Storage Wars, you'll remember Laurence and Sally appraising Barry's silver flask that turned out to be a pocket spittoon, and another memorable episode when Barry brought in a not-so-valuable cuckoo clock.  You can probably remember several others, too.

Laurence and Sally have been battling it out on their own show, "Baggage Battles" for the past year, using their vast knowledge of antiques, jewelry and other merchandise on a different playing field:  the unclaimed baggage and cargo at airports.  Beginning Wednesday, November 14 at 8:00 e.s.t., season two of Baggage Battles begins, and I have some scoop on what the new season will bring!

Laurence and Sally looking at some mystery boxes:

But first things first.  I talked with Laurence and Sally on the phone, and it was totally up to me to ask whatever I wanted.  I was curious about their entire business, so we started with that.  Laurence has long been a collector of antiques, and frequented a shop in El Segundo, California.  Finally, the owner suggested he just buy the whole shop, so he did!  He's been running Studio Antiques in El Segundo for 25 years.  Sally joined him about 12 years ago full time. 

Over the years, the Martins have acquired much of their store inventory from locals who bring in treasures to sell.  They also purchase containers of antiques from across the globe that are shipped to them directly.  They have a good crew running the shop while they are on the road, and one can also shop their eclectic mix at www.studioantiques.com, so be sure to pay them a visit!

I spotted a half-doll on their site that is very appealing and some miniature items to outfit a dollhouse.  They have a large collection of everything from lighting to furniture on their site:

Antique Half Doll

Dollhouse Miniatures Collection

The new season of Baggage Battles expands the battleground to estate auctions, unclaimed freight at shipping ports, and seized property auctions.  Because we're talking Travel Channel here, each week the show visits a different city, including Boston, Brooklyn, Toronto, Dublin, and London.  Naturally, there's drama built into the equation because there are other bidders competing for the best deals.  The bidders can't inspect the items at the seized property or unclaimed freight auctions, so there's mystery involved.  Bags of jewelry sometimes cross the auction block, and the question might be "is the Rolex watch in the plastic bag packed full of jewelry the real deal, or is it a fake?"

 Aren't they a colorful couple?

Photo Credits:  Travel Channel

The two half-hour premiere episodes of Season Two will first find Laurence, Sally and their competitors in Brooklyn, NY, at an unclaimed freight auction.  Apparently our busy ports in the US have incoming freight that goes unclaimed on a fairly regular basis.  The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Auctions takes care of this so there isn't a bottleneck of goods clogging the ports. I have no idea what kind of merchandise would be abandoned at the port.  After talking with Laurence and Sally, I still have no idea!  That would ruin the surprise of the show, and we can't let that happen....

Inspecting a bag in Brooklyn.  Could that be a valuable watch?

The second half-hour of the premier episode will be held at an estate auction in Boston.  This will be an interesting episode for us antique buffs, promised my new friends.   Some nice pieces of American history will be up for sale, and may need some expert appraisal as the authenticity of some of the items might be in question.  Sally had to prevent Laurence from spilling the beans to me about what they purchased in Boston!  I'll definitely be watching next Wednesday to see what they found.

The last question was one I failed to ask Laurence and Sally directly, so I'll ask it here:  would you consider having an eager "intern" tag along during Season 3?  I'll even consider schlepping boxes around just to hang out with you all!

Mitzi

Antique Mall Tours

Welcome to November at Mitzi's Collectibles!  That's the name of my antique business, and it's the time of year for me to really get in gear!  All the outdoor antique shows are over here in Michigan, so shoppers are headed inside.  And the holidays are coming up, as we all know, and they will not be ignored.... 

I just returned from a week in Florida with my mom, helping her get her house in ship-shape.  She's selling it and moving to a smaller place nearby.  Now that I'm back, I'm excited to tackle my antique mall spaces and Etsy shop and sell, sell, sell!  I thought I'd show you where I do business besides my Etsy shop.

First we have the Livingston Antique Outlet in Howell, Michigan.  Owned by Jeff and Lori Wengle, this mall is HUGE!  It has over 35,000 feet of selling space!  Jeff and Lori do a great job promoting the mall, and are always making improvements.  We get a lot of customers from the Detroit area at "LAO", but it's a reasonable drive from the Lansing area too:

 

My first booth at LAO is a country/primitive booth right across from the Ladies' room that includes toys, dolls,  glass and pottery in locked cases.  I have a few non-antique items like candles and potpourri for folks that stumble in from the nearby clothing outlet mall and aren't into antiques (yet):

 

 

I always have a couple quilts for sale, enamel ware, and stoneware crocks:

 

 

 

I have a second booth at LAO, the "Mantiques" booth, right next door to my first booth.  I sell apothecary bottles, bow ties, old signs, books, and anything else that I think would appeal to the men folk:

 

 

I recently hung this unusual Thanksgiving backdrop in my booth.  I think it was probably used in a play or presentation years ago:

 

 

 

Next stop is the Antiques Market of Williamston.  Owned by Bob and Chris Rogers, it's a 15 minute drive West from LAO.  Bob is the hardest working person I know.  He's there seven days a week,  always thinking of ways to improve the mall for customers and dealers. 

 

My largest space at "AMW" is the "Pink Booth", where not everything is pink.  This cupboard has a nice assortment of transfer ware and flow blue:

 

 

 

I recently sold this pink painted cupboard, but many of the items inside are still for sale:

 

 

 

More pretties from the Pink Booth:

 

 

A lovely hand painted teapot:

 

 

I've had this beautiful furniture way too long!  It's been hard to sell furniture the last couple years.  Recently I decided to sell the pieces separately rather than as a set:

 

 

The garden lampshade I made last summer, a beautiful yard-long and lots of hat boxes:

 

 

I have a bank of three showcases full of jewelry, toys, and more valuable "smalls":

 

My other space in Williamston is a colorful country/primitive booth:

 

 

I sell lots of depression glass, yellow ware, and kitchen items from this booth:

 

 

A Shawnee corn platter and majolica corn pitchers along with other small items:

 

 

I almost forgot!  I sell out of the ladies' room at AMW.  I've sold several chandeliers and wall art.  The ceiling gets many compliments:

 

Next stop:  the Mega Mall.  Owned by Rich Kelley, the Mega Mall is a hub of activity.  Rich is a forward-thinking entrepreneur.  He's all about making the Mega Mall a fun place to be!  There are appraisal days, special sales, holiday parties, and outdoor flea markets in the warmer months. 

 

I used vintage wallpaper as a background when I started my new booth at the Mega Mall back in August:

 

 

Here it is with all my goodies for sale:

 

 

Sales at the Mega Mall have been very good for me so far.  It's a great place to shop for the inexpensive through the high end item.  There's something for everyone at the Mega Mall!

 

 

 

Next on my agenda is getting out all of my Christmas decor.  That's going to be an ordeal!  I have a warehouse in an old lumberyard and my space is upstairs, full of holiday goods.  I think I'll take some pictures and make a blog post out of it....

Mitzi

Three Etsy Selling Tips From Four Etsy Sellers

I enjoy running my Etsy shop, and it's come a long way, albeit rather slowly, since I started it.  When I think back to when I put it together, I wish I had some help at the time, in the form of a live person that would have sat right next to me.  Since not everyone can have that kind of help, we must rely on the support of Etsy itself, and that's nothing to sneeze at. They are famous for their seller resources.

There are other ways to improve your Etsy shop, and today I am participating with three other Etsy sellers and blogging friends to share three selling tips with you from our experiences.  I hope you will learn a little something, and please visit the other three Etsy sellers:  Laurie Romanaggi from Magpie Ethel; Laurie Jackson from Indulge Your Shelf; and Beth Leintz from Gathering Dust.  There will be links to their Etsy shops on their blogs, so be sure to do a little shopping when you visit them!

 My Etsy shop, Mitzi's Collectibles:

Tip #1:  Take the time to use the new "Rearrange Your Shop" feature on Etsy, which allows you to organize your listings visually. For example, you can put all of your better selling items together near the top, so they are viewed first; all of your jewelry listings together; etc.  Prior to having this feature, all items were arranged by the date they were entered into the system and couldn't be moved.

You can hopefully see the "Rearrange Your Shop" feature under "Your Shop" in the bottom left of the image below:

 

Tip #2:  Keep working on your photography.  I am always trying to raise the bar for myself here, but still could make some improvements.  Because customers can't touch your items, good photos have to tell nearly the whole story of what you are selling.

Here is an old picture I used in my Etsy shop of yoyo clips I took in bright sunlight, which is a no-no.  The sun caused distracting shadows and bleached out the yoyos that were in direct sunlight.  That's why taking pictures on a cloudy day is better:

 

Tip #3:  Once you discover what your customers like, try to keep it coming!  This might be sort of obvious, and if you are a crafter, you can step up production of what sells the most.  But with vintage items, that's easier said than done.  I have sold many vintage letters and numbers of all kinds, so I'm always on the lookout for more.  I've got my picker looking for them too!

I wish I had more of these wonderful theater marquee letters, but I'm scrambling to find something similar at a reasonable price:

These gas station numbers have been popular too, and I have more in my shop now:

I hope these three tips helped a bit, even if you haven't set up an Etsy shop yet.  I began collecting tips way before I started my shop, which is a good idea.  I know I'll learn something from the other participants, because we haven't compared notes ahead of time.  They have more experience as Etsy sellers than I do, so I better get going and see what they have to say!

Mitzi

Early Fall Acquisitions and Helpful Info

Today I'd like to show some things I purchased recently for resale and for crafting, and explain why I bought some of them.  This might help some readers that are thinking about selling antiques as a part time business or those that wonder about the thought process (if any) that goes on when looking for things to up-cycle for craft projects.

All of the items in this post came from estate sales.  You can find out about local estate sales on EstateSales.net, Craig's List, and your local newspaper's classified ad section.  I went on the second day to two of the sales, when everything was 50% off. That's a great way to get good deals at a sale that's really loaded with stuff.  There's bound to be plenty of goods left the second day at bargain prices.

I'm always on the lookout for clean upholstered furniture, like this velvety chair.  It's well made and I can sell it for under $100 because I bought it on the second day of the sale.  How much would you pay for something similar at a furniture store?  Most of it now is made in China, and poor quality at that.

 

 

Classic Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy, and "Nancy"!  I used to read the Nancy comic strip religiously.  Now I have to find a Sluggo to keep her company.  I always like to have something in my antique mall booth that has a welcoming face, like a doll or teddy bear, usually sitting in a chair.  It gives the booth space some life!

 

 

Italian Florentine trays can be found very reasonably at estate sales, so I always pick them up.  They're really popular right now:

 

 

My brother Mike got me this tin litho toy mower by Chein.  It makes a noise when you "mow".  I picked up the lampshades for 50 cents each.  They look like they need some embellishing with lace, if you ask me:

 

 

I always look for little mirrors with scalloped edges and etched designs (below left).  I've seen groupings of them hung on a wall in home decor magazines and they look fabulous.  Old clipboards can be decoupaged or painted with chalkboard paint.  I love old office supplies, like the card catalog box with the red and white label.  Stuff like that always sells at the antique malls if it's displayed well.  Bottles are always nice to have for various craft projects. 

One estate sale yielded several small coin purses, which can be up-cycled into necklaces.  That may be hard to visualize, but when I make some I'll show you.  Last but not least, I bought a really nice pair of sewing scissors.  For just a couple dollars, you can get great tools at estate sales!

 

 

An Art Nouveau jewelry box caught my eye:

 

 

The inside needs some repair, but that will be easy:

 

 

Here we go again:  a great vintage pattern catalog someone used for a scrap book:

 

 

Wait a minute.....a five year old Peruvian girl had a baby?  Maybe that was worth saving!

 

 

You can see what this newspaper-clipping scrapbooker covered up peeking through the black and white newspaper:

 

 

All the adult fashions were covered by newspaper clippings.  The kiddie fashions weren't.

Helpful blog reader Katie told me there is a product called Unseal Adhesive Release Solvent that can be ordered online.  I plan to get some soon, so I can uncover the great artwork in my catalogs.  I'm sure we can "Google" it to find a seller.

 

 

I love the illustrations and fashions from the 1920's.  It's my favorite decade!

 

 

Look who popped up on this page!  The Dionne quintuplets.  I've shared their sad but fascinating story before on this blog.

 

 

Dapper duds for little boys:

 

 

Yes, the center picture is an outfit for a little boy.  Check out the haircut!  On the back of the jumper it is suggested you embroider "please don't beat me up":

 

 

And next we have a "Movie Star Book" compiled by Wanda Marie Green. 

 

 

Wanda had a thing for Elvis:

 

 

And Wanda liked Fabian.  But that was kid stuff.  Underneath Wanda's book was a big pile of movie star pictures.  Maybe they were Wanda's mother's clippings.  Now I'm the owner, and I'm going to sift through everything and decide how to sell it.

 

 

I purchased this album "Giselle" just because I liked the glamorous cover.  I sort of miss the days when we had albums to flip through and admire the cover art.  I think a customer would buy this and use it as part of a vignette in their mid-century home:

 

 

This little rooster thread holder and pincushion appealed to me because of its folksy charm, plus it's actually useful:

 

 

Speaking of folk art, this tiny chest was made entirely of match boxes and match sticks.  There are collectors out there looking for things like this, kind of a tramp art/folk art piece. 

 

 

A nice plaster bust of Beatrix in the Art Nouveau style:

 

 

A tin litho egg-laying hen toy.  You put a white marble in the tail and it comes out on the other side.  This will appeal to toy collectors and chicken lovers:

 

 

I got an assortment of tiny tin litho cars, including an Apple Pie car.  I'd love to get pulled over by an apple pie car, wouldn't you?

 

 

I'm working as quickly as I can to price and distribute these items to my various selling venues.  The busy season for antique selling starts now, so I have to get cracking!

Mitzi

How to Sell Vintage Stuff: The Estate Sale

There comes a time in everyone's life when it is necessary to downsize or liquidate one's personal possessions or those of a relative.  Sometimes we're moving to a smaller home and need to reduce  the amount of furniture and home decor objects we'll be taking with us.  Maybe we're combining households with a new spouse.  Most often, a lifetime of collecting and accumulating needs to be sold because the owner has passed away or has entered a medical care facility.

There are lots of things to consider if you are involved in one of these scenarios.  My first bit of advice is to not make any hasty decisions.  Don't let anyone throw anything away until you know a little bit about what you have and what your options are. 

One effective way to liquidate items is to hold an estate sale, also know as a "tag sale" out East.  Today I interviewed my friend Richard Hornaday, a realtor for Tomie Raines in East Lansing and a seasoned estate sale organizer.  I think his insight will give you some idea of what estate sales are all about and why you might want to consider this type of liquidation of belongings.

 

For Richard, conducting estate sales totally made sense.  When he was young he watched his father constantly buy and sell farm equipment and odd and ends.  It brought his dad a lot of joy to find new homes for things, be it a rusty bolt he found along the road or a tractor bought at an auction.  Richard has collected antiques for many years himself, and is very knowledgeable.  When Richard became a realtor, he realized there was a need for another estate sale organizer in town to help clients deal with the personal belongings in the homes that would be going on the market.  Thus, "Richard Hornaday Estate Sale Services" was born!

Richard and his partner Allen bought a historic farmhouse they named "Crooked Tree".  It's filled with beautiful treasures:

 

If you are interested in having an estate sale, the first step is to contact the organizer for a consultation.  They will come to your house and take a look at what you have, and give you an estimate of the possible outcome, dollar-wise, of what to expect.  There is a contract to be signed, and the estate sale organizer will take a percentage of the total amount of sales generated.   Percentages across the country vary from 20% to 50%.  Richard charges a reasonable 30%, which includes advertising and cleanout after the sale.

Richard enjoys traveling to Las Vegas and collects vintage Las Vegas memorabilia:

 

Richard told me that it takes a lot of patience and understanding during these consultations.  Often, there are emotions involved, because a loved one has passed away.  Perhaps many of the items have sentimental value, but the relatives don't have room in their own homes to keep everything.  He recommends that the family members aren't present during the sale, because it's hard to see customers picking through grandma's linens and canning jars.  I think that's a good suggestion.  The estate sale organizer acts as a buffer between the client and the customer.

Once the contract is signed, it takes about five to seven days to get a house ready for a sale.  Items are priced and arranged in an organized  manner and photographed for the ads.  Richard has five people that help him prepare a house for an estate sale, and each of them have their own areas of expertise, which helps with pricing.  They also rely on past experience, price guides, and the internet to help with identifying and pricing the items.

 A table full of miscellaneous "smalls" that will need to be priced for a sale:

 

The actual sale is usually two days long, sometimes three, with discounts after the first day to help move things along.  I've always wondered what happens to the items that don't sell during the estate sale.  Richard told me that they have a local "jobber" that will come at the end of the sale and negotiate a price to take everything that's left. 

A lot of work goes into prepping a house for an estate sale.  No wonder John and Clayton, Richard's hard-working helpers,  are smiling.  They're ready to sell!

I asked Richard about trends in the type of merchandise that's been selling.  He's noticed that high-end antiques have suffered since the economic downturn, especially furniture (one example might be a Duncan Phyfe dining room suite).  Smaller items have fared a little better.  Clean, contemporary furniture has been selling well.  People have discovered that gently used furniture is a real bargain at estate sales as opposed to buying it new at a furniture store.  I have to agree.  I'll never pay full price for furniture again, except for mattresses and box springs.

Everything from hand-knotted Persian rugs to furs have been priced at a level that's  fair for the client yet reasonable for the customers:

Does Richard have any tips for customers?  Yes, he does!  First, follow the ads and pinpoint what you are interested in.  If you like a bed, for example, you are going to make a beeline to the bedrooms immediately when you get inside the door.  With a large item like a bed, you pull the tag or sticker and hand it to the cashier.  You can pay for it later, but you are claiming it now.  Once you have what you are interested in, then you can wander around and look for other things at your leisure.  Oh, and sign up for EstateSales.net so you are informed of sales in your area.

My last question for Richard had to do with customer satisfaction.  Did he ever have customers that were disapointed in the sales total at the end of the sale?  The answer was no.  And I'm not surprised, because Richard runs a first class operation, with great workers at his sales.  I'm sure he's honest with his clients and they trust him.  Heck, if I ever need to downsize my own hoard, he's the person I would hire for the job!

Mitzi

Another Expansion: to The Mega Mall Antiques and Flea Market!

This week I started a new booth at The Mega Mall, an antiques and flea market at 15487 Old US 27, Lansing, Michigan.  I figured two booths at the Livingston Antique Outlet in Howell, two booths (one is a double) plus the ladies' bathroom at the Antiques Market of Williamston, two blogs and an Etsy shop simply weren't enough antiques-related fun for me!  Just the prospect of starting a new booth gets me so excited!  I love a new challenge.

 

 

 

One reason I decided to expand my "empire", as I now call it,  to the Mega Mall is the owner, Rich Kelley.  He's  been a friend of mine for many years and I know he works his tail off to promote the store.  Rich is always organizing some special event and getting press for the shop.  They have monthly outdoor flea markets during the warmer months that attract a large crowd, for example.  Rich also has holiday celebrations, appraisal days with auctioneer Glen Rairigh of Americana Auctions, and is interested in capturing the younger crowd of flea market shoppers.  I like his forward-thinking attitude!

Another dealer's booth at the Mega Mall:

 I appreciate the fact that the Mega Mall has a more relaxed "anything goes" standard for sellers.  I can sell my crafts and crafting supplies in my booth, which I can't really do in the other antique malls.  As I've mentioned before, each antique mall in our area has found their own niche, which is great.  Otherwise, they'd all be competing for the same customer, and that wouldn't be so great.

Some of the outdoor flea market offerings from the last Mega Mall event I attended:

 

 

I almost bought these American Plastic bricks at the Mega Mall last week.  The roller skates are cute too:

 

 

I also have my eye on this movie poster:

 

 

I had to purchase this satin glass dresser set from a Mega Mall dealer for my "Pink Booth".  It was marked 30% off:

 

Here's my new booth space, known as "J-5", before I began decorating it:

 

On August 1, I got to work wallpapering and bringing in my goodies.  I've decided my signature look is a patchwork of vintage wallpaper, a treatment I used in Williamston.  It took me several hours to put it up, but I think it's worth it.  I've been hoarding vintage wallpaper for years, and I might as well use a little of it:

 

 

Now that I have the first layer down, I have a good backdrop.  But I have a long way to go.  I'll try to remember to take more pictures to document my progress.  It's going to be fun!

Mitzi