Foodie Friday: U is for UMBRELLA DRINKS

Umbrella Drinks, aka Boat Drinks...those fruity, fun cocktails with the ubiquitous paper umbrella!!! What's not to love? Sipping one will always conjure up thoughts of a leisurely summer day on the water.

No need to head to a fancy watering hole--it's easy to make a fabulously fancy cocktail (just leave out the libation, and call it a "mocktail" if you avoid alcohol). Here are a few recipes to get you started. Just be sure to have a fancy glass AND a paper umbrella on hand.

CLASSIC CUBAN MOJITO

Ingredients:

* 10 fresh mint leaves
* 1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges
* 2 tablespoons white sugar, or simple syrup (or to taste)
* 1 cup ice cubes
* 1 1/2 fluid ounces white rum
* 1/2 cup club soda

Directions:

Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge in a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the sugar or simple syrup, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with carbonated water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar/simple syrup if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.

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TEQUILA SUNRISE


Ingredients:

* 1.5 oz good quality tequila
* 3/4 cup orange juice
* ice cubes
* good pour of grenadine syrup
* 1 slice orange, for garnish
* 1 maraschino cherry for garnish

Directions:

Fill a tall glass with ice cubes. Pour in tequila. Add orange juice. Slowly pour in the grenadine, and allow it to settle to the bottom of the glass (be patient). Garnish with a slice of orange, and a maraschino cherry.

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CHI CHI

Ingredients:

2 oz canned Crème de Coconut
4 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Vodka
1 Cup Ice
1 oz Half and Half or Milk (For a creamier version. Optional)

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a blender or mix well and enjoy on the rocks. Garnish with a cherry and a slice of pineapple.

Of course, etsyvintageteam shops have some GREAT vintage barware available! Here are just a few examples, search etsyvintageteam: bar for more choices.

Fresh Picks: Patio Panache

More than your grill will be sizzling when you entertain with these fabulous finds in bold summer colors. Whether your outdoor venue is patio, deck, rooftop, balcony or sunporch, your party will pop with vintage linens, serving pieces and decor. Repurposing tip: Use vintage pottery planters to corral your silverware and napkins!

Vintage Tablecloth Cotton Br... HouseOfLinens $24.00	Vintage Upcycled Apple Green... MellowMermaid $28.50	Vintage Orange Melamine Dish... MomWaldsPlace $12.95
Vintage Orange Stackable Nes... Shoptastic $20.00	Vintage Bright Green and Ora... ArtfulVintage $12.00	Blendo Highball and Pitcher ... bitofbutter $40.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Find it Fast: Click on any image for more details on these Fresh Picks!

What's Trivial to You May Be Vital To Your Customer

When you have an item right in front of you, it's often easy to overlook the obvious. That's why it's always important to pretend you're looking at your item from your computer screen. If you only had a 2 dimensional view, what kinds of questions would you want answered about it?

1960s Sterling Modernist Dove by mascarajones

Take for example sterling and gold. Most listings I see think about these objects in terms of color and condition. I suggest you consider weight as well. With silver hovering around $30 an ounce and gold around $1400, it's worth mentioning what these items weigh. I use a digital kitchen scale to measure ounces.

1904 US Coin Gold Quarter by FascinatingHobbies

If you're not sure if your item is gold, I suggest testing it. For what gold is currently selling for, it's worth that little bit of effort. eHow has suggestions on how to test for gold. If you're listing items that are made of precious metals, I suggest checking that days price per ounce, just so you price accordingly. I'm not suggesting you judge a vintage item just on the per ounce value! Certainly not. But knowing the baseline is always good information to have.

Taxco Inlaid Silver Earrings by YesterdaysSilhouette

Another piece of information to provide is the makers mark. If you can, always provide a photograph of it. Always. I know five photos often doesn't seem like enough for some vintage items, but that makers mark is critical. Even if you describe it, most people just want the visual confirmation. Think of how much info you glean from a makers mark-provide that same data to your potential customers.

Chadburns Engine Telegraph CheekyChicVintage

Along with that, try to show an interior shot of the entire inside. I have had some nasty experiences with partial shots. I invested in a Dansk cooking pot last year and trusted the sellers "good condition" and partial photo. The hidden corner was badly rusted out. Again, let your customers trust their eyes. Give them the same amount of information they would have if they were holding the item in their hands.

Dansk Paella Pan by bitofbutter

When describing items, be very specific. Don't just say "great condition". Condition is variable with too many definitions. One thing I now try to remember is be very clear. I'm wary of customers who just skim the page. I used to say "there are no chips, cracks, crazing, etc". Now I say: "there are no chips, no cracks, no crazing, blah, blah, blah." That extra no makes a difference.

Federal Eagle Wall Mirror by moxiethrift

Lastly, try to mention the potential flaws that are NOT present.

For metal: there are no dents, no cracks, no repairs.
For ceramic & glass: there are no chips, no cracks, no crazing and no hidden repairs. (this will require black light testing-something I highly recommend)
For paper items: there are no wrinkles, no fading, no writing, etc.

Providing this level of detail will build confidence in your potential buyer. It will also cause you to examine your items even more closely, which can help with hidden flaws you might have missed. A little extra time spent when listing, means no wasted time & money after the sale.

FOODIE FRIDAY -- G is for GUEST BLOGGER

Hi everyone, fellow EVT member Bit of Butter, here! Now is the time of the year when ovens are getting a workout, and there's nothing that smells better than holiday cookies.

Vintage Cookie Cutters from lagelle

I've come across quite a few vintage cookie molds recently that are perfect for making Christmas cookies. Most of the cookie molds I've come across are German in origin and are traditionally used during the Christmas season.

Two Vintage Springerle Molds from Bit of Butter

The cookie molds above are called springerle. These molded cookies have been popular in Germany since the 14th century. Typically springerle are anise-flavored cookies that, after molded, are left out to dry overnight before they're put in the oven.

Vintage Ausstecherle Roller from Bit of Butter

Ausstecherle are another type of German molded cookie, and these are very much like traditional American sugar cookies. I just whipped up a batch of cookies using an ausstechrolle from Monopol that was made between 1969 and 1970. Below is the roller in action!

I used this basic sugar cookie recipe and sprinkled crushed almonds on the top! They turned out beautifully, but it's always good to remember that cookie rolls need to be liberally floured between each use or else the dough will stick the roller.

Welcome New Member: A Bit of Butter

Decorating your home with fabulous vintage is as easy as a visit to A Bit of Butter of Seattle. This relatively new, but already popular Etsy shop features mid century kitchen and home accessories, as well as "vintage electronics for the steampunk aficionado and the technologically inclined."

The beautiful photos alone are worth a visit, and I was struck particularly by this Danish Modern copper coffee pot with creamer. Yummy, isn't it?

Welcome to the Etsy Vintage Team! We're so pleased to have A Bit of Butter join us.

Think Outside the Halloween Box

I love Halloween. Vintage Halloween goodies are always on my radar. I hunt high and low for the real deal. But I only get to take them out once a year! I try to bring them out in early September, but my resident housemates (children and husband) just tend to roll their eyes at me. So I wait patiently until October 1st.

The colors of Halloween are so classic. While I don't want to have a spooky pumpkin looking down on me in the middle of Spring, I wouldn't mind an offbeat reminder of my favorite time of year. As a seller and a buyer, think about how items can be used throughout the year. Market them that way, and they'll sell, regardless of the season.

Vintage Cultivator Claw Tool Offered by Birdie1

For example, I love to be organized. What better way than with a magazine rack that doubles as a creepy Halloween prop? I can have it up all year and then hang all manner of creepy crawlies on it at the right time. It would look great with a bunch of flowers laying in it in the Spring! It's farmhouse charm.

It doesn't even have to be that dramatic. Perhaps a stapler can be a workhorse with attitude. The color is right and blends in any time of year. But come autumn, a little orange will offset it nicely.

The Scariest Stapler in the World by BitofButter

In the dining room and kitchen, Halloween decorating can be a bit tricky. (no pun intended!) How to keep hip, useful, year round cookware that doesn't scream "seasonal"? This mid century modern serving piece can be cheerful in Spring and Summer, but worthy of serving a frightening feast in the Fall. 

Mid Century Chafing Tray offered by TheWhiteMole

Now of course, most everyone loves owls. An owl looks quite at home among books and can infuse even a small library with character. Whooo will watch over you carefully regardless of the season? A pile of pumpkins are sure to come to life with an owl lurking nearby.

Vintage Lucite Owl offered by Susantique

Bud vases are always useful and creative ones like these can really bring a tablecape to life. Flowers are sweet, but if you truly want to spook things up, fill these with colored water-red, orange, black, green, etc. A mad scientist is welcome at the best haunted homes! 

Scientific Beakers offered by PolkadotHOME

Think outside the box. What else can your item be used for? What can be turned into? Can it represent something other than it's intended purpose? Can you leave it out and not have it take up precious storage space? That's a big plus for anyone! It's all about creative marketing.

Vintage Buzz: The Lady's An Animal!

This Leopard Print Purse with matching earrings
from Bit Of Butter is just begging to go home with you!

This sexy 40s 50s SILK Leopard Wrap Top
is one of several hot animal prints from
Erstwhile Style.

MEOW!

Release your inner animal with a warm, bold leopard print.

Leopard prints can be sophisticated, sexy, brash yet socially acceptable all at the same time, and nothing says fashion like Vintage Animal!

No piece of clothing or accessory is exempt from wild leopard prints: belts and blouses, coats and hats, belts, handbags and more! 

Here's a selection of slinky, be-furred and fantastic leopard prints from the Etsy Vintage Team. Click here for more vintage leopard from the team.



This Vintage Leopard Print Cloche
from Vintage Goodness makes a
fabulously feline fashion statement.

 

Oh Baby!
Bad Baby Faux Leopard Crop Coat Jacket

from Haute Country Vintage is the cat's meow!