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Gift Giving with Vintage Glass and Candy, Candy, Candy

It is Christmas Time, let's have some fun with vintage gift giving. One of my favorite "go to" gifts is candy in a vintage glass dish. It seems so much nicer than just a dish, or just candy. The two together 
seem like a party.

Sometimes you luck out with one that is specific for your occasion. I found the perfect little glass candy tray for a gal who loves 

vintage decor.

It makes much more sense, and is more fun, to find vintage dish or item to hold candy and other gifts, like cookies, or pens, than to grab 

something cheap.

There are a plethora of these clear inexpensive vintage glass dishes. It is no wonder they were (and are still) so popular, because they just make everything a bit better.

It does not have to be a candy dish either. I acquired a passle of Anchor Hocking Ruby Cups, that would make lovely little gifts filled with candy for teachers. They are easy and decorative when tied up in a small cellophane bag with a fetching bow.

We have a family member who collects glassware, and loves Hershey Kisses. It does not get any easier than this.

Most folks do not use celery dishes any more. Did they ever? What we do need though, is something to corral pens and pencils. Using a vintage or antique celery or pickle dish is a classier option than a pencil tray you can find at an office supply store. Here is a gift the insurance office secretary could really use and enjoy.

This porcelain Vintage Christmas Tree Dish by George Good is being included here with the vintage glass dishes, because it is shows just how perfect they are for gift giving.

I like it so much, that I am tempted to give it to myself.

A classic color for Christmas is Forest Green. There is an abundance of shapes and sizes of Vintage Forest Green Glassware available. This dish is a nice sturdy piece by Hazel Atlas, that you can use in a high traffic area. It is a perfect gift to use at work. We all love the office candy dish.

This Fire King Forest Green Charm Bowl has an entirely different look. You can see how I simply scooped all of my candy samples in to it. I could make the whole family happy by setting this out here at our place. Just think of the smiles I would get if I gave it to a family full of young folks. The bowl would also make Mom happy.

It has been fun sharing some fun ways to use candy and vintage dishes for gift giving. If you find the perfect piece with the Etsy Vintage Team and use it be sure to share it with us. You can never have too much inspiration.

Thank you for joining me. My name is Mary, and I run Mary Wald's Place, an Etsy store, where Antique and Vintage plus Knowledge and Care promise a great vintage shopping experience. It is a privilege to be a member of The Etsy Vintage Team. We are having so much fun this Christmas Time.

Meet our Members - Susan of T Party Antiques

Can you tell us how you came to sell vintage?
It all started with a large and lovely collection of Lu-Ray Pastel dinnerware. Before we had children, my husband and I used those vintage relics as our everyday dishes. After the birth of our first child, we needed something more practical. Plus, space was at a premium in our tiny first home, so I decided to rent a small space at a local antiques shop. My huge Lu-Ray stash sold quickly and before I knew it, I was looking for more items to fill the space. Fast forward 10 years to when I opened my very own antiques shop and tea room which had a successful 5-year run from 2003-2008.

How did your Etsy shop begin?
When my tea room closed (my landlord planned to tear down the 1890 farmhouse that I rented and I was unable to find a suitable new location), I had a small amount of remaining inventory. So in October 2008, I decided to open an Etsy shop.

  What is your favorite era?
I gravitate toward colorful, whimsical items from the 1930s and 40s.

What is your current favorite Vintage find?
My favorite vintage find is a Home Sweet Home embroidered picture of a sweet little cottage and garden. (I'm partial to cottages as I live in one myself!) I use the piece on the header photo of my Etsy shop, blog, and even on my website's home page. Plus, I had a friend draw up an embroidery pattern for the picture that I sell on Etsy.

Where do you like to hunt for your treasures?
Here, there, and everywhere! I love to go to estate sales where the house is chock full of a messy jumble of old stuff. It's such fun to root around and find a treasure! I also like to go to the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market in New Milford, CT on summer Sunday mornings. 

What advice would you wish someone had told you when you first started selling vintage?
Hmmm, good question. I wish someone would have warned me how addicting it can be! ;)

and anything else you want to add??
Just that items filled with vintage goodness have good karma and imperfections that come from being well loved. They have loads of life left and I am thrilled to be able to pass them along to someone who will enjoy and appreciate them.

Meet Our Members - Carla from Nuggest of Goodness

I began collecting vintage jewelry and handbags when I was in high school. Time went by and there so many pieces that I didn't wear, I decided to rework them into something new! As a jewelry maker it was a natural transition to combine the two passions, and Nuggets of Goodness was born!

My favorite era? I adore Art Deco, but my true love is Mid-century Modern! *swoon*
My current favorite Vintage find is a stash of 1950s French fashion magazines. The ads are AMAZING!

Where do you like to hunt for your treasures?

 Thrift stores, antique malls, flea markets...every once in a while I run across a surprise at a garage sale. I'm not patient enough for auctions, although I've gotten some really great pieces that way!
What advice would you give anyone starting out?

 Educate yourself. I worked for an appraiser for many years and he encouraged me to go to antique stores every chance I had just to look at everything and learn. Notice the decorative details, study in person how pieces are made. If you keep at it, eventually you will begin to recognize styles and spot reproductions.

And it's really fun :)

Plastic Kitsch to Plastic Chic

One of my favorite projects for either my home or my shop is to take an out-dated piece of vintage decor and turn it into to something new and fun! The possibilities are nearly endless, but for this blog we are going to focus on painting plastics. It is relatively easy to find Homco and Burwood products at most thrift stores and flea markets here in Houston. For this blog, I have picked a large Burwood wall hanging sconce. This shape is a lot of fun, but the gold tone is not my favorite.

 Your first step is to clean up your item. A little bit of soapy water and you are good to go. Give it a couple of hours to thoroughly dry. This piece is pretty large, so I hosed it off outside. Next, you want to gather your supplies. 

1. Gloves 

2. Respirator Mask (a dust mask does not protect from vapors)

3. Paper towels or a shop cloth

4.Turpentine

5. Plastic Primer

6. Your color choice (I still use paints made to adhere to plastic but it is not required when using a plastic primer)

6. A clear coat/sealant

7. A paint brush 

It is really important that you are in a well ventilated area when using these products, especially if you do not have a respirator mask. The turpentine can poison you if you breath in the fumes. 

After you have cleaned up your piece, you want to wipe it down with turpentine. You will need your gloves and your paper towels/shop cloth. Once you have wiped your treasure down, leave it sit for about an hour before you move onto the base coat/primer. Once you have waited the hour, before you apply your base coat, take your paint brush and give your piece a good brushing. This will remove any lose debris and dust. 

The key to using spray paint is light, even strokes. Shake the can vigorously until the ball moves around in the can freely. When putting on your base coat, remember that you do not need to saturate the color. Spray a light coat, keeping the can about 10 to 12 inches away from your project, moving continuously. If you spray to close, or for to long in one spot, you will end up with runs (drips in the paint). Don't forget to paint the back! Here is how it looked when I completed the base coat. 

Drying time varies depending on the climate in your area. Temperature and humidity levels will greatly impact your time frame. For Houston, where it is crazy hot and crazy humid, I triple the drying time that is stated on the can. There is dry enough to add another coat (about an hour in Houston time) and dry enough to handle (about 2 hours Houston drying time). With this plastic primer, one coat is good. If you are doing a drastic color change, you may want to consider a second coat. 

Here is the 2nd coat of color:

Adding color is a little different, I generally apply 3 coats. This helps to avoid runs. Again, the trick is light, even strokes. Keep the can 10 to 12 inches away from the project piece and move continuously, careful not to spray in one spot for to long. I only used two coats of color on the back of the piece. 

The final step is your clear coat. This requires 2 coats. The same method should be used as with your primer and color coats.  I am crazy for a matte finish right now, so that is my choice. You can get clear, gloss or even high gloss, it is up to you. 

Your project is done! 

Meet Our Members - Second Hand News

My love for vintage started at a very early age. I spent a lot of time with my Grandmother who had quite the collection of antiques and was constantly on the look out for unique pieces to add to her collection. She so patiently taught me by example and instilled in me a passion and respect for the finer things of our past. Years later, I was introduced to Etsy through a friend and found the perfect way to share my passion with others globally.

My favorite era is the 1950s-1960s. The vibrant colors, styles, culture and the overall way of life during this particular time period are so fascinating to me.
It's difficult for me to choose just one favorite vintage find but I'd have to say that coming across a set of pink chenille twin bedspreads (in perfect condition) and purchasing them for $1.00 a piece was my all time score of the century.

The hunt for vintage treasures gives me the biggest rush. The adrenaline really gets flowing when I hit a 50% off sale at the local Thrift Store, attend a flea market or even a neighborhood yard sale. I've also been blessed with the friendship of a man who is an antique dealer and often supplies me with wonderful vintage inventory to add to my shop. My attic is packed full of items that I need to list!
Research is the key to successfully selling vintage items. I spend a lot of time on the internet conducting research in order to price my items competitively and according to the market. I also spend a considerable amount of time photographing my items as presentation is everything and a good picture speaks volumes. What I find most difficult is focusing my product line. My advice is to find that niche, that one particular area that you are passionate about and offer items that reflect your personality.

Business or Hobby? by BeadtopiaVintage

So -- you are selling on Etsy, or “thinking” of selling there.  Will you be dipping your toe into the water, or plunging in full force?  I knew when I joined Etsy, I wanted to have a business, and having had experience on another website for over five years, I knew the business could happen.  However, I was skeptical to start on another venue and knew what it takes to have a real business -- so I started out by putting just ONE item on Etsy.   It took about 3-½ MONTHS, but someone found it, and it sold!  These Isadora Duncan etched glass drops were the first item I sold.  I figured if they could find my “needle in the haystack”, if I really poured on the items for sale I could soar.

A hobby, by definition means “an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure”.  If this is your goal, then you may not be interested in learning the ins and outs of having a business.  There will be no reason to fuss, worry or calculate how you prepare your listings and how many sales you will make.  And that is just fine.

A business, by definition means “the practice of making one's living by engaging in commerce”.  If you do decide to “kick it up” to a business here are some tips that have helped me…. and have made my shop one of Etsy’s top ten vintage supply sellers.

 

Ten Etsy Business Tips  (in no particular order)

1.  Clear, sharp pictures.  If your picture does not look good to you, it does not look good to anyone else either.  You are selling on-line.   Make sure your picture looks like the potential customer is seeing it “in person”.

2.  Make your listing title unambiguous.  In the world of SEO, “blue glass antique necklace” will be found by a potential customer much quicker than “Emily’s blue dream fantasy necklace”.

3.  Use those tags!  Make sure you use a tag for every aspect of the item you are selling.  A vintage iron pan can translate in “tag language” to:  vintage cooking, vintage pan, iron pan, antique cookware, vintage cookware, antique fry pan, frying pan, iron fry pan, antique pan, iron cookware…..etc.   Use as many words that relate to your item that can be found easily in a random search.

4.  Answer convos quickly.  And friendly.  What may seem like an innocuous question can turn into a sale -- and even a big sale.

5.  Mail your items quickly when sold.  Speaks for itself.

6.  Put new items on as often as possible.  You will establish a customer base, and believe me after a while they will jump like a shark on your newest listing.

7.  Network.   Use social media…. tell your friends.   Use everything available -- most of it is free.

8.  Keep your shop fresh.  Rearrange the items.  Move stuff out that has had no views or that has sat there for three months with hardly a view.  Keep it moving.

9.  Customer service is #1.   Without my repeat customers I would not have the business I have today.

10.  Don’t give up!  It take time to establish a business, and you have to be self motivated.  

Yes, I work at least 40 hours a week.   This is my job and I love it.  Whether you choose to have a business or hobby, Etsy is a real platform for opportunity.

Written by Beadtopiavintage