A Walk in the Woods

Vintage canteen from TheFancyLamb

By Susan from CalloohCallay

Like much of the United States, we here in the middle have had an eerily warm winter--no frozen ponds like when I was a kid, and my crocuses are up already, probably just in time to be zapped by another cold snap. But the upside to climate change, if you can call it that, is last weekend I got out for a hike along the river bluffs--just me, my canteen, and 300 other hikers, bikers, and dogs taking advantage of the weather.

Wildflower guide from TheVintageReader

I didn't see much wildlife--a few hawks circling the river, a few gray squirrels. But on a less crowded day I might have run into some deer, or even an otter or raccoon along the river bank. It was too early for the wildflowers, but in the coming months they'll be making their appearance in great numbers.

We're heading into just about the best time to enjoy the outdoors (though autumn has a lot going for it too). So, in anticipation of many hikes to come, here are a few of my favorite vintage items to take along.

Vintage Czech rucksack from PerfectlyPoshVintage

KampKing 1960s utility knife from KentonCollectibles

Vintage camp stool from moxiethrift

1912 Boy Scout book from queenofsienna

Pedometer from tippleandsnack

Vintage snakebite kit from kowgirlkitsch

Fresh Picks: Delicious Decor

Decorating with vintage fruit motifs is a terrific way to bring bold color to a bland kitchen. Midcentury fruit designs abound in vintage linens, housewares and pottery/porcelain, making it a fun and easy project. Repurposing tip: If you’re stuck with an obtrusive soffit over your kitchen cabinets, hang a row of vintage plates and change them with the seasons.

Vintage Blue Ridge Hand Pain... ATasteForVinta... $20.00	Oranges Jam Jar / Arabia of ... scoutandrescue $38.00	Funky Fruit Vintage Tableclo... FineVintageLin... $19.00
1940s Painted Embroidery, Pe... chameleonCMC $10.00	Vintage Frosted Fruit Patter... tippleandsnack $24.99	SET Hazel Atlas Flower Pot A... beppiebags $19.00

Treasury tool by whalesharkwebsites

Humor: Feels Good, Draws Attention & Helps Sell!

I've noticed something about my shopping experience lately. I'll be browsing Etsy and realize I'm giggling out loud. I do this when I happen upon a clever photo taken with a bit of humor and whimsy in mind. Sharp wit is always a way to get attention and if you have a clever thumbnail photo, those browsers will turn into shoppers quickly.

Take this great photograph by TippleandSnack. When I spotted it, it was in the middle of the page. It caught my eye immediately because of the color contrast. Then I cracked up when I saw those little chicks peeping out of an egg cup. What a great way to sell egg cups! It not only draws the potential customer in, but it also shows them that egg cups can be display objects in their own right.

Vintage Egg Cups by TippleandSnack

There are lots of vintage clothing sellers on Etsy with fashion must haves. I know many people use their daughters as models, which is practical. The key to a successful live model is their facial expression. I find a lot of models have the "I'd never be caught dead in this" look on their face, which is odd. Have the model ham it up. Show them having fun in it. Sell it! This photo by Unionmadebride illustrates my point perfectly:

1960's Full Length Slip by Unionmadebride

The item itself doesn't have to be funny. Humor can be added by the angle you take the photo from, the way you position your item, or the lighting. This photo by TheFancyLamb shows this point. Most of us take a shot of a doll sitting down-at least I do. This shot taken up close really captures the dolls whimsical expression and draws my eye to it.

Vintage Poland Heidi Doll by TheFancyLamb

Props can really help bring a whimsical element to your otherwise rather practical item. As long as you're clear that the prop isn't for sale, use them to your advantage. People tend to be rather opinionated about them, so I don't recommend them for every item, just those that could benefit from a substantial visual boost. Take this shot from Calloohcallay for example. Without the horse, the cup would be rather lost. It adds just enough whimsy to make a viewer ask "what is horse doing next to a coffee cup?"

Vintage Fire King Cup by calloohcallay

Sometimes, the front isn't always the best angle. The playful motion used in this dress photo by Alexsandras is really eye catching! It doesn't just grab attention though. It also tells me about the fabric and how it hangs. Perfect way to convey elements of the item without using words. In addition, it shows the model having fun and that makes the viewer smile!

Vintage 1960's Tennis Dress by alexsandras

The more we think out of the box with our photos, the more we will stand out from other sellers. When a sea of small thumbnails is staring a shopper in the face, you want your photo to pop. Once they click on the next page, it's too late. So grab their attention. Humor, whimsy and just plain fun are a great way to do it!

Welcome New Member: The Fancy Lamb

The Fancy Lamb is filled with more than 300 wonderful vintage home decor and housewares items, patterns and ephemera, all impeccably presented with beautiful photos. Robin is also a busy crafter, creating handmade delights from vintage components. Her vintage book journals are not only popular on Etsy, but are also available in shops in St. Louis as well as through wholesale orders. And....she is a co-chair of the Etsy Vintage Team Membership Committee. That's a very full plate!



Confession time: The Fancy Lamb is not exactly a "new" member of EVT. You see, when you visit our Etsy Team Page, members are listed in the order in which they joined. When Robin became a Team Leader, her icon was bumped to the top of the list, meaning I skipped over her as I featured members from the general roster. So, a belated welcome to Robin!

The co-chairs of the EVT Membership Committee are our unsung heroes. They receive new member requests and conduct a thorough review of each shop with the help of our 19-member committee. The other Membership co-chairs are:

Stacie of Rainbow Vintage
Mary of Tipple and Snack
Nora of Treasure Hunt Vintage plus Transient Treasures and Time and Again Fashions

Thanks to their work, you can be confident that every Certified Shop includes only true vintage and antiques, or handmade with true vintage components, and maintains a high level of customer service. Thank you, ladies!

Small Isn't All That Small At All

I love that collectors cover the vast range of everything that's made. If it was made or is being made, someone is collecting it, no matter what the size. It is human instinct to think big is better. According to the Discovery Channel, it's a part of who we are-big means more protection, more security and more value. That said, it's time to turn Mother Nature on her head. 

Gucci Pill Box by mascarajones

Big isn't better-not all of the time. I can think of countless small and even tiny items that command high prices. (Ink wells, enamel pins, fountain pens, buttons, magnifying loops, perfume bottles, cuff links, etc) Yet when I shop on various websites, including etsy, I find most of the small items being offered for give away prices. I personally have been able to buy some of these online finds and re offer them for their true values. I know I don't want this to happen to me as a seller! 

Sheaffer Fountain Pen by marybethhale

Take for example an experience we had at Nachokitty just yesterday. My coworker, Suuzi, had gone through a large batch of vintage jewelry and was listing items as I added photos. She had done a great job of describing a vintage set of cuff links that were Wedgwood blue in color with a cameo set inside a gold toned metal. She priced them at $25, a reasonable price for cuff links that aren't signed, aren't a precious metal, and are oh so tiny.

Antique Sterling Compact by CompactQueen

While photographing them, the camera picked up a makers mark. Still convinced they weren't much to write home about, I popped the makers name + cuff link into Google. Whoa. Not only were these valuable, they were desirable. They were selling out on other websites. My $25 non-researched little set became a $225 fabulous pair of cuff links! 

Little Metal Boot by tippleandsnack

A couple of weeks ago, I was going through an old wooden cigar box filled with bits and pieces. All covered with dirt and dust, just yucky. I pulled out a metal button from the mire and examined it. No makers mark. Typed the style of it into Google and boom! There were several other examples selling for $80-90 (for a little button!). Lesson learned. I tend to need a reminder about valuing tiny things.

Heart Shaped Cameo by popgoesmyvintage

Look at your small & tiny finds with a finer eye. Pretend you're a child. My kids do a great job of valuing items that are scaled to their size. Necessary to this is a great photography set up. You'll have to capture those tiny details for your customers. Go small and think of all the extra room you'll have in your office! 

Welcome New Member: Tipple & Snack

My first impression upon visiting Tipple & Snack was, "What an eye!" The inventory of this well-established Etsy vintage shop includes beautiful jewelry, silver, china, glass and kitchenware. But it's the industrial salvage and fascinating metal pieces that entice a new breed of vintage fans as well.

This rustic metal pharmacy script box is a perfect example. And if you're an artisan, crafter or steampunk aficionado, there are plenty of metal bits and bobs to inspire your creativity.

Everyone wants to know about the name, right? From her Profile: My shop name is taken from a little green book I found a few years ago at the 26th Street flea market in NYC. I love it's jaunty title: "Tipple and Snack". Published in 1931, it's a book full of "good things to eat, and better things to drink". It's written with a great sense of style and a touch of humor, both qualities I admire and aspire to. I just had to use the name for my Etsy shop.

We're so happy to have Tipple & Snack of Vermont join the Etsy Vintage Team. Welcome!